SFC couldn't fix my computer

[etsnsm]

My thread is related to BSODs and I know that there is a BSOD section of its own, but my computer is constantly having software issues.
I should add that my brand new harddrive has a windows 7 upgrade copy installed onto it, one that I bought from a Univ. bookstore.

Here are a couple things I've already done.
- SFC more than 3 times at a time.
- Repair install, with and without compatibility (VistaSP2)
- Clean install with formatting via advanced options
- Check for windows updates, and install every important one.
- BlueScreenViewer always told me that ntoskrnl.exe was at fault, whenever it did occur.
*Important* SFC always finds corrupt files, but the files themselves fix themselves, and new corrupt files arise.
At one point, I had my computer find no violations for a couple of days, and I haven't had a bsod since, but I did click shut down with google chrome and skype up, and my computer shut down properly, but when I booted my computer back up, google chrome was having problems getting past the "Aw, Snap" part, and there were other corrupt files that had risen as well.

I'm currently using the computer that has the problems.

Hoping for replies,

 

[Night Hawk]

Hello etsnsm Welcome to the Seven Forums!

The problems you are running into could be from two different sources other then Windows/software related. The first and obvious would be a problem with the new drive while not as likely being new but bad sectors or other defect.

The second to consider would be bad ram! If you have a bad dimm in there that will cause an endless list of problems to appear especially when appearing right after a clean install of the OS. I would suggest a good run of the memtest memory stress tester for several 4-5 hours to see the series of tests repeat over and over again which will point out any critical errors with the memory installed on the system there.

A bad install of Windows from bad ram or simply not a complete install is also a known cause for seeing too many problems right away. Again that could be as a result of a possible defect with the new drive, memory, or even worst case both! Or you may have simply had a bad install where a lens cleaner for the optical drive or handling of the 7 disk left finger marks?

These are the more common places to start.

 

[Hopalong X]

Check Night Hawks recommendations first.

Then I would try posting in Crashes and Debugging section if necessary.
Instructions of what you need to post there.> http://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-debugging/96879-blue-screen-death-bsod-posting-instructions.html

They are more likely to be able to find software problems or point you in the right direction if it is other than Night Hawks recommendations.
I'm making no speculation.

Good luck.
Mike

 

[Night Hawk]

In order to catch the info on any new BSODs you will need to disable(uncheck box) the automatic restart on system failure option(refer to attach image below) when Windows crashes option found in the Control Panel>System>Advanced Settings section>Startup & Recovery. That will stall the system where you can write down the exact error code and other info.

Once you have all that written down then it's time for a hard boot with the power or reset button to be able to post it in a new thread. But you will have to uncheck that option to keep any BSOD up long enough to read it!

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/174459-dump-files-configure-windows-create-bsod.html

View attachment 210238

 

[etsnsm]

Hello etsnsm Welcome to the Seven Forums!

The problems you are running into could be from two different sources other then Windows/software related. The first and obvious would be a problem with the new drive while not as likely being new but bad sectors or other defect.

The second to consider would be bad ram! If you have a bad dimm in there that will cause an endless list of problems to appear especially when appearing right after a clean install of the OS. I would suggest a good run of the memtest memory stress tester for several 4-5 hours to see the series of tests repeat over and over again which will point out any critical errors with the memory installed on the system there.

A bad install of Windows from bad ram or simply not a complete install is also a known cause for seeing too many problems right away. Again that could be as a result of a possible defect with the new drive, memory, or even worst case both! Or you may have simply had a bad install where a lens cleaner for the optical drive or handling of the 7 disk left finger marks?

These are the more common places to start.

Let me just take the 5 seconds every grateful human being may feel to say.. Thank you

To be honest, i've replaced the harddrive 3 times. It sounds ridiculous, but I think it's safe to say that the harddrive is fine. (Btw, I had a question about if there are proper connectors to use to connect the harddrives and optical drives to the motherboard. I have my specs listed in my CP (I believe that is what it's called) and in my motherboard box, if I can recall correctly (I'll be going back later, just finished finals.. whew) I have a red and black colored connector. Does it matter which color connectors I use?)))

I've done chkdsk /r multiple times, and no problems arose.

About the memory issue.

I've ran memtest86+ many times, and out of the many times, say 4-5 tests with ~4-5 passes for each test, I've had 1 error during 1 account of the test. However the problem never arose since. Is this something that should alert me? If so, i'm going to head straightaway to the nearest frys in preparation for may 15, 2012 (Diablo 3 release date )

 

[etsnsm]

Check Night Hawks recommendations first.

