Windows refuses to boot after GPU drivers are installed.

[Malmern]

I recently tried upgrading to the latest AMD drivers,
but after successfully installing the drivers,
and after rebooting the system,
I get the following error message in boot:

“Windows has failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause.”

I then thought "Oh, well, probably a bug with the March drivers, I'll just try the January drivers.",
same deal with those, so I then tried getting the drivers through Windows Update,
you can guess how that went down.

All of those times I got windows back up again by using "Last Known Good Configuration",
which gets me a windows with no gpu drivers, with no way to install them.

Is my GPU simply beyond saving?

I was hoping to wait till August / September to upgrade my rig. :banghead:

 

[Vineet Garg]

Hi Malmern,
Greets,
Welcome to the SevenForums!

Primarily it seems to be a compatibility issue. A BIOS update is available for that But we need to know somethings before proceeding.

1) Did the system ever worked earlier with Win7 & same system?
2) Do All other devices show installed in the Device Manager ? Is/are there any Yellow bangs,etc. in the Device Manager ?
3) Did you ever update BIOS ? What is the version,date, etc. of the installed BIOS ?

View attachment SystemInfo.bat

Run this and get me information only about BIOS Version. For eg. BIOS Version: Insyde F.27, 9/7/2016

Let me know.

Thanks & Regards. ...

 

[Malmern]

Thanks, Vineet Garg!

1. The system has been running Windows 7 for the last 6 years,
almost no hardware has been swapped except 2 memory modules of the exact same make,
this was done 3 months ago.

2. Everything shows up in device manager,
no yellow bangs.

3. I can't remember if the bios has been updated,
I can't check the version right now,
but it has posed no issue the last 6 years.

 

[Vineet Garg]

Sir,
1) If you run the above SystemInfo.bat, It will load some information in the command prompt & there you can find the BIOS version & date.
2) Windows Updates can make difference. You should make them before installing Graphic drivers. Did you make Windows Updates ? DISM++ does it speedily. It also tells about unwanted stuff. You can use DISM++ to do so : https://www.chuyu.me/en/index.html
3) The best thing would have been to integrate Windows Updates directly in the ISO before Installation. Are you interested ?

EDITED 1

EDITED 2

 

[Malmern]

Hello again.

1. BIOS Version: American Megatrends Inc. 1903, 19.08.2013

2. This is not a new installation of windows, this windows 7 installation has been running since October 2012,
the only thing I did was try to update from an older gpu drivers (December 2018 driver) to March 2019 driver.

Original Install Date: 28.10.2012, 01:46:02

 

[wither 2]

This seems to be the last BIOS for your mobo-

https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/MAXIMUS_VI_FORMULA/HelpDesk_BIOS/

 

[Malmern]

This seems to be the last BIOS for your mobo-

MAXIMUS VI FORMULA BIOS & FIRMWARE | Motherboards | ASUS USA

First og all, thanks for replying!

I've got a Formula V, not VI.

I already have the latest version of my bios: 1903!

As a sidenote,
I've even tried using my old drivers which worked fine 3 days ago, but the issue still occured.

 

[Vineet Garg]

Hi Malmern,

Sir,

1. You already have the latest BIOS installed.

2. Latest is not the best! Update drivers only when they are creating problems/Issues & that issues are said to be fixed in a later version. Even when a driver creates issues, the just next driver version needs to be tried first in most cases & not the latest.
( A long back I always thought it would be the best to switch to latest drivers but that is not the truth. Latest drivers can show marginally exciting numbers in bench marking tests but the system stability is way ahead.
Make Windows Updates & Software Updates regularly but always make System images because even a single update can make the things all bad. Keep distance from updating drivers just for the cause of updating all the things.
And Yes avoid updating BIOS without any reason. That is more critical than drivers because driver updation ends with OS but BIOS updation is permanent regardless of reinstallation or recovery. I have seen people revert back to previous BIOS but it is not possible always )

3. It seems the problem has got worse in the back to back updating effort. Always make System Images.

4. Having said that all, Its really surprising the way the latest drivers are behaving. Please make sure you are using drivers from genuine source & they support your device & OS.
When i was searching for your Graphic card, I got this support page. This is your Graphic card, isn't it ? : ASUS Radeon HD 7970 3GB : HD7970-DC2T-3GD5 Driver & Tools | Graphics Cards | ASUS Global
Just a thought : Why do you go straight to AMD when ASUS already provides a dedicated support page, Just for the latest drivers ?

