continuous blue screens of death

[Rik2017]

We bought this notebook late 2015 and it was badly used so we erased everything and tried to sell it. That was impossible. We started using it again last weekend and all in a sudden we have blue screens all the time with different reasons:

Critical_process_died

Page_fault_in_nonpaged_area

System_thread_exception_not_handled

The source file that was mentioned is bcmwl63a.sys which is a driver for the Broadcom BCM943228HMB 802.11 abgn 2x2 WiFi adapter.

The sources that I tried for obaining a different driver are limited and did not work.

When I disable WiFi I have no blue screens. When I use a LAN-cable I also enjoy internet. But I have good reasons to use WiFi, so I would like to have a solution.

Should I have a different driver or should I change something in the BIOS, or both, or something else? I have no clue.

Thanks in advance for who can help me with this.

[MasterTechGuy]

 http://h20564.www2.hp.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docId=emr_na-c04502101 found some information regarding the first fault critical.... dont know if this means anything to you? Make sure there is nothing else plugged in causing the blue screens as some times this can cause it.

[Huffer]

Could be a bad wireless card, which would be easy and relatively inexpensive to replace. Can you get into UEFI diagnostics by tapping F2 as you power up and test the wireless module? 

[Rik2017]

Thanks for your help, but no, I can not find UEFI diagnostics through the F2-path. That only gives access to HDD and Memory tests. Is there another way to check the Broadcom adapter that you know of?

[Huffer · Accepted solution]

No but I think given how inexpensive they are and easy to replace the next thing to do is procure a new one and try it and I will wager your bluescreens go away. Where do you live (country)? 

[Rik2017]

I hope to find my solution by the end of next week: a new Broadcom adapter. I was able to update the BIOS to the latest version possible, update the driver to the latest version possible. This looks simple but for some reasons it was not:

- the ways to update given by the support-section of HP's website did not give a working procedure for my Probook;

- the Broadcom adapter is an unsupported subtype of an otherwise supported type. So I had to ask HP if this difference between adapters could be the reason that several updates did not make any difference. To get an answer from HP is timeconsuming.

After assuring myself that software could not be the problem I exchanged the adapter with one from another laptop (same adapter). No bluescreens for quit some time. So I ordered a new one. These adapters are not on stock so it will take me to the end of next week before I have a solution. The costs are, including tax and shipment, still almost 10% of a new laptop.

To me that is not inexpensive. But given the time I had to invest it is pretty cheap. If it is indeed the solution.

Why did the thing work for half a year and given continuous blue screens after laying flat for half a year? I have no clue.

But thanks for the time you took to look into my problem. By the way: I live in the Netherlands.

[Huffer]

We could have found you a replacement adapter for way less than 10% of the cost of the laptop. But hoping it is what you need in the end.