Windows 10: How to identify and solve a potential SSD problem

I have a strange issue and am beating myself to trying to fix it.

My system:
I'm running Windows 10 Pro X64 Version 1511 on an ASUS i7 computer
System drive is an OCZ 256G SSD
Second drive is a 2TB HDD

Here is what is happening:
-After a system boot a week ago, I got an AVG error message and my mouse wasn't working and I was unable to load all metro style apps as well as "services.msc"
-I deleted the mouse drivers and reinstalled it. (that worked)
-I deleted AVG and reinstalled it. (that worked)
-Ran a full scan with both AVG and Malware bytes - All was OK.
-After another boot, I got a message saying disk errors, restart to fix drive errors
-I restarted and chkdsk ran to 43% then booted normally
-After another boot, the mouse and AVG again were not working.
-I deleted the mouse drivers and reinstalled, deleted AVG and installed Avast and ran a full Avast scan - all OK
-The above process was repeated several times.
-After the latest boot, the mouse wasn't working again (I reinstalled drivers and it now works) and Avast is not working.

My further problem solving:
-I tried a SFC (System file checker) - it failed to run
-I tried Dsim fix - it failed (Can't open and Metro style Windows app Solved - Windows 10 Forums)
- I ran CrystalDiskInfo and it didn't identify any SSD problems. I tried to check the OCZ site to see if they had any utilities that may help to problem solve but their site is down for maintenance.
-Based on advice from the above thread, I'm posting here.

I suspect that I have SSD problem but CrystalDiskInfo seemed to tell me it was OK and I can't get the OCZ site to see if they have any diagnostic utilities.

The bottom line...
-Something is constantly shutting down my mouse,my Anti-Virus program and preventing me from loading all Metro style apps.
-Everything on the HDD seems to be OK (That's where my data and most programs are installed)

Does anyone have suggestions before I try a Repair Install?

Edit June 24.....
The Toshiba/OCZ site is now up. I downloaded and installed the OCZ SSD Utility. It tells me that all is well.
The fact that I'm getting Windows notices that there are hard drive (SSD) errors makes it sound like a hardware problem. However, the fact that my mouse and A/V program continually get shut down make it seem more like a virus. I have always run a firewall and an A/V program and don't open unknown file attachments. The computer has been scanned with AVG, MalwareBytes and Avast and nothing was identified. I'm stumped!

:)

 

How to solve a problem with turning off and on desktop computer background?

Hi Danilo,

Thank you for posting your query on Microsoft Community.

I understand the inconvenience caused to you. I will be glad to assist you with your issue.

Follow the below steps and check if it helps.　

If you see the black screen or have a flickering screen :

Step 1: Try connecting to different video outputs on the PC. Sometimes a change in driver can cause the video to be sent:

• • To a different Adapter: from integrated graphics to a discrete card or vice versa.
    
  • To a different output: from HDMI to DVI, Display Port to VGA, or any other combination.
    

Step 2: Try to boot into Safe Mode with Networking or Enable low-resolution video.

• • Advanced boot options, Safe Mode with Networking, or Low Resolution Video
    
  • Check Device Manager and look for Display Adapters
    • If you see 2 items under Display Adapters, disable to integrated video card (e.g. Intel HD 4000 or AMD Radeon HD 4200) and restart. (try vice versa if it does not work)
      
    • If you see 1 item under Display Adapters, rollback the driver or uninstall the display adapter in Device Manager, and enable the option to delete driver software.
      

Check the PC or display adapter manufacturer’s site for an updated driver.

Let us know if it helps. For further assistance feel free to post your queries in Microsoft forums. We will be glad to assist you.

Thank You.　　

 

How to solve a problem with turning off and on desktop computer background?

Hello people, I updated my desktop computer from windows 7 to windows 10 and when it was finished it starts to turns off and on my background repeatedly so fast that I can't do anything...what can I do to solve this? Thank you.

 

The only thing I can think about is to
#1 Verify your SSD info via DOS
Diskpart
List Disk
Select Disk 0
Detail Disk
* This will provide you with detailed info about the SSD which doesn't show up in the BIOS on some computers.

#2 Once you find your make and model info, go on the manufacturers website for their Toolkit for your specific SSD(most include driver testing, monitoring @latest downloads fixing those pesky bugs.