5. When you are not able to boot, did you try System Recovery Option : Startup Repair : You may need to run it for three times one after other.Startup Repair

6. Did you run sfc /scannow on your OS ? What it says ? You may neeed to run it for 7 times one after other.SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker

7. How Device Manager shows ? Is it all well there ?

8. You should check for the latest Intel Chipset driver with 'Intel® Driver & Support Assistant'.
Intel(R) Driver & Support Assistant
Let me know what it suggests ?

9. Did you run Memtest to check RAM issues : RAM - Test with Memtest86+

10. You may do Repair Install & then check the issue : Repair Install

Let me know.

Thanks & Regards. ...

Just a thought : What it says when you run DISM++ & select 'Recovery > Scanhealth': https://www.chuyu.me/en/index.html

 

[wither 2]

My apologies for giving you the wrong link. It looks to me like you have the latest BIOS. MAXIMUS V FORMULA BIOS & FIRMWARE | Motherboards | ASUS USA

 

[Malmern]

Hi Malmern,

Sir,

1. You already have the latest BIOS installed.

2. Latest is not the best! Update drivers only when they are creating problems/Issues & that issues are said to be fixed in a later version. Even when a driver creates issues, the just next driver version needs to be tried first in most cases & not the latest.
( A long back I always thought it would be the best to switch to latest drivers but that is not the truth. Latest drivers can show marginally exciting numbers in bench marking tests but the system stability is way ahead.
Make Windows Updates & Software Updates regularly but always make System images because even a single update can make the things all bad. Keep distance from updating drivers just for the cause of updating all the things.
And Yes avoid updating BIOS without any reason. That is more critical than drivers because driver updation ends with OS but BIOS updation is permanent regardless of reinstallation or recovery. I have seen people revert back to previous BIOS but it is not possible always )

3. It seems the problem has got worse in the back to back updating effort. Always make System Images.

4. Having said that all, Its really surprising the way the latest drivers are behaving. Please make sure you are using drivers from genuine source & they support your device & OS.
When i was searching for your Graphic card, I got this support page. This is your Graphic card, isn't it ? : ASUS Radeon HD 7970 3GB : HD7970-DC2T-3GD5 Driver & Tools | Graphics Cards | ASUS Global
Just a thought : Why do you go straight to AMD when ASUS already provides a dedicated support page, Just for the latest drivers ?

5. When you are not able to boot, did you try System Recovery Option : Startup Repair : You may need to run it for three times one after other.Startup Repair

6. Did you run sfc /scannow on your OS ? What it says ? You may neeed to run it for 7 times one after other.SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker

7. How Device Manager shows ? Is it all well there ?

8. You should check for the latest Intel Chipset driver with 'Intel® Driver & Support Assistant'.
Intel(R) Driver & Support Assistant
Let me know what it suggests ?

9. Did you run Memtest to check RAM issues : RAM - Test with Memtest86+

10. You may do Repair Install & then check the issue : Repair Install

Let me know.

Thanks & Regards. ...

Just a thought : What it says when you run DISM++ & select 'Recovery > Scanhealth': https://www.chuyu.me/en/index.html

2. The only reason I tried to update to March drivers is that they have added support for "The Division 2",
which I'm currently playing. (Well, I did anyway untill the drivers didn't work anymore.)

3. Will do that in the future.

4. That's some really old driver from 2013.

5. Yes, I've tried it multiple times, the repair tool just gives me a message that it failed to automatically repair the windows installation.

6. Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.

7. All is well in Device Manager.

8. "Sorry, no software updates are available." is all I get from Intel's support page.

9. No issues in Memtest86+

10. I will try to do that now, I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[Malmern]

I just tried Repair Install,
still have the same issue.

I guess we can rule out a software issue then?

 

[Vineet Garg]

I just tried Repair Install,
still have the same issue.

I guess we can rule out a software issue then?

