The WIN10 BSOD loop continued to deteriorate increasingly.
The WIN10 BSOD loop continued to deteriorate increasingly.
Hi everyone,
I’m running out of ideas and troubleshooting steps for a family member’s laptop. I reached out here seeking assistance on how to restore its functionality. Recently, the machine experienced a random BSOD. After restarting it, it worked temporarily before another BSOD followed by several restarts. Eventually, I accessed the system in Safe mode using an admin account and performed various commands: DISM, sfc, chkdsk. Each time, the BSOD would occur again until both DISM and sfc completed successfully without errors. I also tried a system restore to a point earlier this month, but it triggered a BSOD at that stage.
During these attempts, I encountered several error messages, including “Kernel Security Check Failure,” fbfw.sys exceptions, page faults in non-paged areas, and more. In safe mode, the Windows Memory Diagnostic also produced a BSOD. I attempted a system restore and a bootable Windows 10 USB, but the laptop still wouldn’t boot normally—only showing a blue recovery screen.
The current situation is a continuous BSOD loop when powering on. I created a bootable USB and tried it, but it ended up in an endless loop. No hardware changes were made, and there were no visible signs of failure.
I downloaded the ‘SysnativeBSODCollectionApp’ from a USB in safe mode and noticed something unusual. The laptop appears to be stuck in a BSOD cycle. I’m unsure what caused this behavior.
Please let me know if there’s any additional guidance or steps I can take.
Thanks!
Which storage device serves as the boot drive? Also, how much free space exists on each drive?
BSODs in Safe Mode suggest a hardware problem. Based on the available information, it seems like the CPU might be overheating. Laptops often struggle with heat because their cooling systems are poor. Open the case and clean the fans, especially the finned heat exchanger near the fans. Dust and debris can block airflow, causing overheating. If the laptop is old and hasn’t been cleaned recently, the CPU could be damaged. Perform a thorough internal cleaning and check if you can boot the Windows installation media. If it works and runs smoothly, try restarting Windows again.
As far as I recall, the SSD was the boot drive with sufficient free space. 128 GB is insufficient for Windows. If storage is constrained, the system will exert more effort to relocate data within the available drive(s). Virtual memory will also be utilized. Heat could be a concern, possibly linked to the laptop's condition. In such cases, overheating from CPU and drive activity should be investigated and resolved.
Start by opening Task Manager and Resource Monitor to monitor performance. Use each tool individually but not simultaneously. Maintain the window open to observe any changes or issues, especially during BSODs. Additionally, consult Reliability History/Monitor and Event Viewer for error logs, warnings, and informational messages around the time of crashes.
It's concerning to learn this. The BSOD in safe mode points to a hardware problem.
I cleaned the laptop's interior about a year ago, and there are no signs of overheating. The fan is working properly, and no excessive heat is escaping. Overheating isn't an issue here.
Overheating isn't a concern as I mentioned earlier.
Currently, I can't even reach the Windows login page, unlike before when I mostly used cmd troubleshooting until it would BSOD. Thanks for all the advice.
The hard drive isn't making any strange noises either. I suspect a driver update might have caused this, but I'm not sure if one of the RAM modules failed. I tested starting with each module separately and still got a BSOD with both. What are the chances both modules died on the same day?
How can I get it to start from the startup USB for booting and repairs? I'd prefer not to reinstall if possible.
:000> !error 0xc0000017
Error code: (NTSTATUS) 0xc0000017 (3221225495) - Not enough quota. There isn’t sufficient virtual memory or paging file space to finish the task.
If the system can start, I’d disable the system’s virtual memory, remove the pagefile.sys, and attempt to reclaim SSD space. I’d also execute crystaldiskinfo.exe to check for drive errors or fullness.
SSD storage reduces in capacity when bad blocks are detected. If your machine enters sleep mode, you might try booting into BIOS and keeping it powered on for a few hours. This allows the SSD to complete its firmware cleanup routines and could resolve the issue.
Thank you for the suggestion.
I’m unable to boot at all, whether using the bootable USB or not.
I tried running the UEFI for several hours (4 yesterday and 8 today) but saw no improvement.
It seems the best option now is either getting a professional repair service or reinstalling Windows 10 and hoping for a chance to recover.