BSOD on new build after initial driver installation?

[cctaylor88]

I have been trying to fix/diagnose this new build non stop for the last two days and just can't get out of the woods. It was initially having problems with memory (still is I believe) as only channel three is working with 1 stick of 8gb memory. We believed it may be because my memory is "overclocked" to 2400 right now and my mobo may only recognize 2133 so I changed that in BIOS.

Anyways... I finally got to the point where I can install some drivers (by using my other computer, and loading the drivers manually on a USB) and then transferring that usb to my new build. Anyways... after installing the main drivers anyone would start with such as usb3/usb3.1 and LAN (I am actually on the new build now) my initial thought is to make a restore point and then restart the computer to just start fresh essentially.

Upon restart the computer gets a BSOD and I am forced to load an older restore point (luckily) so this time I just installed the LAN driver to make this post. My fear is that once I restart or turn my computer off I'll be back to square one... BSOD and I'm just lost at this point. Currently looking at my mob I have memory in slots 1 and 3 and only channel 3 is working. I fear that once I reboot I will get a memory error and start the loop over. I'm just happy that at this exact moment I can at least get LAN installed to talk to you guys.

Any help please?

Gigabyte GA-Z170X Gaming-7
i7 6700k
2x4gb Averxir Ram Part#AVD4UZ124001608G-2COR
Win7

Also to update my BIOS version, do you have to FLASH the entire mobo? Or can you just install it like software?

 

[UsandThem]

Making multiple posts on the same issue is not what you do. It prevents people from seeing the whole picture.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?p=38270809#post38270809

Like I stated in your other post, you need to read your motherboard manual, and there is a section that tells you exactly how to do it. You can also read the guide on Gigabyte's website that I linked to in your other post.

 

[cctaylor88]

Well I apologize, this has evolved into a different issue. I can delete the last thread would that be possible?

Sorry man, just overwhelmed right now. I notice that the LAN driver alone seems to work. Just restarted and it boots fine. Attempted to install the USB 3.0 driver to better utilize my mouse and KB... and BSOD. Didn't even touch the ram...?

I do notice that when having two sticks of RAM in it only recognizes channel 3.

How would I go about updating the BIOS all together? Do I have to flash the mobo or can I just install software/firmware? You had mentioned a way to do it through windows?

 

[cctaylor88]

Making multiple posts on the same issue is not what you do. It prevents people from seeing the whole picture.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?p=38270809#post38270809

Like I stated in your other post, you need to read your motherboard manual, and there is a section that tells you exactly how to do it. You can also read the guide on Gigabyte's website that I linked to in your other post.

So I followed instructions in my manual and tried to update BIOS through something called "Q-FLASH" it states I just need to extract the BIOS file to "USB flash drive, or hard drive" I have to choose hard drive because at the moment my PC has no drivers installed to recognize USB devices (beyond mouse and keyboard).

So at POST I press "end" to enter Q-Flash... select update BIOS from hard drive and of course nothing is detected. I save the extracted BIOS directly to my C drive not in a folder or anything. At the moment I don't have the option to try it with a flash drive bc I'll just get the BSOD again.

EDIT: Just read a line at the end "Q-Flash only supports USB flash drive or hard drives using FAT32/16/12 file system" Is it safe for me to convert my Cdrive thats currently in NTFS to FAT32 to try this Qflash?

 

[UsandThem]

Well I apologize, this has evolved into a different issue. I can delete the last thread would that be possible?

Sorry man, just overwhelmed right now. I notice that the LAN driver alone seems to work. Just restarted and it boots fine. Attempted to install the USB 3.0 driver to better utilize my mouse and KB... and BSOD. Didn't even touch the ram...?

I do notice that when having two sticks of RAM in it only recognizes channel 3.

How would I go about updating the BIOS all together? Do I have to flash the mobo or can I just install software/firmware?

I understand you are frustrated. A lot of us here have been building computers for 20+ years, and we've all had problems we had to figure out.

This instability IS related to your memory issue. If you received the error code 55 on your board , (your other post), you have incompatible RAM.

As far as updating your BIOS, this will be the 3rd time telling you this, and in my older age, my patience gets shorter every year. You need to:

1. Get your motherboard manual.
2. Go to the section that talks about how to update your BIOS.

A. Update it inside the BIOS. (Recommended)

Or

B. Update within Windows using the Gigabyte @Bios program (not recommended)

Since your system is crashing, if you do it with the @bios program and it crashes during the update, your system will be kaput.

