Daily Critical events in my Reliability monitor, what to do?

Understanding and Addressing Daily Hardware Events in Windows Reliability Monitor

Introduction

For PC enthusiasts and everyday users alike, maintaining optimal system stability is crucial. Recently, I discovered the Windows Reliability Monitor—a built-in tool that offers insights into system stability and hardware issues—something I hadn’t encountered before. Upon investigation, I was alarmed to find that my system logs near-daily hardware error reports. This article aims to shed light on interpreting these alerts, understanding potential causes, and steps to troubleshoot them effectively.

Discovering the Reliability Monitor

The Windows Reliability Monitor provides a visual overview of system stability, tracking events such as crashes, hangs, and hardware errors. Despite its utility, many users remain unaware of its existence. Accessing it can offer early warnings about potential hardware failures or driver conflicts that may affect system performance.

Recent Observations and Symptoms

My system has experienced sporadic crashes, including unexplained restarts, without the typical Blue Screen of Death (BSOD). Initially, I suspected GPU issues, especially given my prior experience with a Radeon 5700XT inflicting frequent crashes. Replacing the GPU with a Radeon 7600XT resolved most of these incidents, but the reliability logs remained concerning, showing recurring hardware errors even after the swap.

Interpreting Reliability Monitor Errors

One notable entry from the nightly logs points to a ‘Hardware error’ associated with a ‘LiveKernelEvent’ (Code: a1000005). This type of event indicates that Windows detected an issue with a hardware component that caused the system to halt proper operations. The specific error details, including a dump file (AMD_WATCHDOG-20250624-1019.dmp), can offer deeper insights, although they often require technical expertise to interpret.

Understanding the Possible Causes

Hardware errors like these can stem from various sources:

Failing or Faulty Components: RAM, GPU, motherboard, or power supply units may be malfunctioning.
Driver or Firmware Conflicts: Outdated or incompatible drivers can cause hardware misreporting.
Overheating or Thermal Issues: Excessive heat can lead to hardware instability.
Power Supply Fluctuations: Insufficient or unstable power delivery might result in resets or errors.

My System Configuration