I've built my own PC, but recently it's been acting up and won't post. Initially, I was dealing with frequent BSODs that displayed errors like "memory_management" and the stop code "0xc000021a." However, things got worse, and now I can't even boot into Windows; my PC is stuck in a boot loop. I tried disconnecting my hard drive (not the boot drive) and managed to get to a Windows error screen. Ultimately, I attempted to reinstall Windows 11 after receiving a message that recovery failed. After removing my boot drive and checking it on another PC, it didn't show up in either Windows or BIOS. Now I'm faced with a motherboard code "Ad" indicating an "issue ready to boot event for OS boot," despite having two SSDs and a new Windows installation setup on a USB drive. I cleared the CMOS, but there's still no change.
Here's my system hardware:
- CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 265K
- Motherboard: Gigabyte X890 Aorus Elite Wifi 7
- RAM: G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB DDR5 32GB
- GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super
- SSD: Western Digital Blue 3D NAND M.2 SATA 1TB (Boot Drive)
- Crucial P3 Plus 2TB
- HDD: Seagate BarraCuda 2TB
- PSU: Corsair RM850
If anyone has suggestions or tips on what could be going wrong, I'd really appreciate your help!
3 Answers
Updating the BIOS is a good step to take! Another thing you could try is testing the GPU in another machine if possible. If it works there, your motherboard could have a faulty PCIe slot or something related to power delivery. Lastly, make sure to check all your cable connections. Sometimes a loose power cable can lead to all sorts of weird issues.
First off, it sounds like you've already tried a lot of troubleshooting steps. Have you considered checking if your SSD is correctly seated in the right M.2 slot? Sometimes the slots can be tricky, and certain ones only support specific types of drives. Make sure your WD Blue SSD is plugged into the right slot for SATA. Also, since you're having issues booting, try to disconnect all other storage devices and see if you can access BIOS with just the essentials connected (a single RAM stick, CPU, and integrated graphics). This can help narrow down if a GPU or hard drive is causing problems.
Sounds like a frustrating situation! Since you’re getting the "Ad" code, it might indicate a problem with the initialization of your OS boot devices. Have you tried updating your motherboard's BIOS? Sometimes that can resolve weird issues like this. Also, try booting with just your USB recovery drive connected, ensuring it's set to prioritize boot from USB in BIOS settings. If the installer is still crashing midway, it could be a sign that something is wrong with your boot drive—or it might even be a hardware issue on your motherboard.
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