Go to Gigabyte's page for your exact motherboard, download the BIOS file the newest BIOS file, expand it ,(right click extract all) and put it on s flash drive.

Then follow the directions in the manual on what to do within the BIOS. If that doesn't stop the crashes, you might have to buy other RAM.

 

[UsandThem]

So I followed instructions in my manual and tried to update BIOS through something called "Q-FLASH" it states I just need to extract the BIOS file to "USB flash drive, or hard drive" I have to choose hard drive because at the moment my PC has no drivers installed to recognize USB devices (beyond mouse and keyboard).

EDIT: Just read a line at the end "Q-Flash only supports USB flash drive or hard drives using FAT32/16/12 file system" Is it safe for me to convert my Cdrive thats currently in NTFS to FAT32 to try this Qflash?

Just format a flash drive in fat32. Insert it in a USB 2.0 port, your BIOS Q-Flash will see it if you unzipped the file.

 

[cctaylor88]

Just format a flash drive in fat32. Insert it in a USB 2.0 port, your BIOS Q-Flash will see it if you unzipped the file.

Got the most up to date BIOS version off a removable FAT32, no dice Just goes back into a BSOD loop. So I was luckily able to restore back to this point with just the LAN controller. Going to see if I'm able to reboot. No idea whats going on

 

[vailr]

Since your system is crashing, if you do it with the @bios program and it crashes during the update, your system will be kaput.

Well, not exactly.
Gigabyte uses the "dual bios" feature, so that if the main bios were to somehow get corrupted, the secondary bios can then take over the bios duties (so to speak). There should be a small sliding switch on the board to select which of the 2 bioses is used.
The latest beta bios for that board is version: F8L "Improve DDR Compatibility"
http://www.station-drivers.com/inde...a-z170x-gaming-7&catid=172&Itemid=169&lang=en
Once you have the latest bios firmware flashed and without any overclock configured, then do a fresh Windows installation.
At that point, I would then try this driver update tool:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/driver_booster_3.html

 

[cctaylor88]

Well, not exactly.
Gigabyte uses the "dual bios" feature, so that if the main bios were to somehow get corrupted, the secondary bios can then take over the bios duties (so to speak). There should be a small sliding switch on the board to select which of the 2 bioses is used.
The latest beta bios for that board is version: F8L "Improve DDR Compatibility"
http://www.station-drivers.com/inde...a-z170x-gaming-7&catid=172&Itemid=169&lang=en
Once you have the latest bios firmware flashed and without any overclock configured, then do a fresh Windows installation.
At that point, I would then try this driver update tool:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/driver_booster_3.html

The ram is now working properly, and is fully recognized. So right now, I just have the required LAN drivers to get onto the internet, if I install any USB drivers, they are recognized and work just fine (for instance right now I can't use my mo use scroll but if I install the drivers it will work). But as soon as I restart it throws the pc into a BSOD and I have to do recovery.

What is making you lean towards a fresh OS install? Also, would it be better to move to Win10? I haven't done this in a long time... kind of forget how to go about it TBH.

That DriverReviver seems like a nice program and all but I am not going to pay for the product unfortunately

 

[UsandThem]

Well, not exactly.
Gigabyte uses the "dual bios" feature, so that if the main bios were to somehow get corrupted, the secondary bios can then take over the bios duties (so to speak). There should be a small sliding switch on the board to select which of the 2 bioses is used.
The latest beta bios for that board is version: F8L "Improve DDR Compatibility"
http://www.station-drivers.com/inde...a-z170x-gaming-7&catid=172&Itemid=169&lang=en
Once you have the latest bios firmware flashed and without any overclock configured, then do a fresh Windows installation.
At that point, I would then try this driver update tool:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/driver_booster_3.html

Since he didn't know what a BIOS update was, I wasn't going to go into explaining dual BIOS. Cross that bridge if we needed to.

 

[UsandThem]

The ram is now working properly, and is fully recognized. So right now, I just have the required LAN drivers to get onto the internet, if I install any USB drivers, they are recognized and work just fine (for instance right now I can't use my mo use scroll but if I install the drivers it will work). But as soon as I restart it throws the pc into a BSOD and I have to do recovery.

What is making you lean towards a fresh OS install? Also, would it be better to move to Win10? I haven't done this in a long time... kind of forget how to go about it TBH.

Are you on Windows 7? If so there will be a ton of drivers and system updates you need to install, starting with the motherboard chipset (inf file). Make sure to download new ones from the website, and don't install them from the disk.

