BSOD, repeatedly crashing when I'm not around to see, HELP!

Arc · 20 Jul 2013

I have asked for some more help. Please be there, some other opinion on it should come shortly.

bobafetthotmail · 20 Jul 2013

Try disconnecting DVD and hard drives before booting (express gate is basically a crappy linux OS, more often than not it is just a partition on an hard drive, sometimes it is stored in integrated memory on the mobo itself, see this thread for a pic, try to remove it if it is removable).

Another thing is reflashing BIOS. (updating it to the last version) It is likely corrupted to act up like this.

gregrocker · 20 Jul 2013

Reset the BIOS via another method if you postiively cannot get the known-good BIOS Setup key to respond: How To Clear CMOS (Reset BIOS)

Layback Bear · 20 Jul 2013

When rebooting start tapping rapidly the Delete key at the very beginning of the process whether you see anything or not.
If that doesn't work do the same thing tapping the F2 key.
If things still don't work do as Greg posted in post #23.

Very important: Read and understand your motherboards manual.

focusbob · 20 Jul 2013

Thanks everyone. I know how to clear CMOS, I was just hoping to avoid doing so because I had a profile saved that I didn't want to lose. But, clearly it was necessary... Problem is, after doing so (battery pull), now that problem is gone and a new one has arisen: now after the BIOS screen, I get: "BOOTMGR is missing. Press Ctrl Alt Del to restart" Never had this before, so I'm guessing it's a product of all this BIOS monkeying. HDDs are first in boot order and there are no floppies or other discs in the machine. Google indicates I need to do a startup repair with my win7 installation disc. I can't find it though, so this is going to have to wait (e.g., until monday, I think I have one at work) unless folks have other ideas...

Arc · 20 Jul 2013

You can use Partition Wizard Bootable CD

Follow these guides:
How to Rebuild MBR with partition manager - Partition Wizard Rebuild MBR Help
How to Rebuild MBR with partition magic? Partition Wizard Rebuild MBR Video Help.

gregrocker · 20 Jul 2013

Is the Win7 HD set first to boot?
If so confirm the 100mb System Rserved (preferred ifyou have it) or C is marked Active using the PW CD linked by Koolkat above: How to Set Active/Inactive partition -Partition Wizard Video Help or use the DVD or Repair CD command line to Mark Partition Active

Then try rebuilding the MBR as also shown in Koolkat's post.

If these fail you'll need to boot the Win7 installer or System Repair Disk to run Startup Repair - Run up to 3 Separate Times .

The installer is provided to burn a DVD or write bootable flash stick, along with all other possible steps to repair and start Win7 in Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start

ICIT2LOL · 20 Jul 2013

Bob Is the board the Asus one - just checking cos you have that EZ flash BIOS and crash free features on it have you tried the flash yet? http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/P6T_Deluxe_V2/#support_Download_30

focusbob · 21 Jul 2013

Thanks all! Before I got Arc's latest message, I decided to start testing memory with memtest86+. I have 6 sticks of ram so it's going to take a while to figure everything out, but there are errors, and I've already identified at least one bad module using koolkat's link to troubleshooting with memtest. RMA request is in (all 6 modules were purchased as one matched set); but I'm still testing to make sure I don't have bad mobo ram slots. More to follow...

focusbob · 21 Jul 2013

Question about troubleshooting with memtest86+: The forum's guide provides steps for testing ram as well as mobo ram slots. I've been working through it, but I'm not sure how to test all of the ram slots in my mobo. As per my mobo manual: "Due to intel spec definition, the system will not boot if only one DIMM is installed in DIMM slot A2, B2, or C2." There are 6 ram slots, A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2. So, I understand how to test DIMM slots A1, B1, and C1, but not A2, B2, or C2. Thoughts?