1. Not 100% but I will put it 70%. You may try a Clean Install Or Would you like to try making a dual boot with all the updates integrated in win7 64 ISO ?

2. Did you ever make any changes in BIOS Setup ? You can try to Restore Default Settings in the BIOS.

3. Just a Thought : You can try DISM++ : https://www.chuyu.me/en/index.html
There select Recovery> ScanHealth Menu Item. What does it say ?

 

[Malmern]

1. Not 100% but I will put it 70%. You may try a Clean Install Or Would you like to try making a dual boot with all the updates integrated in win7 64 ISO ?

2. Did you ever make any changes in BIOS Setup ? You can try to Restore Default Settings in the BIOS.

3. Just a Thought : You can try DISM++ : https://www.chuyu.me/en/index.html
There select Recovery> ScanHealth Menu Item. What does it say ?

1. I just tried this now without any improvement.

2. The BIOS was reset yesterday, no effect.

3. DISM++ comes up with an error: "No such interface is supported",
this happens in both x86 and x64 editions.

I think it might be easier to upgrade my pc now,
what do you think of these parts?

MSI X470 Gaming Pro
AMD Ryzen 5 2600
G.Skill TridentZ 3200Mhz CL14
AMD RX580 8GB
Corsair TX750M
Samsung 970 EVO M.2 SSD
MSI Core Frozr XL CPU cooler

This will be used for gaming,
and I will be overclocking CPU and RAM.

 

[wither 2]

My understanding is that the Intel CPU's with the AMD graphics cores are better for gaming than a AMD core.

Also, you'll probably be going to Win 10 since that mobo probably doesn't support Win 7 but, I didn't check it out.

Which driver did you use for the graphics card?

 

[Malmern]

I tries several;
March 2019, January 2019, December 2019 and I even tried the 2013 one from ASUS.

Thanks for the input,
but I'm planning to upgrade the CPU for another AMD one with the same socket next year, as they are rumored to put out a powerful new CPU later this year.

Yes, I'll be using Windows 10.

 

[wither 2]

I guess you tried a Crimson driver as part of your endeavours.

 

[Malmern]

I guess you tried a Crimson driver as part of your endeavours.

Yeah, I tried that aswell.

 

[Vineet Garg]

Hi Guys,

1. What is special about the Crimson driver ?

2. I could not understand what happened when you tried clean install ? You were able to make the install & boot into it ? When it was not able to boot ? After a GPU driver installation ?

3. I think a good Linux should be tried straight from a 16 GB Pen Drive. It would be still better to go with a USB 3 Pen Drive if your pc supports. You should try all types of graphic activities from there.
( I mean to say try Linux straight from the pen drive & not installing it on the hard disk )

4. I think you should detach the AMD Graphics card & then make a clean install with win 7.
( I expect you follow proper procedure to detach the AMD Graphics Card )

5. Some Suggestions about upgrade soon.

Thanks & Regards. ...

 

[Malmern]

Hi Guys,

2. I could not understand what happened when you tried clean install ? You were able to make the install & boot into it ? When it was not able to boot ? After a GPU driver installation ?

3. I think a good Linux should be tried straight from a 16 GB Pen Drive. It would be still better to go with a USB 3 Pen Drive if your pc supports. You should try all types of graphic activities from there.
( I mean to say try Linux straight from the pen drive & not installing it on the hard disk )

4. I think you should detach the AMD Graphics card & then make a clean install with win 7.
( I expect you follow proper procedure to detach the AMD Graphics Card )

5. Some Suggestions about upgrade soon.

Thanks & Regards. ...

2. That's exactly what happened,
the clean install won't boot after installing the GPU drivers just like the old installation.

3. I might try that, any suggestions on what Linux distro I should use,
is Ubuntu a good choice?

4. I did use a proper method to uninstall my graphics driver if that's what you mean be detaching it,
I used Display Driver Uninstaller in safe mode to remove all my drivers.

 

[wither 2]

Vineet Garg- Crimson is the latest iteration of AMD graphics card drivers. Crimson 2.1 Beta is the last driver to be provided for legacy cards. For some reason, his card is sandwiched between those that are considered legacy so he would use Crimson drivers to be up to date.