Question Sudden BSOD loop with SSD, but PC boots fine from an HDD ?

[ahmed25004]

Hi,
I've been running Windows 11 on my SSD for a year without any BSODs. Yesterday everything was fine, but today after turning it on for the first time I suddenly got a BSOD loop: "CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED" the moment it shows the sign in screen.

• Tried all common fixes (SFC, DISM, etc.) — no luck
• Did a full format and clean install on the SSD — same BSOD after the first reboot
• Installed Windows on my HDD instead — worked fine
• Accessed the SSD from HDD, backed up data with no issues
• SSD health shows 100% (Hard Disk Sentinel) and CMD commands found no errors

The SSD seems healthy, but Windows won’t boot from it. Any ideas?
Windows version: both the installed prior to the issue and the one i burnt into the flash drive to install it again was Windows 11 Pro 24H2 with latest updates
Specs:

• CPU: Intel i5-8400
• CPU Cooler: stock cooler
• Motherboard: Gigabyte B360M DS3H
• SSD: HP EX920 (issue)
• HDD: WD (working)
• Ram: 16gb-2400 (Crucial Ballistix Sport LT 8gb ddr4-2400 + G.Skill Ripjaws V 8gb ddr4-2400)
• GPU: Gigabyte Gaming OC 4070 Super
• PSU: Antec NeoECO Series NE850G M 850W (bought it around 1 year ago)
• Chasis: Unkown brand
• Monitor: MSI Optix MAG241C
• Bios version: F19 (Jan 10, 2024)

Thanks!

 

[Lutfij]

Specs:
i5-8400
Gigabyte B360M DS3H
SSD: HP EX920 (issue)
HDD: WD (working)
When posting a thread of troubleshooting nature, it's customary to include your full system's specs. Please list the specs to your build like so:
CPU:
CPU cooler:
Motherboard:
Ram:
SSD/HDD:
GPU:
PSU:
Chassis:
OS:
Monitor:
include the age of the PSU apart from it's make and model. BIOS version for your motherboard at this moment of time.

Did a full format and clean install on the SSD — same BSOD after the first reboot
Did you recreate your bootable USB installer for your OS to rule out a corruption in said OS? Also, did you install the OS in offline mode, manually installing all necessary drivers with the latest versions in an elevated command?

Installed Windows on my HDD instead — worked fine
This would mean your SSD doesn't have mission critical data on it. Can you carry over the SSD onto another platform and reinstall the OS? If you're seeing the same issue on a donor platform during the OS installation, your SSD is the issue, either that or the storage controller inside it.

 

[ahmed25004]

Specs:
i5-8400
Gigabyte B360M DS3H
SSD: HP EX920 (issue)
HDD: WD (working)
When posting a thread of troubleshooting nature, it's customary to include your full system's specs. Please list the specs to your build like so:
CPU:
CPU cooler:
Motherboard:
Ram:
SSD/HDD:
GPU:
PSU:
Chassis:
OS:
Monitor:
include the age of the PSU apart from it's make and model. BIOS version for your motherboard at this moment of time.

I updated the post with required information.

Did you recreate your bootable USB installer for your OS to rule out a corruption in said OS?

Yes indeed, i downloaded the windows image from Microsoft page (showing last update as 06/07/2025) and burnt it into the usb using rufus, the same exact image installed and worked on the HDD and didnt in the SSD.

Also, did you install the OS in offline mode, manually installing all necessary drivers with the latest versions in an elevated command?

While installing the Windows, I don't get to the point where updates are downloaded and installed, it crashes the moment it restarts the first time during installation, however i tried to install it while internet is not connected and the process is exactly the same.
I saw an option on the installation window to use an older interface of installation, after all process points complete and it restarts for the first time, it gets me into BSOD again.
This is the old installation interface i point to

The other regular installation interface if i dont specify to use the older also crashes on the first restart when it reaches around 70% and it shows me this error

The regular installation interface i point to is this

Can you carry over the SSD onto another platform and reinstall the OS?

Unfortunately I don't have currently other pc's to try this out.

The thing i dont get at all is how it was working perfectly all that long time, and the day before the issue didnt have any updates at all (no windows updates, no drivers updates, not a single software installation or file downloaded), turned off with all stuff working and turning it on the next day with this issue.