Question about BSOD during installation on any internal HDD
Question about BSOD during installation on any internal HDD
System Setup:
Microsoft Windows 11 Home 24H2
AMD Ryzen 7 7800x3D
4060ti 16GB
TEAM T-FORCE DELTA 16GB DDR5-6000MHZ
MSI PRO X870-P Wi-Fi
ROCKSOUL 850W PSU
1TB WD BLUE SN580 SERIES (PCIe Gen4) NVMe M.2 SSD
1TB WD CAVIAR BLUE HDD 3.5" SATA III 7200RPM 6.0 GB/s
Minidumps:
https://www.mediafire.com/file/1og7hneyc...s.zip/file
Recently acquired a brand new Custom Configuration PC from CyberPowerPC roughly two weeks ago. I experienced persistent BSODs, and after extensive testing and troubleshooting, the issues ceased once I replaced my HDD. Initially, I suspected a faulty drive, but switching to a known functional one resolved the problem. After installing games via Steam onto the new HDD, the behavior normalized—no more BSODs for days. Even when connecting any HDD to the SATA ports inside my PC, I encountered further complications, such as repeated Firefox crashes.
The problem recurs consistently whenever I install something from Steam onto the HDD; it can range from a few hours to over ten minutes, appearing randomly. I also tried installing Hitman 3 on a USB 3.0 port connected via SATA to USB, which completed successfully in three hours without any BSOD.
Current troubleshooting attempts include:
- Reinstalling Windows twice
- Installing all available drivers for my motherboard, NVMe, and HDD (including those from the BIOS website)
- Ensuring BIOS is updated to the latest stable release (except for beta versions that support newer Ryzen 9 CPUs)
- Running Driver Verifier for several days without encountering any crashes
- Switching SATA cables, using a different port, and performing memory tests (Memtest86, Memtest86+, Chkdsk)
- Disabling overclocking, keeping EXPO OFF, and setting BIOS to default settings
In summary, my motherboard may be defective. I’m seeking alternative solutions to resolve this without returning the PC to CyberPowerPC for an extended period, as it’s critical for my work. I’m considering switching entirely to NVMe drives next month after purchasing a second one to avoid similar issues.
The only items with critical events around the time of the BSOD were "Windows", "Windows Operating System", and "SVCHOST".
Numerous issues are occurring... it could indicate a chain reaction.
What appears in "View technical details"?
It looks like, according to the timeline in Reliability History/Monitor, things started to deteriorate on November 16th.
Do you recall anything that was installed or changed on that day?
Were there any problems with Windows updates? Review the Update History.
Return to November 16th and examine each subsequent date—search for additional error codes and related issues.
My approach is to search for corrupted files; Windows might be able to locate and resolve them.
Execute "dism" and "sfc /scannow" to identify and repair problematic files.
Note:
https://www.windowscentral.com/how-use-d...s-10-image
https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-use-sfc-...es-2626161
Make sure, if possible, to back up all critical data to locations separate from the CyberPower PC.
Generally, a growing number of different errors might point to a failing or defective PSU, or simply result from a loose power connection causing similar outcomes.
Keep exploring further.
The next action, unless new information arises, could involve shutting down, unplugging, and opening the case to inspect connections and seating.
I have performed an SFC scan repeatedly from the start, and it consistently shows no issues. I've reinstalled Windows several times, but the only consistent problem was when the HDD was connected, while it doesn't occur otherwise. In the Reliability Viewer, every entry for "Windows Stopped Working" lists a distinct BugCheck number for each incident.
Bugcheck:
"
0x000001c7
", "
0x000000d1
" and "
0x0000004e
" were the most recent three attempts to download a game from Steam onto the HDD. I connected the HDD to my USB 3.0 port and it installed without issues, but when placed in the PC's SATA port it triggered a BSOD. Despite reinstalling, formatting, and wiping everything, the problem persists only during installation on the HDD.
Attached are screenshots of the recent BSOD events:
https://imgur.com/7BYFLKr
View: https://i.imgur.com/7BYFLKr.png
https://imgur.com/D3fLgs9
View: https://i.imgur.com/D3fLgs9.png
https://imgur.com/NtZ1RzL
View: https://i.imgur.com/NtZ1RzL.png
My system experienced irregularities on November 16, coinciding with the Windows reinstallation. Prior to that, no updates were installed. I opened the PC, replaced the SATA cable, and confirmed no loose connections. I haven't verified the power cable from the PSU to the HDD, but I'm still skeptical it's the issue.
I completed a full 3-hour format of the HDD without BSOD, though downloading Hitman onto it caused a crash after one hour. Based on this, the most likely causes appear to be the PSU or possibly the motherboard.
EDIT: It seems the PSU is integrated and not modular, so loose cables are unlikely. I've personally installed the HDD and ensured its ends were secure. The PC never BSODs without the HDD, which makes a PSU problem improbable. I'm still uncertain and suspect the motherboard might be at fault. A Windows issue could also be responsible if the same problems occur when switching to Linux."
