BSOD: Windows 7 64 bit installation / startup

[Almightyblob]

Hello,

I hope I can find some help here.

Some while ago I assembled a PC (Intel i5, ASRock P55 Motherboard, NVidia GTX 480, 4GB Ram - Kingston KVR 1333D3N9/2G, to be upgraded to 8 GB) and it is currently running on Windows 7 Home 32bit. I have tried installing the 64 bit version in various ways, with different solution attempts but no success.

When installing from the DVD or any other medium, I get a BSOD right after the "Starting Windows" screen: error 0x000000F4.

I followed quite a few trouble shoots, changes BIOS Settings, unplugged USB devices, changed RAM, GPU, PSU... no success.

I went to take out the hard disk and temporarily put it in an older machine to see if I'd run into the same error, but could install the 64 bit version there just fine. I finished the install and put the HDD back into my current PC. Everything goes well until I get to the desktop. Here, the error messages vary but it all comes down to a critical error that causes my system to shutdown in one minute.

I have attached the latest dump file, which I can not open since AFAIK I can only open it on a 64 bit OS which I obviously cannot get running.

Would someone please be able to interpret the dumpfile and hopefully let me know where the problem lies so I can finally fix this? This struggle has been going on for months.

Thank you!

 

[mgorman87]

First off, you can't install an OS on one machine and then plug it into another one. It won't work.

Secondly, the two errors your received were in fact STOP 0xF4. There are no exact causes to there errors. I have a couple of questions that will help to figure out your problem.

You say you are running 32-bit correct? How do you go about installing x64? Do you format the drive first and then install or are you installing on top?

Is your copy of Windows legal?

Why do you want to install 64-bit? The only thing you would gain is extra memory unless that is needed. If you don't need > 4gig memory then I would stick with 32bit.

Check and re-seat all cards, memory and cables (on both ends when possible) actually remove and replace - do not just snug.

Memory could also be the problem so if you have more than 1 stick swap them in and out to see if the problem follows one stick or try new memory.

Are you using your current PC to post this report?

BSOD BUGCHECK SUMMARY

[font=lucida console]
Built by: 7600.16539.amd64fre.win7_gdr.100226-1909
Debug session time: Sat Jun 18 13:24:34.421 2011 (UTC - 4:00)
System Uptime: 0 days 0:00:40.703
BiosReleaseDate = 07/28/2010
SystemManufacturer = To Be Filled By O.E.M.
SystemProductName = To Be Filled By O.E.M.
CPUID:        "Intel(R) Core(TM) i5 CPU         760  @ 2.80GHz"
MaxSpeed:     2800
CurrentSpeed: 2811
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨``
Built by: 7600.16539.amd64fre.win7_gdr.100226-1909
Debug session time: Fri Jun 17 09:07:27.531 2011 (UTC - 4:00)
System Uptime: 0 days 0:00:41.812
BiosReleaseDate = 07/28/2010
SystemManufacturer = To Be Filled By O.E.M.
SystemProductName = To Be Filled By O.E.M.
CPUID:        "Intel(R) Core(TM) i5 CPU         760  @ 2.80GHz"
MaxSpeed:     2800
CurrentSpeed: 2811
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨``
  
[/font]

 

[Almightyblob]

Thanks for your help!

Yes, I am using the same PC as posted, currently running on 32 bit Windows 7.
I have a legal copy of Windows (purchased along with the separate hardware components).

How I go about installing: I've tried to install directly from DVD, USB, HDD. With all methods it crashes after the initial grey bar is done loading. So I don't even come as far as to make any choice.
I currently have two HDDs in place; one running the 32bit Version (which I am using right now, my "main" drive), and an additional one with the install I did on another PC.

I have already swapped / replaced all cards (moved GPU to a different slot, also tried another graphic card), memory (tried using single sticks in different slots) and all cables when installing a different PSU. No luck unfortunately.
It seems like it must be a hardware error but I've eliminated as good as every component. I wouldn't know where else to look anymore.

And I'd like to install the 64 bit version to be able to use more RAM (and not sure if true, but I also read that 32bit does not make use of all of the i5's cores). I have a total of 8GB already, currently just 4GB installed.

Do you perhaps have any other idea what could be causing this?

 

[mgorman87]

When you install the 64bit OS do you have the other drive hooked up still?

Are you trying to upgrade a 32bit to 64bit?

 

[Almightyblob]

I have tried running both HDDs seperately, one at a time, same error.

And yes, I am trying to swap the 32 bit for the 64 bit version. As said though, the installer keeps crashing on me right after the loading screen.

 

[mgorman87]

So you have 32bit installed already and you're trying to upgrade it to 64 bit or you have a formatted hard drive and you're trying to install 64 bit on it?

 

[Almightyblob]

Sorry for not being clear: I'm trying to upgrade it to 64 bit. There's currently no freshly formatted drive.

 

[mgorman87]

Ok. Well you can't upgrade a 32bit OS to 64bit. You will need to do a clean installation of 64bit not an upgrade.

 

[Almightyblob]

My intention is to replace the already existing 32 bit version with the 64 bit one.

But to come back to the original issue: why would the installer keep crashing though? I could not imagine that it's connected to the format of the hard disk? I mean, even at the time I just bought the additional hard drive and tried to install it right then on this machine (fresh install), I still received the same error.

 

[mgorman87]

My intention is to replace the already existing 32 bit version with the 64 bit one.

But to come back to the original issue: why would the installer keep crashing though? I could not imagine that it's connected to the format of the hard disk? I mean, even at the time I just bought the additional hard drive and tried to install it right then on this machine (fresh install), I still received the same error.

Not sure. But from what I understand. You have two hard drives. Both have 32bit installed? You're trying to upgrade one to 64bit?

 

[Almightyblob]

First of all, thanks for sticking with me and trying to figure this out.

Current setup is:

- 1st HDD: Windows 7 Home 32 bit, this is what I'm currently using.

- 2nd HDD: Windows 7 Home Pro 64 bit, this is the hard drive I had connected to another PC to install Win 7 64 bit. When I try to boot from this one, it boots up as far as to the desktop, then I get an error saying a critical error occurred and the system will shut down in one minute to prevent damage.

 

[mgorman87]

Ok. Like I said before. You can't install an OS on one machine and then throw it in another and boot up. You will need to format that drive and then do a full install of 64bit from the computer you are going to be using it on.

 

[Almightyblob]

I had tried to do a fresh install on the newly bought and formatted drive, but the same error kept ocurring. I only installed it on another PC as a kind of "last resort".

As explained before, I have gone though multiple different suggestions to fix this issue in the course over many weeks. I'm getting to the point where I think I nearly tried it all.

Even though I swapped all of the hardware at some point except Motherboard and CPU, I'm still thinking that this must be a hardware or possibly BIOS related error.

 

[mgorman87]

So you are able to install x64 on your other machine with no issues and it boots up and runs fine? But when you try to do it on your main PC it crashes? And you've tried a fresh install using the cable and port that your good hard drive is using?

 

[Almightyblob]

Yes, exactly.

 

[mgorman87]

Hmm that is strange. I am kinda at a loss here as it is really hard to troubleshoot this type of issue over the net.

 

[mgorman87]

Do you have all 8gigs of RAM installed when you try installed 64bit? A buddy at work suggested you remove 4gigs of RAM and try again. Make sure you are installing on a clean hard drive. Do not try upgrading anything.

 

[Almightyblob]

I think I have tried that too (as said, currently only 4 gigs are installed), but I will format the disk again and try a fresh install once more this weekend as I'll be out of town for this week.

Again, thanks for your help. I will post again after I will have tried this approach this coming weekend.