Also, I like Windows 10 better going forward. It gets the updates first as it is fully supported. Windows 7 now only gets security updates I believe.

 

[cctaylor88]

Are you on Windows 7? If so there will be a ton of drivers and system updates you need to install, starting with the motherboard chipset (inf file). Make sure to download new ones from the website, and don't install them from the disk.

Also, I like Windows 10 better going forward. It gets the updates first as it is fully supported. Windows 7 now only gets security updates I believe.

Hm alright, I haven't done a fresh install in a very long time. GOing to attempt the INF file update now

 

[UsandThem]

Hm alright, I haven't done a fresh install in a very long time. GOing to attempt the INF file update now

Did you take the hard drive out of your old system with the OS already installed, and put in with your new hardware and booted from that? If so, that would explain some of the BSODs.

 

[vailr]

That "Iobit Driver Booster 3" program will still function as a free program. The paid/registered version only adds some additional "gaming" related software update checks.
Otherwise, station-drivers.com is another source for obtaining the latest version of Windows device drivers.
Note: that "Iobit Driver Booster 3" program also includes a "Clean Unplugged Devices" function, which would be helpful in removing leftover devices from an earlier PC installation.

 

[cctaylor88]

Did you take the hard drive out of your old system with the OS already installed, and put in with your new hardware and booted from that? If so, that would explain some of the BSODs.

Yes thats actually exactly what I am running off of. I have pinpointed the BSOD to the Intel USB 3.0 drivers. I can install other drivers just fine it seems, restart and all of that. As soon as I hit the Intel 3.0 it BSODs.

You know, my old OS SSD is what I am using... I was on AMD platform then too..? But I mean... brand new mobo/cpu all of that.

I can't find any AMD programs to remove and all of that... maybe a fresh OS install is due but I completely forget how to do that. THis new build has no DVD read/write.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Did you take the hard drive out of your old system with the OS already installed, and put in with your new hardware and booted from that? If so, that would explain some of the BSODs.

Yeah... don't do that, OP. Fresh hardware, fresh install. Unless this isn't your first rodeo, in which case you would already know what to do.

 

[UsandThem]

Yes thats actually exactly what I am running off of. I have pinpointed the BSOD to the Intel USB 3.0 drivers. I can install other drivers just fine it seems, restart and all of that. As soon as I hit the Intel 3.0 it BSODs.

You know, my old OS SSD is what I am using... I was on AMD platform then too..? But I mean... brand new mobo/cpu all of that.

A clean install would probably be the best route then, but you can probably get it stable at least by doing what your doing. The only downside to a clean Windows 7 install on a z170 motherboard is there are usually some extra steps involved to get your USB ports working to actually use them during installation (mouse and keyboard). It can be done, but with what you have experienced so far, I wouldn't recommend it until you get a little more caught up on stuff.

Windows 10 installation will not have that issue as it has those drivers built in.

Yeah... don't do that, OP. Fresh hardware, fresh install. Unless this isn't your first rodeo, in which case you would already know what to do.

He has had a rough outing with this build. He is the one from Computer Help who had the Averxir RAM that wasn't working right until he updated his BIOS.

 

[cctaylor88]

A clean install would probably be the best route then, but you can probably get it stable at least by doing what your doing. The only downside to a clean Windows 7 install on a z170 motherboard is there are usually some extra steps involved to get your USB ports working to actually use them during installation (mouse and keyboard). It can be done, but with what you have experienced so far, I wouldn't recommend it until you get a little more caught up on stuff.

Windows 10 installation will not have that issue as it has those drivers built in.



He has had a rough outing with this build. He is the one from Computer Help who had the Averxir RAM that wasn't working right until he updated his BIOS.

SOrry I have been away, just very odd to me that most of the build seems to be working well until I install, of all things, native Intel drivers? Just kind of feel like I hit a brick wall bc if I can't install my own platform drivers then where am I to turn?

I know this is a different issue entirely, but I can't remember the last time I did an OS install unfortunately. Would it be best to take my newly purchased SSD and try to load up a copy of Win10?

 

[VirtualLarry]

Would it be best to take my newly purchased SSD and try to load up a copy of Win10?

Probably wouldn't hurt. And I think Windows 10 has built-in Intel USB3.0 drivers, so you may or may not even need to load the "problematic" ones.