(Detail Command-a basic command function thats rarelly discussed in forums or YouTube tutorial. That provide "detailed" info on disks, each listed partition, etc.)

After, a lot of frustration(2 months and the refusal give up on my hard drive or to buy another computer---STUBBORN AS HELL, I AM....there's a time to Fold-em and it's not with Expensive computers and Data loss) and reviewing many videos/forums..... and seeing many who either install new SSD/HDD or wipe their drives clean to reinstall(which should be done only as a last resort).

I decided to go the Basics-->DOS, made sense to me and I'm not a techie, just average joe......Thanks to those who participate in sharing their knowledge and experience with me on the variety forums/videos, I think it's only right for me to do the same --

 

I have found and installed the OCZ SSD Utility. It said that all was well but I did have old firmware. I've updated the firmware to the latest version. Maybe that will work but I'm a little skeptical since the SSD has been performing flawlessly for about 3 years with the original firmware.

 

I'm still thrashing about trying to solve my problem:
-mouse and A/V program keep getting shut down
-all Metro style apps will not load (including settings)
-services.msc won't load
-on boot I usually get a message telling me that I have HD (SSD) errors and it needs scanning and repairing

Here's what I've done lately:
-suspecting a root kit I ran Micosoft's rootkit remover. On running it, it told me "This app can't be started. Unable to detect a Windows system drive. Error code 0x8004cc01
-tried TrendMicro Roorkit Buster. Got an error message saying "This application has stopped working.
-Installed OCZ SSD Utility - it says all is well

Getting desperate:
-I tried to do a Windows repair install. It failed and restored the previous version. (error massage attached)
(Interestingly, the repair install instructions in this forum directs me to turn off Secure Boot in the UEFI BIOS. I went to do this but found that it had never been loaded.)

I don't know what else to do other than 2 alternatives:
1. reformat the SSD and do a fresh Windows install (error message attached)
2.If #1 doesn't work, buy and install a new SSD.

Any ideas before I get this drastic?

Edit:
Just another thought....
If my registry is compromised, maybe that is the problem. In past, I've read a lot of negative comments about registry cleaners. Is this a good idea and is there a good cleaner?

 

I replied to your message( long and detailed) and it didn't save. Its2am here now so, I will rewrite in a few hours. Stay encouraged and I'll rewrite

 

Kay01,

Thank-you for your effort to help, I really do appreciate it but please don't spend a lot of time typing a lengthy reply. I've already started the process of doing a fresh install of Windows.

 

Hi,

The anti-virus program is probably the cause of some of the problems encountered.
I'm pretty certain the SSD is fine.

Cheers, *Wink

 

{Reposting of Non Saved Message}

Sorry to hear that you are still having a problem. Like many other users, I am not a big fan of 3rd party tools (for clarity purpose, this does not mean I haven't had success with them but instead that I am moving away from using them more and more)

My Background: As I stated, I am an Average Joe but I did spend 19years as a Troubleshooter(Install/Maintenance) for a Global Company. For the past 8 years, I work in Crisis Management(on Steroids, very complex situations).

Mantra: 2 Things are certain but 1 thing for sure!!
~ Theory is theory with a change in Terminology and Acronym.
~Go with your instinct, second guessing will lead you in the wrong direction
~Never treat circuits/troubles/issues/crisis alike

Due Diligence:
As with everything in life, read, re-read, review videos, slides, pdfs, comments from followers on forums and Cross reference the cross reference(yes, you have an immediate need but get a glass of wine, beer, cocktail or in my case a pillow and a notepad to write down and draw my components out-as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words).

