Computer in constant boot loop ,please help totally lost to as what it could be

[chris-82]

So as title really,my pc is in a constant boot loop ,it can make it to the windows repairing screen (not always)but then boots again,it won't boot in safe mode ,if I try to re install windows(windows 7 disc) it loads the two bars but then crashes as soon as I see a pixel of the windows sign come up,it won't boot from usb(windows 10),I can get into BIOS and everything seems fine,we managed to get ultimate boot cd to boot but only to the main menu ,the linux distro parteepmagic wouldnt boot and then crashed ,and in a recent development it can't even see my boot drive now .

I was using the pc to stream to my steam box ,I was watching Netflix and suddenly it all crashed ,I went downstairs to check the pc and it had crashed ,I had a message (can't remember exactly ) saying something along the lines of a voltage spike/issue ,in a few of the early boot loops I also had a few messages regarding failed overclock however at this point I had reset the bios,so should have been running stock.

So far I've :

Tried another PSU.(Corsair GS 700)
Removed the GPU.
Removed and tried the ram in different slots.
Had the ram and CPU tested(working fine apparently,he said he booted into windows and did some stress tests and all was fine)
Tried my ssd boot drive in two other PCs and worked fine.
Changed case.
Reset bios within bios,reset by connecting pins on the motherboard ,and then by removing the cmos battery and connecting the pins.
Changed motherboard(original is a Asus z170k,new is MSI tomahawk z270k)

Pc spec:
Seasonic x series psu
I5 6600k
Asus z170k mobo/MSI tomahawk z270k
Kingston hyper X ddr4 ram 8gb (2x4gb sticks)
120gb SanDisk Extreme boot drive
Armour 1070

I'm at a total loss as to what is going on here and I'm hoping someone here could shed some light on the matter before I pull out all my hair! ,any help is much appreciated .

 

[jsmoke]

What gcard do you have and does the mobo have onboard graphics?

 

[chris-82]

I have a armour 1070,when I removed the GPU I used the motherboards HDMI port,it still posted however i believe we got no signal,but when we used DVI it posted we got signal and could go into BIOS and such.

I have updated my post with my pc specs.

 

[jsmoke]

Is it just one stick of ram you have, any chance of trying a different stick in any slit?

 

[chris-82]

Sorry I should have had that in the description ,it's 2x 4gb ,I have tried them in all slots one by one ,with no joy ,they have also been tested along with the CPU at the local computer shop.

 

[jsmoke]

There's not much left as far ad I can see, very weird that two motherboards are producing the same problem.

Surely it's the GPU then, there must be a common component between the two mobos?

 

[chris-82]

It does it with or without the GPU installed ,it does it with two different motherboards,two different psu's ,in my mind it has to be ram or processor ,however they have been checked and from the test results are deemed to be working fine.

It's absouletly bizarre and am at a loss to the problem.

 

[azazl187]

Format the drive in another machine and then try a fresh install from there. Maybe something on the ssd drive that is specific to your setup is causing the issue? It sounds like you have tried practically everything.... I think it worth still trying to explore the inboard graphics route. It sounds like your issues with using this are different from the ones experienced with the 1070 GPU. Have you tested the 1070 in any other rigs?

It sounds like you didn't rest the CPU.... That way you cannot be 100% sure it's not the CPU even of someone else has told you it's fine. Can you get hold of another CPU and test that?

 

[chris-82]

It is a possibility ,I shall format the drive tomorrow on the missus pc and re install windows and re-try it,I haven't tried the GPU in another rig yet so will also install the 1070 into her rig and see what happens ,however when it's out of my rig it still boot loops.

How do you mean rest CPU?

I sadly know nobody with any ddr4 memory or a 1151 socket cpu ,that's why I ended up taking it to the local shop to be tested.

Thanks for the suggestions,I will give all the things mentioned a go and report back!

 

[Jamin280672]

It is a possibility ,I shall format the drive tomorrow on the missus pc and re install windows and re-try it,I haven't tried the GPU in another rig yet so will also install the 1070 into her rig and see what happens ,however when it's out of my rig it still boot loops.

How do you mean rest CPU?

I sadly know nobody with any ddr4 memory or a 1151 socket cpu ,that's why I ended up taking it to the local shop to be tested.

Thanks for the suggestions,I will give all the things mentioned a go and report back!

