My PCAudioLabs Rok Box Reboots/Restarts itself or crashes randomly with a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD)

If your Rok Box is rebooting at random, there are a few things to first check: 

When does the system crash? 

It is important to note when your Rok Box crashes. 

- Does it crash when using a specific application or process, such as rendering audio or video, or when  opening or instantiating a specific application or plugin? If so, check for updates to Windows and/or your applications, and install as necessary. 

- Do you receive any specific errors on-screen? Windows may crash and present a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) with an error message or code. Make note of this message, as it may be useful after attempting all other troubleshooting. 

- Is there a specific trigger event, or is the issue random? 

With this information, we can move onto troubleshooting the system. 

Check for non-operational fans inside the PC.

Open your Rok Box by removing the left-hand panel of a tower case, or the top panel of a rackmount case. Inspect the system while it is powered on to ensure that all fans are spinning and properly functioning. If you observe a fan which is not running, check for anything which might be occluding the fan, or for any disconnected cables, which might power said fans. 

This is a good opportunity to clean the inside of your PC chassis. Canned air or a vacuum hose attachment can be helpful in clearing any dust or debris which may have gathered in the system over time. Carefully clean the inside of the PC. 

After this is done, replace the case cover, reboot the system, and test for instability. 

If the issue has cleared, you're good to go! If not, move onto the next step. 

Run a Windows System File Check to check for corrupted Windows system files. 

Run a SFC file check in Windows, instructions for which you may find here. 

This check will inspect for and repair corrupted Windows system files, which may be present after some Windows updates, or other system maintenance. 

Run Windows Update. 

It is important to keep your operating system up to date. Windows updates ensure that your system is patched against possible system security and compatibility issues.

You can run Windows Update by pressing the Start button and entering Windows settings, then clicking "Windows Updates". 

Allow Windows to install updates, and reboot if necessary. 

Run Disk Cleanup. 

Disk Cleanup not only frees up disk space on your primary system drive, but can also  clear out files which may be causing system instabilities. 

To run Run Disk Cleanup, click here for instructions. 

Check for issues with new hardware or software. 

Did you recently install any new hardware or software, or updates?  

These new system additions can cause system instability. Make a note of the last software or hardware installed, and consider removing from your system and re-testing. 

In the case of new hardware, disconnect said devices, and test. 

If the system is stable, there may be an issue with this hardware device. 

Re-connect hardware devices one-by-one, and test for the issue. If it returns, make a note of the last connected device, and check  for possible driver updates, and/or inspect for loose or non-functioning cables.

Remove old or unused devices in Device Manager

As you use your Rok Box, some older or unused devices may accumulate in the Windows Device Manager. 

You may not see these devices, as they are hidden when unused, but they can cause system instability. 

A quick and easy way to remove unused devices in the Device Manager is to use a tool which may be found here.

Download this device cleanup tool (thanks to Uwe Siber for this great tool!), unzip the downloaded file archive by right-clicking and selecting "Extract all files". 

Inside the extracted folder, locate the x64 folder, and then right-click "Device Cleanup", and select, "Run as Administrator".

The tool will scan your system for old or unused devices. 

Hold the control key on your keyboard and hit the A key to select all devices, then hit the DEL key to remove these devices. 

Reboot, and test for instability. 

Has the issue cleared? 

It is important to try these steps one-by-one in order to trace the possible source of system instability. 

Once you've performed a troubleshooting task, try repeating the event which previously caused a system crash. 

If the issue does not return, you're good to go. 

If the issue persists, and you  are unable to locate the source of the system instability after attempting these troubleshooting steps, please contact PCAudioLabs support by opening a new support ticket here.