Windows 7 BSOD after 1.5 years, can't boot

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liquidgold

n00b
Joined
Mar 1, 2014
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14
Hi all,

I had several crash/BSOD episodes this morning, mostly while attempting to play DOTA2. No new hardware installs, and only new software updates were probably Windows updates. Everything was working fine yesterday. Until today, I've had no problems with my mITX system since building it in 4/2014:

windows 7 64 bit
maximus VI impact mITX (BIOS version 1301)
Intel i5-4670K
corsair 4GX2 CML8GX3M2A1866C9R
Samsung 840 EVO SSD 250GB
eVGA gtx750ti
NZXT Kraken x40
fractal node 304
Seasonic G Series 550W


Initially this morning I was able to boot into safe mode and recovery mode to attempt repairs. However the crashes continued through the day, and not I can't boot into Windows at all.
Windows won’t load from hard disk, in either recovery mode or safe mode, last know stable mode does not work either. When selected recovery mode, status bar appears during “loading files message”, the status bar advances all the way to the right, however freezes after the status bar appears to be complete.

Attempted to boot from windows 7 DVD. Ran Windows memory diagnostic from the boot disc, no problems detected x 8 tests. When booting from DVD, it goes past the loading files status bar screen but then freezes on the next screen, black screen with white “starting windows"

I had multiple BSOD messages through day.
most recent message was “IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL"
Had other error messages, many involving various *.sys” files,
I no longer get the BSOD, just the frozen windows loading screens.
HDD LED on the motherboard lights up during the “windows is loading files” status bar.
HDD is recognized int he BIOS.

Any ideas?
I'm tempted to go buy a new HD and a new copy of Windows 10.
 
OC? Did you disable/revert to stock? CPU? Mem? Both?
Did you run Memtest86+?
SMART status of HDD?
 
Have you tried booting into safe mode and schedule a check disk on the OS disk? Reboot and see if you are seeing any curruprtion
 
I reset BIOS to defaults, not overclocked.
Can't boot into safe mode or recovery mode, even with the DVD.

How can I check my HDD status without booting into Windows? I'm an OS newb, so please provide as much detail as possible!
 
The OS has probably just gone corrupt for some obscure reason.

After doing a memory test, the first thing I'd be doing before any more hardware diagnosis is a backup of all needed files and a fresh reinstall of Windows.
 
I would run Spinrite on the HD. Just remember to change the BIOS setting for the SSD to IDE before running Spinrite.

On a side note, I had similar issues on another PC where I had to secure erase the SSD and restore an image. Problem solved.
 
Usually I check to see if the BIOS/UEFI can see the drive first. Usually it is good to next rule out hardware issues. The advice given above is good for that (Use HirenBoot, UBCD, etc to run drive and memory tests - even if there isn't a tool by the manufacturer on the disk, you can run WD Diag, IBM's DFT and see what they report). Most people don't have SMART turned on, and many places don't recommend turning it on (they say it's of marginal benefit). Next, "last known good configuration" is worth a shot. Next, I'll try chkdsk on the drive. For me, Startup Repair tends to be hit or miss. You could try bootrec and see if that helps (see link below). If I'm in Windows PE or RE (boot DVD or otherwise), I like to see if I can see data. You can use command line to check or open up notepad from the command prompt, use File - Open, change file type from Text Documents (*.txt) to All Files and go exploring.

Use bootrec.exe ... to troubleshoot startup issues: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/927392

I like Ultimate Boot CD or Hirens BootCD. You could also try UBCD4Win.
http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/
http://www.ubcd4win.org/
http://www.hirensbootcd.org/ (as mentioned above)
 
If you set the bios back to default, double check to make sure that you enabled ACHI for the hard drive again (if it was enabled before).
 
In my opinion, based on your info, I believe the hard drive has gone to shit on you. Based on random error screens first starting with IRQ and then listing system files later tells me its a hard drive issue. Either data has become corrupted or the drive is bad. I would tend to lean to a bad drive. The order you listed the errors say that pretty clear.

I would boot off the DVD and use the command prompt to run chkdsk. Usually this is run with a chkdsk /r command but at this point I would be more interested if it found something, rather than rushing to fix and potentially losing something.
 
I had that happen on a dual-socket system. Replaced everything except for the two CPUs and motherboard and it was still happening. Pulled one of the CPUs and it worked. CPUs running stock rarely go bad so I'm guessing something went bad or marginal on the motherboard. Considering the age of the system it didn't make sense to put any more money into and just left it running single CPU and never confirmed the root cause.
 
So I tried loading command prompt from my windows 7 install disk (I hit F6 while loading to bring up options, it gives me the choice of load windows or run memory diagnostic test, then I hit F8 for advanced options.

The only option with command prompt is "safe mode with command prompt"
I selected that option, It shows the list of windows files that are loading, then the screen freezes when "Loaded: \windows\system32\drivers\disk.sys" appears as the last line on the screen.

Everything freezes at that point andI have to power down. So there is no other way to run chkdsk, correct?
Does this mean my disk is corrupt?

I don't have another PC at home, only Mac, so I'm not sure if I can use the other boot loader discs that people mentioned.
 
OK I discovered that my motherboard has a utility disc that is bootable.
I used the command line
c:\> chkdsk

the lines read:
Found 3068 lost clusters in 36 chains

Errors were found. You did not use the /F switch. Errors are not corrected.

