Windows boot fail + BSOD + reboot; same issue even with different boot disks

[smittenkitty]

Specs:
- Core i5-2400
- 4GB RAM
- MSI R5770 HAWK Motherboard
- ATI Radeon 5770
- 60GB OCZ Vertex2 SSD (boot disk)
- 150GB WD VelociRaptor
- Win 7 Pro

I have had this for about 2.5 years now and have never really had any problems until now. Today, Chrome (which has been giving me Shockwave crash errors for a few months now) couldn't load some page (not porn) and then the computer froze. I wanted to wait for a minute before manually rebooting to see if anything would happen. Before I could reboot, it rebooted itself.

I wasn't really paying attention on the reboot, but I know I saw the MSI splash screen. I looked away and then I heard the computer rebooting again. I then watched carefully. After the MSI splash screen, it goes to the Windows 7 splash screen, but within 2-3 seconds, a BSOD flashes for a split-second and the computer reboots. I tried rebooting into Safe Mode, Last Known Settings, and Normally but none worked. I turned off the machine, waited, and then tried again but no luck.

I then unplugged the SSD and booted from the Velociraptor - which has Win XP loaded on it - but had the exact same issues. So, I think I can rule out HDD issues.

Please help! Would appreciate your input. Thanks!

 

[Steltek]

I agree that the problem isn't with your storage drives, but does sound like a definite hardware problem. I'd start with attempting to boot a Memtest86+ ISO and test for bad memory modules. If you can't do that, or if they test OK, my next step would be to swap the power supply and video card, in that order. Does the system do the same thing from a cold boot (i.e. after it has been sitting for a few hours)?

Also, does your motherboard have an actual model number associated with it as I couldn't find anything about it based upon your description. Also, what brand and model of power supply do you have installed?

 

[Ketchup]

So the Velociraptor has booted that configuration before?
Did you update any drivers while it was running before the reboot occurred?

I agree with Steltek here that on the surface it sounds like RAM. I don't see a power supply causing a blue screen. You can run memtest, or you can try booting with each stick of RAM, one at a time, which may be quicker.

 

[smittenkitty]

Here's a link to the mobo, gave you the wrong information previously: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813130569

And here's the power supply: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817104155

I have not booted with the VelociRaptor with this hardware configuration.

I did not update any drivers prior to the reboot.

I tried cold booting but the issue persists.

I wasn't able to boot the Memtest86+ ISO because I have no optical or floppy drives.

I tried booting with each stick of RAM individually but had the same problem, so it doesn't look like it's the RAM.

I don't have another power supply.

I unplugged the graphics card and was able to boot up, so preliminarily it looks like that was the issue. I'll try out the computer for a bit to see if it remains stable and report back.

Thanks!

 

[smittenkitty]

When I previously said I unplugged the gfx card, I meant I unplugged the power supply to it, but did not physically remove the card from the slot. When I booted up the machine, I could hear the fans (presumably) of the gfx card emitting a very high pitch. The first time, Win XP on the VelociRaptor booted up fine. I tried again and this time I shut down the computer and removed the gfx card completely.

I replugged the SSD and booted up (2 HDDs connected now). It booted into Win XP so I thought that I needed to change the BIOS. At the Win XP login screen, I tabbed over to the shutdown menu and restarted. I tried to get into BIOS but wasn't able to do it - and still cannot. If I press DEL, it just seems to interrupt the bootup or BIOS process or something and the computer freezes. I have to turn the power off.

Strangely enough, even if I only have the SSD plugged in, the computer boots into Win XP, but there is no Win XP on the SSD, only Win 7!!! If I boot with only the VelociRaptor plugged in, it also boots to Win XP (this is correct). WTH?! When Win XP loads, neither the keyboard nor the mouse are recognized either (both via USB).

Whether with the SSD or the VR, however, there are no video drivers (understandable, I may not have installed the mobo gfx drivers) and Win XP says it needs to be activated. I appear to be getting the same problem with both disks and I don't understand it. I also don't know what happened to Win 7 on my SSD?!!?

