PC Freezes on Startup

[rbau28]

I'm not sure if I'm asking in the right sub-forum, but please help.

I replaced my motherboard, and processor recently. After 2 weeks of usage, it suddenly froze while I was watching Netflix. I restarted the PC, it would boot up properly, but then after reaching the desktop, within 1-2 minutes, it would freeze again, and would require a hard reset. Now this would happen every time.

This wouldn't happen if the PC is booted in safe mode. I could use the PC freely. Weirdly enough, it only happens during Normal Boot.

I brought my desktop to a nearby shop, after a day's worth of testing, they told me that the motherboard was faulty. So I RMA'd the motherboard, installed it, the same issue is still happening.

Things I tried:
1) Replaced Motherboard; after a shop 'determined' it to be faulty.
2) Booted with a different, known to be working hard drive; also tried booting with my laptop's hard drive.
3) Tried re-seating the RAM; also tried using the other RAM slots
4) Tried booting with essential hardware only.
5) Re-formatted the SSD
6) Called Microsoft for Assistance, since it might be an OS issue. They said it was hardware. (I was seeing WHEA Logger errors on Event Log; I think it was "a corrected hardware error has occurred")
7) I tried stress-testing the RAM during safe mode, it was working fine according to the test, didn't encounter any issues.

After I tried the above: it still freezes.

OS: Windows 10
CPU: i5-7600k
Motherboard: z170 hero viii alpha
Hard Drive: Samsung SSD 850 Evo, 2TB Seagate
RAM: G Skill Ripjaws 2x8GB
PSU: 800w Super Flower
GPU: GTX 960
COOLER: H100i

Thank you so much

 

[marksavio]

after you relaced the motherboard. did you do a clean, fresh install of windows? like delete teh partitions of your old windows drive.

 

[rbau28]

after you relaced the motherboard. did you do a clean, fresh install of windows? like delete teh partitions of your old windows drive.

I haven't actually. I just installed the motherboard, plugged everything in like before. I thought it would be fine since I just reformatted it recently.

 

[marksavio]

when changing motherboard, you must always do a fresh isntall of windows. this is the main cause of your drivers failing and the WHEA errors.

backup your data to a secondary drive and list down what apps you need to reinstall.

retrieve your current license.
https://www.howtogeek.com/206329/how-to-find-your-lost-windows-or-office-product-keys/

next get the win10 installer. prepare USB drive (8Gb at least)
https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/software-download/windows10

boot to your BIOS and set the following :
* SATA mode to AHCI
* Boot mode to UEFI/Uefi+legacy/CSM disabled
* Secure boot disabled (ignore if not available)
* save & reset.
shutdown.

attach only 1 drive during this windows install process. after the windows install is done you can connect the rest of your secondary drives.

attach your USB. boot. press F8 (or F2/DEL go to boot menu). select the USB UEFI. follow the on screen instructions. delete all partitions. install. input your license key. continue with the installation process. until all is done. make sure you run the windows updates as well. then keep restarting until all is done.

then visit your motherboards support site and download and install all the drivers there. start with your chipset driver. then the rest of your drivers in any order. update your BIOS as well if necessary.

 

[rbau28]

when changing motherboard, you must always do a fresh isntall of windows. this is the main cause of your drivers failing and the WHEA errors.

backup your data to a secondary drive and list down what apps you need to reinstall.

retrieve your current license.
https://www.howtogeek.com/206329/how-to-find-your-lost-windows-or-office-product-keys/

next get the win10 installer. prepare USB drive (8Gb at least)
https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/software-download/windows10

boot to your BIOS and set the following :
* SATA mode to AHCI
* Boot mode to UEFI/Uefi+legacy/CSM disabled
* Secure boot disabled (ignore if not available)
* save & reset.
shutdown.

attach only 1 drive during this windows install process. after the windows install is done you can connect the rest of your secondary drives.

attach your USB. boot. press F8 (or F2/DEL go to boot menu). select the USB UEFI. follow the on screen instructions. delete all partitions. install. input your license key. continue with the installation process. until all is done. make sure you run the windows updates as well. then keep restarting until all is done.

then visit your motherboards support site and download and install all the drivers there. start with your chipset driver. then the rest of your drivers in any order. update your BIOS as well if necessary.

Hi, sorry it took me awhile to try this out. I did as you said, formatted my hard drive, tried installing a fresh version of windows, upon booting my USB.

It asked me to select which windows version, then which drive. Then while 'copying windows files' It froze. Same thing happened, as if i booted normally.



Please advise. Thanks

 

[marksavio]

which drive? i thought i told you to put only 1 drive.

well anyways. we need to check if your hard disk is healthy. make sure also the USB drive you are using is also a good one. either of them caused the windows copy to freeze. boot with your USB installer and your system drive only connected. instead of Install. go to Repair. and go to the command line. run "chkdsk /f c:". or you can just use your other computer to do the check disk command or download and run Samsung Magician diagnostics on that drive.

 

[rbau28]

which drive? i thought i told you to put only 1 drive.

well anyways. we need to check if your hard disk is healthy. make sure also the USB drive you are using is also a good one. either of them caused the windows copy to freeze. boot with your USB installer and your system drive only connected. instead of Install. go to Repair. and go to the command line. run "chkdsk /f c:". or you can just use your other computer to do the check disk command.

Sorry for not being clear.

I booted with my SSD, nothing else. Deleted all partition. I'll try that.

Update: its saying that windows found no problem. No further action is required

 

[rbau28]

which drive? i thought i told you to put only 1 drive.

well anyways. we need to check if your hard disk is healthy. make sure also the USB drive you are using is also a good one. either of them caused the windows copy to freeze. boot with your USB installer and your system drive only connected. instead of Install. go to Repair. and go to the command line. run "chkdsk /f c:". or you can just use your other computer to do the check disk command or download and run Samsung Magician diagnostics on that drive.

Tried it again, after chkdsk which found no problems on c and usb,

Froze during getting files ready for installation.

It also freezes LEDs, and prevent me to use memOK, and clearCMOS. As if these buttons arent responsive. It just halts the whole system.

What could be the issue.. I'm stumped

 

[marksavio]

can you try clearing the CMOS of your motherboard and recheck the defaults of the BIOS for proper values on SATA mode and Boot mode?
there might be a problem with your USB stick you used as your installer. you can try recreating the installer with the media creation tool in the microsoft link i sent you earlier with a differnt USB thumbdrive.

 

[rbau28]

can you try clearing the CMOS of your motherboard and recheck the defaults of the BIOS for proper values on SATA mode and Boot mode?
there might be a problem with your USB stick you used as your installer. you can try recreating the installer with the media creation tool in the microsoft link i sent you earlier with a differnt USB thumbdrive.

clearing cmos, resetting bios to default did not work.

I dont have a spare usb to test with, but since the same thing is happening, the usb might not be the culprit?