All-in-1 27-dp0188qe randomly crashes with a PCI Express hardware error. In for repair once

[Fairfield_Ken]

27" All-in-1  27-dp0188qe randomly crashes and reboots with PCI Express hardware error in log.  Sent it in for repair, was returned with assurance all was well.  Worked fine for 4-5 days, then began crash/reboot behavior.  Time between occurences varies from a few hours to a few days.  HP tells me there's no hardware problem, but the error log tells me this:

A fatal hardware error has occurred.

Component: PCI Express Endpoint
Error Source: Advanced Error Reporting (PCI Express)

Primary Bus:Device:Function: 0x1:0x0:0x0
Secondary Bus:Device:Function: 0x0:0x0:0x0
Primary Device Name:PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8168&SUBSYS_86F8103C&REV_15
Secondary Device Name:

The event ID is 16. 

Details are:

A fatal hardware error has occurred.

Component: PCI Express Endpoint
Error Source: Advanced Error Reporting (PCI Express)

Primary Bus:Device:Function: 0x1:0x0:0x0
Secondary Bus:Device:Function: 0x0:0x0:0x0
Primary Device Name:PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8168&SUBSYS_86F8103C&REV_15
Secondary Device Name:

I don't know how to proceed. Could this actually be a software error?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

The hardware ID you posted is the Realtek gigabit ethernet adapter, so the only suggestion I can offer would be to update the ethernet driver to the latest version on your PC's support page, which is this one...

10.42.526.2020

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp108501-109000/sp108790.exe

Restart the PC after installing the driver.

[Fairfield_Ken]

Thanks, Paul,

I installed the new driver and the system stayed up for less than an hour before it crashed again, same error.  I can't see a pattern, as crashes happened at 1934, 0140, 1403 1453, and 1525.  In each case I was not touching the machine.  In fact, it's never crashed while I was using it.  

I'm curious why the O/S didn't find this newer driver on it's own with the Update Driver routine, and wondering where to go from here.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

You're very welcome.

If you are not using the ethernet adapter to connect to the internet, see if going to the device manager, right click on the Realtek gigabit ethernet adapter and selecting Disable, stops the crashing.

If it does, then it is probably a hardware issue.

If you do connect via ethernet, you can buy a USB to RJ-45 gigabit ethernet adapter, plug it into one of your PC's USB 3 ports and connect that way.  Then you can disable the onboard ethernet.

https://www.amazon.com/uni-Ethernet-Internet-Compatible-Notebook/dp/B087QFQW6F/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&h...

You will only find newer drivers using the method you described if the hardware manufacturer (Realtek in this case) or HP pushed the driver update to the Microsoft Update catalog.

[Fairfield_Ken]

I disabled the ethernet interface and am working off wi-fi.  Almost 24 hours now with no issues.   The issue is intermittent, so I'm going to wait a few days before deeming it solved.  Again, my thanks for your help.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime.

Glad to have been of assistance.

[Fairfield_Ken]

After two days of sucess using the wi-fi interface,, I changed the ethernet cable and the router port to which that was plugged in, just to eliminate physical layer problems, and turned on the ethernet interface again.. It was stable for 26 hours, then began the crash/reboot cycle again, twice in two hours.  Back on wi-fi now and working fine, but HP clearly sold me a price3y machine with faulty hardware.