Solved BSOD 10 minutes in playing Empire: TW

[Twistedben]

James,
Just wondering, this is because of a Windows 7 system file that's damaged right? Because sometimes when I boot, the computer goes into Startup repair mode, do you think this'll fix that too? And should I reinstall all my applications, just in case, as Writh suggested, it's a third party conflict?

 

[James7679]

Yes, it will fix that.
You should follow these steps laid out by writhziden.

I would recommend that you disable Driver Verifier and proceed as suggested by James7679.

After the repair install, http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...n-startup.html since the above error may have been due to third party application conflicts as the article I linked to suggests.


Steps 1-3 of http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...ml#post1839164 may be helpful in doing the repair install.

 

[Twistedben]

Thank you, James, I will follow the instructions given. I really appreciate it.
I'll check in afterward.

 

[Twistedben]

Just letting you two know everything went well.
I was able to get Intel Rapid Storage driver on without a BSOD as it had earlier. I uninstalled TuneUP and now using TotalMounter instead of Daemon tools. I haven't yet gotten a BSOD, and the game I played ran smoothly. Everything seems to be going well, but should I put it to the test somehow, like another Verifier run? Or just let it go?
Thanks again guys.

Twistedben

 

[writhziden]

Just run normally for a while. Do your usual routine and post back in a few days how the system is responding. Things look promising, and I am happy to see that.

 

[James7679]

Just run normally for a while. Do your usual routine and post back in a few days how the system is responding. Things look promising, and I am happy to see that.

Agreed! Nice work!

 

[Twistedben]

Thanks guys, you're the best.
I'll check in if anything goes awry.
Hopefully not, !

 

[Twistedben]

Some bad news guys,

I'm not getting any BSODs, but my whole startup problems didn't go away with the windows repair. 1/3rd the time I boot, windows hangs on a black screen or gives me Startup Repair Launcher. I clicked the Startup Repair and got a black screen, saying "Windows Boot Manager:"
"Windows has encountered a problem communicating with a device connected to your computer." (I attached a screenshot of the error I received below). My computer got stuck on this screen.
It seems that whenever I try to boot directly and solely from my SSD (where windows is installed) I get an error: Either a Startup Repair Launcher or a Black Screen. I just did an F11 Boot Select and clicked the SSD and it booted okay, but this is rare; I believe it requires my two WD Caviar Blacks Data Drives to boot? Also my computer hangs on Shutting Down ever since the Repair Install; I believe I fixed it, though, by disabled Nvidia in Services MSConfig.

Do you guys have a suggestion as to why these boot failings may be happening?
Check the attached screen shot.

Again, thanks for your time.
Twistedben

 

[writhziden]

Is the firmware for your SSD up to date? What about your BIOS? Chipset drivers? Hard disk controller drivers? You can find all but the SSD firmware from your motherboard support site. The SSD firmware can be updated from OCZ Technology. Unfortunately, I cannot give you a more direct link to your motherboard because there are a number of different Asrock Fatal1ty P67 motherboards, but you can start with ASRock > Support and choose the motherboard that you own. Here is the list I found searching with the motherboard information you provided:

• ASRock Fatal1ty P67 Performance Socket 1155 P67 ATX Intel Motherboard
  
  
• ASRock Fatal1ty P67 Professional B3 ATX LGA1155 Ddr3 3PCI-E16 2pc
  
  
• ASRock Fatal1ty P67 Professional Motherboard 2nd Generation Core...
  
  
• Asrock Fatal1ty P67 Professional (b3) Atx Intel Motherboard
  
  
• Asrock Lga1155/ Intel P67/ Ddr3/ Sata3&usb3.0/ A&gbe/ Atx Motherboard
  
  
• etc.

To provide us with more information to better help you, please download and install CPU-Z and Upload screenshots of the CPU, Mainboard, Memory, and SPD tabs. In the SPD tab, upload an image of each slot.


