Solved BSOD, repeatedly crashing when I'm not around to see, HELP!

[Arc]

I have asked for some more help. Please be there, some other opinion on it should come shortly.

 

[bobafetthotmail]

Try disconnecting DVD and hard drives before booting (express gate is basically a crappy linux OS, more often than not it is just a partition on an hard drive, sometimes it is stored in integrated memory on the mobo itself, see this thread for a pic, try to remove it if it is removable).

Another thing is reflashing BIOS. (updating it to the last version) It is likely corrupted to act up like this.

 

[gregrocker]

Reset the BIOS via another method if you postiively cannot get the known-good BIOS Setup key to respond: How To Clear CMOS (Reset BIOS)

 

[Layback Bear]

When rebooting start tapping rapidly the Delete key at the very beginning of the process whether you see anything or not.
If that doesn't work do the same thing tapping the F2 key.
If things still don't work do as Greg posted in post #23.

Very important: Read and understand your motherboards manual.

 

[focusbob]

Thanks everyone. I know how to clear CMOS, I was just hoping to avoid doing so because I had a profile saved that I didn't want to lose. But, clearly it was necessary... Problem is, after doing so (battery pull), now that problem is gone and a new one has arisen: now after the BIOS screen, I get: "BOOTMGR is missing. Press Ctrl Alt Del to restart" Never had this before, so I'm guessing it's a product of all this BIOS monkeying. HDDs are first in boot order and there are no floppies or other discs in the machine. Google indicates I need to do a startup repair with my win7 installation disc. I can't find it though, so this is going to have to wait (e.g., until monday, I think I have one at work) unless folks have other ideas...

 

[Arc]

You can use Partition Wizard Bootable CD

Follow these guides:
How to Rebuild MBR with partition manager - Partition Wizard Rebuild MBR Help
How to Rebuild MBR with partition magic? Partition Wizard Rebuild MBR Video Help.
http://www.partitionwizard.com/partition-wizard-bootable-cd.html

 

[gregrocker]

Is the Win7 HD set first to boot?
If so confirm the 100mb System Rserved (preferred ifyou have it) or C is marked Active using the PW CD linked by Koolkat above: How to Set Active/Inactive partition -Partition Wizard Video Help or use the DVD or Repair CD command line to Mark Partition Active

Then try rebuilding the MBR as also shown in Koolkat's post.

If these fail you'll need to boot the Win7 installer or System Repair Disk to run Startup Repair - Run up to 3 Separate Times .

The installer is provided to burn a DVD or write bootable flash stick, along with all other possible steps to repair and start Win7 in Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Bob Is the board the Asus one - just checking cos you have that EZ flash BIOS and crash free features on it have you tried the flash yet? http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/P6T_Deluxe_V2/#support_Download_30

 

[focusbob]

Thanks all! Before I got Arc's latest message, I decided to start testing memory with memtest86+. I have 6 sticks of ram so it's going to take a while to figure everything out, but there are errors, and I've already identified at least one bad module using koolkat's link to troubleshooting with memtest. RMA request is in (all 6 modules were purchased as one matched set); but I'm still testing to make sure I don't have bad mobo ram slots. More to follow...

 

[focusbob]

Question about troubleshooting with memtest86+: The forum's guide provides steps for testing ram as well as mobo ram slots. I've been working through it, but I'm not sure how to test all of the ram slots in my mobo. As per my mobo manual: "Due to intel spec definition, the system will not boot if only one DIMM is installed in DIMM slot A2, B2, or C2." There are 6 ram slots, A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2. So, I understand how to test DIMM slots A1, B1, and C1, but not A2, B2, or C2. Thoughts?

 

[Arc]

Question about troubleshooting with memtest86+: The forum's guide provides steps for testing ram as well as mobo ram slots. I've been working through it, but I'm not sure how to test all of the ram slots in my mobo. As per my mobo manual: "Due to intel spec definition, the system will not boot if only one DIMM is installed in DIMM slot A2, B2, or C2." There are 6 ram slots, A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2. So, I understand how to test DIMM slots A1, B1, and C1, but not A2, B2, or C2. Thoughts?

As per the "Part 3: If you have errors" of How to Test and Diagnose RAM Issues with Memtest86+ first run it with all the existing/installed RAM modules. If it comes with no error, all is good.

But if it starts showing errors, Stop testing. Errors/red lines means one or more RAM is faulty. But the fault may occur due to a faulty DIMM slot, too, which is a motherboard component. Using memtest86+, you can discriminate between a faulty RAM and a faulty motherboard.

How? Say you have two RAM sticks and two DIMM slots. You obtained errors at the test with all RAM sticks installed. Now, remove all the sticks but one. Test it in all the available slots, one by one. Continue the same procedure for all the available sticks and DIMM slots.
How to make the inference that is it a RAM issue or it is a motherboard issue? Suppose you have got the result like that:

test|Slot1|Slot2
RAM1| Error | Error
RAM2|Good|Good

It is a RAM, a bad RAM.

