Windows 10: Sometimes computer enters boot loop, other times I see black screen

Download and install Whocrashed:
Resplendence Software - WhoCrashed, automatic crash dump analyzer
In the left upper corner above analyze click on tools > crash dump test > type: ACCEPT
Click analyze > view whocrashed report > post an image into the thread using a one drive or drop box share link
Run the beta log collector after the crash dump test.
Open file explorer > this PC > C: > in the right upper corner search for memory.dmp > zip > post a share link into the thread

 

Probably way off here but have you ensured all non essential usb devices are disconnected. I have a different extremely intermittent boot problem which I believe the internal card reader to be responsible for. I won’t bore with the details but does your machine have one of these? Can you disconnect it from the motherboard to test?

it could be power related too. I know you ruled it out but PSU is worth changing out for sure. Not always easy but try a different wall plug if possible

 

After the BSOD, I restarted my computer, and it happened again. It rebooted by itself 3 times - on the 3rd reboot it finally booted to windows. That's unusual, it never exited from a bootloop before.

Beta log collector crashed so I ran the other collector:
Code: New-Item : Access to the path 'C:\Users\Justas\AppData\Local\Temp\error-temp.txt' is denied. At D:\_DATA\Desktop\KEK\log collector v2-beta08\resources\main.ps1:76 char:1 + New-Item -ItemType File -Path $ErrorFile -Force -ErrorAction Stop > $ ... + ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ + CategoryInfo : PermissionDenied: (C:\Users\Justas...\error-temp.txt:String) [New-Item], UnauthorizedAccessException + FullyQualifiedErrorId : NewItemUnauthorizedAccessError,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.NewItemCommand[/quote] Old logcollector: Microsoft OneDrive - Access files anywhere. Create docs with free Office Online.
Report image: Microsoft OneDrive - Access files anywhere. Create docs with free Office Online.
Memory dump: Microsoft OneDrive - Access files anywhere. Create docs with free Office Online.

I don't have any internal card reader. I have previously tried booting my computer with all peripherals disconnected only to face the same issue again.
Unfortunately I can't test the PSU right now as I don't have a replacement. I'm pretty sure the wall plug is fine. But thanks for your input.

 

The BSOD dump files were debugged and they displayed 2 misbehaving drivers.
There was 1 software driver (Bitdefender) (atc.sys) (atc.sys Thu Feb 01 07:15:34 2018 (5A7312F6))
And there was 1 hardware driver (Nvidia GPU) (nvlddmkm.sys)
nvlddmkm.sys Fri Oct 27 10:49:39 2017 (59F35593)
23.21.13.8813, 16,15



Perform the following steps:
1) Uninstall Bitdefender:
Uninstall Bitdefender
Repairing or removing Bitdefender Free Edition
2) Wait 2 weeks after the last BSOD to reinstall Bitdefender.
If there are BSOD after the reinstallation > find an alternative AV software product
If there are no BSOD after the reinstallation > continue using the AV software product.
The longer the waiting period before reinstalling Bitdefender the stronger the cause and effect..
3) Turn on Windows defender
4) Uninstall the Nvidia GPU driver using DDU (display driver uninstaller)
5) Re-install the Nvidia GPU driver from the Nvidia website
6) Make sure that you check the clean install box and if available install the physx driver.
Display Driver Uninstaller Download version 17.0.8.2
Display Driver Uninstaller: How to use - Windows 7 Help Forums
NVIDIA
7) If there are any BSOD please run the beta log collector (using extract then open) and post a new zip into the thread: If there are poblems using the beta log collector then use the DM log collector:
log collector v2-beta08.zip
BSOD - Posting Instructions - Windows 10 Forums




Code: Name NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770PNP Device ID PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_1184&SUBSYS_36061458&REV_A1\4&1286464&0&0008Adapter Type GeForce GTX 770, NVIDIA compatibleAdapter Description NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770Adapter RAM (1 048 576) bytesInstalled Drivers C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_ref_pubwu.inf_amd64_2e7fa54192fe16d0\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_ref_pubwu.inf_amd64_2e7fa54192fe16d0\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_ref_pubwu.inf_amd64_2e7fa54192fe16d0\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_ref_pubwu.inf_amd64_2e7fa54192fe16d0\nvldumdx.dllDriver Version 23.21.13.8813INF File oem49.inf (Section022 section)Colour Planes Not AvailableColour Table Entries 4294967296Resolution 1920 x 1200 x 59 hertzBits/Pixel 32Memory Address 0xF6000000-0xF70FFFFFMemory Address 0xE0000000-0xE9FFFFFFMemory Address 0xE8000000-0xE9FFFFFFI/O Port 0x0000E000-0x0000EFFFIRQ Channel IRQ 16I/O Port 0x000003B0-0x000003BBI/O Port 0x000003C0-0x000003DFMemory Address 0xA0000-0xBFFFFDriver c:\windows\system32\driverstore\filerepository\nv_ref_pubwu.inf_amd64_2e7fa54192fe16d0\nvlddmkm.sys (23.21.13.8813, 16,15 MB (16 936 048 bytes), 2017-11-09 05:40)[/quote]
nvlddmkm.sys nVidia Video drivers Download Drivers | NVIDIA
Get from OEM for laptops

 

OK, thanks for the help. I will do what you suggested and try to reproduce my bootloop problem. Will come back to you with my findings.

You might have reasons for suggesting this, and I could just misunderstand them. But I just want to stress that it was never a BSOD problem for me, but rather a bootloop (The only BSOD that I got was a known issue with an incorrect version of COMODO). Also I installed Bitdefender just a few days ago, to replace COMODO.