Then I would try posting in Crashes and Debugging section if necessary.
Instructions of what you need to post there.> http://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-debugging/96879-blue-screen-death-bsod-posting-instructions.html

They are more likely to be able to find software problems or point you in the right direction if it is other than Night Hawks recommendations.
I'm making no speculation.

Good luck.
Mike

Thanks :]

 

[ignatzatsonic]

(Btw, I had a question about if there are proper connectors to use to connect the harddrives and optical drives to the motherboard. I have my specs listed in my CP (I believe that is what it's called) and in my motherboard box, if I can recall correctly (I'll be going back later, just finished finals.. whew) I have a red and black colored connector. Does it matter which color connectors I use?)))

Are you using an Asus Z68 v-Pro motherboard?

According to the Asus web site, that motherboard has these storage ports:

Intel® Z68 chipset :

2 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), gray
4 x SATA 3Gb/s port(s), blue


Marvell® PCIe SATA 6Gb/s controller:

2 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), navy blue

JMicron® JMB362 controller:

1 x eSATA 3G port(s), red

I would try to use the Intel ports (gray and blue)

 

[Night Hawk]

I would have to say a 3rd drive rules that out as a problem unless the manufacturer shipped out a bad lot! The repeat runs of memtest without running into several errors is also good in ruling a hardware problem out there.

With both a C and D seen both in the second image being the exact same size I would tend to suspect the PT(Partition Table) information is corrupt as well as some other odd errors you are running into. The end result and likely to be the only real solution is to simply nuke the drive completely and change the methods you are using since you are running into repeat problems 3 times on three different drives?!

What happens after the basic clean install is another matter as far as getting all device drivers(latest preferred) on as well as your programs and still have a working OS. Perhaps it may be best to simply list the steps you have already taken to see if you need to try something else.

 

[karlsnooks]

etsnsm,
Make a 100% clean install.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

 

[etsnsm]

(Btw, I had a question about if there are proper connectors to use to connect the harddrives and optical drives to the motherboard. I have my specs listed in my CP (I believe that is what it's called) and in my motherboard box, if I can recall correctly (I'll be going back later, just finished finals.. whew) I have a red and black colored connector. Does it matter which color connectors I use?)))

Are you using an Asus Z68 v-Pro motherboard?

According to the Asus web site, that motherboard has these storage ports:

Intel® Z68 chipset :

2 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), gray
4 x SATA 3Gb/s port(s), blue


Marvell® PCIe SATA 6Gb/s controller:

2 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), navy blue

JMicron® JMB362 controller:

1 x eSATA 3G port(s), red

I would try to use the Intel ports (gray and blue)

Yes. I believe i'm using 3 and 6 at the moment.

I just didn't know if the connectors that connected my harddrive to the ports on the motherboard mattered.
They're black, but there's also another set of connectors within the motherboard box that are black with white tips that are labeled SATA 6.0

 

[etsnsm]

I would have to say a 3rd drive rules that out as a problem unless the manufacturer shipped out a bad lot! The repeat runs of memtest without running into several errors is also good in ruling a hardware problem out there.

With both a C and D seen both in the second image being the exact same size I would tend to suspect the PT(Partition Table) information is corrupt as well as some other odd errors you are running into. The end result and likely to be the only real solution is to simply nuke the drive completely and change the methods you are using since you are running into repeat problems 3 times on three different drives?!

What happens after the basic clean install is another matter as far as getting all device drivers(latest preferred) on as well as your programs and still have a working OS. Perhaps it may be best to simply list the steps you have already taken to see if you need to try something else.

I made partitions on my harddrive using the EASEUS program.

I have nuked my harddrive. If I clean install one more time, then it will literally be my 8-9th clean installation.
I've followed the steps the poster below me posted.

So it doesn't matter which connectors i'm using in order to connect my harddrive to the ports? [It's black, but I have another set of black ones that have white tips on them. Or even a red colored one]
I read your post earlier, but it just stated what color the ports themselves were supposed to be.

I should mention that my windows 7 copy right now has had "No violations" detected before.
And there were no problems.
But there are some now, and I really don't feel like doing another repair install after having to do it so many times.. D: And having to reinstall all the windows updates.. but if there's an answer that will fix it all and put everything to rest..
..mother of god

 

[ignatzatsonic]

So it doesn't matter which connectors i'm using in order to connect my harddrive to the ports? [It's black, but I have another set of black ones that have white tips on them. Or even a red colored one]

Have you downloaded, saved, and read your manual???

