CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED and cant read boot device on startup

cowlicker12 · 06 May 2016

Hello,

I am having BSOD's again. I am getting the above error on the blue screen. It's worse now though because it never makes it past the "collecting data" it just freezes at 0%.

After I shut it down and restart it manually, it gives me a black screen with white letters only and says that it couldn't read boot device. I need to turn it off and on multiple times before it recognizes the hard drive. I think one time it worked when I unplugged everything (mouse, external cooling fan, phone, power cord).

axe0 · 07 May 2016

Given your description + the fact that no event has been saved about the BSODs I have 2 suspects.

Diagnostics Test

HDD TEST

Run SeaTools to check the integrity of your HDD. SeaTools for DOS and Windows - How to Use - Windows 7 Help Forums
Run following tests

Short Drive Self Test
Short generic
Long generic

If the short generic fails, no need for the long generic.

Note

Do not run SeaTools on an SSD as the results will be invalid.

Post screenshots/photos of the test results

Run chkdsk
Disk Check - Windows 7 Help Forums

Run HDTune to

scan for errors, no quick scan but full scan
check the health,
benchmark.

It may take some time, but please take the time you need to perform it properly.
Let me know what the results are

of the error scan,
make a screenshot of the health of every hard drive and post the screenshots,
post screenshots with the benchmark of the
- transfer rate,
- access time,
- burst rate,
- cpu usage.

Best is to make screenshots/photos of these test results too.

Diagnostic Test

RAM TEST

Run MemTest86+ to analyse your RAM. MemTest86+ - Test RAM - Windows 10 Forums

Note

MemTest86+ needs to be run for at least 8 complete passes for conclusive results. Set it running before you go to bed and leave it overnight. We're looking for zero errors here. Even a single error will indicate RAM failure.

Make a photo of the result and post it please.

Addition:
If errors show up you can stop the test, remove all sticks but 1 and test this single stick in each slot for 8 passes or until errors show, switch sticks and repeat.
If errors show up and you see them a lot later, no problem, the errors don't affect the test.

cowlicker12 · 07 May 2016

There might be one problem with the RAM test. I can run it, but I'm not so sure about opening up my laptop and removing individual sticks if RAM. Is that possible on an Alienware gaming laptop?

axe0 · 07 May 2016

Everything is possible :) , but sometimes it just takes some time and can be difficult.

1 thing is that it may void warranty if you have any, if you do then you should let a tech from Dell replace the memory if errors show up in the test. In most cases it is bad memory when errors show up.

cowlicker12 · 08 May 2016

So far it has done 1 full pass and is 81% into the 2nd pass....after 8 hours overnight....I wasnt expecting it to be a 3 day process.....but no errors so far. It says ''Pass complete, no errors, press ESC to exit''. Do I really need to do this 8 more times????

Also, I may have messed up running this test first. Was this supposed to be the ''if all else fails, run this'' test?

axe0 · 08 May 2016

Memory problems are a very common cause, because everything uses the memory management, hence the reason why there are so many suggestions for testing the memory.
It isn't an 'if all else fails, run this' test.

In order to test the memory properly, you have to run at least 8 straight completed passes.

cowlicker12 · 10 May 2016

On pass#8, 4 hours to go!!!

I'll be able to use my laptop afterwards, right? I ask because it will have been 64 hours since the test began.... no errors yet btw.

Another question: it will tell me about cumulative errors right? That is, if on pass #1 there was an error but I wasn't watching, it will still display the error on pass#2,3,4,5,6,7, and 8 right??? I really hope so....because I wasn't checking if there was an error after every single pass...

axe0 · 10 May 2016

You can of course use your laptop when it is done :)

If any error shows up it would be like this.

Image is from the MemTest86+ tutorial.

This is why it isn't a problem when you run the test overnight, you can sleep and see if any error showed up when you wake up.

cowlicker12 · 10 May 2016

67 hours later....no errors...

*pant* *pant*

axe0 · 11 May 2016

When the test is done, please don't forget this:

Make a photo of the result and post it please.

It is just to let me know that the test is done correctly and I won't forget it :)