Windows Vista upgrade to Windows 7 Pro - BSOD (Sort of)

[WindowsStar]

Hello Gurus:

I had a friend call me today with a problem. I am unfamiliar with it so I thought I would ask everyone here for ideas before a wipe and reload.

Background:
· Dell desktop computer about 3 years old.
· Originally loaded with Windows Vista Ultimate (x86)
· 4 GB Ram

The machine has been running perfectly until 2 weeks ago, when he decided to run the Windows 7 upgrade check on the machine. It came back with a list of software that would have to be removed before installing Windows 7 Professional. He was not ready to uninstall the software and needed to make a back of the machine so he decided to wait. About 2 days after he ran the Windows 7 Upgrade check the machine BSOD when he logged into the computer (right after typing the password). He figured it was just a fluke and powered off the machine, then unplugged it from the wall and waited about 5 minutes. Plugged it back in and booted the machine up. Machine booted correctly and waited at the logon screen. He paused for a few minutes to let the machine recover from the BSOD, after waiting about 2 minutes he logged on to the machine and just after typing in the password the machine BSOD. He tried many other things and gave up. A few days later he figured he would work on fixing the machine, but this day the machine let him logon without any problems. He made a backup and then cleaned up the machine, virus scan, malware, etc. etc. He rebooted several times and the machine works fine. He made a second backup. Several days later he booted the machine and the same BSOD problem came back. He tried rebooting several times but could not log on. He left the machine for about 4 days because he had to go out of town. When he came home he tried the machine and it let him log on without any problems. Again he did full scans and double checked everything but could not find the problem. Google was no help as well. At this point he decided to install Windows 7 Professional figuring that this was where he wanted to be and hopefully if there were boot issues or drive issues Windows 7 Installer would warn of them. He uninstalled all the software that was not compatible, rebooted several times and double checked for all and installed all windows updates. The Windows 7 Pro upgrade went perfect, no errors, no issues, machine rebooted and logged on perfectly. Machine took all windows updates without issue. He used the machine all that day and the next week no issues.

Yesterday the machine would not let him log on. The machine did NOT BSOD but after entering the password the machine blacks out the screen and the machine hangs, or the machine will power off (yes power off not blank or black screen that looks like a power off). He tried all day yesterday and all day today to get logged on and cannot. He is out of town right now and about 4000 miles away so I cannot get physical access to the machine. He is at a conference and has limited resources but does need access to his machine. (Yes I know this is a desktop machine, he took it with him and it is setup in his hotel room, he has no laptop)

Ideas? Thoughts? Anyone seen something like this before??

Thanks -WS

 

[reventon]

You didn't mention - has he tried Safe Mode?

If Safe Mode works then get him to run the http://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-debugging/96879-blue-screen-death-bsod-posting-instructions.html

 

[WindowsStar]

You didn't mention - has he tried Safe Mode?

If Safe Mode works then get him to run the http://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-debugging/96879-blue-screen-death-bsod-posting-instructions.html

Great question...I don't think we talked about that. I will ask him in the morning.

 

[WindowsStar]

Ok new information: I miss posted. It is not that the machine BSOD on log on but when he switches users, as in from his to his wifes or kids profile. The machine mostly reboots but does BSOD every once and a while.

 

[profdlp]

I'd look for a driver problem as a start.

 

[reventon]

I'd look for a driver problem as a start.

Agreed. Get him to turn the Driver Verifier on: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/101379-driver-verifier-enable-disable.html

 

[profdlp]

I'd still have him check drivers, but:

Ok new information: I miss posted. It is not that the machine BSOD on log on but when he switches users, as in from his to his wifes or kids profile. The machine mostly reboots but does BSOD every once and a while.

Makes me wonder if there isn't a permissions issue at play here. Have him try creating a new user, then switch to the new account. If it doesn't BSOD we might have a lead.

 

[WindowsStar]

I'd still have him check drivers, but:

Ok new information: I miss posted. It is not that the machine BSOD on log on but when he switches users, as in from his to his wifes or kids profile. The machine mostly reboots but does BSOD every once and a while.

Makes me wonder if there isn't a permissions issue at play here. Have him try creating a new user, then switch to the new account. If it doesn't BSOD we might have a lead.

We covered permissions. Not an issue here. It was happing in Vista before the upgrade. We tried new accounts and the computer still does the same thing. Thanks for the idea...keep them coming.

 

[theog]

Try running the Dell quick diagnostic tool in the F12 Boot Menu.

 

[WindowsStar]

Try running the Dell quick diagnostic tool in the F12 Boot Menu.

I will ask him to and post the results here. However I have not heard from him in a day or so. This out of town out of contact repairs are hard...UGH!