Constant BSOD (BCCode f4) after clean installation

[Cherribomb]

64-bit

Doesn't matter what I am doing at the time, I get the same BSOD a few minutes after startup. This is after formatting my drive and then installing win7. I have tried several clean installs afterwards, hoping that maybe something just went wrong during installation process. The first time it happens, every windows install attempt, is after I've selected my network type and it's setting that up.

I'm at a loss here, the PC was running more or less fine before the format. I tried to get my chipset driver installed, but there's not enough time. The bluescreen happens like clockwork. It does not seem to be happening in safe mode with networking, which is the only way I have enough time to type this and upload my diagnostic report.

 

[koolkat77]

Welcome to SevenForums.

Error code F4 is usually a hard drive/storage related crash.

Test your hard drive with WD Support / Downloads / SATA & SAS / WD VelociRaptor

*If you have a SSD, make sure the firmware is up to date.

Upload a screenshot of your hard disk using crystal disk info:

• CrystalDiskInfo - Software - Crystal Dew World
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html

Run Disk Check on your hard disk for file system errors and bad sectors on it:

• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html

Hard drive test both short and long with:

• SeaTools for Windows

Test the hard drive with the DOS version of seatools at last.

• SeaTools for DOS
• and a Guide SeaTools for DOS tutorial

Let us know the results.

 

[Cherribomb]

Suggested WD diagnostic program done, and passed. All positive results.

Ran CrystalDiskInfo, screenshot attatched.


Chkdsk gave me these results, but only from an elevated command prompt. (On a regular command prompt, the window would close presumably as soon as it was done, which I don't remember being normal)

Usn Journal verification completed.
The master file table's (MFT) BITMAP attribute is incorrect.
The Volume Bitmap is incorrect.
Windows found problems with the file system.
Run CHKDSK with the /F (fix) option to correct these.

I scheduled scan/fix on reboot, which did not seem to fix anything. I also gave it a second try while doing it from the drive properties, no fix.

I wasn't able to use the normal SeaTools, because when I tried to install .net framework in non-safe mode windows would BSOD immediately upon trying to install it. That's the only time I've seen it vary from being around 3 minutes, I tried several times for the same result.
SeaTools for DOS was a success though, and I passed both the short-test and the long-test.

 

[koolkat77]

Seatools for windows is the one that runs for short and long passes.

Please test the hard drive with seatools for DOS and let us know the results.

Test the hard drive with the DOS version of seatools at last.

• SeaTools for DOS
• and a Guide SeaTools for DOS tutorial

 

[Cherribomb]

No, when I created a bootable disc with SeaTools for DOS and loaded from it, I was able to do both short and long tests. The long test took perhaps 2 hours. Not sure how to prove it, but there's no reason for me to lie about it.


EDIT: Here, from the SeaTool for DOS guide:

Under the Basic menu:

• Short test - Runs a DST test against Seagate drives. If DST is not supported by the drive, Seatools runs a read test. This test takes about 2 minutes.
• Long test - Runs a full scan of the drive. This is usually used to find and repair bad sectors.
• Acoustic test - Spins the drive down so you can determine if noise in a system is caused by the drive or by something else.

 

[koolkat77]

Ok.

Did you make any changes to your computer recently? Like hardware parts etc.?

 

[Cherribomb]

Nope, none. Just a reformat. The win7 disc I used is different than my usual one, but it has worked on several other PCs before just fine. And when I first encountered the BSODs, I set my BIOS to failsafe defaults so it can't be anything I messed with there for overclocking on my previous windows installation.

 

[koolkat77]

I see. Is anything overclocked at the moment?

 

[Cherribomb]

No, everything is set to default.

 

[koolkat77]

How does the computer work in safe mode?

You'll need to stay in there for a few hours and see if it crashes or blue screens.

 

[Cherribomb]

Seems fine, I've been using safe mode all night and morning with no crashes at all. No other problems either.

 

[koolkat77]

Can you disconnect and reconnect all cables inside/outside of the computer, clean dust off (if there is any).

Download the OS version and Bit from the:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html link.​

You may find some useful tips in the following tutorials:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91339-ssd-hdd-optimize-windows-reinstallation.html​

 

[Cherribomb]

No dust, I keep it very clean, but I will reconnect internal and external cables. If that doesn't help anything, I'll post back after another clean install. (No such thing as factory reinstall for me, the PC is custom.) I tracked down my usual installation disc earlier this morning, and I will give that one a try just to rule out the possibility that something is wrong with the current one.

 

[koolkat77]

Good luck

Dell Community
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31541-windows-7-usb-dvd-download-tool.html?filter​

 

[Cherribomb]

No such luck. Same bat crashes, same bat place. (Using my normal installation disc I've used for two years.) I took particular care with rehooking the HDD, and used a different connector the power supply. I also reversed the SATA cable, because who knows? I'd have tried replacing it as well if I had an extra one to spare.

Any other ideas? If the HDD isn't bad and there have been no hardware changes, I can't fathom why I'm getting BSOD problems on a clean install. Is it possible for my DVD drive to screw up an installation by not reading something correctly? It's ancient by PC standards at 9 years, and I could try installing windows from a flash drive.

 

[Britton30]

A bad DVD reader may cause issues, try the USB install route. If the opto drive is 9 years old I would check on a new one, good ones can be had online for around $30 or so.

If you haven't done this, yank the GPU card and cables and put it back to make sure all is reseated properly.

MSI has a not so good track record in boards, I had personal experience. Newegg has your only 3 stars with over 400 reviews. Is it still under MSI waranty? You coulde consider giving them a shout.

 

[essenbe]

Cherribomb, after completing Britton30's suggestions, I would try running memterst86+. Run it for 7 passes or until you see errors, which will take quite a while. It is usually best to run it overnight. When you did the clean install, what drivers did you install and where did you get them? Also, what other programs did you install? If Windows crashes on a complete clean install, it leads us to believe a hardware issue exists. Before running memtest, try running sfc /scannow from an elevated command prompt. If it finds errors, it may require you to run it 3 seperate times with reboots in between. If you have not already done so, create a system repair disk from, control panel>backup your computer.left column is create a system repair disk.

muralasiva, it would be best for you to start your own thread in crashes and debugging after following the http://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-debugging/96879-blue-screen-death-bsod-posting-instructions.html you will also need to be much more descriptive about your problem than just you are having BSODs.

 

[Cherribomb]

Tried installing windows from flash drive. Same problem, so we can rule out the DVD drive I guess.

Tried re-seating the video card, didn't help. Sfc /scannow didn't encounter any problems. I will run the suggested memtest overnight.

@essenbe It started at a fresh install, if you had read my OP and other posts, I mentioned that I didn't even have time to install my chipset driver before the consistant BSOD starts. No drivers other than whatever default ones win7 comes up with, no programs installed. No system repair disc needed, one of my windows discs has repair/recovery options built into it if I need them.

I could see the HDD or DVD drive having problems, because they're old. However everything else has been in use for 2 years at the oldest, and I ONLY started having problems after this clean windows install. I've done several other clean installs over these last 2 years, no problems. It's just hard to believe that something as crucual as my motherboard especially would be the problem, everything was perfect before I formatted..