BSOD Troubleshooting Method

[EAS15]

For a while now, I have been attempting to troubleshoot my custom built PC which has been stuck on a loop of the BSOD for over two weeks now. During my free time, I have tried every troubleshooting method not related to replacing any physical hardware. But after trying to troubleshoot multiple times I am now turning to changing hardware.

I am not a crazy computer geek, and my only knowledge is basic computer building. I ended up on the BSOD while playing GTA V for the first time, and with the information I have, I was wondering if the following method I am proposing may work.

I have a 256GB SSD and a 2TB Hard Drive. The SSD only contains important files while my Hard Drive contains games. From my understanding, hard drives tend to last three to four years before beginning to fail. My Hard Drive is the one that had GTA V, the game that brought me to the BSOD. From my logical understanding, I would assume that the Hard Drive has been causing my problems, so if I removed my Hard Drive and installed a fresh install of Windows 10 on my SSD, would that solve my BSOD dilemma? Any advice on my problem would be greatly appreciated and apologies for any mediocre idea I just proposed.

[WereCatf]

5 minutes ago, EAS15 said:

From my understanding, hard drives tend to last three to four years before beginning to fail.

Nope. They're not cheese or bread, they don't grow moldy. How fast they fail is about how much and in what manner they are used, not age.

 

5 minutes ago, EAS15 said:

y Hard Drive is the one that had GTA V, the game that brought me to the BSOD. From my logical understanding, I would assume that the Hard Drive has been causing my problems, so if I removed my Hard Drive and installed a fresh install of Windows 10 on my SSD, would that solve my BSOD dilemma?

How about first checking if the drive is still healthy, before jumping to conclusions? Download Crystaldiskinfo and see if it says the drive is okay or not.

[EAS15]

4 minutes ago, WereCatf said:

Nope. They're not cheese or bread, they don't grow moldy. How fast they fail is about how much and in what manner they are used, not age.

 

How about first checking if the drive is still healthy, before jumping to conclusions? Download Crystaldiskinfo and see if it says the drive is okay or not.

Thanks for this info. How would I download Crystaldiskinfo to my PC if Windows is not accessible. I am not sure if I was clear when I said I am stuck on the BSOD.

[WereCatf]

2 minutes ago, EAS15 said:

Thanks for this info. How would I download Crystaldiskinfo to my PC if Windows is not accessible. I am not sure if I was clear when I said I am stuck on the BSOD.

True enough.

 

You could just try and reinstall Windows on your PC. Or you could make a bootable Ubuntu Linux USB-stick (ie. download the ISO-file, download Rufus, use Rufus to make a bootable USB-stick with the ISO), boot from the USB-stick and install Gsmartcontrol there.

[EAS15]

1 minute ago, WereCatf said:

True enough.

 

You could just try and reinstall Windows on your PC. Or you could make a bootable Ubuntu Linux USB-stick (ie. download the ISO-file, download Rufus, use Rufus to make a bootable USB-stick with the ISO), boot from the USB-stick and install Gsmartcontrol there.

I am totally fine with reinstalling Windows 10 again, but once I installed, should I be concerned about the drives failing again? Or should I find the problem with my drives once I've installed Windows 10?

[WereCatf]

1 minute ago, EAS15 said:

I am totally fine with reinstalling Windows 10 again, but once I installed, should I be concerned about the drives failing again? Or should I find the problem with my drives once I've installed Windows 10?

Obviously, you'd still run the Crystaldiskinfo once Windows is installed.

[EAS15]

Just now, WereCatf said:

Obviously, you'd still run the Crystaldiskinfo once Windows is installed.

Final question, Windows 10 will work once I install it? Thanks for your advice. You've been a great help.

[WereCatf]

Just now, EAS15 said:

Final question, Windows 10 will work once I install it?

Since we don't know what the problem is yet, there is no way of knowing if it will work or not. That's the whole point of running Crystaldiskinfo: you run it to see if there's something wrong with your drives. If not, the problem is elsewhere.

[EAS15]

Just now, WereCatf said:

Since we don't know what the problem is yet, there is no way of knowing if it will work or not. That's the whole point of running Crystaldiskinfo: you run it to see if there's something wrong with your drives. If not, the problem is elsewhere.

Alright. Thanks.