Windows 7 Crashes on Boot after Shutdown, but fine on Restart

Tc2172 · 10 Jun 2011

I just installed Windows 7 SP1 x64 and everything seems to be working perfectly except when I shut down my computer. When I reboot the machine, windows loads with out a problem, but when I shutdown the next time I boot up windows crashs on the "Starting Windows" screen. I have found that if I disconnect the power, windows will boot normally (this is the only way to get back into windows after a shutdown).

Everything seems to work fine and I do not believe it is my power supply (have never had this problem with WinXP). I did notice that when windows is working and I do a reboot that memtest shows no problems, but after a shutdown memtest says my ram has many errors. Then if I disconnect the power memtest says the ram is fine again. I have 4x1GB Corsair XMS CM2X1024-6400C4 DDR2 sticks in my motherboard.

Any help would be appreciated.

Computer:
ASUS N2N32-SLI Deluxe Motherboard
AMD X2 4600+
eVGA geForce 7900GT
ViewSonic VX2235wm-3 driver shows up at ViewSonic VX2235wm-7

Again, what happens is memtest fails, "after a shutdown" in Win7, unless power is disconnected after the shutdown. It is fine after a power disconnect and subsequent restarts.

Thanks in advance,

Tc

zigzag3143 · 10 Jun 2011

Tc2172 said:

I just installed Windows 7 SP1 x64 and everything seems to be working perfectly except when I shut down my computer. When I reboot the machine, windows loads with out a problem, but when I shutdown the next time I boot up windows crashs on the "Starting Windows" screen. I have found that if I disconnect the power, windows will boot normally (this is the only way to get back into windows after a shutdown).

Everything seems to work fine and I do not believe it is my power supply (have never had this problem with WinXP). I did notice that when windows is working and I do a reboot that memtest shows no problems, but after a shutdown memtest says my ram has many errors. Then if I disconnect the power memtest says the ram is fine again. I have 4x1GB Corsair XMS CM2X1024-6400C4 DDR2 sticks in my motherboard.

Any help would be appreciated.

Computer:
ASUS N2N32-SLI Deluxe Motherboard
AMD X2 4600+
eVGA geForce 7900GT
ViewSonic VX2235wm-3 driver shows up at ViewSonic VX2235wm-7

Again, what happens is memtest fails in Win7 after a shutdown, unless power is disconnected after the shutdown. It is fine after a power disconnect and subsequent restarts.

Thanks in advance,

Tc

memtest (and not windows memory diagnostics) is never run inside windows. It is always run from a boot cd or USB.

Tc2172 · 11 Jun 2011

I know that memtest is run from a bootdisk. That is why I find it strange that when I shut down the computer memtest says I have bad ram, unless I disconnect the power. If I do a restart from windows (after a start with power disconnected and reconnected) memtest says the ram is fine. memtest says the memory is fine all the time with WinXP and I never have problems with it booting up.

Again its windows that will not start up after a shutdown (fine for restart). The only problem I can find is that memtest fails when a shutdown occurs, but only in Windows 7 (not WinXP).

zigzag3143 · 11 Jun 2011

Tc2172 said:

I know that memtest is run from a bootdisk. That is why I find it strange that when I shut down the computer memtest says I have bad ram, unless I disconnect the power. If I do a restart from windows (after a start with power disconnected and reconnected) memtest says the ram is fine. memtest says the memory is fine all the time with WinXP and I never have problems with it booting up.

Again its windows that will not start up after a shutdown (fine for restart). The only problem I can find is that memtest fails when a shutdown occurs, but only in Windows 7 (not WinXP).

If you are doing a "restart from windows" memtest cant "say" you have bad ram because the windows drivers and services are running.

Memtest needs to test the hardware only (no windows software involved).

did you run memtest on each individual stick?, and did you take a known good stick and rum memtest on each individual motherboard slot?

All of the above need to be run for 6-8 passes (with no reboots in between)

Tc2172 · 12 Jun 2011

I do a restart, when the BIOS appears I press F8 and boot from a CD to run memtest before windows starts. My ram is fine, its high quality and not being overclocked or stressed at all. It passes memtest runs all the time when running Windows XP or Ubuntu (neither are installed anymore), but it shows errors when I shutdown from Windows 7. It was something I noticed when I was trying to figure out why windows 7 does not boot unless I unplug the computer after a shutdown (its fine when I restart). There probably is a driver conflict or something that keeps windows from shutting down completely and it gets a "complete" shutdown when I disconnect the power. Otherwise after a shutdown, windows 7 crashes when it says "starting up windows".

zigzag3143 · 12 Jun 2011

Tc2172 said:

I do a restart, when the BIOS appears I press F8 and boot from a CD to run memtest before windows starts. My ram is fine, its high quality and not being overclocked or stressed at all. It passes memtest runs all the time when running Windows XP or Ubuntu (neither are installed anymore), but it shows errors when I shutdown from Windows 7. It was something I noticed when I was trying to figure out why windows 7 does not boot unless I unplug the computer after a shutdown (its fine when I restart). There probably is a driver conflict or something that keeps windows from shutting down completely and it gets a "complete" shutdown when I disconnect the power. Otherwise after a shutdown, windows 7 crashes when it says "starting up windows".

