I recently helped my partner with their PC running Windows 11. It crashed with a BSOD, giving a stop code 0x154: UNEXPECTED_STORE_EXCEPTION. After investigating, I discovered the EFI partition was missing and managed to restore it by creating a new 200MB partition and using bcdboot, which allowed the PC to boot again. However, now the PC won't fully shut down unless I hold the power button, and the motherboard's LED lights remain on. I'm looking for advice on what might have caused the EFI partition issue and how to fix the shutdown problem.
3 Answers
Honestly, given the current issues, I would recommend doing a fresh reinstall of the operating system. Sometimes it's the simplest way to clear up lingering problems after an EFI or boot issue. Just make sure you back up any important files first!
It sounds like the EFI partition issue is tied to how drives are set up on your PC. The EFI doesn't have to be on the OS drive, but it's usually safest to have only one drive connected during the OS installation to avoid complications. Also, with M.2 SSDs, make sure they're connected properly, as improper seating can lead to issues like you're experiencing. You might want to reseat the SSD again, just to be sure it's in right!
Good tip! I didn’t realize that about the M.2 drives. I'll give it another shot and see if that helps!
To troubleshoot the BSOD further, you might want to gather any dump files from the system. They can provide useful insights into what caused the crash. If you're able to boot into Windows or Safe Mode, check the C:WindowsMinidump folder for any files there. Upload them to a file-sharing site if you can and we can take a look!
I'll check for those files! Thanks for the heads-up!
That does sound like a good plan! A fresh install can help eliminate any odd configurations that were left over.