Windows 10: CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED and cant read boot device on startup

Hello,

I am having BSOD's again. I am getting the above error on the blue screen. It's worse now though because it never makes it past the "collecting data" it just freezes at 0%.

After I shut it down and restart it manually, it gives me a black screen with white letters only and says that it couldn't read boot device. I need to turn it off and on multiple times before it recognizes the hard drive. I think one time it worked when I unplugged everything (mouse, external cooling fan, phone, power cord).

:)

 

Blue Screen happening often

Thank you for letting me know! I am not very sure yet as I cant read it fast enough, and whenever it happens, I am usually away from my home. I can tell that it restarted because its giving me a "Select proper boot device, insert boot device and restart"
Something along those lines. Thanks for the info however, I will try out the quick startup thing. Maybe that will work? I don't know, but lets hope so!

 

How to Enable System Protection from Command Prompt in Windows 10

Hi - my PC (Windows 10, 64 bit) is stuck in a CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED startup loop and I'm trying to use a system restore point. However, I wasn't aware that system protection is disabled on all drives by default, so I'm unable to do so. I'm unable to boot
to turn on system protection for this drive. Also, I'm unable to boot into safe mode (but I've read you cannot enable system protection on a drive from safe mode anyway). Is it possible to enable system protection using the command prompt in Windows 10? I've
already tried "net start vss" and that hasn't worked.

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

Given your description + the fact that no event has been saved about the BSODs I have 2 suspects.





Diagnostics Test

HDD TEST


Run SeaTools to check the integrity of your HDD. SeaTools for DOS and Windows - How to Use - Windows 7 Help Forums
Run following tests

• Short Drive Self Test
• Short generic
• Long generic

If the short generic fails, no need for the long generic.


Note Do not run SeaTools on an SSD as the results will be invalid.
Post screenshots/photos of the test results



Run chkdsk
Disk Check - Windows 7 Help Forums



Run HDTune to

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

It may take some time, but please take the time you need to perform it properly.
Let me know what the results are

• of the error scan,
• make a screenshot of the health of every hard drive and post the screenshots,
• post screenshots with the benchmark of the
  • transfer rate,
  • access time,
  • burst rate,
  • cpu usage.

Best is to make screenshots/photos of these test results too.






Diagnostic Test

RAM TEST


Run MemTest86+ - Test RAM - Windows 10 Forums



Note



MemTest86+ needs to be run for at least 8 complete passes for conclusive results. Set it running before you go to bed and leave it overnight. We're looking for zero errors here. Even a single error will indicate RAM failure.

Make a photo of the result and post it please.

Addition:
If errors show up you can stop the test, remove all sticks but 1 and test this single stick in each slot for 8 passes or until errors show, switch sticks and repeat.
If errors show up and you see them a lot later, no problem, the errors don't affect the test.

 

There might be one problem with the RAM test. I can run it, but I'm not so sure about opening up my laptop and removing individual sticks if RAM. Is that possible on an Alienware gaming laptop?

 

Everything is possible *Smile , but sometimes it just takes some time and can be difficult.

1 thing is that it may void warranty if you have any, if you do then you should let a tech from Dell replace the memory if errors show up in the test. In most cases it is bad memory when errors show up.

 

So far it has done 1 full pass and is 81% into the 2nd pass....after 8 hours overnight....I wasnt expecting it to be a 3 day process.....but no errors so far. It says ''Pass complete, no errors, press ESC to exit''. Do I really need to do this 8 more times????

Also, I may have messed up running this test first. Was this supposed to be the ''if all else fails, run this'' test?

 

Memory problems are a very common cause, because everything uses the memory management, hence the reason why there are so many suggestions for testing the memory.
It isn't an 'if all else fails, run this' test.

In order to test the memory properly, you have to run at least 8 straight completed passes.

 

On pass#8, 4 hours to go!!!

I'll be able to use my laptop afterwards, right? I ask because it will have been 64 hours since the test began.... no errors yet btw.

Another question: it will tell me about cumulative errors right? That is, if on pass #1 there was an error but I wasn't watching, it will still display the error on pass#2,3,4,5,6,7, and 8 right??? I really hope so....because I wasn't checking if there was an error after every single pass...

 

You can of course use your laptop when it is done *Smile

If any error shows up it would be like this.



Image is from the MemTest86+ tutorial.

This is why it isn't a problem when you run the test overnight, you can sleep and see if any error showed up when you wake up.

 

67 hours later....no errors...

*pant* *pant*

 

When the test is done, please don't forget this:

It is just to let me know that the test is done correctly and I won't forget it *Smile

 

You didn't yet ran the HDD diagnostics right?

 

Not yet, I just finished this last night. I will today after I get home from work.

 

No errors from chkdsk, running seatools now.