When system-level errors have been detected by Windows, system-level information for detected errors should also be written to the Windows Event Log, and the Windows Event Viewer will display those error entries and can help determine what is failing where.
 
There are additionally programs available that can read Windows dump files and may help point to what is failing. (I happen to use one called WhoCrashed), but if Noel and company have access to dump data, they will be able to figure out where and hopefully why you are having these issues.
 
Bob Bone
 

+1 For Bob's suggestion of installing whocrashed. It is an excellent utility. That said, my only bsod issue turned out to be a bad (and brand new!) ram stick that passed every memory and load test known to mankind. It also only failed when the system was under load using Sonar. I eventually swapped it out in desperation after a month of troubleshooting and the blue screens stopped forever.
 
Good luck tracking down the problem!

I have the app BlueScreenView on my computer.  So I can see all the minidump files and the error description (locked pages).  I tried to increase the page size to 1.5 times my RAM (8GB), but that didn't help.  I'm not in front of the offending machine right now, but I think the driver listed in the minidump was ntoskrnl or svchost.  I don't recall which.  My guess is that it is the former, because it (ntoskrnl) manages memory.
 
The most frustrating thing about all this is as follows: I have loaded a piano accompaniment from a sonata for one of my flute students and am using AudioSnap to add beat transition markers so that I can add a metronome track and export the result for the student's practice.  Every time Sonar crashes (even when I have saved the project) I am back at square one with locating transients - they simply aren't obvious owing to the complexity of the piano.  Grrr!
 
But, to the point: you mentioned somewhere that I could send the minidump file where some folks with expertise could suggest what might be done to fix the error. Last thing: it seems to occur whether I use the "EXIT" from the File menu or the "X" to exit.

Ted, anytime you see graphics issues, check in to the Video driver status.
making sure you have the latest onboard/ video card drivers.
I know that might not be related but its worth a shot.
 
good luck

Hello all
 
It's been some time since I revisited my thread here. I thought I would update you all as there has been 'closure' on my crashing sonar problem.
 
Bottom line...sonar was not to blame at all. The problem lay with hardware. I know this because my audio PC has bitten the dust. I took it to my local PC shop to remove the network adapter after someone advised me it might be to blame for BSOD and sonar freezes. The PC came back to me dead as a dodo. The best I can get out of it is that it cycles on and off at start-up now...God knows what the PC shop did to it but they've declared all my hard drives shot (which means I've lost a lot of work...great!)
 
So I need a new audio PC. I've started a new thread requesting advice, if anybody here fancies taking a peek. Thanks for all the advice I received here.
 
http://forum.cakewalk.com...-m3441293.aspx#3441293

I would suggest you find a different repair shop - for another look at it.  
 
The reason I suggest that would be that unless some SPECIFIC event, like your dropping the desktop down a flight of stairs while it was plugged in, or you thought it a great idea to decorate your computer chassis with all manner of refrigerator magnets, in MY opinion, it would be statistically next to impossible for multiple hard drives fail all at the same time - like they would all wear out at the same moment.  (now, there would certainly be exceptional conditions that could produce such a thing, but this seems quite remote, short of like a glass of milk being poured onto the motherboard)
 
That just seems HIGHLY unlikely, to me.
 
Bob Bone
 

I agree with Bob. Time to find a new repair shop. The one you went to is not giving you the service you need.

But the most important thing I want to say is don't mess with your hard drives. You data is still on there (highly probable). Get you pc to a good shop. If no other shop is available, let us help you figure it out.

Also remember that if you're lucky, the hard drive's controller is shot, not the data on the platters. More than once I've transplanted the platters to a new controller board and recovered data without problems.

Hello Bob, Grem and Anderton

Many thanks for your replies. I bought myself a hard drive enclosure (didn't fancy installing possibly dodgy drives into my work PC) and so far have successfully transferred all contents from one drive - which appears to be working fine - surprise, surprise. Fingers crossed the other two will also work.

Yup, time to find another repair shop.

Glad to hear you found a solution. Good luck.