Solved Faulty hardware cannot boot

[thecake124]

I have recently built a new computer and it has been working fine for a couple days until one day while trying to boot up i got a BSOD. upon further investigation i found that i could not boot into safe mode, into system recovery, or from my windows dvd, they all resulted in a BSOD. I have been getting 3 different types of BSOD "bad pool header" "Irql not less or equal" and "page fault in nonpaged area."

All of these seemed to point to faulty ram, so i ordered new RAM. Turns out thats not the issue. So what else could be causing these errors and how would i find out?

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Mate nice machine specs - but did the machine come with the install disk?

 

[thecake124]

If you mean the windows install disk, yes i bought it with the rest of my components. And thank you it was nice, when it worked :/

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Ooops sorry my friend I read that as bought

Now if yoyu haven't got a lot of data on that drive personanlly I would be doing a reinstall.

Now it won't boot to the disk so have you got access to another machine to clean that drive? by that I mean to wipe it of everything and then align it as is recommended for SSD's?

If you do you can do that by attaching the drive to the other machine by installing th drive into it or use one of those USB gadgets and use either the DISKPART feature or the wipe in Partition Wizard.

Partition Manager Server, server partition manager and partition magic server for Windows Server 2000/2003/2008. Server Partition software for Windows Server and None-Server partitions < freeware and very handy tool to keep.

or http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/113967-ssd-alignment.html < clean in this will wipe the drive - clean all will take longer but just clean will be ok. This also sets the SSD up for optimum use.

If you go down that track after you have got the machine set with security etc do this http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/11728-optimize-windows-7-a.html?filter[2]=Performance Maintenance < an absolute must.

 

[thecake124]

I can do that but one quick question before i go through the trouble, wouldn't not being able to boot from my windows CD effectively rule out the ssd as being the problem?

 

[ICIT2LOL]

It is possible I suppose that the DVD is corrupt but unlikely.

Maybe run a CD cleaner through the opto before to rule out dirt on the lens - sounds a bit preschool but it could be something as simple as that.

Now the other thing is I am going to suggest is to put the OS CD into the other machine and then see what is on it - see my pic it should have the same files as mine

 

[essenbe]

Have you tried to reset CMOS? How To Clear CMOS (Reset BIOS). Then try to boot into BIOS, set optimized defaults with the DVD as 1st boot device and SSD as second device. Set the bios to AHCI, save and exit. If you are going to try a clean install, put the Installation DVD in the drive before you save and exit. A clean command with diskpart is all that is necessary. I never run the 'clean all' on my SSDs. The fact that it will not boot from the SSD leaves me with a concern about bios, unless it will not POST. I assume it will post, correct?

When setting the boot order, you will see whether bios can 'see' the SSD and the DVD.

 

[thecake124]

Yes i have reset the BIOS to defaults, and i cleaned my ssd. both didn't work. And yes it does post, but whenever it starts to load something, whether it be windows normally, safe mode, recovery, or from windows CD, it BSODs with one of the three errors in my original post. So i cant do a install of windows onto my "clean" disk because i get BSOD when booting from Windows CD.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Now you did say you changed the memory but just to make absolutely sure is there a chance you make a memtest disk and run that for a while?

Also I suspect maybe the mobo has gone south mate

Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool

 

[essenbe]

When you first installed Windows, did you install from the driver DVD or download from Gigabyte? Have you flashed the bios to the latest version? Do you have the Msata installed? Recheck your installation, make sure all standoffs are installed and that there are no standoffs installed that do not line up with the holes on the board. Make sure all power connections are completely installed and fully seated, especially the 24 pin and the 12v ATX 8 pin connection. Can you RMA the board to the vendor or do you have to go through Gigabyte? If so how long do you have to RMA it?
As a last resort, you can re flash the bios to the latest version downloaded from Gigabyte here. From that link, you can also download the latest drivers. I believe your board has a dual bios. If that is so, switch bioses, set optimized defaults and try it that way. Make sure your SSD in plugged into sata port 0 or 1, controlled by the Intel Chipset. If there are any diagnostic leds on the board or diagnostic lights, what are they telling you. I know, a lot of questions, but.... I would also recommend John's suggestion and try to run memtest86+ from a usb stick. You can burn the ISO of Memtest86+ to USB using Pendrive Linux universal USB installer.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hum that is a thought Steve a faulty or intermittent ground from the board to the back plate?

Perhaps it might be an idea to reseat all the onboard stuff too?

 

[thecake124]

I ran memtest when i first had the problems and it failed which is why i got new ram but that didnt work. Ill pull the mobo out and make sure theres no unnecessary standoffs installed. I still got 14 days left to rma to newegg i guess ill do that if i dont find anything wrong with the way it was installed. Thanks guys +1 rep and i call this solved... for now

 

[essenbe]

Well, if you can't pass memtest, that could be your problem. Bad ram can cause all types of problems. You need to test it and find out if it is the ram itself or bad dimm slots.

 

[thecake124]

Pretty sure its the mobo if 2 sets of ram failed.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hum cake if you do whip it out - the board LOL!! just have a check for any obvious "dry joints". You can check those out by just looking at them and them gently move the above board components to see if the connections below move.

Also check for any signs of scorching - blown caps - because it's new doesn't negate it from those. Perhaps even a very close check of the DIMM slots with a magnifying glass may show up something.
Gently take out the CPU and reseat that in fact anything that can be taken out and reseated for that matter.

I suppose it wouldn't hurt to check out the volts on the PSU while you are at it again anything is possible.

You have nothing to lose form just checking eh?