Windows 10: BSOD on startup screen, error 0x0000009c

Diagnostics Test

HDD TEST
*Arrow Run HDTune to

• check the health,
• scan for errors, no quick scan but full scan
• run a benchmark.

It may take some time, but please take the time you need to perform it properly.
When above is done please make screenshots of the following

• the health,
• the error scan,
• the benchmark incl. following
  • transfer rate,
  • access time,
  • burst rate,
  • cpu usage.

*Arrow Run SeaTools DOS to check the integrity of your HDD. SeaTools for DOS and Windows - How to Use - Windows 7 Help Forums
Run the long test.
*Arrow Run chkdsk
Disk Check - Windows 7 Help Forums
Use option TWO with parameter /r
Upload the chkdsk log *Arrow Check Disk (chkdsk) - Read Event Viewer Log - Windows 7 Help Forums

 

it won't even boot now. my wife was the one that took the memtest screen, and she said when she exited memtest it hung on the boot screen when it tried to restart. i tried it out when i came home and it just hangs after the asus logo. i disconnected everything but the vga card (for video), cpu, and 1 memory stick, and it goes to BIOS fine, but as soon as i insert any device to progress beyond that (M2 SSD, USB key, etc), it hangs almost immediately (shows the spinning circle but barely completes one circle). no beepcodes, no nothing.

i'm thinking there's something wrong with the mobo or cpu. it does this regardless of either memory stick being in any of the four slots. thoughts?

 

I suspect the motherboard or CPU as well after the RAM test, but needed to make sure the connected drives aren't involved.

The only proper way to test either of them is via replacement, if possible use the CPU on a different system to test it.

 

motherboard swap didn't make a difference. i'm going to buy a new cpu and a small stick of DDR4, pair it with a known good psu, and see what happens when comparing boot cycles of each cpu/ram/gpu combo.

i need a test bench case.

 

cpu appears to have been the issue. i swapped it and it worked perfectly immediately on all the old hardware. so i think we're good here. thanks for the help!