Error detected: WHEA Uncorrectable Error and BootMGR is missing
Error detected: WHEA Uncorrectable Error and BootMGR is missing
Hi, I have over the last 6 months had trouble with constant crashes and being unable to boot, and I have so far failed to identify the cause. My setup is:
GPU: AMD Radeon RX 5700
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 3.6 GHz with stock cooler
Boot drive: Samsung EVO Plus 970 500GB (previously Samsung EVO 970 500GB)
Mobo: MSI Tomahawk B450
RAM: Corsair Vengeance lpx 2x 8GB DDR4 3000MHz and Corsair Vengeance lpx 1x 16 GB DDR4 3000 MHz
PSU: Corsair CX600 600 W
OS: Windows 10
Aside from the SSD (2 months old) and the PSU (~10 years old) everything is 2 years old.
I have one older SSD and several ancient HDDS connected (but not the boot drives) and a CD drive. During some of my troubleshooting I have disconnected all but the boot drive (only with the old SSD, I have not tried after replacing it, but the error still occurred).
The issues:
Constant BSODs (about 20-30 min intervals, but sometimes as soon as Windows is booted. It seems to be consistently triggered faster under heavy load such as gaming, but not sure how correlated it is). This is often followed by a "BootMGR is missing", which after a few restarts goes away and Windows boots normally again until the next BSOD. However sometimes the BootMGR is harder to get rid of, taking multiple days before magically booting normally again. The BSODs are typically very quick, but I have seen the error code WHEA_Uncorrectable_Error. Moreover, in the log it shows "Windows kernel power error 41, bugcheckcode 292" (sometimes 0, but that seems to be when I restarted it myself)
Moreover, I have noticed fairly high temperatures on my CPU: about 60-70 idle and 80-90+ under heavy load.
Issues I've only encountered on my old SSD:
"Windows has encountered a problem communicating with a device connected to your computer", error code 0xc00000e9
Cleaning the disk manually using diskpart resulted in "a device which does not exist was specified"
BSOD with error: "winload.efi-file missing" (error code: 0x000000f)
And not being able to see the SSD in BIOS at times or the disk being inaccessible by Windows Repair
After replacing SSD everything was fine the first month, but now the above issues (the ones not related to the old SSD) have resurfaced.
Attempted solutions:
1) Update all drivers and all updates from Windows. My GPU driver gave me a lot of trouble, as AMD Adrenaline disappears from my computer as soon as I update it. However, with other tools such as Driver Booster I have checked that it indeed has installed the newest driver (currently Adrenalin 23.7.1, but I have attempted other versions as well to fix some other problems).
2) Checked boot order
3) Ran Windows Startup Repair (with my old SSD this did not complete)
4) Reinstalled Windows
5) Replaced my boot SSD from 970 EVO to 970 EVO Plus
6) Ran tests on RAM with no issues found
7) Checked components are seated properly and reseated everything and checked all cables.
8) Disabled precision boost on CPU -- this lowered temperature of CPU significantly
9) Tried the following commands in CMD: bootrec /fixmbr, bootrec /fixboot, bootrec /rebuildbcd
Currently my computer is stuck with the BootMGR problem, so I cannot retrieve a dump of the error codes. I will update if I get access to it again.
I have no idea how these different issues are related, but hope you can help me out!
Very much so.
You perceive your problem as software-related, but it could equally stem from hardware limitations. Specifically, your CX-series PSU is outdated and lacks sufficient build quality for your PC.
Corasir CX series, at most, suits office environments without a dedicated GPU. For any setup with a dedicated GPU—especially for gaming—it would be advisable to upgrade to a higher-quality PSU.
I recommend replacing it with a reliable model such as Seasonic Focus/PRIME or Corsair RMx/RMi/HX/HXi/AX/AXi.
It’s also possible that your previous CX caused hardware damage, and the new PSU won’t resolve that issue.
It seems you view your problem mainly from a software perspective, but it could actually stem from hardware limitations. Your CX-series PSU is outdated and lacks sufficient build quality for your PC. The Corasir CX series is at best suitable for office setups without a dedicated GPU, while any build with a dedicated GPU—especially for gaming—requires a much higher-quality power supply. I recommend upgrading to a reliable PSU such as Seasonic Focus/PRIME or Corsair RMx/RMi/HX/HXi/AX/AXi. Although it's possible your previous CX caused hardware damage, the new PSU won't reverse that damage. Still, replacing components will prevent further harm to future parts.
Thank you for your question! These problems might not only affect your PSU but could also indicate damage to other parts. Using the identical PSU you mentioned could help verify if the issue is specific to your current unit or a broader problem. Your PSU has worked well for 10 years and 2 years in this build, so it should still function properly if no components are damaged.
This situation—shutting down during heavy use or gaming—is usually an indication of one of two things:
* elevated CPU or GPU temperatures
* a weak power supply unit
Although your temperatures are quite high, they don’t reach the point where the system automatically shuts down to prevent damage. For CPUs around 100°C and GPUs near 80°C, such shutdowns would occur before components overheat. However, given the age and condition of your PSU, I suspect a power supply problem is more likely.
The absence of BootMRG suggests either a drive fault or a motherboard issue. Since you’re using quality Samsung drives and have replaced them, it’s unlikely the drive is faulty. This points toward a motherboard malfunction.
MoBo (motherboard) problems often stem from voltage levels that deviate from specifications over time, especially with a subpar PSU. Similar to how consuming contaminated food doesn’t instantly kill you but leads to illness, using an inferior PSU can gradually harm your hardware.
If you experience issues with other components, it’s likely the motherboard is affected. The damage may not be immediately fatal, but it will worsen with continued use.
The age of the system also plays a role—older units are more prone to such failures.
It doesn’t matter how old the PC is.
As I mentioned before, the Corsair CX is generally of average quality. Unless you test it with premium PSUs like Seasonic PRIME TX or Corsair AXi, you can’t definitively rule out a power supply issue.
How can you be certain that another CX unit will work properly? You’d need specialized equipment to verify its performance against ATX PSU standards.
I wouldn’t consider a PSU in good condition—especially one that’s been well-maintained—for six months to have damaged your hardware to the point of failure. It powers on, but it doesn’t protect your system. Sure, it keeps it running, but at what cost to your components?
For instance, in my setup I use a Seasonic PRIME TX-650 PSU from 2016. After seven years, it’s performed flawlessly with no issues. It has excellent efficiency (80+ Titanium), precise voltage regulation, minimal ripple, and a solid warranty.
My CX600 model is rated 80+ Bronze with a three-year warranty. For a unit that’s ten years old, it’s beyond its expected lifespan. Even brand new models weren’t reliable.
Therefore, switching to another CX unit—regardless of age—would be a poor decision. It’s better to invest in a modern, high-quality PSU and verify its performance before committing. Hopefully, the rest of your hardware remains intact (though I won’t hold my breath).