New build unstable at stock, please help to troubleshoot

MrM

MrM

MrM

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As title, a new build I put together is not as stable as I would have hoped. Essential spec as follows:

Intel i5 2400s cpu using onboard graphics
Asrock H67M-GE mobo
OCZ Vertex 2 80gb SSD
Seagate Green 2TB HDD
Pioneer bluray writer
2x2GB 1333 MHz OCZ low voltage ram
Running Windows 7 Home Prem 64 bit

All drivers up to date

Windows is installed on the SSD. CPU temp idles around 36c, doesnt go above 50c when running Prime 95, but if running 4 thread torture test will kick out with failures on some threads at random, and if left, I will often return to find the system has restarted/crashed and generally fallen over.

Ocassionally receive BSODs shortly after boot. Will often loose mouse pointer on startup, ie cannot see cursor on screen. Windows explorer will consistently crash, mouse cursor, when working, can be sluggish in moving around the screen. Sometimes when listening to music, system will freeze and a horrible "juddering" noise will come from the speakers until I reboot.

When downloading apps to my hard drive, such as iTunes, Windows Security Essentials, quite often on running the executable file, I receive a warning sayingnfile is corrupt, yet if I elect to run, rather than save the file, it works fine.

Have tried using various firewalls and antivirus software, but seems to make little difference. Have always built my own machines in the past, and this is turning into the most frustrating build by far.

I havent had a lot of time to try and trousleshoot so far, as its desined as an HTPC and hooked up to the TV, which we often want to watch. Tried many installs and seems to make little difference.

So what are peoples thoughts?

Windows issue?
Driver issues?
Ram issue? - access is tight nder heatsink, so not tried other dual channcel slots, nor just 1 stick at the time at the moment

Any ideas much appreciated
 
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Did you manually set up the memory or did you leave everything on auto?

If you haven't done so already, manually input the voltage/speed/timings etc - save and exit.(i would input the maximum recommended voltage to start with.)

Then run prime 95 again.

EDIT: Also, make sure your running all the latest MB drivers
 
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With such a wide variety of errors it could be the SSD. Try installing Windows to a partition on the HDD as a troubleshooting measure and see if that helps.
 
Plec said:
Did you manually set up the memory or did you leave everything on auto?

If you haven't done so already, manually input the voltage/speed/timings etc - save and exit.(i would input the maximum recommended voltage to start with.)

Then run prime 95 again.

EDIT: Also, make sure your running all the latest MB drivers
Click to expand...

Yes everything with regard to memory is on auto, will try adjusing that this afternoon.

All mobo drivers up to date, but have seen that the Z68 boards are out now, and looks like some drivers for common bits of hardware have newer versions to download for Zs than is listed on sight for Hs, so I guess I could try those.

I did try to run memtest, but System wouldnt recognise boot record on the usb stick I used...
 
MrM said:
I did try to run memtest, but System wouldnt recognise boot record on the usb stick I used...
Click to expand...

Once you've manually set the memory in the BIOS run memtest. (If you're system will allow it make a bootable CD/DVD with the memtest ISO.)
 
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Ok, so a quick update for you. Cant remember what happened last night, if I recall the machine crashed for some reason and I opted to let Windows attempt a repair when given the option on boot. Wnd forward a few mins and Windows tells me it is unable to do a repair, and then wont boot and comes up with anothr BSOD.

So after another fresh install things look a little better this morning. I had one BSOD when I first turned the machine on, then on restart it boots to Windows an Explorer crashes and restarts, which has been a common issue. I got memtest running and left for a little over an hour, no errors came up. Hs been Prime stable for a couple of hours before I turned it off. So far it seems ok.....

But, and there is always a but. It transpires my SSD is running in IDE mode, not AHCI, for my use, its not going to matter, but Im of the mindset that if it can, then it should.

Making the registry mod, and changing to AHCI in the bios and all seems well, except for a bit of mouse lag, which is another annoyance. Now here is the weird thing. On boot from being turned off, Windows will not boot and I get a mesage along the lines of no boot record found, blah blah, but if I hit the restart button, or ctrl alt del, it loads up and goes into Windows, just doesnt do it first time round. It seems that in the bios, the primary AHCI boot device gets overwritten, and as such the bios doesnt remember boot priorities once the machine is turned off. Just tried a bios update, but same thing. So back to IDE.