Elapsed time: 1s
reads the disk serial number

32.596.992 bytes total drive size (the drive is a samsung 240 GB SSD)
5.313.024 bytes in a total of 748 files
94.720 bytes in 147 directories
5.116.859 total size of files
25.618.432 bytes available on the volume

512 bytes in every cluster
63.666 total number of clusters
50.036 number of free clusters


Does this say anything useful?
 
chkdsk can fix the problem, but I'd also suspect that the drive could have issues as well. Assuming you have a backup, I'd run chkdsk /r.
 
chkdsk /r and chkdsk /f didn't do anything. still can't boot to windows. trying to install a new hd now, then will install windows and see if I can read any data off the old hd
 
so frustrating...
I disconnected the Samsung SSD and plugged in a brand new Kingston HyperX Savage 240GB SSD.
I started the windows install DVD, however the DVD still gets locked up at the same spot -- runs through the loading files status bar, then locks on a black screen with white "starting windows" and the microsoft copyright at the bottom.

Any ideas? The windows install disc doesn't even get to the point of the install where it gives me a HDD option. My BIOS does recognize the new HDD.

Does this sound like a motherboard/chipset problem?
Again, I ran the memtest application previously and it didn't say anything about a memory problem.
 
liquidgold said:
maximus VI impact mITX (BIOS version 1301)
Intel i5-4670K
Click to expand...

Update the BIOS. It's now up to 1603. There's also notes about:

"Before using the new Intel 4th Gen Core processors, we suggest that you first update the BIOS using USB BIOS flashback, or download the BIOS updater for new Intel 4th Gen Core Processors and then update the BIOS using it."

I've had issues with Windows installer discs not working until a motherboard's BIOS was updated.
 
Check hard drive setting in BIOS and ensure they match what your SSD manufacturer suggests.
 
evilsofa said:
Update the BIOS. It's now up to 1603. There's also notes about:

"Before using the new Intel 4th Gen Core processors, we suggest that you first update the BIOS using USB BIOS flashback, or download the BIOS updater for new Intel 4th Gen Core Processors and then update the BIOS using it."

I've had issues with Windows installer discs not working until a motherboard's BIOS was updated.
Click to expand...

The only problem with the BIOS flashback is that you have to rename the BIOS to a very specific name for it to work. The name is not mentioned anywhere in the manual AND the bios renamer utility requires Windows to run.

If you can't find the specific name online, you will need to contact ASUS support so you can manually rename it.

Also, it sounds to me more like either the Power Supply or the CPU is having problems.

I would first try reseating the CPU as well as the power supply connections and go from there.

Oh and also try reseating the RAM. I will also mention that memtest will sometimes take days to find any errors AND sometimes it will not find them at all. Maybe try with one stick and see what happens, but from the sounds of the problem it is not RAM related.

It could very well be that the CPU has bit the dust.
 
If you still have no joy, try using just one ram stick at a time in different slots.
See if you can get it to start behaving when installing windows.

It looks like there is no point trying to recover your old windows unless you fancy a long task.
Bad memory can cause write corruption.

tldr; if you havent rebuilt the machine cleaning it as you go I suggest that. Bad connections can screw anything up.
 
Spent 45 minutes on the phone with ASUS tech last night. He doesn't think the motherboard is a problem. Thinks is some type of windows/driver related issue. Not sure why I wouldn't be able to do a fresh install on a new SSD.

Today I went to Fry's and bought 2 new sticks of RAM (Corsair Vengeance Pro 2 x 8 GB, 2400 MHZ CMY16GX3M2A2400C11A), unfortunately it appears they aren't compatible with my mITX motherboard because it won't boot to bios and the ASUS board gives and LED code for no memory installed. My fault for not checking before I bought them (they didn't have the RAM in stock that I was already using). These don't show up in my manual as approved RAM. Hit my "mem OK!" button on the back of the board which is supposed to detect OC'd modules, however appears these might not be compatible.

So, put my old modules back in, boots to BIOS fine.
I tried doing fresh install of Windows 10 pro (retail version on USB) onto the new Kingston HyperX SSD.
Windows 10 loading runs into the same problem. Crashes while loading files. I get several error messages. Searched the Microsoft forums but nothing about not being able to install Windows.


Here's what I get on my screen:

(black and white/DOS style screen)
Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. To fix the problem:

Insert your Windows installation disc and restart your computer.
choose language setting
click repair your computer

status 0xc0000185

info: a required device isn’t connected or can’t be accessed

2ND ERROR CODE (with windows blue install screen) after launching safe mode, safe mode with command prompt off the USB drive
MEMORY_MANAGEMENT

Attempted to load with F8 (advanced options)

The boot configuration for your PC is missing or contains errors

status: 0cx00000e9
unexpected I/O error has occurred
device not connected properly

File: boot\BCD
0xc00000e9

blue screen
Kernal_data_inpage_error (after attempting to load without drivers needing to pass security measures)


My only thought is try to get a new set of memory modules that is compatible.
Otherwise I'm going to try to call microsoft -- apparently they are only around until 5pm pacific, WTF?! Who has time to call during business ours that doesn't work in the IT industry.
 
one of my RAM modules was bad. Not sure why I didn't try one at a time earlier. The lesson I learned is don't let the memory test and the BIOS fool you.
 
BSOD destroy my pc. I have to change my pc completely. But you change your power supply, issue my solve
 
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