As above it does sound like a hard drive issue to me, do you have another drive you can try, even an old mechanical drive ? also, may sound too simple but try a different sata cable first.

if you can get access to another computer, you can download the windows 10 iso and make a fully bootable to windows portable version using rufus, ie not to install it but to boot from it, or even a linux distro to test the main components are working OK, just disconnect your SSD first.

EDIT: just noticed you mentioned the Mrs machine, try using her sata cable in your machine or even sticking her hard drive into your machine and booting off that, again disconnect your SSD first.

 

[chris-82]

Yeah I have a few other drives I can try ,but will try my missus os drive before I try my storage drives ,yeah I've got a few days cables I can try and got some new ones I recieved with my new mobo,so will give them a try also tomorrow.

I will have a look into using Rufus to make a windows 10 usb stick also if the above doesn't help,only problem I've found is it won't boot from usb ,but will give it a try.

Thanks for advice everyone ,will give everything a try that's been suggested and report back,thanks again.

 

[Jamin280672]

Yeah I have a few other drives I can try ,but will try my missus os drive before I try my storage drives ,yeah I've got a few days cables I can try and got some new ones I recieved with my new mobo,so will give them a try also tomorrow.

I will have a look into using Rufus to make a windows 10 usb stick also if the above doesn't help,only problem I've found is it won't boot from usb ,but will give it a try.

Thanks for advice everyone ,will give everything a try that's been suggested and report back,thanks again.

Failing the drive option, get hold of memtest x86, as you cant get windows, you'll have to use the dos version and again stick it on a CD or USB, boot to it and let it run overnight, it will test your RAM, CPU cache and memory controller.

https://www.memtest86.com/

 

[chris-82]

okay ,so ive tried :

3 different sata cables - no change.
removed gpu and used onboard graphics through hdmi - no change.
tried the missus os drive - no change.
used my psu in her pc - everything worked fine .

we tried ultimate boot cd for testing mem and such and it wouldnt even start and some operations made it crash,
i will look into making a bootable memtest and running it on the computer and see how it goes .

no luck with anything i tried sadly ,the only things i havent personally tested is the cpu and ram and at this point im really leaning towards it being the cpu tbh.

so looking for a i5 6600k or 6700k ,dont suppose you know anyone selling one?!

 

[jsmoke]

Totally bare bones test. So motherboard out on a bench, onboard graphics via hdmi, one stick of ram, one keyboard, no HD. Then boot a Linux live CD like puppy Linux(been a while). See if that works.

Then try other stick in both slots and both motherboards. It's not impossible it's a usb problem they can cause all kinds of problems if a voltage spike or whatever damages them so try keyboard in different slots. Also have no other peripherals attached apart from keyboard. Also make sure no metal under motherboard. Ideally a static free plastic bag.

If that boots then try adding a HD.

 

[chris-82]

okay will give that a shot j smoke, i feel at this point though the chances of getting a brand new motherboard that would have the same faults as my old mobo would be incredibly rare,im just lost and frustrated and need my computer working.

 

[chris-82]

So no change ,it's still in a boot loop,managed to get a stick of ddr4 memory and installed it into my mobo ,same result as before with no changes to the boot loop.

I think at this point it's getting pretty safe to say it's the CPU as it's the only component not changed ,so think replacing the CPU is the next step ,I shall keep my beedy eye on the market place and hope a cpu pops up soon.

Thanks for all the help ,will let you know if when I get a cpu if it fixes the issue.

Thanks again.

 

[BluD]

Maybe your pc shop or a forum member could lend you a an old i3 or something rather than buying one. I just went through the same as you where I was buying replacement parts and it got to the point where the cpu was the only thing I hadn’t replaced. It’s strange cause I’ve never had cpu develope problems like that before, it’s always been a bios or memory corrupting.

The tin foil hat voice inside my head thinks intel has a guy in an office somewhere flicking a switch to kill off a random number of older gen cpus to force an upgrade.

 

[chris-82]

it looks like the guy they employ at intel targeted my cpu for destruction!,installed the new cpu and everything booted up fine,glad the pc is working now its been a long two weeks of messing about!

 

[BluD]

Hehe, glad you got it sorted, did you manage to find another 6600 or did you have to change chips?

 

[chris-82]

i ended up having to buy another cpu ,cant say im very happy with my local computer shop who supposedly tested the cpu ,charged me for it and told me it was fine...just glad i got it sorted in the end.