1-restart>>bios>>cd>>run memtest>>ok

2-Whether it passed XP or Ubuntu (which were installed and the ram was fine then with no BSOD's) doesnt matter now.

3-How does memtest show errors on shutdown from within windows (it cant be run from with in windows (especially 64 bit))???????????

4-Once you are shutdown and reboot from the Memtest CD it can then show ram condition but that is a new reboot.

Unplugging to get windows to boot is a different issue than ram. memtest only tests ram and mobo. The no-start issue may be a power supply, a driver as you said, or many other things.

We should try not to tackle too many issues at once for that will only leave us confused.

If there is a driver conflict it can be tested for after we establish the rams condition by using driver verifier

I'd suggest that you first backup your stuff and then make sure you've got access to another computer so you can contact us if problems arise. Then make a System Restore point (so you can restore the system using the Vista/Win7 Startup Repair feature).

In Windows 7 you can make a Startup Repair disk by going to Start....All Programs...Maintenance...Create a System Repair Disc - with Windows Vista you'll have to use your installation disk or the "Repair your computer" option at the top of the Safe Mode menu .

Then, here's the procedure:
- Go to Start and type in "verifier" (without the quotes) and press Enter
- Select "Create custom settings (for code developers)" and click "Next"
- Select "Select individual settings from a full list" and click "Next"
- Select everything EXCEPT FOR "Low Resource Simulation" and click "Next"
- Select "Select driver names from a list" and click "Next"
Then select all drivers NOT provided by Microsoft and click "Next"
- Select "Finish" on the next page.

Reboot the system and wait for it to crash to the Blue Screen. Continue to use your system normally, and if you know what causes the crash, do that repeatedly. The objective here is to get the system to crash because Driver Verifier is stressing the drivers out. If it doesn't crash for you, then let it run for at least 36 hours of continuous operation (an estimate on my part).

If you can't get into Windows because it crashes too soon, try it in Safe Mode.
If you can't get into Safe Mode, try using System Restore from your installation DVD to set the system back to the previous restore point that you created.

Tc2172 · 13 Jun 2011

I will look into the special start up for drivers. You obviously are not understanding the steps I was doing.

Scenario 1
1) Computer unplugged
2) Computer plugged in
3) Press Power Button
4) F8>Memtest> Memory is Fine.
5) Press ESC to restart computer
6) Windows 7 boots up fine and works normally for XXX number of days
7) I go to start menu
8) I go to restart
9) F8>Memtest> Memory is Fine.

Scenario 2
1) Computer unplugged
2) Computer plugged in
3) Press Power Button
4) Windows 7 boots up fine and works normally for XXX number of days
7) I go to start menu
8) I go to shutdown
9) Windows is Shutdown computer is off and still plugged in
10) After XXX number of minutes I hit the power button to turn on the computer
11) Windows 7 boots up to "starting windows" and then stalls indefinitely.
14) Hit Restart Button, Windows 7 boots up to "starting windows" and then stalls indefinitely.
15) Hit Power Button on computer case to turn off
16) Power button again to turn on, Windows 7 boots up to "starting windows" and then stalls indefinitely.
17) The only way to break this cycle is to unplug computer.

Senario 2 with Memtest check
1) Computer unplugged
2) Computer plugged in
3) Press Power Button
4) Windows 7 boots up fine and works normally for XXX number of days
7) I go to start menu
8) I go to shutdown
9) Windows is Shutdown computer is off and still plugged in
10) After XXX number of minutes I hit the power button to turn on the computer
11) F8>Memtest> Memory gives errors immediately
12) Press ESC to restart computer
13) Windows 7 boots up to "starting windows" and then stalls indefinitely.
14) Windows will no longer work until the computer has been unplugged.
15) Follow Scenario 1

jb95762 · 28 Jul 2011

Tc2172, I have the *exact* same issue. Did you ever find the cause of the problem and a solution?

Tc2172 · 29 Jul 2011

No I never did, I just have my computer hooked into a surge protector and I flip the power switch after I shutdown and back on when I turn on my computer. I have yet to try Zigzags convoluted method, probably wait until I have a free couple of days in case I screw up windows 7. I am a little leery of following advice from someone that can not figure out how the difference between booting into memtest or windows.

jb95762 · 29 Jul 2011

I actually found the answer on another thread and it works! Oddly, if you have a SATA 3/4 hard drive plugged in, it messes everything up. Unplug your SATA 3 hard drive or device, and then your PC will boot normally. Sounds crazy, but I just tried it several times and it works!