Which part is dead exactly

[SephGamer]

Hi guys,

 

Some of you may have read the post "lost in memory...", others may not, but I am still struggling with a newly built pc that won't do what it should. As far as I can tell, my memory issues have been fixed. My Kingston HyperX Beast 2x8 is running as it should, at 1600Mhz and otherwise stock settings. Ran Memtest86 for a couple passes and it went flawlessly. Checked all dimms, Single Channel and Dual Channel and it all passed, so I was happy. After all the frustration my BSODs on my first Windows install had caused, I finally breathed a sigh of relief when I looked at the latest Memtest results. But all of that was about to change...

 

Thinking I had now finally fixed my issues I once again tried installing Windows 7. And it went fine. Until I tried installing drivers and the damn thing BlueScreened again. Hmm, but my SSD was at sATA, lets try AHCI like people on the internet suggest. Changed it in the Bios, formatted the drive and tried again. But once again: Crashes after pretty much every single install.

 

Now whatever I try, it keeps crashing at random points. Memory still is fine according to Memtest86, but other weird things have started happening. Sata drives will randomly disappear from my Bios, my USB drive disappeared from the Bios (which has the image of Windows, so I can't even reinstall). The USB keyboard that is plugged in will sometimes get power on startup, and sometimes it won't, making getting into the Bios everytime incredibly tedious. And I just noticed that my CPU shows a whopping 10 degrees Celsius more than before in the Bios.

 

So here's the question: What exactly is broken? I'm pretty sure it's not the RAM by this point, but I'm guessing either Motherboard, CPU or Power supply.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated. This pc should've been done a week ago, and I'm about ready to cry.

 

MB: Asrock 990FX Exreme3

CPU: AMD FX-8350

RAM: Kingston HyperX Beast (2x8GB)

Power: Corsair CX650M

[PerfectTemplar]

SSD is dead. I had this problem a couple of years ago with a new SSD also.

 

It could be the windows installation media that's corrupted though, don't forget to try downloading a fresh install and using that.

[SephGamer]

That thought had crossed my mind, but how would that explain the unreliable USB or the other drives disappearing?

 

Also, would a corrupted install cause BSODs AFTER the install was complete?

[stconquest]

Use a little free program to access the windows logs for your BSODs called "bluescreenview".  It will help localize what is crashing you.

[EMENCII]

I'd also check the BIOS itself...

[SephGamer]

I'm not sure what you mean Emencii. Check the Bios for what exactly? It's the Bios that's 'losing' these drives, I'm not even in Windows atm

 

I've read about Bluescreenview somewhere, but that would require me either getting back into Windows or hooking the drive up to another pc, right?

[PerfectTemplar]

I'm not sure what you mean Emencii. Check the Bios for what exactly? It's the Bios that's 'losing' these drives, I'm not even in Windows atm

 

I've read about Bluescreenview somewhere, but that would require me either getting back into Windows or hooking the drive up to another pc, right?

I think he means check if the bios is not corrupted. Update it by getting it off the official manufacturers website.

 

It could be the motherboard, I thought you said it was BSODing during Windows installation not after.

[SephGamer]

I'll try to update the Bios, never done that before. Does that go via USB stick? Because then that might be a problem, unless the system suddenly starts reckognizing it again.

 

The first time I realised something was wrong was when it BSOD'd during install and I thought it was the memory. Seeing my positive results on the memory over the past 12 hours, I've mostly ruled that out as the culprit.

 

But after that, I've done a couple of clean installs without problems. However, after that it crashes at random times. Could be during the install of the chipsetdrivers, could be during browsing for updates. And after a few of those crashes I got a boot failure and suddenly the Bios didn't see the USB drive anymore. Then after that my CD-drive was suddenly gone. That came back but then one of the HDD's was gone.

 

The problem with the USB keyboard only getting power sometimes has been there from the start, but I never worried too much about it thinking it would be fixed after installing the right drivers. But then I realised that my USB mouse does the same, and as far as I know either the system reckognizes it ebough to get into the BIOS or it won't work at all. (I'm not talking about all the fancy lights, functions and macro-keys, just normal functionality)

[stconquest]

Damn, the problem could be just about anywhere.  Without grabing logs from windows, the task is even harder.  I feel bad, I wish I could help. 

 

The only thing I can think of is switching out main components with ones that you know work.  That is not always an option as you might not have an extra mobo lying around.

 

I can suggest you try a local PC store.  Talk to the workers, owner and see if they can help you test your parts.  Find the faulty part and return it before the exchange warranty (retailer) runs out.
 

Again, sorry I could not help more.

[Tal_Tech]

update the bios by going on another computer go to asrocks website and find the bios for your board, then download it on usb go into bios and there should be a way to flash bios.

once you get there insert the usb and choose the usb and choose the file you downloaded then flash it.

[TheWiiPanda]

I'll try to update the Bios, never done that before. Does that go via USB stick? Because then that might be a problem, unless the system suddenly starts reckognizing it again.

 

The first time I realised something was wrong was when it BSOD'd during install and I thought it was the memory. Seeing my positive results on the memory over the past 12 hours, I've mostly ruled that out as the culprit.

 

But after that, I've done a couple of clean installs without problems. However, after that it crashes at random times. Could be during the install of the chipsetdrivers, could be during browsing for updates. And after a few of those crashes I got a boot failure and suddenly the Bios didn't see the USB drive anymore. Then after that my CD-drive was suddenly gone. That came back but then one of the HDD's was gone.

 

The problem with the USB keyboard only getting power sometimes has been there from the start, but I never worried too much about it thinking it would be fixed after installing the right drivers. But then I realised that my USB mouse does the same, and as far as I know either the system reckognizes it ebough to get into the BIOS or it won't work at all. (I'm not talking about all the fancy lights, functions and macro-keys, just normal functionality)

Dry resetting CMOS?

[SephGamer]

Thanks for all the replies guys. I spoke with the retailer, and they pretty much gave me permission to return all the stuff one by one until the system works. Motherboard is on it's way now, will test the new one in a couple of days when it arrives. If that still doesn't do the trick I'm shipping off the power supply, etc. Not the best solution to figure out WHAT the problem was, but at least it'll be fixed soon without me having to pull all-nighters just to get my pc to run.

 

Again, thanks for the replies, and let's hope I never need you guys again