Random BSOD on new machine, SSD not found after each BSOD

Hi tenforums,

I recently got a newly build machine and have gotten an average of 5 BSOD per day, mostly with CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED.

These is the summary of my machine specs:
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 6-Core Processor
GPU: ZOTAC GAMING GTX 1660 SUPER
MB: ASUS B450M-PLUS GAMING
SSD: SPCC M.2 512GB (OS installed here)
HDD: Toshiba 1TB HDD (empty)
RAM: 16GB
OS: Windows 10 Home 1909, 10.0.18363 Build 18363

Problem description:
1. BSOD happens randomly, starts with a program (no particular application) freezing, followed by BSOD. Sometimes, no BSOD just blank screen and restarts.
2. Dump stuck at 0%, no crash dump created, computer reboots.
3. Upon reboot, goes to BIOS. No SSD detected. (HDD is there tho)
4. Remedy - Press power button twice to force shutdown and start again. Boots Windows 10 via SSD as per normal.

Solution tried:
1. Check all hardware connections. Looks OK. Note: All hardware is new.
2. All drivers installed & updated. BIOS also checked, running latest BIOS
3. "Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth" & "../ScanHealth" & "/RestoreHealth" done. No issues
4. "sfc /scannow" done. No issues
5. Re-installed a CLEAN Windows 10 again (wiped out all data) - did not solve the issue
6. Memory Diagnostics Results OK
7. chkdsk /scan OK

I have attached my log collector zip results in the post.
I would appreciate any assistance. It has crushed my dreams of finally having a new PC (which works).

Thank you so much for you assistance. Let me know if you need more info.
duckeh.

Disconnect the 1tb HDD (both power and data cables). Leave it disconnected until this is solved (it's one less thing to worry about - and as it's empty, it's really not needed now).

As you've reinstalled Windows "clean", I suspect a hardware issue. A "clean" install can be used to make this diagnosis if the problems occur without 3rd party software getting in the way.

Stuff we'll assume from your post:
- latest BIOS/UEFI
- memory passed diagnostics
- HDD/SSD likely good - but haven't run diagnostics (only SFC and chkdsk)
- OS was repaired w/DISM, and was "clean" installed
- all components are new (?unknown warranty/RMA status)

There are signs of video issues and storage issues
If the HDD is truly empty, try installing Windows on it (Disconnecting the SSD and leaving it disconnected) and see if the problem recurs.

Also, monitor your temps with one of these free programs: SpeedFan or HWMonitor
Let us know what temps you see just after immediately rebooting from a crash.
That'll test the SSD for you (another option is to connect the SSD to a different channel on the mobo and test that).

Yes, your assumptions should be right.
- latest BIOS/UEFI - running latest BIOS from Asus
- memory passed diagnostics - yes mem diagnostic test results are OK
- HDD/SSD likely good - but haven't run diagnostics (only SFC and chkdsk)
SSD looks good. here are some screenshots from HD Tune
Attachment 276651Attachment 276652Attachment 276653
- OS was repaired w/DISM, and was "clean" installed - yes
- all components are new (?unknown warranty/RMA status) - yes all components are new with valid warranty

Additionally, I tried using Windows Driver Verifier.
Followed the steps here :
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...3-c48669e4c983
Results:
1. Following the steps, I selected ALL drivers except Windows drivers and reboot.
2. After reboot, windows 10 crashes instantly even before login page comes.
3. Eventually windows goes to troubleshoot mode, and I load windows 10 in safe mode.
4. In safe mode, I disabled verifier via cmd, and reboot again. Windows 10 boots normally now.

Additional link I referred to:
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-sg/win...ectedfrom=MSDN

Could it be a faulty/incompatible driver that has been installed?

- - - Updated - - -

jdc1 said:

Stuff we'll assume from your post:
- latest BIOS/UEFI
- memory passed diagnostics
- HDD/SSD likely good - but haven't run diagnostics (only SFC and chkdsk)
- OS was repaired w/DISM, and was "clean" installed
- all components are new (?unknown warranty/RMA status)

Yes, your assumptions are right.
1. BIOS is running latest version from ASUS
2. mem diagnostics are OK
3. SSD looks good.
Attachment 276654Attachment 276655Attachment 276656
4. OS is repaired and clean
5. all components are new with valid warrently

I tried using Windows Driver Verifier.
Following these steps :
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...3-c48669e4c983

Steps done:
1. Selected all drivers except Microsoft to verify.
2. reboot
Results:
1. Upon reboot, windows 10 instantly crashes before login screen. Loops
2. Eventually ends up at troubleshoot mode, perform reboot on safe mode
3. on safe mode, disable verifier and reboot
4. windows 10 runs again (until next BSOD)

Could it be caused by a faulty/defective/non-compatible driver?

