W7 System - Help needed

[John 2]

A few weeks back, I mentioned that I was suffering blue screen syndrome. I have thoroughly cleaned out the system using specialised software and ensured that all drivers are up to date. All to no effect and the problem is becoming more frequent. The perceived wisdom on the internet is that the event as registered in the event log is more likely to be down to a sporadic hardware failure (Memory, PSU, SSD or Motherboard) . If any one has any relevant experience, I would be grateful for some advice.

However, in the meantime, I have been trying to eliminate each hardware item as the source. I have run the memory through MemTest. It's OK. The PSU voltages registered in the Bios set up area look to be spot on. And so to the SSD. I have swopped out the SSD system drive for a standard HD. The first problem I encountered was that the system rejected the first HD I tried as not being large enough to host the backup rebuild even though it was the same size as the SSD it replaced. I had a new 3TB HD acquired in anticipation of building a network storage solution. Connecting this this has allowed me to rebuild the computer from a backup BUT the system now only sees the 3TB drive as a 238GB drive and although the (separate) backup drive (1TB) is nearly full, only the last back up is shown on the system and I cannot free up space.

The system is now running normally enough for me to see if the blue screen has been caused by the replaced SSD but clearly something is still amiss and any advice in this area would be most welcome also. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it isn't the MB. I am using an OEM version of W7 and it's not transferable.

[Manfred M]

HDD makers refer to a TB as 1 000 000 000 000 bytes (i.e. they use the decimal system so a 3TB drive is in fact around 2.74 TB based on the "proper" calculation of a TB / GB. That would explain why your 3 TB HDD could not load all the data on a 3 TB SSD.

The 238GB size issue suggests to me that the drive has that size of volume associated with it (it's possible to install multiple volumes on a single physical drive). Can you go to the Windows Control Panel and click on "Administrative Tools". Then click on "Computer Management". When that panel popups up, go down to "Storage" and select "Disk Management".

That should show you all of the physical and logical drives. If you see any inactive drives there, that could be where the "missing" part of the drive is hidden. If you could let me see a screen capture of what you see there, I might be able to figure out what is going on.

[John 2]

Thanks for the response Manfred. The original drive is a 250GB SSD. I tried to rebuild with a 250GB HD and that is what the system rejected. I don't understand why because the system size is only about 150GB. All my data is on separate drives. It concerns me because although the original SSD (Samsung Pro series) has a 5 yr warranty and the local outlet I deal with is good about these things, if they replace it, I won't be able to rebuild the system with it. As to the three TB disk problem, you are absolutely right. I finally got around to realising that might be the problem last night and sure enough the rebuild has partitioned the 3TB HD and the system is only showing the 238GB partition. I know how to change that but I'm leaving things as they are until I sort out whether the original SSD is faulty or not. One step at a time. One thing this exercise has reminded me of is how much faster an SSD based system is. At the moment, this machine is distinctly pedestrian.

[tao2]

Hi John,

As an old Irishman said tae me once..."ye want to go to Cappagh? Ah wouldn't start from here..."

Yer already well inta the repair process.

BSOD investigation would usually start with...

• Did I add any new device? Remove it - run a test.
• Did I change any settings recently? Change them back - run a test.
• Did I update a driver(s). Roll them back - run a test.
• After the above,use the last restore point. Problems solved?

Check all internal hardware connections (all plugs). Unplug connection, leave for 30 seconds plug back in firmly. Do that for all connections. Unseat, re-seat memory.

Check PC temps - especially graphics card and CPU. Overheating is often a greater problem than drive or component failure. Clean all vents and fans, especially the blades. The CPU and graphics card may both need old thermal paste removed and fresh paste applied.

Run chkdsk on the hard drive tae scan for errors and fix them. Corrupt files can cause BSOD on failing disks.

John, Ye need tae remove most components for a hardware check. Removing one component and replacing it with a different one won't always show up faults. Ye need tae strip down tae motherboard, CPU, one hard disk, power supply, RAM and keyboard. PLug the monitor intae the monitor input on the motherboard, so ye can test without a graphics card. Then run the PC in its sttripped down state. After that test, add one component, run it for x mins/hours. then add another, same procedure then add another, 'til everything is powered up. Ye should have found a culprit ( if it is a hardware problem)

[John 2]

Boab, thanks for the input. I am in the process of doing just that now. So far over two days of running with the substitute HD, I haven't blue screened once. According to the event log, I was averaging about 4 over a 7 day period. Too soon to tell whether I have eliminated the original problem. I will run it for a couple of weeks. see what happens and take it from there. Thanks again.

[tao2]

Hi John,

Download and install this...Crystal disk info
there's a 32/64 bit option and Major Geeks is a trustworthy site

[John 2]

Thanks Boab. Looks extremely useful and I have downloaded it. Worth having in any case.