PC keeps crashing and states PFX operation failed as AuthSafes count doesn't lie in expected range in event logger.

Mason Greenwood 20 Reputation points
2026-07-21T13:28:11.3666667+00:00

I've tried many things: clean uninstall of GPU drivers, using fix problems using Windows Update, checking GPU power is connected properly. Not sure what to try next. If there's a way to fix without resetting my PC that would be ideal.

Please help!

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Performance and system failures
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David-M 126.1K Reputation points Independent Advisor
2026-07-21T16:07:37.2+00:00

Thanks for sharing the minidumps.

First, regarding the event log entry "PFX operation failed as AuthSafes count...": this is a harmless, non-fatal Windows certificate log entry. It is very common in Windows 11 and is a red herring; it isn't causing system crashes.

Your crash dumps point to completely different, unrelated system drivers on each crash (ntfs.sys, pci.sys, Windows Kernel). When crashes are this random, it almost always signals AM5 platform or memory instability rather than a corrupt Windows driver.

Early and outdated BIOS versions for the Gigabyte X670 AORUS ELITE AX are known for memory controller and PCIe power state instabilities.

Recommended Steps:

1 = Check Revision and update BIOS:

  • Check the bottom-left corner of the motherboard (or use CPU-Z) to find the PCB Revision (Rev 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3). (Sorry, the Revision isn't in the minidumps.)
  • Go to Gigabyte's support page for the exact Revision, download the latest stable BIOS (which includes vital AMD AGESA microcode updates), and update via Q-Flash in the BIOS menu using a FAT32 USB drive.

2 = Update AMD X670 Chipset drivers:

  • Download the latest Socket AM5 / X670 Chipset drivers directly from AMD's official driver site (AMD's site gets stability updates faster than Gigabyte's support page).

3 = Test RAM / EXPO / XMP settings:

  • If EXPO (or XMP) is enabled in the BIOS, temporarily disable it to run RAM at JEDEC stock speeds for a few days to see if crashes stop.
  • Run the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool (Window key + R > type mdsched.exe > restart) to verify RAM physical integrity.

Start with the BIOS and Chipset updates; they resolve the vast majority of random multi-code crashes on AM5!

If you need more details on any of the steps above, please don't hesitate to ask.

If the crash occurs after performing the suggested steps, please share the newly generated minidump for analysis.

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  1. David-M 126.1K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-07-21T14:00:36.4566667+00:00

    Hi. I'm David, and I'm happy to help you.

    Please see if your computer created minidump files.

    These files are in C:\Windows\Minidump.

    (If you don't have a Minidump folder, check if it is in the plural Minidumps.)

    Copy any files you have to your desktop and store them in a ZIP file. Then, upload the ZIP file to the cloud (OneDrive), choose to share it, and get the link.

    Then, post the link to the ZIP file here so I can have a look.

    Looking forward to your reply.

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