I assume this is an Asus P8Z68-V Pro board?

You should look at the manual. I have. Here is a pic from it, where it defines your ports.

In chapter 2, page 21 (section 2.2.8) you will see "internal connectors".

There it shows the location of 2 Serial ATA 6.0 connectors to an Intel controller.

And 4 Serial ATA 3.0 connectors to an Intel controller

And 2 more Serial ATA 6.0 connectors to a Marvell Controller.

Any of those 8 should work for any SATA drive, but you SHOULD try to get your C drive on whatever controller will show up as disc 0 in Windows Disk Management. I don't know which of the 8 that would be. It might take some trial and error to find out.

I would try the first Intel port as a starting point.

 

[etsnsm]

So it doesn't matter which connectors i'm using in order to connect my harddrive to the ports? [It's black, but I have another set of black ones that have white tips on them. Or even a red colored one]

Have you downloaded, saved, and read your manual???

I assume this is an Asus P8Z68-V Pro board?

You should look at the manual. I have. Here is a pic from it, where it defines your ports.

In chapter 2, page 21 (section 2.2.8) you will see "internal connectors".

There it shows the location of 2 Serial ATA 6.0 connectors to an Intel controller.

And 4 Serial ATA 3.0 connectors to an Intel controller

And 2 more Serial ATA 6.0 connectors to a Marvell Controller.

Any of those 8 should work for any SATA drive, but you SHOULD try to get your C drive on whatever controller will show up as disc 0 in Windows Disk Management. I don't know which of the 8 that would be. It might take some trial and error to find out.

I would try the first Intel port as a starting point.

You're absolutey right.
I don't know how I managed to miss that page.
So on a note, because they're in the wrong ports, using the wrong connectors, at least my harddrive is.
How do I go about doing this?

Should I just shut down my computer, let it cool down, and switch out the connectors and put the harddrives back into their rightful ports?

Do I have to reinstall windows 7?

 

[Night Hawk]

Regardless of which Sata II port you use for a Sata II drive the default boot drive is set in the boot order section of the bios. Generally you would look for Port #1 on the board itself where you should see the ports numbered. The manual for the board however is always the first place to start.

On a different make of board here the two Sata 3 HDs here are seen as Disk #0 and #1 in the Disk Management tool While the 7 host in Sata port #1 is seen as Disk #2. The port on the board however for the 7 host is #1 while the two S3 drives are in ports #7 and #8. The model numbers when looked in the boot order section of the bios could be confusing if you were running multiple drives of different types while one single is an ease to set there.

 

[writhziden]

In addition to the excellent info from Night Hawk:

As you add and remove hardware, follow these steps for ESD safety:

1. Shut down and turn off your computer.
2. Unplug all power supplies to the computer (AC Power then battery for laptops, AC power for desktops)
3. Hold down the power button for 30 seconds to close the circuit and ensure all power drains from components.
4. Make sure you are grounded by using proper grounding techniques, i.e. work on an anti-static workbench, anti-static desk, or an anti-static pad. Hold something metallic while touching it to the anti-static surface, or use an anti-static wristband to attach to the anti-static material while working.

Once these steps have been followed, it is safe to remove and replace components within your computer.

 

[Night Hawk]

Often many simply won't have a rubber ground mat to stand on or even have a wrist strap which you would tend to see commonly used in a repair shop. Discharging the supply by holding the opwer button once the power supply's breaker swirch is turned off is a smart move plus will recycle, refresh the caps in the supply itself.

Laying your arm across the case and especially being in contact with any non enamel plated surface such as a drive bay will be a common ground to eliminate any ESD factor. It's referring to the diagram in the manual to see just how the ports are arranged and reaching down in there without hitting and jarring loose any other connection on the board you have to watch for.

You wouldn't want to bump into the power,, reset, and other front or top panel wires and then wonder why the system won't power up afterwards! :shock: One thing I do here when having several drives installed both Sata II and Sata 3 drives to avoid confusion was simply mark a number on each data cable with a pen marker.

I've gone in to unplug and replug drives in enough times when needing one OS drive unplugged to run an OS install on the other. That was seen quite often when still having an XP/Vista dual boot while testing the 7 beta and RC builds both 32bit and 64bit back in 2009. For a one drive system however you only will need to replug the data cable into port #1 as well as check the boot order in the bios setup afterwards to insure the OS is seen as the default boot drive.

With most sata data cables those with be a red cable with black plug set at a 90 degree angle and easy to spot the 7pin plug from the thinner wider 15pin power connector if not using a 4 wire molex type. the images here show how those look.