Also, can you please upload your msinfo32.nfo file? To get this: Start Menu -> Type msinfo32 into the Search programs and files box -> When it opens, go to File, Save -> Save as msinfo32.nfo and save in a place you will remember -> Let it finish the process of gathering and saving the system info -> Right click the .nfo file, click send to compressed (zipped) folder -> Upload the .zip file here.


Try doing a power cycle of the SSD. The following steps should be carried out and take ~1 hour to complete.

1. Power off the system.
2. Remove all power supplies (ac adapter then battery for laptop, ac adapter for desktop)
3. Hold down the power button for 30 seconds to close the circuit and drain all components of power.
4. Reconnect all power supplies (battery then ac adapter for laptop, ac adapter for desktop)
5. Turn on the system and enter the BIOS (see your manual for the steps to enter the BIOS)
6. Let the computer remain in the BIOS for 20 minutes.
7. Follow steps 1-3 and physically remove the SSD from the system by disconnecting the cables for a desktop or disconnecting the drive from the junction for a laptop.
8. Leave the drive disconnected for 30 seconds to let all power drain from it.
9. Repeat step 4.
10. Replace the drive connection(s) and do steps 5-8 again.
11. Repeat step 4.
12. Start your computer normally and run Windows.

The above steps were a result of: Why did my SSD "disappear" from my system? - Crucial Community

While that may not be your drive, a power cycle should be the same on all SSD drives. See how the system responds after the SSD power cycle.

 

[Twistedben]

Writhziden,

My SSD's Firmware just released a new version. Mine is 2.15, the new one is 2.22. I haven't updated because all that was changed was:
"•Improved handling on prolonged resume from partial to slumber state
•Fixed an issue when abnormal amounts of secure erases could cause incorrect block P/E counts to be reported in SMART data.
•Performance improvement on some benchmarks"
My Bios is 1 version behind the latest. Their last update was in 8/2011.
All my Mobo drivers are up to date.
This problem has been going on from day one I put the SSD in. Previously, when I was running Raid 0 with two Caviar Blacks I had NO PROBLEMS. But it seems this SSD has caused me many.
I just got another BSOD when playing Napoleon: Total War. I'll attach it with my CPU-Z information and MSinfo. In this post I'll have the CPU-z pictures and the minidump and the next post I'll upload the MSinfo.
I'm going nuts, and considering a clean wipe to start over.

Twistedben

 

[Twistedben]

And my MSinfo.Rar.

 

[writhziden]

Crash was inconclusive.

Try running with your Command Rate set to 2T instead of 1T. You can change the command rate in the BIOS. Keep the first four timings as 7-8-7-24.

Also, did you do the steps for the SSD power cycle?

If you get to the point of doing the clean install, you may consider replacing the SSD with an HDD if the clean install does not fix the problems. See if it is an incompatibility issue with the SSD and some other hardware or drivers.

 

[Twistedben]

I'll tweak the ram tomorrow and let you know. No, I haven't done the power cycle but I'll try it when I tweak the ram. I'm thinking there's something wrong with windows booting on the ssd. It seems like boot files are all over the place or something. If the clean install doesn't help, I will definitely go back to the HDDs. I think I might try OCZ's forums.

 

[Twistedben]

Nothing has helped.
I'm going to attempt a secure erase and use different SATA cables with my SSD. Then reinstall windows freshly.

 

[writhziden]

Sounds good. Not sure a secure erase is necessary, but that is your call. Just backup important data before proceeding.

 

[Twistedben]

Okay, thanks again, WRithziden. I'll check in. Because now, Windows gets stuck on Shutting Down AND I can't plug in External HDDs, win doesn't recognize them.

 

[writhziden]

Can you use external drives in the recovery environment?
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/666-advanced-boot-options.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/668-system-recovery-options.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/93347-copy-paste-windows-recovery-console.html

 

[Twistedben]

Let me see if I can brb

 

[Twistedben]

BIOS recognized the external but I couldn't get into RE because it gave me another Windows Boot Manager error, attached above

 

[writhziden]

What about getting to the recovery environment using an installation disc or repair disc?

OPTION TWO of http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/668-system-recovery-options.html shows these steps.