I've been having some major issues with my PC lately. After playing a game, I experienced a blue screen of death (BSOD) which caused my computer to restart and then get stuck in the BIOS. The only way I've found to boot normally is to reset my SSD by unplugging and plugging it back in. However, if I try to restart my PC after that, it gets stuck in a BIOS loop again.
I've been trying to figure out if my RAM is the culprit. I booted my PC using just one RAM stick at a time, and neither stick fixed the BIOS issue. I also ran MemTest86 on each RAM stick in different slots, and no errors were found. I'd really like to know if there are any other tests I can perform to confirm whether my RAM is fine, or if it's likely that my SSD is causing the problem instead. Just for reference, my Windows and the game that caused the BSOD are both on the SSD.
5 Answers
What BSOD error code do you see? That can tell us a lot about what's wrong. When the BSOD happens, take a picture of the screen or write down the error code. It can really help narrow down the issue! If you’re able to boot into Windows, consider running the System File Checker (sfc /scannow) to check for corrupted files too.
Next time you get a BSOD, definitely jot down the error code. It's also worth using the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool to check your RAM. Just search for "memory diagnostic" and it should guide you through the process. It’s also a good idea to run a disk check (chkdsk) too, especially if you think your SSD might be causing issues.
If you're overclocking your RAM by enabling XMP, try turning that off and rerunning the MemTest. Overclocking can sometimes lead to instability. Also, keep an eye on any BIOS updates; they can sometimes fix compatibility issues with RAM and SSD.
Is your game and OS installed on the same SSD? If so, that could potentially lead to performance issues. Ensure that your SSD has enough space and check for firmware updates as well. Keeping everything updated can help prevent these kinds of issues!
From what you've described, it sounds like your RAM is probably not the issue since you've already tested both sticks individually and used MemTest86 without finding any problems. Since the BSOD kept occurring and you've had to reset your SSD, I'd lean more towards a faulty SSD being the problem. Just to be safe though, it’s a good idea to double-check everything and make sure your connections are solid!
Yeah, that's what I was thinking. It does seem like the SSD could be the problem since it caused the BSOD. I want to confirm the RAM is fine before I start replacing parts.
I’ll make sure to note the error code next time. Thanks for the tip about the System File Checker!