BSOD Every launch - can't even boot in Safe Mode

[Trailerman]

Hi

As of a couple of hours ago, I am getting a blue screen every single time I boot my system. I have tried a system restore, windows startup repair (from the Windows 7 DVD) and runnning Mem Test. Memtest finds no errors, startup repair finds no errors and the system restore completed without issue but did not fix the problem.

When I try and boot into safe mode, I get to the login window, but as soon as I log in I get a blue screen with IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL, generally with no other file referenced. If I try and boot in normal mode the same thing happens and on one ocassion I also saw storport.sys mentioned on the blue screen.

Because I am unable to boot into Windows, I am unable to reinstall any drivers or remove any drivers, or do anything else to the OS.

I have been into the system BIOS and have disabled all my poeripherals (onboard audio, serial port etc.). I have physically also unplugged all USB devces apart from my keyboard and mouse, and have disconnected/removed all hard drives and DVD drives, floppy drive, audio card, second graphics card etc. In other words I've stripped the system down to the bare bones. I am still getting the same BSOD's every time I start the system.

Please can anyone help me diagnose the issue or advise on what I should do next. The issue started whilst I was browsing the web and the system crashed. Prior to that it has run perfectly for the last few weeks. No new hardware has been installed.

OS is Windows 7 Ultimate (64bit). System is about 18 months old, and my Win7 install is about 3 months old. Aside from a few Nvidia graphics driver issues which I resolved a few weeks ago, the system has generally been rock solid. CPU is Intel QX9770, 4GB Ram.

Many many thanks in advance for any help or advice.

Jules

 

[PooMan UK]

Normally IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL errors are due to an overheating CPU or bad memory. Or sometimes some other hardware and or driver failure. Try reseating your CPU cooler (replace the thermal paste if you can)
Also if you have 2 sticks of memory try them 1 at a time, or if your really fortunate to have some other memory spare try that. This is where I would start pal

 

[Trailerman]

Thanks Pooman.

I just pulled the RAM and tested it with only one stick at a time in the system. It behaved exactly the same, so I'd say that plus the memtest I ran previously suggests the RAM is ok.

I just saw Storport.sys mentioned in the bluescreen again. I presume this is a storage driver. Problem is, I have no access to the OS, so how do I remove/repair/reinstall it?

I guess it could be the CPU, but I can run diagnostics outside Windows repeatedly without any issues. As soon as I log into Windows it crashes at the exact same moment without fail, so I'm figuring it's more likley to be a driver issue. I just don't know how to resolve driver issues if I can't get into the operating system.

Thanks again for your help - any suggestions very gratefully received.

Jules

 

[PooMan UK]

I've had a look around and there is allot of talk on hotfixes for your problem, but this isn't going to help as you can't get into windows. Have you tried updating your BIOS ?

 

[Trailerman]

BIOS was updated 3 weeks ago to the latest build. I'm pretty sure that's not the issue as it's been running great since then.

Is there any way of perhaps removing storport.sys from the system via a CMD prompt and forcing Windows to reload it or reinstall it? Just a desperate suggestion as the thought of a complete reinstall is too depressing to contemplate.

Really appreciate your help.

Jules

 

[Trailerman]

Just tried running SFC /scannow on the system drive to see if it would fix any corrupt system files, but got a message saying there was a "system repair pending" and the system needed to boot into windows before I could run SFC.

Of course I can't boot into windows, so I seem to be stuck in a viscious circle of blue screens and ineffective repair attempts.

Anyone have any ideas ....? I'm guessing the lack of responses means I'm most likely looking at a reinstall.

Many thanks

Jules

 

[chiznitz]

Hrm I see your post is only a day old. I have this exact same thing happening to me starting today. I did run a virus scan on a file (turbo tax 2010 from newsserver) and didn't get a positive so I ran it. Computer restarted and now I'm at exact same symptoms as you.

Can't even get into safe mode, sometimes i see the storport.sys blue screen other times it lets me enter my login but then never displays the the start bar and taskmgr won't run either.

 

[Trailerman]

It came down to a reinstall for me.

I replaced storport.sys manually, checked the drive, removed/disabled all superfluous hardware, ran memtest etc., but the issue never went away. I also wasn't able to run sfc /scannow, which is supposed to fix corrupted system files. In my case it refused to run because a system repair was pending.

Without the ability to even boot into safe mode, you're kind of screwed. It looks like something messed with Windows, perhaps even a virus, but I couldn't find a way to get around it. If there's good news, at least (in my case) there were no hardware issues. The fresh install is running fine.

Sorry I can't be more helpful.

Jules