Question BSOD, explorer.exe crash etc. on new build ?

Feb 27, 2025
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Hi guys.

On a fairly new build we had some issues with crashes during initial Windows setup but after installing drivers the BSODs seemed to stop. I’m copy pasting from a Reddit thread I made as I’m completely stuck.

However, today they started again, and then I had issues like Opera Browser wouldn’t respond to me trying to close it specifically, or explorer.exe crashed, and when I tried to open task manager to get around it that crashed too. So I was stuck on a black screen with just the "explorer.exe has crashed" error message. Somethings seems very off.

PC Specs
Mobo: ASRock X870E Nova with BIOS ver 3.16
CPU: Ryzen 9800X3D
GPU: 4090
RAM: G.Skill Royal Trident Neo 32GB
Boot drive: Crucial T705
Other drives: Samsung 990 Pro.
PSU: NZXT 1200W GOLD which does have a bit of coil whine.
OS: Windows 11

The 4090 GPU is used
. Originally I thought this was the culprit but since installing drivers it’s been completely fine. I’ve been playing games fine etc so I’m not so sure. I can swap it out with a different one to check.

I know AsRock boards have had issues with G.Skill ram, but I read that BIOS 3.16 fixed that. My money is on either the RAM or the SSD.

I have run memtest, it came back 0 errors and I have tried sfc, restore health etc etc in the command prompt. I can’t tell you the bsod codes because they go by so fast I can’t see them. I’m talking 0.5-1 seconds, if that.

Any thoughts/help would be greatly greatly appreciated.

Edit: CPU temps have yet to go above 60.

Edit 2: I stupidly left out some key details as well: the BSODs started when installing Windows. Also any time one happens we boot to bios and don’t restart Windows. Lastly my friend wanted to build the pc with me and he accidentally dropped the CPU 😭😭I think it's ok though
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Welcome to the forums, newcomer!

Mobo: asrock x870e nova. Bios ver 3.16.
+
I know AsRock boards have had issues with Gskill ram, but I read that 3.16 fixed that. My money is on either the ram or the ssd?
https://pg.asrock.com/mb/AMD/X870E Nova WiFi/index.asp#BIOS
You might want to flash to BIOS v 3.20, then clear the CMOS and then see if that helps.

I stupidly left out some key details as well: the bsods started when installing windows.
Recreate the installer for Windows 11, disconnect all drive except for the one you wish to install the OS onto, install the OS in offline mode, then install all necessary drivers while in offline mode, in an elevated command, i.e, Right click installer>Run as Administrator.
 
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Wil
Welcome to the forums, newcomer!

Mobo: asrock x870e nova. Bios ver 3.16.
+
I know AsRock boards have had issues with Gskill ram, but I read that 3.16 fixed that. My money is on either the ram or the ssd?
https://pg.asrock.com/mb/AMD/X870E Nova WiFi/index.asp#BIOS
You might want to flash to BIOS v 3.20, then clear the CMOS and then see if that helps.

I stupidly left out some key details as well: the bsods started when installing windows.
Recreate the installer for Windows 11, disconnect all drive except for the one you wish to install the OS onto, install the OS in offline mode, then install all necessary drivers while in offline mode, in an elevated command, i.e, Right click installer>Run as Administrator.
l will try when I’m home and let you know! :)
 
Welcome to the forums, newcomer!

Mobo: asrock x870e nova. Bios ver 3.16.
+
I know AsRock boards have had issues with Gskill ram, but I read that 3.16 fixed that. My money is on either the ram or the ssd?
https://pg.asrock.com/mb/AMD/X870E Nova WiFi/index.asp#BIOS
You might want to flash to BIOS v 3.20, then clear the CMOS and then see if that helps.

I stupidly left out some key details as well: the bsods started when installing windows.
Recreate the installer for Windows 11, disconnect all drive except for the one you wish to install the OS onto, install the OS in offline mode, then install all necessary drivers while in offline mode, in an elevated command, i.e, Right click installer>Run as Administrator.
Hmm, I was about to begin the reinstall when we bsod again. I look in event viewer and see an error creating the dump file. I’ve finally been able to see a stop code on the bsod and I got View: https://imgur.com/a/5yOZVqw
. I also checked if any of the bsods had made dump files and I don’t have any. Could it just be I got unlucky on the ssd?