The below info is being summited for information purpose with troubleshooting. Good luck

The following info can be done in Safe Mode or DOS also

#1-Save data 2 ways(Lessons Learned)
a)Backup C drive on an external drive
b)Create a Restore point

#2-I Recapped your issues via priority in a simplier outline(Lessons Learned)

What you are experiencing:
*HDD-(not stated)
*SDD-Errors
*SFC Cmd (SFC /?)-quits
*Dism Cmd (Dism /?)-failures
*Mouse-Reinstalled but still failing
*AV-Reinstalled but still failing
*3 Antivirus Cleaners-working as normal
*2 Rootkit Program-Failures

What your successes were:
*Download SDD OCZ Utility-Latest Firmware

What you may want to explore further:
*HDD/SDD-if the drive is a separate component, then we must treat it that way. Try running the following:
a)CHKDSK Cmd (CHKDSK /?)
b)SFC Cmd (SFC /?)-you did this
c)WiMC Cmd-Specifically, the Harddrive Health Cmd (WIMC /?)
++When running wimc hard drive health, my understanding when using this Cmd, if you have 1drive and it's good...it will report OK but if you have 2 drives say a HDD and a SSD it will report OK,OK. My computer has 2drives and I receive 2 responses when testing

*Physical Components(Hardware)
a)Test wires
b)Verify wires(ie red wires should not be connected to blue wires-if it is, it's what we call a cross)
c)Verify connections and soder points
d)Isolate and change out any physical Components (if necessary)
e) Verify Power Source of Hardware

*Compatible Equip(Hardware and Software)
Verify that you are using "compatible" equipment

*Mapping Mismatch (Software)
a)Verify BIOS Settings per Manufacturer-incl Product Key and Embedded Windows Certificate
b)Verify if you are booting UEFI or Legacy
-->See YouTube video by Nehal Wani

*Enabling/Disabling Option Mismatch
a)Power Source Option in Software
b)Review the troubled component option. When some users OS were updated to Win 10 some components options were moved into disabled(by default) or maybe someone chose to downgrade from Win 10 to a previous version

*Manually remove a virus without 3rd party tools
--> See YouTube Video by Sandeep Singh

Important Resource
PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT SOME MANUFACTURES HAVE A DOWNLOADABLE COMPREHENSIVE UTILITY TOOLKIT(aka One stop Hub-ie Samsung SW Updater) FOR BOTH HARDDRIVES & SOFTWARE UPDATES.

FOR THOSE WHO BUILD THEIR OWN PC, MAKE CHANGES/MODIFY EQUIPMENT or MAY NOT HAVE THE OPTION OF USING A COMPREHENSIVE TOOLKIT, THEY WILL HAVE TO REMEMBER TO DOWNLOAD EACH COMPONENT UTILITY TOOLKIT

 

Thank-you to everyone that offered help.

I tried everything that was suggested and nothing resolved the issue. Therefore, I did what I was trying to avoid. I reformatted the SSD and did a fresh install of Windows 10. That was about a week ago and I am still in the process of reinstalling all of my software. Everything is now working as it should.

It bothers me that I have no idea what caused the problem but I saw something interesting during the reinstall process. When I went to reformat the SSD, I saw that there were 3 existing partitions on the SSD. (System reserved - that's normal, Healthy Boot - that's normal and OEM - that was strange). I know that, in an OEM computer, the manufacturer creates the hidden OEM partition and that's where the Windows installation files are located. However, I installed the SSD myself and demoted the manufacturer supplied HDD to my D: drive and used it for data. I did not install an OEM partition on the SSD. Somehow it appeared and I suspect that this was related to my problem. (virus/, root kit?)

Again, a huge thank you to everyone who took the time and effort to provide assistance.

 

Hi,

Glad to see you have it sorted.
Could that OEM partition have anything to do with overprovisioning of the SSD ?

Cheers, *Wink

 

I'm not an expert but am generally aware of SSD over provisioning. As I understand it, the user (me) will never see the over provisioned memory on the SSD. Only the controller sees and uses it. I don't believe that it is assigned to a partition. However, I'm not an expert.

When I originally installed the SSD, there were only 2 partitions (System reserved & Healthy Boot). Now that I have reformatted, those are the only partitions that exist.

If over provisioning can result in the system creating a partition, hopefully someone with more knowledge than me can point me to a reference for my further education.

 

Hi,

Nowadays the overprovisioning is controller managed but that wasn't always the case.
Anyway, no reason to ponder about a partition that's long gone, right ?

Cheers, *Wink

 

Well, the re-installation of Windows ultimately didn't work. It failed again a few days later. After numerous problem solving efforts and Windows re-installations, I bought a new SSD and replaced the old one.

This seems to have worked but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the problem doesn't recur.