But if you have got a result like that:

test|Slot1|Slot2
RAM1| Error |Good
RAM2| Error |Good

It is a motherboard issue. The particular slot is bad.

As you have system constraints, test A1, B1 and C1 individually first, with all the RAM sticks one by one. if you get any error for those, determine that slot as bad, but if all are OK, it is all good.

Now, take a RAM module say RAM1, which is good with all the slots, and RAM2 which is similarly good. Put one of them in A1 which is good too. Put another one in A2 which is not tested yet. This time memtest showed errors. So we may have a hint that A2 is a failing slot.

Shuffle the RAM modules in slots and test again; error again. Decide that A2 is really bad.

Due to the constraints, the memtest process will take a long time, but the result you will get will be worthy.

 

[focusbob]

HPE 380t

The suspect HDD failed the seatools long test. For some reason I couldn't get it to test the second drive, but it's certain that the first one is a problem and I'm just going to replace it... (there's no alternative explanation, right, before I replace? Like bad sata port, connection, etc?).

ASUS P6T DELUXE V2

ARC: sounded like a wise plan; I'm almost done executing it (in relative terms); I have two more pairs of DIMM slots to test starting when I get home from work today so probably will have full results in 2 days or so. Prior to testing RAM I updated the BIOS (and turned off express gate).

I had a question about stress/temp testing... What would be a good program that can stress test my systems while recording temps (e.g., up until a crash, such that I could retrieve the temperature that was logged right before the crash)? I typically use Prime 95 for the stress testing, and I know there are a lot of temp monitoring programs, but is there one that records temps and saves a file of them that is recoverable after a system crash?

 

[Arc]

HPE 380t

What is the type of failure? Is it like this?
View attachment 277644

If the test result a failure, with bad sectors etc, it will suggest you to have a warranty replacement, with a supplied test code. And it will supply you some options to repair the failures. If repairs are successful, it will show a result as passed after repair.Like the image below.

View attachment 277645

But if it failed to repair, there is no option left but replace the HDD. No alternative explanations are there, as Seatools tests those separately, and reports the failure based on the HDD only.

ASUS P6T DELUXE V2

You may check the results.txt file. It is saved at the Prime95's root folder. Form that .txt file, you may get the necessary info.

 

[focusbob]

HPE 380t

What is the type of failure? Is it like this?

It actually just said "failed" next to the drive with no further explanation and it didn't proceed to test the second drive. So, I'm not sure?

 

[Arc]

HPE 380t

What is the type of failure? Is it like this?

It actually just said "failed" next to the drive with no further explanation and it didn't proceed to test the second drive. So, I'm not sure?

If the HDD is within warranty, RMA it. If the replacement will not be a big deal for you, replace it. But if you want to be cautious .... take the long test again. It will give the failure message after a few hours. Like this .....

View attachment 277649

See a "Done" button there at the bottom? Click it. You will get a list of possible actions. Like this ....

View attachment 277650

Opt for "repair this one only". If it is repairable, it will repair the damage and give you a "passed after repair" message. Like this ....

View attachment 277651

So if you think it will be a worthy step, you may try the long test again and attempt the repair.

 

[focusbob]

Thanks ARC, I'll give her another go.

 

[focusbob]

HPE 380t

I've run the "long test" twice now, and at its completion, a pop up for results from the short test is returned only. Next to the drive it says "failed". In the top or middle program window it says "short dst supported" but doesn't say anything about the long dst; also in the bottom program window, each time, it says "long test" initiated and the time at which it was started. So, I'm really confused. The only thing I can figure is that the long test is not able to run on my drive... I've ordered a new drive (the old one is not under warranty). Ideally, I would like to try to repair the broken drive, but as of now the plan is to replace the drive, and run my mobo's SMART tests and/or seatools on both drives to make sure everything is kosher.

ASUS P6T DELUXE V2

RMA granted on my RAM, it's going back to corsair today. Stress/temperature testing will resume once I've gotten the RAM back and have tested it (together) with memtest.

More to follow, but since I'm waiting on hardware, might be some time. Stay tuned!

One other thing: I posted about a crashing vista pc (I have a lot of unhealthy pcs lol!) in the vistax64 "vista forum" a couple of days ago but no one is replying. Thread with crash logs is here (if anyone can help):

system crash when i wasnt around to see...help!

 

[Arc]

Its ok ... let us know how the machines are working with the replaced hardware when it is done

 

[focusbob]

HPE 380t

Harddrive replaced, RAID 1 rebuilt, so far so good.

ASUS P6T DELUXE V2

RAM replaced, passed 7 passes of memtest, now to fix the bootloader (but don't anticipate any further issues)

My other crashing pc needs help, if anyone can help, please see:
http://www.sevenforums.com/bsod-help-support/298527-bsod-home-theater-pc-crashed-when-idle.html

 

[Arc]

Nice to see you after so many days

So we may consider that the HP machine is out of danger now.

How is the ASUS machine running now? Any further BSODs?