PC reboots at windows loading screen

[cHubbyFker]

Hey guys!

Decided to switch over from my old 2500k to a 6700k last week. I started off on a MSI Z170 krait gaming mobo, which had a plethora of issues. After a lot of hair-pulling, I was able to get the PC up and running with win7 64bit, and as it seemed stable after a few hours of usage, I left it on overnight to download all the big stuff.

When I woke up the next morning, the screen was black, and the comp was unresponsive and fairly toasty. When I tried to reboot windows, it rebooted about 3 secs after reaching the windows loading screen. The bios works as usual, and temps are stable, but any windows loading screen (including windows installer and startup repair) causes it to reboot.

As I'd already had a plethora of both resolved and unresolved issues, I assumed the motherboard was at fault, and had it replaced.

I've now switched it out for an asus Z170 Pro Gaming, and the issue persists. I didn't make any alterations in the BIOS before attempting to boot the windows installer from my thumb drive.

With that, I'm pretty sure I haven't gotten two DOA boards, and I'm also pretty sure my drives aren't at fault, as this issue is present on two of my drives (installed win7 on one of my storage drives to transfer stuff from my main SSD, as I forgot I would have to reinstall the OS) AND the USB thumbdrive with the windows install on it.

Below are my system specs-

CPU- i7 6700k

Mobo- Asus Z170 Pro Gaming

Memory- 2x8gb corsair LPX 2133

GPU- Asus Strix 980ti

PSU- Corsair RM1000

Boot drive- Samsung 850evo 250gb

Storage- 2x 1tb wd greens

So, any ideas? I'm thinking now that the ram might be at fault, but I want to be somewhat certain before returning a second product today.

Cheers!

[cHubbyFker]

Just tried running the system with only one of the ram sticks at a time, and the problem persists.

Is it common that both sticks are DOA?

[Matt420740]

So, any ideas? I'm thinking now that the ram might be at fault, but I want to be somewhat certain before returning a second product today.

Cheers!

 

Motherboards and CPUs get tested more thoroughly by the manufacturer than just about any other component in your PC.  The chances of you getting 2 DOA boards is very unlikely. 

 

The issue stems from you trying to boot a machine with hardware that your OS does not have the required drivers to run. 

Your OS still has the drivers from your old hardware config.    You'll need to do a full OS install so the OS can get the appropriate drivers for your MB and hardware during the install process.

 

In other words, you're trying to run an ASUS board with an OS thats set-up with drivers for an MSI board, and that ain't gonna work.

[cHubbyFker]

Motherboards and CPUs get tested more thoroughly by the manufacturer than just about any other component in your PC. The chances of you getting 2 DOA boards is very unlikely.

The issue stems from you trying to boot a machine with hardware that your OS does not have the required drivers to run.

Your OS still has the drivers from your old hardware config. You'll need to do a full OS install so the OS can get the appropriate drivers for your MB and hardware during the install process.

I'm fully aware of this, but as I've stated above, I can't even boot into the installer.

[Matt420740]

I'm fully aware of this, but as I've stated above, I can't even boot into the installer.

Are the speeds and timing of the RAM reported correctly in the BIOS?

[cHubbyFker]

Are the speeds and timing of the RAM reported correctly in the BIOS?

Yep. 2133MHz at 1.208 volts.

[Mojo-Jojo]

Just tried running the system with only one of the ram sticks at a time, and the problem persists.

Is it common that both sticks are DOA?

I'd just run a memtest86. Then you'd be sure it's your RAM or not.

 

Have you tried running a different power supply?

[cHubbyFker]

I'd just run a memtest86. Then you'd be sure it's your RAM or not.

Have you tried running a different power supply?

Running memtest right now. My old PSU is currently in my SOs rig, and I'm not able to access it. I've been using this PSU for a while without issues, though.

[cHubbyFker]

Update: Memory and GPU removed from list of suspects.

This leaves us with PSU, storage drives and CPU as possible suspects. I doubt it's the drives, though. Tried hooking up an old hdd which has win7 on it. Restarted before it even had time to bluescreen due to mobo mismatch.

I'm gonna try to switch out all the PSU cables to eliminate that from the equation, but if that doesn't work...

[cHubbyFker]

So, I disconnected all my drives and switched the 8pin eps for a fresh one. Tried booting my windows installation USB, and the issue is still there. I'm at a loss here, guys. Either my PSU has taken damage, and is for some reason not supplying enough power to sustain booting windows (seems kind of unlikely), or my CPU has gone fubar. 

 

Is there any way to test the cpu for damages? I'm seriously starting to question my sanity here, guys.

[cHubbyFker]

Allright, figured out a way to test the PSU.

 

 

Doing it ghetto-style has never felt better. Also, don't mind the horrible cable management.

 

The test-rig consisting of my old mobo-package booted the installer just fine. While this doesn't clear the PSU from suspicion entirely, I'd say it's pretty safe to say it's not the culprit.

 

This really does only leave the CPU, doesn't it? Does anyone have any other suggestions? Because if I go back to my retailer tomorrow and tell him "Hey dude! Turns out it wasn't the memory either, so gimme another 6700k", and it turns out it's not to blame either, I'm pretty sure I'm going to get banned for life.

[Mojo-Jojo]

Allright, figured out a way to test the PSU.

 

 

 

Doing it ghetto-style has never felt better. Also, don't mind the horrible cable management.

 

The test-rig consisting of my old mobo-package booted the installer just fine. While this doesn't clear the PSU from suspicion entirely, I'd say it's pretty safe to say it's not the culprit.

 

This really does only leave the CPU, doesn't it? Does anyone have any other suggestions? Because if I go back to my retailer tomorrow and tell him "Hey dude! Turns out it wasn't the memory either, so gimme another 6700k", and it turns out it's not to blame either, I'm pretty sure I'm going to get banned for life.

Don't skylake processors have that crashing issue? I only just remembered. Try and see if there's a BIOS update for you. 

[cHubbyFker]

Don't skylake processors have that crashing issue? I only just remembered. Try and see if there's a BIOS update for you. 

 

Gonna give that a go, although having read about it a bit, it doesn't seem to be the same issue...

[Mojo-Jojo]

Gonna give that a go, although having read about it a bit, it doesn't seem to be the same issue...

I think it's unrelated too, but you never know. I'm not sure how to test a CPU for being unstable if windows doesn't even boot.

Linux does have very helpful boot messages that may tell you what's going on if you boot that. Maybe through a live USB key.

[cHubbyFker]

I think it's unrelated too, but you never know. I'm not sure how to test a CPU for being unstable if windows doesn't even boot.

Linux does have very helpful boot messages that may tell you what's going on if you boot that. Maybe through a live USB key.

 

Honestly, if the bios update doesn't work, and it still doesn't work after running it as disconnected as possible, I'm just gonna go replace the CPU. This whole situation is just ridiculous

[Mojo-Jojo]

Honestly, if the bios update doesn't work, and it still doesn't work after running it as disconnected as possible, I'm just gonna go replace the CPU. This whole situation is just ridiculous

Yeah, I think that's a pretty safe bet to be honest.

[cHubbyFker]

Replaced the CPU, aaaaand..... It f*cking works!!

 

Holy crap, I haven't been this relieved in a long time...

 

Thanks for the input guys!