Crash during windows install/startup: HW or SW issue?

LongPasta

Prominent
Jul 31, 2017
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510
Backstory:

So I'd been getting various BSODs and game crashes for a while and decided to re-install windows 10: that didn't seem to help, but after chasing a few dead ends and the BSODs becoming more frequent I decided to try re-installing again anyway. This time there was progress in that I was now only getting a "video scheduler internal error". I read that this was caused by GPU drivers or something so I removed my GPU. Windows 10 would then freeze during boot-up right on the windows logo with the little dots in a circle. Just for fun I re-installed again and it froze up at the security code stage. rebooting from there caused it to freeze right as soon as the little dots in a circle appear, before the windows logo even loads. Just to see if it could get any worse I decided to re-install again but the exact same thing happened.

The present:

Windows 10 installation freezes at the stage where it asks for a security code and upon reboot freezes as soon as the little dots in a circle appear.

Additional:

Command prompt and startup repair are inaccessible through the advanced repair menu because windows requires login credentials to access them and the only available account is some weird "defaultuser0" which I cannot access. Safe mode is also inaccessible to me through the advanced repair menu because no keyboard I tried would work to select it from the list (although that is useless now as there is no longer anything to safely boot).

Any help would be appreciated: you guys are plan A, and plan B is to scrap my rig and get
something new.

Cheers!
 
Solution
did you do a custom install when you reinstalled Windows 10?

Since you can't get past startup, you might as well clean install it again and see if you don't get this again. I can't find anyone reporting this problem online. Most of the similar cases are just unactivated PC still, not frozen out altogether.

Video schedular thing could be cause you still have nvidia drivers installed

Colif

Win 11 Master
Moderator
I would download memtest86 on another PC and make a bootable USB using program and test ram sticks on the offending PC as I have found a common reason for installers not working is memory errors. Test 1 stick at a time, any errors are too many as only score you want is 0. If you do get any, remove the stick and see if PC can complete the install process

what are specs of PC?

can't say I seen it freeze on security screen before, what choice are you making there as only 1 you should be using is "I don't have a key" since its a reinstall on a PC that already has a win 10 install. If you haven't tried that option, redo the install again.
 

LongPasta

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Jul 31, 2017
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510


About the freeze up, I'm sorry for my ambiguity but it occurs not during the request for a registration key, but after the install proper when windows sends you a security code to verify your account

PC specs:
Mobo Gigabyte z97mx gaming 5
CPU i5 4690k
GPU (removed) Aorus 1080ti
RAM 16gb gskill something or other
PSU corsair RM650
HDD 1tb Seagate 'Cuda
NZXT kraken x52 cooler
Various lighting bits

 

Colif

Win 11 Master
Moderator
does it send an sms or email to confirm you are who you say you are? https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/help/12428/microsoft-account-security-info-and-security-codes - I wasn't aware it did that, I guess your licence is tied to the email address?

Did you enter the code it sends you or does it freeze right away?

that only seems to count if you use a Microsoft Account as login, if you made a local account it may not ask that but then PC may not activate if it is indeed linked to an email address.
 

LongPasta

Prominent
Jul 31, 2017
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510


Microsoft does send me a confirmation email but it will freeze before I am able to enter the supplied code or, if I am fast enough, immediately thereafter.

RAM does not seem to be the issue, as the freeze happens regardless of which DIMM/socket combination is used

Also I still sometimes get a video scheduler error BSOD during bootup despite not having a GPU installed.

 

Colif

Win 11 Master
Moderator
did you do a custom install when you reinstalled Windows 10?

Since you can't get past startup, you might as well clean install it again and see if you don't get this again. I can't find anyone reporting this problem online. Most of the similar cases are just unactivated PC still, not frozen out altogether.

Video schedular thing could be cause you still have nvidia drivers installed
 
Solution