[SOLVED] PC won't boot correctly after forced shutdown (during system instability)

[cream-vbt]

Hi! I have a problem and would appreciate some help!

What happened?
I was rendering a video inside Adobe After Effects. At some point AE "ate" all my disk-space and used 100% of memory, the system became very unstable, unresponsive, black screen for several seconds, than flashed normal, then again black for several seconds. I was afraid of damage (panic) so I forced a shutdown holding the power button down.

Problem since then:

1. PC is is off, want to turn on -> press power button -> power button is lit, but nothing else (keyboard, mouse black), SSD ist not working (light not flickering), fans are on. No sounds, no beep, nothing, nothing happens.

2. Since nothing happens -> hold down power button -> PC off

3. Try again -> press power button -> I get following screen, see screenshot stating:

"The system has POSTed in safe mode.
This may be due to the previous POST attempt failing because of system instability, or if the power button was held in to force the system off.
If the system failed to POST after you made changes to UEFI settings, you may wish to revert to stable settings to prevent POST failure.
Press F1 to Run SETUP"

👉 see: there is only ONE DISK listed (of two). The listed disk is the big "slow" HDD. The fast System (Win 10) - Samsung-SSD is NOT listed!

4. I press F1, enter BIOS-Setup & EXIT WITHOUT SAVING -> Windows 10 starts normally! 🤔🤷‍♂️

So I have to do this every time after shutting down the system: I have to push power on, force power off, push power on again, enter BIOS & exit without saving.
Somehow I don't have the feeling this is healthy and would like to fix it, but I don't have a clue what's wrong!

I've tried:

Memory Check -> OK
Chkdsk -> found some failures & fixed -> OK


Please help! 🙏
Thank You! ✊

 

[COLGeek]

From where did you download Adobe After Effects?

 

[cream-vbt]

I have a CC subscription. You think it was a virus? I don't think so, I was messing with some AE settings / adjusting disk-space (scratch, cache) before the crash because I was running out of it.

 

[COLGeek]

Understood. Just making sure the application itself wasn't the issue.

How many storage devices do you have and how much space is free on each?

 

[cream-vbt]

I have 2 storage devices:

1. Samsung SSD 960 EVO 500GB
2. Seagate Barracuda 3TB (ST3000DM008-2DM166)

see screenshot for more info (it's in German lang, but I think you'll understand 😉)
C: is thin a bit.
V: is an encrypted partition (VeraCrypt)

I can access all data & have no problems once running, only booting / power on seems to be broken.

Thank you!

 

[COLGeek]

You have too many partitions on your SSD. Honestly, I would have just one (+ the 100MB system partition). Your C: partition (where Windows is located) has no room to operate.

Mein Deutsch ist okay. Ich habe tatsächlich von 1988 bis 1991 in Deutschland gelebt.

 

[cream-vbt]

@Your Deutsch:
cool! 🆒

@too small C:
I know, but it's too late now, unfortunately I can't expand the Windows-partition (tried before). I could uninstall some software to gain more space though (did so before).

@Booting problem (POSTed in safe mode): should I maybe try and repair the GPT Bootmanger? 🤔 I've found this: https://www.heise.de/tipps-tricks/Windows-10-Bootmanager-reparieren-so-geht-s-4268553.html
The System-SSD is GUID (GPT)

 

[COLGeek]

You can start over, installing Windows and all of your applications (likely the best approach) while cleaning up your partitions along the way.

Or, you can delete the extra partitions and then try to extend the partition with the C: drive on it.