Interestingly, perhaps, I have an Asus H110M-A micro-ATX motherboard, that I had an Intel i3-6100 Skylake dual-core w/HT CPU in, and I had an SSD that came out of a Core2 rig with an AMD dGPU, that I re-purposed for my SKL rig, and I had to go through some hoops to install the USB3.0 Intel drivers on my Win7 64-bit install, in order to use the USB ports on that board.

Anyways, I got it working, but then when I tried to install Intel's updated video drivers, on several different versions, I would get BSODs!

I finally got it somewhat stable, with later drivers, and swapping out the single Kingston DDR4-2133 4GB DIMM for an 8GB GSkill DDR4-2800 (running at 2133) kit. So I thought that perhaps it was the RAM.

Anyways, I now have that same CPU, same SSD / Windows 7 64-bit install, same GSKill RAM, in an ASRock H110-ITX board, and it's all functioning more-or-less flawlessly.

I then put the Kingston 4GB RAM back in the Asus H110M-A board, along with a new G4400 Pentium SKL CPU, and installed Win10 on a fresh SSD, and now that board is working flawlessly with Win10. Go figure.

So, it really couldn't hurt, plugging in a fresh SSD and doing a clean Win10 install on the new hardware.

 

[cctaylor88]

Probably wouldn't hurt. And I think Windows 10 has built-in Intel USB3.0 drivers, so you may or may not even need to load the "problematic" ones.

Interestingly, perhaps, I have an Asus H110M-A micro-ATX motherboard, that I had an Intel i3-6100 Skylake dual-core w/HT CPU in, and I had an SSD that came out of a Core2 rig with an AMD dGPU, that I re-purposed for my SKL rig, and I had to go through some hoops to install the USB3.0 Intel drivers on my Win7 64-bit install, in order to use the USB ports on that board.

Anyways, I got it working, but then when I tried to install Intel's updated video drivers, on several different versions, I would get BSODs!

I finally got it somewhat stable, with later drivers, and swapping out the single Kingston DDR4-2133 4GB DIMM for an 8GB GSkill DDR4-2800 (running at 2133) kit. So I thought that perhaps it was the RAM.

Anyways, I now have that same CPU, same SSD / Windows 7 64-bit install, same GSKill RAM, in an ASRock H110-ITX board, and it's all functioning more-or-less flawlessly.

I then put the Kingston 4GB RAM back in the Asus H110M-A board, along with a new G4400 Pentium SKL CPU, and installed Win10 on a fresh SSD, and now that board is working flawlessly with Win10. Go figure.

So, it really couldn't hurt, plugging in a fresh SSD and doing a clean Win10 install on the new hardware.

Okay and I appreciate your help. I now am going to do a fresh OS install... I have a clean SSD to use but haven't done this in years. SO... pretty lost atm

 

[UsandThem]

Yeah, I would just go with a Windows 10 clean install. Just make sure to buy the 64-bit version if you are buying an OEM copy. The retail version comes with both 32-bit and 64-bit on it. It's been out long enough that most of the early headaches are gone.

On my Gigabyte z170 system, Windows 10 works great. On one of my older systems, there were a few headaches from a Windows update, but I figured it out.

 

[cctaylor88]

Yeah, I would just go with a Windows 10 clean install. Just make sure to buy the 64-bit version if you are buying an OEM copy. The retail version comes with both 32-bit and 64-bit on it. It's been out long enough that most of the early headaches are gone.

On my Gigabyte z170 system, Windows 10 works great. On one of my older systems, there were a few headaches from a Windows update, but I figured it out.

So in order to do a clean install... I have a virtually blank SSD I'm wanting to use but completely forget how to make it a bootable drive.

 

[UsandThem]

Are you buying a copy of Windows 10, or are you doing the free upgrade from Windows 7?

 

[cctaylor88]

Can I use this process but for an SSD as opposed to USB?

How to make a bootable Windows 7 USB installer with CMD:
Open and run CMD as Administrator.
Type Diskpart, press Enter.
Type List Disk, press Enter.
Type Select Disk # (where # is the number your USB drive shows up as), press Enter.
Type Clean, press Enter.
Type Create Partition Primary, press Enter.
Type Active, press Enter.
Type Format Quick FS=FAT32, press Enter.
Type Assign, press Enter.
Type Exit, press Enter.

EDIT: right now my system wont recognize USB devises... I guess I could install the drivers but that = BSOD

 

[cctaylor88]

Are you buying a copy of Windows 10, or are you doing the free upgrade from Windows 7?

I'm going to try and do a fresh re-install of my Win7 and then upgrade from there