My computer has started restarting constantly. Memory and drive checks from the BIOS report no problems, but after formatting the drives, Windows fails to install with varying errors involving memory, storage, and unexpected failures. I have tried multiple M.2 drives, tested with one memory stick at a time, disconnected peripherals and extra monitors, and used several Windows installation USB drives and different USB ports. The installation media often becomes corrupted afterward. The system has never been overclocked. The memory is Corsair Vengeance DDR4-3600, 32 GB x4; storage consists of WD Black 4 TB M.2 drives; the CPU is an Intel i9-13900KS, and the motherboard is an MSI MPG Z690 Edge WiFi. BIOS checks can run without the system restarting, so I'm unsure whether to suspect the motherboard, processor, memory configuration, or power supply. Where should I start troubleshooting?
4 Answers
Since the installation USB drives are becoming corrupted and several unrelated components are producing errors, do not overlook the installation media or USB subsystem. Create fresh media with a known-good USB drive, try another computer to create it, and use a rear motherboard USB port. Also test with only the target M.2 drive installed. If fresh media still fails at stock BIOS settings, the motherboard or power delivery becomes more suspicious than the individual SSDs.
The 13th-generation Intel desktop CPUs have had documented stability concerns on some boards, so a BIOS update is especially important. If current firmware, default settings, known-good installation media, one DIMM, and one drive do not resolve it, test with a different power supply if possible and consider having the CPU and motherboard evaluated. Passing memory and drive diagnostics does not completely rule out a failing CPU, board, or power supply.
The i9-13900KS and Z690 combination makes the BIOS version important. Update to the newest stable BIOS available for the exact motherboard model, since later updates include CPU microcode and stability fixes. If the board does not recognize the update file, verify that the USB is formatted as FAT32, the file is extracted correctly, and the required filename or BIOS Flashback procedure is being followed.
Start by loading BIOS defaults and installing Windows with only one memory stick and one M.2 drive connected. Leave XMP and any manual performance settings disabled. If DDR4-3600 is unstable, try the default speed or 3200 MHz first. A system can pass basic BIOS checks while still failing under the heavier load of Windows installation.
It has never been overclocked, but lowering the memory from 3600 to 3200 is worth testing. The system still fails at 3600, so I’m trying the lower speed now.
The BIOS was last updated in May. I tried flashing it again, but the board detected the folder and not the BIOS file, even when using the designated flash port.