I'm starting to get concerned about data loss on my HDDs now =(

Any thoughts?

 

[Ketchup]

Any thoughts?

Unfortunately, my first thought is that post doesn't make sense, the way I read it. If you are running XP, then there is an active hard drive or partition that is running it somewhere (same for 7).

Now, if you, have both running and your boot manager got messed up, I could see that causing you some grief.

When you had all your hard drives working and both OSs available, do you know what boot manager (or boot loader) you were using?

 

[smittenkitty]

I figured out what was going on, because it didn't make any sense to me as well.

I have a third HDD connected that has a copy of Win XP installed on it so it must be booting that even older copy of XP up. Which means that I still have not booted from the SSD since I removed the gfx card.

I'll unplug the third HDD when I get home tonight to see if I can boot from the SSD.

One issue that remains is my inability to get into my BIOS. I'll report back on that issue later tonight as well.

Sorry for the confusion!

 

[smittenkitty]

Sorry for the previous confusion.

I have now unplugged all HDDs except the SSD and booted up. I got BSOD right as the Microsoft status bar began to appear onscreen (i.e., same error at the same place as my original post). Computer automatically rebooted, but this time I was able to boot into Startup Repair. It ran the default Auto Repair but this failed - the error message can been seen here and here.

I then went into Advanced Options and ran the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool. The test ran all the way to 99% without an issue and then just before it turned to 100%, I got the BSOD again. After automatically rebooting, I ran the same test and got the same result again. Error messages can be found here and here.

Next, I unplugged the SSD and plugged in the VR. Win XP booted up normally and after logging on, there were several messages stating that XP was not activated. I denied all requests and then XP automatically logged me off. Then, I got the BSOD again, except this time the computer froze and did not reboot - here's the BSOD. I pressed the power button for 5 seconds to get it to reboot.

I logged into XP again and went through denying the activation process. I got kicked back to the log on screen and tried again - no BSOD this time. After again going through the non-activation process, there was an error message about the memory: here. Now that I come to think of it, I was getting error messages on reboots when the computer was still functioning, they may even have been the same message, although I'm not sure.

I unplugged the VR and replugged the SSD. Booted up, same error. Shut off the computer and removed one stick of RAM. Ran Startup Repair (auto repair failed here and here), then the memory test and had the same issue (BSOD at 99% completion). Tried the other stick and had the same issues, here and here.

I also tried getting into the BIOS again (pressing DEL on startup) but doing so freezes the entire start up process. This happens regardless of which HDD is booting up.

So, in summary, I seem to have a whole host of issues! Here's the (circumstantial?) evidence for each:

1.) Gfx card -- proof: able to boot into XP (never got to try Win 7) without card but unable to with card.

2.) Memory -- Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool fails and BSODs at 99% completion, whether sticks of RAM tested together or individually; error message on reboot.

3.) SSD -- get the same BSOD/auto reboot issue as in the OP.

4.) Motherboard -- unable to load BIOS settings, computer freezes before getting to BIOS settings.

So, what's the likely culprit?!

 

[denis280]

Did you clear CMOS.did you try booting without ssd to see if you get to bios screen.

 

[smittenkitty]

Have definitely tried booting with other the VelociRaptor but also unable to reach the BIOS screen.

Haven't tried clearing CMOS, but I'll try that tonight.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I also tried getting into the BIOS again (pressing DEL on startup) but doing so freezes the entire start up process. This happens regardless of which HDD is booting up.

This can happen if there is an error detecting the drives.

 

[Ketchup]

You need to run Windows one hard drive at a time to see if one of those is causing your issues.

 

[John Connor]

How did you install the OS without an optical drive? It is imperative you run memtest86+ over night. Can you boot into BIOS with the hard drives disconnected? Clear CMOS as stated. I thought this was graphics card related, but it seems more and more like RAM or MB.

That hard drive with XP on it isn't going to work with dissimilar hardware that was originally installed to.