[SOLVED] [Solved] Can't install Windows 10 due to a machine check exception error

[Legitninja]

Hello, I recently just built a custom system and I'm trying to install Windows 10 using a flash drive. Whenever I try to boot up from the USB and install Windows 10 it gets to the Windows 10 boot screen (Windows logo and loading wheel) but after 2 seconds it freezes for awhile and gives me the Blue screen of death. The error is as the title states "Machine check exception error" then it restarts and says the same thing and keep restarting.

PC Specs

MSI Gaming 2170i Pro AC LGA 1151 Mini ITX Intel motherboard

Intel Core i5-6400 6 MB Skylake Quad-Core 2.7 GHz LGA 1151 65W BX80662I56400 Desktop Processor

G.SKILL Ripjaws V Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM DDR4 2400 (PC4 19200)

CORSAIR CX series CX500 500W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply

WD Blue 1TB Desktop Hard Disk Drive - 5400 RPM SATA 6 Gb/s 64MB Cache 3.5 Inch - WD10EZRZ

SanDisk SSD PLUS 2.5" 120GB SATA III Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) SDSSDA-120G-G25

EVGA GeForce GT 740 Superclocked DirectX 12 (feature level 11_0) 02G-P4-2742-KR 2GB 128-Bit DDR3 (which isn't installed up at the moment because the TV I'm using atm doesn't have the right plug.)

All these components are compatible and work splendidly together. I sure hope it's not a hardware issue.

What I've tried so far:

Unplugging the hard drive and SSD and trying to install
Removing a RAM stick and trying with one stick in a slot
Changing the outlet that the power supply is in.
Making sure that the RAM sticks are seated properly.

At this point I really don't know what to try. I don't know what's causing the error. The heatsink fan looks to be in the right place and its properly seated.

Anyone have any ideas?

EDIT Also I am not overclocking and the BIOS settings are at default.

 

[hornirl]

Anyone have any ideas?

Got the latest BIOS update (2016-02-01)?

 

[Colif]

Other thought... its not booting from USB and is instead trying to load windows. You don't normally get BSOD from the installer, nor the blue loading screen.

the best answer here might help: http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2592799/unable-boot-usb-motherboard-bios.html

 

[Legitninja]

Other thought... its not booting from USB and is instead trying to load windows. You don't normally get BSOD from the installer, nor the blue loading screen.

the best answer here might help: http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2592799/unable-boot-usb-motherboard-bios.html

Weird, I didn't think it'd try to actually load Windows when its not even installed on the PC. I'll try that and see what happens.

 

[Colif]

oh, i thought it had windows on the drive already

try clearing cmos, or better still, update bios

 

[Legitninja]

oh, i thought it had windows on the drive already

try clearing cmos, or better still, update bios

I did try clearing the CMOS multiple times. Even tried auto clearing the CMOS every time the PC booted up.

How would I go about updating the BIOS without an OS installed? Would I just need to download the BIOS update onto a flash drive and booting from that drive?

 

[Colif]

Possible causes
Normal causes for MCE errors include overheating and/or incorrect hardware installation. Specific manually-induced causes include:
overclocking (which normally increases heat-output)
poorly-fitted heatsink/computer fans (the same problem can happen with excessive dust in the CPU fan)
an overloaded internal or external power-supply (fixable by upgrading)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine-check_exception

you don't have a K model so non overclocked
Not sure about 2nd
Your PSU is Tier 4 on here: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2547993/psu-tier-list.html so maybe

 

[Colif]

download drivers from website-- store them on a USB--open BIOS and run M Flash--install updated files from USB

 

[Legitninja]

download drivers from website-- store them on a USB--open BIOS and run M Flash--install updated files from USB

Ah okay. I can do that later today when I go and get another USB. I talked to someone and they said that maybe my flash drive is the problem. I tried checking for any errors or damages and everything looked okay but can never be sure.

It's a flash drive with 3.74 GB. I know that people recommend 4 GB or higher when installing Windows 10. Also I'm not sure if the USB is a 2.0 or 3.0 and it might just be having compatibility issues.

How would I know if my power supply is overloaded? Having the computer just sit there and run everything seems stable. Nothing is shutting off abruptly nor are the fans spinning excessively.

Checking the BIOS the CPU temperature is 32% and the overall system temperature is 34% so I'm pretty sure that nothing is overheating either. Though I do have a spare power supply of the same type (gonna build another computer with the same specs soon enough) so I could try swapping out the power supply and seeing if it fixes the problem if I have to.

This is really weird.

 

[Colif]

did you look at the link in my original post, its the bios stopping the USB from loading. If you have an optical drive, try DVD, It seems all new model motherboards from every maker won't boot from USB without changes. Mine won't by default, I am glad I have an optical drive.

Yes, You should use at least an 8gb flash drive as it needs room to expand the installer.

 

[Legitninja]

did you look at the link in my original post, its the bios stopping the USB from loading. If you have an optical drive, try DVD, It seems all new model motherboards from every maker won't boot from USB without changes. Mine won't by default, I am glad I have an optical drive.

Yes, You should use at least an 8gb flash drive as it needs room to expand the installer.

Unfortunately I don't have a Windows 10 disk nor any blank CDs lying around. Also I don't have an optical drive.

I'm going to try updating the BIOS when I get another flash drive.

At the moment when I try to boot using just legacy settings it gives me the MACHINE CHECK EXCEPTION error. However when I try to boot using the UEFI settings it gives me Whea:Uncorrectable Error which I know for sure means its a hardware issue. The BIOS is probably outdated. So again I'll update that when I get the chance and see how it goes.

 

[Colif]

did you buy or make the Win 10 USB as you can make them anytime you like: Win 10 Media creation tool

so could use that USB for bios and then just make it into Win 10 installer again.

Hardware.. great. At least its all new. I don't know if bios can fix them but its worth a try.
Its not a driver as none installed...

download this and test ram - it makes a bootable usb: http://www.memtest86.com/

 

[Legitninja]

did you buy or make the Win 10 USB as you can make them anytime you like: Win 10 Media creation tool

so could use that USB for bios and then just make it into Win 10 installer again.

Hardware.. great. At least its all new. I don't know if bios can fix them but its worth a try.
Its not a driver as none installed...

download this and test ram - it makes a bootable usb: http://www.memtest86.com/

Okay thanks! I'll try these when I get home. Fingers crossed.

 

[Legitninja]

did you buy or make the Win 10 USB as you can make them anytime you like: Win 10 Media creation tool

so could use that USB for bios and then just make it into Win 10 installer again.

Hardware.. great. At least its all new. I don't know if bios can fix them but its worth a try.
Its not a driver as none installed...

download this and test ram - it makes a bootable usb: http://www.memtest86.com/

Thanks for your help. Turns out the CPU and heatsink were seated incorrectly. Just had to pop them out and reinstall them.