After I boot and sign in, the taskbar disappears for a few seconds before returning. The taskbar search box and Windows key also stop responding, although I can still launch programs from taskbar icons. I'm repeatedly getting blue screens with errors including IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL mentioning ntoskrnl.exe, MEMORY_MANAGEMENT, STORE_DATA_CORRUPTION, and KERNEL_MODE_HEAP_CORRUPTION. DISM /RestoreHealth also fails, and Discord occasionally crashes and refuses to reopen. My system uses a SanDisk SSD PLUS 480GB. What troubleshooting steps can help determine whether the SSD, RAM, or Windows installation is responsible? I'd prefer to avoid another factory reset.
3 Answers
Back up your files immediately, especially because STORE_DATA_CORRUPTION can be related to a failing drive. Disconnect unnecessary USB devices and update or temporarily remove third-party antivirus, storage, chipset, and graphics drivers. If RAM and SSD tests pass, perform a clean Windows installation only after verifying the hardware; reinstalling Windows without checking the drive or memory may just lead to the same corruption again.
The crash-dump files would be useful for identifying the actual driver or component involved. Check C:WindowsMinidump for recent .dmp files and analyze several of them with a debugger such as WinDbg. Since Windows features are malfunctioning and DISM cannot complete, try running it from an elevated Command Prompt in Safe Mode or from Windows installation media, then run sfc /scannow afterward. Don’t assume ntoskrnl.exe itself is the cause—it is often just where a faulty driver or bad memory ends up crashing.
That combination of stop codes usually points to a hardware or storage problem rather than just a broken taskbar. Test the RAM first with Windows Memory Diagnostic or, preferably, several passes of MemTest86. Run the SSD manufacturer’s health check and inspect its SMART status as well. Also check the system drive for file-system errors with chkdsk, after backing up important files. If the SSD reports warnings or the memory test finds even one error, replace the failing component before trying to repair Windows.
I’ll start by backing everything up and testing the RAM and SSD before attempting another reset. The SanDisk drive is the main system drive, so I’ll pay particular attention to its health and SMART results.