 

OK, tried restarting my computer. Got into a bootloop again. As always, playing around with RAM sticks solved the problem.
I think I'm going to try testing RAM again, perhaps I missed one chip or something. I have no other ideas.

 

Please post a new beta log collector zip using extract followed by open:
log collector v2-beta08.zip
See if it can work with different browsers.
If it does not open to collect the logs then use the DM log collector:
BSOD - Posting Instructions - Windows 10 Forums

 

SIURBLYS (2018-03-01 01 10).zip

 

1) Please increase the free space on partition C: to 30 - 35 GB or more.
2) In the left lower corner search type: msinfo32 > allow several minutes for it to fully load > save to desktop as a NFO file > zip > post a link into the thread
3) Run memtest86+ version 5.01 for at least 8 passes. Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool
This may take hours so plan to run it overnight.
a) Please make sure you use the Memtest86+ version 5.01 with the link below.
Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool
The testing is done not by time but by passes.
The more passes the better.
There are a significant number of false negatives if fewer than 8 passes are made.
A false negative is a test pass when there is malfunctioning RAM.
There is 32 GB of RAM on the computer. There is 8 GB on each of 4 DIMM.
Label each RAM module.
Remove 2 RAM modules and perform 2 separate tests with 16 GB RAM during each test.
Perform the testing so that all RAM and all DIMM are tested.
Testing must be continuous.
If you have sufficient time to test all RAM modules at the same time (32 GB RAM) that is the best testing as it will test RAM / DIMM / motherboard including multichannel capability.
The multichannel capability can be checked with 2 RAM modules.
Memtest86+ version 5.01 testing takes approximately 1 - 2 hours /GB RAM
Just 1 error is a fail and you can abort testing.
Then test 1 RAM module at a time in the same DIMM each for 8 or more passes.
b) When Memtest86+ has completed 8 or more passes use a camera or smart phone camera to take a picture and post an image into the thread.
Memory problems. - Microsoft Community
MemTest86+ - Test RAM Windows 10 Tutorials

 

Hello,

sorry for taking so long to reply.
Here's the msinfo report (file upload doesn't seem to work anymore on the forums): Microsoft OneDrive - Access files anywhere. Create docs with free Office Online.

1. I labeled RAM modules 1 to 4
2. I removed modules #3 and #4 and started memtest. See result:



3. I started my computer and it booted fine. Restarted it multiple times with no issues - been working with it for a week, I couldn't continue the time consuming memtest due to work. Today I turned off my computer to see if I can reproduce the issue
4. I removed the power cable so as to cut power to my computer, then I plugged it back
5. Turned on my computer and got black screen - no video output. The same boot issue.
6.1 Removed RAM module #2
6.2 Turned on my computer, booted fine (got to bitlocker screen)
6.3 Turned off my computer
6.4 Put RAM module #2 back to where it was
6.5 Computer booted fine, and now I'm writing this post

zbook, there seems to be no point in running more memtest as the two modules that I have now have passed it and I still face the same issue. Please advise.

Can anyone make sense of this? It'a recurring pattern that once I cut power, it fails to boot until I remove one RAM module. Then it works fine even if I restart it, or turn it off and put all RAM modules back.

 

I wonder if that problem lies within your monitor, sometimes as they age or through daily use they sometimes cannot sense the PC / Gfx starting up. It's easy but cumbersome to test with a spare..

 

No it's not that.
1. I have two monitors, both act the same
2.1 Computer restarts
2.2 if it does not restart, it acts differently - the keyboard does not light up

 

Is it an RGB keyboard?

 

1) RAM modules 1 and 2 passed (16 GB, 10 passes).

2) The plan now is to test the Drive and then test the drivers.

3) Once all of the non-Microsoft drivers are tested and do not BSOD the hardware will be tested.

4) Make a backup image using Macrium: (communicate into the thread once the backup has completed)
Place the backup image on another drive

5) Make sure the C: drive has 30 -35 GB or more of free space

7) Make a brand new restore point (communicate into the thread once it has been completed)

8) Read these links on Windows driver verifier: (Do not use the tool until it is communicated in the thread)

a) Driver Verifier-- tracking down a mis-behaving driver. - Microsoft Community

b) Enable and Disable Driver Verifier in Windows 10 Windows 10 Tutorials

9) Run HD Tune:
HD Tune website
Post images into the thread for the test results on these tabs:
a) Health (SMART)
b) Benchmark
c) Full error scan

10) Update the specs in the "My Computer" section:
System Specs - Fill in at Ten Forums:
System Specs - Fill in at Ten Forums Windows 10 Tutorials
In the left corner below in your post you find 'My System Specs'.
After clicking it you can find a link a little below that says 'Update your System Spec', click on this link to get to the page where you can fill in your system specs.
System Info - See Your System Specs - Windows 7 Help Forums

Include PSU. cooler, case, peripherals and anything attached to the computer by wired or wireless (mouse, keyboard, headset, printer, xbox, USB wireless network card, etc.)

11) Choose one of the temperature monitoring software applications: Speecy, HW monitor, Speed fan:
Speccy - Free Download - Piriform: Speccy - System Information - Free
Speccy - System Information - Free Download
HWMONITOR | Softwares | CPUID: HWMONITOR | Softwares | CPUID
HWMONITOR | Softwares | CPUID
SpeedFan - Access temperature sensor in your computer: SpeedFan - Access temperature sensor in your computer
SpeedFan - Access temperature sensor in your computer

 

Yes

zbook, not sure I'll manage to start this today, so I'll drop a quick question first. How much driver-wise do windows actually load to get to bitlocker password screen? Could this perhaps help narrow down the search?