I think e can rulenout the RAM, bUt theres still a few gremlins. What next?
 
As above -the next logical course of action seems to be to rule out the drive itself.

EDIT: Have you tried changing the SATA lead of the SSD? (An easy test and a flakey lead can casue sporadic problems.)

EDIT x 2: Is the SSD's firmware upto date?
 
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Ok, machine has been prime stable for 7 hours. Not sure what that says though.

I can't upgrade the SSD firmware as the OCZ update app closes the machine down after giving the message "primary device detected". See my previous post for additional issues with AHCI.

So you guys think it's the SSD? Could it be the mobo? And why won't the mobo bios remember the boot priority?
 
It may be the drive - prime won't be stressing the SSD which could explain the result (of course it could be the mobo or other too - but the hdd could be ruled out of the troubleshooting process with the OS on a different drive).

The boot priority issue maybe because it can't recognise the 160Gb drive consistently - i had a similar problem with my samsung F3 until i updates the firmware.

Have you got anither drive you could load the OS on?
 
Complete memtest first.

Secondly when you install did you just have the SSD connected or both drives? I wouldn't be surprised if the MBR is on the wrong drive if you'd more than one connected for these multiple installs.
 
If I have both drives connected when installing Windows, Installation will fail citing corrupt file. I googled this and it seems is a common problem and solution was to disconnect the HDD which was not the primary with the OS installed on it.

I physically cannot install Windows if the secondary drive is connected.
 
Yet another BSOD last night when playing music on XBMC. I've left Memtest running overnight, and after 8 hours or so there are no errors. Will see what happens after 24 hours but it I get a feeling it will come through.

I'm going to replace a Sata cable to the ssd tonight and see if that makes a difference, else I can only assume either ssd or mobo issue.

I could install windows on my storage hdd, but I wanted to keep it "clean" with just music and photos. How easy is it to delete a Windows install at a future point once this issue is resolved. I want to make sure I don't delete all my photos and music in some mishap...

To reiterate, I am unable to update the ssd firmware as I even in AHCI mode I get an error message saying "primary device detected" and the machine shuts down.
 
MrM said:
I could install windows on my storage hdd, but I wanted to keep it "clean" with just music and photos. How easy is it to delete a Windows install at a future point once this issue is resolved. I want to make sure I don't delete all my photos and music in some mishap...
Click to expand...

Surely you have your music and photos backed up?

Install Windows on the HDD, do your troubleshooting, and when you either have a new SSD or have proved it not to be the problem, reformat the HDD and restore all your files from your backup.

If you don't have a backup get one now.
 
As above.

~£70 will get you another 2TB drive which you would use as a backup drive (ideally it would be an external drive - but if you can always put it into a caddy at a later date.)

I would have advised this regardless of your current problems as i've witnessed too many people very upset about losing their photos (music you can replace but important photos/docs can be priceless to some people). It's the type of thing that you only need to experience once to change your habits permanently.

However, the bonus is that you would get to try out a different drive for a windows install - and this would help rule out/in certain components.

Win win.

EDIT:

N.B. I'm not suggesting you buy a drive just for troubleshooting purposes - as that's a very expensive and usually unnecessary way of troubleshooting. But if you haven’t got a proper back up system in place then you really should consider another drive. And as mentioned – you have the luxury of trying another HDD with the OS.
 
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I should clairfiy, I do have the music and photos on an old desktop which I am looking to retire and currently in the loft after swapping the photos and music over. Yes I am bad at backing things up, and an external hard drive is probably a sensible option. I had considered blu-ray to do this, but external clearly would be more flexible.

Money not an issue, so I may well buy one today. Any recommendations on external HDD's? I bought my old man a Samsung a little while ago and he has been happy. At the time I read WD have some proprietary software which you need to use to back up?
 
If money isn't an issue, personally, i would buy a WD Green HDD and combine it with an Icy Box enclosure - with the choice of esata or USB connection. It's expensive but you get better features such as accessing the HDD quickly and easily for use as a standard internal drive if required.

Or for ~£50 you could pick up a WD all in one solution (perfectly adequate for the job) - I'm unaware of the software issue, someone else will need to chip in on that.
 
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