I have also reviewed the first recorded incident and noticed Windows update failures, possibly linked to installation issues before HDD use. Here are relevant snapshots:
https://imgur.com/q8nvkgE
View: https://i.imgur.com/q8nvkgE.png
Hardware error snapshot:
https://imgur.com/leVJ2mB
View: https://i.imgur.com/leVJ2mB.png
Other failed installations might be related to Realtek drivers or AMD Security Devices, which I haven't confirmed.
I encountered multiple pop-up errors after downloading a game to the HDD, all requiring me to close them. Before closing, the Steam game was stuck during download and wouldn't proceed until I acknowledged five identical error messages:
https://imgur.com/g0HUptD
View: https://i.imgur.com/g0HUptD.png
I ran SFC /scannow and DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth, but SFC found no issues and the DISM log is available here:
https://pastebin.com/raw/RYy8JsPn
Starting with "Also the PC never BSOD's without the HDD"
That HDD being the "
1TB WD CAVIAR BLUE HDD 3.5" SATAIII 7200RPM 6.0 GB/s"
per system specs - correct?
And:
"Things go astray on November 16 because that is when I reinstalled Windows"
Windows source and how was Windows installed?
Another question being which drive is hosting the OS? I would expect that Windows would be installed/reinstalled on the SSD with all other drives ( including the HDD) disconnected during the reinstall process.
Also: "The other things that failed to install don't seem all that too important besides maybe the realtek Drivers which I have already installed manually. Not sure what the AMD Security Devices is."
They are all important
. Windows and installed apps etc. have many dependencies. If any given process fails anything dependent on that process will likely fail.
I did not note anything amiss in the DISM log.
As for AMD Security Devices: that is much more involved.
Start here:
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...ic...077ea4b55e
(There are other similar links to be found. I choose Microsoft primarily because of all the related Windows failures.)
= = = =
My suggestion is to take a closer look at the motherboard.
This motherboard?
https://download-2.msi.com/archive/mnu_e...nglish.pdf
Verify that I found the applicable manual.
What must be done is twofold: 1) Read/review the entire manual and all fine print, notes, warnings etc. and 2) refer to the manual while checking the entire build with respect to connections, jumpers, configuration settings and so forth.
For example: You did not mention removing RAM but if that was done, the motherboard requires that the first physically installed RAM be placed in DIMMA2 per physically numbered Page 30.
Those seeming little details (i.e., "Important") matter.
Because the problem seems to center around the internal SATA HDD then focus on those parts of the manual regarding drives and SATA. Mainly physically numbered Pages 33-37.
If a specific problem is not found, the process may at least narrow down the list of possible culprits.
Be it hardware, software, connectivity, or configuration.
That HDD is indeed the "1TB WD CAVIAR BLUE HDD 3.5" SATAIII 7200RPM 6.0 GB/s" according to the system specifications—correct?
Yes, this is the accurate HDD, though I have used two different drives; one is my old unit and it functions reliably, but the other triggers BSODs when connected via any SATA port inside the PC.
Regarding the Windows installation source and setup:
I obtained the ISO directly from Microsoft’s website and installed it using a USB stick that was booted from BIOS.
Concerning which drive hosts the operating system:
All partitions were deleted before installing Windows onto the NVME SSD, with the HDD connected afterward.
For AMD Security Devices:
I understand the installation failed, but I’m unsure what to do. The person in the referenced link advises against installing updates due to instability, yet if it didn’t install then it shouldn’t have. I can’t locate the relevant manual anywhere on my system.
Please confirm whether you found the appropriate manual.
Yes, the correct manual and motherboard documentation are available.
The necessary steps involve careful review: 1) Thoroughly read the manual and all details, including fine print, notes, and warnings; 2) Cross-check everything during installation, paying attention to connections, jumpers, and settings.
I went through the entire manual and verified all connections on the PC—everything appears correct, with cables securely attached.
Regarding RAM removal: I didn’t remove it, but if it was taken out, the motherboard requires the first physically installed RAM to be placed in DIMMA2, as specified on page 30.
The RAM is correctly positioned in slots 2 and 4, matching the manual instructions. I simply double-checked to ensure proper placement.
Since the issue seems linked to the internal SATA HDD, focus on sections about drives and SATA, especially pages 33 to 37.
I have verified all of this and even replaced the SATA cable with one from my old PC, which still caused problems.
If a specific problem isn’t addressed, narrowing down the causes is possible.
It did work, but I’ve been running the PC without the HDD for three days straight—no BSODs, no frame drops, no overheating, and everything functions normally. I connected the HDD via USB using an adapter and installed five games that took over ten hours; none triggered any errors. This suggests the fault might lie with the motherboard or Windows itself, possibly corrupting drivers.
I recently purchased another NVME SSD to install Linux Mint on it. After completing setup, I plan to reinstall the HDD into the PC and test for issues on Linux. If everything runs smoothly there, the problem likely remains a Windows-related issue, and I’ll avoid using that OS unless absolutely necessary. I intend to keep Windows on one NVME drive and Linux on the other.