Windows 7 Crashes after updates/service packs installed.

Hi there,

I am writing on behalf of my father, who has run into an enormous amount of trouble upgrading my computer. He has recently upgraded the motherboard and CPU of my computer (to the specs provided in my profile), and since doing so has been unable to install/update windows 7.

The computer operated just fine until we replaced the old processor and mobo.

The initial new installation of the OS goes swimmingly, but then as soon as the service packs begin downloading and configuring - the computer will do the standard repeated restarts and goes through the configuration procedure, then will simply not boot at all after. Windows Repair does nothing, and the only option is to reinstall the OS from the BIOS, to simply replicate the exact same issue.

He is at a total loss of what to do. We have tried using different SATA cables, installing to different hard drives, we have done memtests to check the RAM, clean installs. He'll have tried a fair few things I have no idea about and cannot list here - he is fairly computer literate and has spent the entire weekend failing to fix this issue.

The computer operates normally with just service pack 1 installed, but then this issue arises with one of the subsequent updates, to a fairly consistent fault every time.

What could the problem be? What could fix it?

Thanks a lot for any help, this is mind boggling stuff - i'd never believed replacing a bloody processor and mobo could result in such a seemingly incurable problem.

Ashley X

Unplug all other HD's and peripherals,

Boot into BIOS setup, reset to defaults, save changes. (If an EFI BIOS you'll need to decide if you want UEFI BIOS vs. Legacy BIOS. If UEFI follow these special steps for Install, otherwise enable Legacy BIOS or Compatibility Support Module to proceed with normal install.) Set DVD drive first to boot, HD second, set SATA controller to AHCI, Save changes and Exit.

Then boot into Windows 7 installer DVD or flash stick burned or written using tool and latest ISO for your licensed OS version with SP1 here.

At first installer screen Press Shift + F10, or enter System Recovery Options to open a Command Box, type:

DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK 0 (after confirming Windows 7 target HD #)
CLEAN
CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY SIZE=102400 (for 100gb partition, adjust as desired)
FORMAT FS=NTFS LABEL="WINDOWS 7"
ACTIVE
EXIT
EXIT

Next click Install Now, then Custom install to Clean Install Windows 7 to the partition you created. If it fails then report back at which step and the verbatim error message.

In addition read over these steps to understand the tools and methods which work best to get and maintain a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. The steps are the same for retail.

After install you can adjust partition size or Create new partitions for data, etc. in Disk Mgmt. You are creating the partition here for the purpose of wiping the HD and marking Active which overcomes certain install failures.

Hi there, thanks a lot for your time mate!

We followed your instructions exactly, and I was feeling fairly optimistic. We installed all the updates for windows, with the system restarting itself fine after these and all seemed to be working fine... I was pretty happy.

Then of course after switching the machine off for a short while, upon reboot - it wouldnt reboot.

Black Screen. 'Windows Error Recovery. Failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause.'

It tried to run a StartupRepair to no avail, giving the message - ''the instruction at 0xfb8b584d referenced memory at 0x00000008. The memory could not be read. Click OK to terminate program.''

These are the only codes I could get my hands on to describe the error. (edit - added more codes below) Any ideas?

I could not hate this computer more. Thank you hugely for your time though :).

EDIT: Startup Repair Log advanced Details:

--------

Boot critical file c:\windows\system32\drivers\ksecpkglOsys is corrupt

Repair action: File repair
Result: Failed. Error code = 0x2

Repair action: system files integrity check and repair
Result: Failed. Error code = 0x490.

-------

According to the log, the number of root causes is '1' - therefore this is the root cause, the only fail of the whole test.

Where did you get the Win7 installer? I'd use the latest official installer provided in my last post. Did you miss any of the other steps?

Test the hardware starting with 6-8 passes with memtest86 CD and then if necessary follow the other steps from Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start.

we got the installer from...

Official Windows 7 SP1 ISO Image Downloads

We've also tried it from an official DVD disc/pack thing, we only did the download/usb version initially because it already had service pack 1 sorted, so it would have saved a little time and hassle. So we've installed from both a USB, and a retail disc pack.

Yes, your exact steps were followed - there was windows 7 partition set up on the drive, which we used - everything was fine: even after the updates, but then after a restart it failed again. We've tried two different hard drives, separately with only one plugged at a time.

We have tested the RAM already several times, and it seems fine. As per your recommendation I will soak test it by rinsing it with 6-8 passes tommorow, but we're pretty certain that the problem is NOT with the RAM. We happen to be getting some new RAM delivered sometime soon just as coincidence for another computer - so we'll try that, but I don't think that will fix anything.

Tearing my hair out over this. What do you think the problem could even be? Is there some kind of odd incompatibility issue here or something?