You show that the SSD has passed "diagnostics" - what about the HDD (1tB Toshiba drive)?
FYI - there are no true diagnostics for an SSD. The tests that you've seen are just software indicators. The only true diagnostic for an SSD is to replace it with another, known good drive and replicate the results.

A "clean" install is installing Windows without any 3rd party stuff onto an empty hard drive.
Is that what you've done? Does the BSOD still present itself with only the default Windows installed?
As I've suggested, installing W10 onto the empty HDD will help to test the HDD - and the absence of the SSD will help to rule it out as a source of the problem.

If so, then the problem is most likely hardware related.
Installing Windows "clean" is a way to rule out software issues.
In general, a clean install of Windows replaces any possible driver problem.
As for incompatibilities, in general there are none on a clean install as long as you're installing on a system designed for that OS (Windows 10).

Please generate a new set of reports and we'll see if there are any memory dumps left from Driver Verifier that we can look at.

Finally, while waiting for a reply, have you removed the video card, cleaned out the slot with canned air, then reseated the video card and it's cables? Have you monitored your temps and if so, what were they?

Yes, run HDTune on the HDD (only the quick tests for now)
Then, install Windows on the HDD with the SSD disconnected.

The Windows install on the HDD is only temporary.
1) Install Windows (latest version)
2) Get ALL available Windows Updates (to include hardware devices)
3) Check Device Manager for any devices that have problems
Let us know what they are (if you have problems). We'll help with them.
Leave the SSD in the case, just disconnect both power and data cables from it.

If needed, you can disconnect the cables from the HDD, reconnect the cables to the SSD, and use the system.
Then, when able, you can go back to troubleshooting by disconnecting the cables from the SSD, reconnecting the cables to the HDD, and continue troubleshooting

If the system continues to BSOD with only the HDD, then we've ruled out the SSD as a cause.
We presume that the HDD is good, and that the memory is good (as you ran the memory diagnostic).
Also, it's likely not a temperature problem (this isn't 100% certain, but is good enough for now).

Here's an update of what I've done over the weekend:

1. Reconnected HDD. Run HDTune. Looks Good.
Attachment 277638Attachment 277639Attachment 277640Attachment 277641
2. Updated to latest windows 10 with all updates - Windows 10 1909
Attachment 277642
3. Checked device manager multiple times. No unknown issues.
4. Unfortunately I did not reinstall windows 10 yet (after the last fresh install) since I need it for work. And SSD is still connected (it is NVMe not SATA)
5. Tried Driver Verifier again, not much help since no dumps are generated.
6. Played around with BIO settings, no effect on BSOD, still happens
7. Crashes still happening, CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED with no dumps.
The Irony is, I installed WhoCrashed and did a crash test, and it generated a minidump from the deliberate crash test. however it always gets stuck at 0% after BSOD.
And it BSOD 5mins after I read the WhoCrashed report lol. Only programs on was browser (Microsoft Edge), WhoCrashed and Event Viewer (which hasn't been much help)

I noticed that the CPU & GPU is never stressed at all during the crashes. It rarely BSOD during any gaming sessions. Mostly regular internet browsing & work (only Visual Studio Code, I'm a dev). Sometimes, the frequency increases after the first BSOD. I had max around 7 in a day before I gave up.
I also read some forums to see if I can get any info on my issues, but to no avail.
Added another v2 log. I'm still stuck tbh.

- - - Updated - - -

Additionally, should I uninstall and reinstall all drivers? It just crashed again after I closed a browser tab (not the first time this happened after I closed tabs)

We presume that this is a hardware issue.
As such, you've run the memory and drive diagnostics.

I'll next suggest running video stress tests.
In particular, I like Furmark ( free from here: FurMark > Home )
Run the test until the temperatures stabilize/level out (but shut it down if it overheats). Let us know how hot it got.

Based on the results from that, I'll then suggest troubleshooting the rest of the issues by "hardware strapdown".
Here's an article that describes it: Hardware Stripdown Troubleshooting
It's a bit outdated, and some of the links are broken - but it's still relevant for your issues.

jdc1 said:

We presume that this is a hardware issue.
As such, you've run the memory and drive diagnostics.

I'll next suggest running video stress tests.
In particular, I like Furmark ( free from here: FurMark > Home )
Run the test until the temperatures stabilize/level out (but shut it down if it overheats). Let us know how hot it got.

Based on the results from that, I'll then suggest troubleshooting the rest of the issues by "hardware strapdown".
Here's an article that describes it: Hardware Stripdown Troubleshooting
It's a bit outdated, and some of the links are broken - but it's still relevant for your issues.

This is the Furmark's test.
Temps maintain at around 72C after 6minutes of runtime.
GPU looks OK. No errors.
Attachment 277679

Will look into the stripdown as soon as I get the chance

Just FYI - AFAIK there aren't any stress tests that stress the entire video card.
As such, Furmark is only telling us that a portion of the card is OK (but it's better than nothing!)