Frequent unexplained re-boots into BIOS.

Sigurd · 20 Feb 2021

I realise this is a very vague question but I hope some of you can give me some pointers as to where to start looking!
I am using Windows 10, up to date in every way.
The problem is that several times this evening, when I have left the machine or one reason or another, when I come back I find it has re-booted and the BIOS screen is displaying. Saving ad exiting from that should of course go into the normal boot sequence but it doesn't - it simply boots back up to the BIOS screen. The only way round it is to carry out a cold re-boot. Then it boots up as normal to the desktop. If I leave things like that - ie don't load any app, 10-15 minutes or so later it reboots and and loads BIOS again.
Unfortunately, I have not seen what precipitates that action. I thought it might be the screensaver but I turned that off and it hasn't helped. However in the last few weeks I have seen a couple of BSODs.
Suggestions of what to look at would be welcome.

RJARRRPCGP · 20 Feb 2021

Likely the drive is failing. The BIOS screen appearing, if you're in the menus, often means drive not detected by the BIOS or boot data not found on the drive. At least I know that's true with at least some UEFI BIOSes.

I know it usually happens with very recent MSI motherboards, manufactured in 2019 (or 2018) and later.

spunk · 20 Feb 2021

Check your cables, make sure the Data cable is plugged in tightly to the back of the drive and to the motherboard. Make sure the power plug from the PSU is plugged in tightly to the drive.
Switch data cables, switch power plugs from PSU, switch SATA ports on the Motherboard. Set Bios to Defaults, no Overclocking.

joeandmarg0 · 20 Feb 2021

If possible,try another graphics card,yours is old around 10 years.

Sigurd · 21 Feb 2021

Thanks for the suggestions. At present checks point to a failing system drive - I think.
Symptoms -
Crashes to BSOD after 10 - 15 minutes of working normally. Re-boots itself to BIOS.
(Even if left idle it does this, though I get the impression that if I keep using the PC it defers the crash).
Re-booting from the BIOS screen just loops round back to BIOS.
I need to power down and restart then Windows loads OK, but as said above fails after 10 - 15 minutes.
I have disconnected all peripherals.
I have run SFC - no issues.
CHKDSK /r fails consistently at around 27% in Stage 4.
System drive is a SSD.
Seems that I need a new one, so for now haven't tried re-seating items. (Due to my physical difficulties doing it - not lazyness - so leaving that for now).

Edit - I have been using the PC for about half an hour now and no crashes. Seems to imply something starts up in the background after the PC is unused for a while and that produces the crash.

zbook · 21 Feb 2021

Please run:

V2 and DM:
BSOD - Posting Instructions

How to Upload and Post Screenshots and Files at Ten Forums

LOGS.bat - Click here to go to the BSOD batch repository to download and run this batch file.

For share links please use: one drive, drop box, or google drive

Sigurd · 21 Feb 2021

I'm not sure if you wanted me to run all three - V2, Dm and log.bat - or just V2.
For starters V2 output at Dropbox - Log files - Simplify your life
Thanks for the help.

zbook · 21 Feb 2021

The logs displayed BSOD.
There were no collected dump files.
The drives need to be checked.
Make sure that any important files are backed up.

Please perform these steps in sequence.

1) Run:

DiskParInfo.bat - Click here to go to the BSOD batch repository to download and run this batch file.

Tuneup.bat - Click here to go to the BSOD batch repository to download and run this batch file.

2) In the left lower corner search type: system or system control > open system control panel > on the left pane click advanced system settings

a) > on the advanced tab under startup and recovery > click settings > post an image of the startup and recovery window into the thread

b) > on the advanced tab under performance > click on settings > on the performance options window > click on the advanced tab > under virtual memory > click on change > post an image of the virtual memory window into the thread

3) Open Ccleaner > click windows tab or custom clean > scroll down to system and advanced > post an image into the thread

Sometimes there are problems in the bios that produce BSOD

4) To ensure that there are no improper bios settings please reset the bios.

How to Clear Your Computers CMOS to Reset BIOS Settings:
How to Clear Your Computer’s CMOS to Reset BIOS Settings
3 Ways to Reset Your BIOS - wikiHow:
3 Ways to Reset Your BIOS - wikiHow
3 Easy Ways to Clear CMOS (Reset BIOS)
How to Clear CMOS (AKA Reset BIOS Settings)

5) Please verify the motherboard version > upgrade to the most up to date non-beta BIOS
Z370N WIFI (rev. 1.0) Support | Motherboard - GIGABYTE U.S.A.

6) Make sure that there is no overclocking during the troubleshooting.

7) Run HD Tune (free version) (all drives)
HD Tune website
Post images into the thread for results on these tabs:
a) Health
b) Benchmark
c) Full error scan

8) Run Sea Tools for Windows
long generic test
Post an image of the test result into the thread
SeaTools for Windows |
Seagate
How to use SeaTools for Windows | Seagate Support US

9) Run Samsung Magician:
Samsung Magician Software | Samsung V-NAND SSD | Samsung Semiconductor Global Website
Drive Details
Update software /firmware
Diagnostic Scan > full scan
Performance Benchmark
Over Provisioning
Performance Optimization

10) These steps / tests can be performed overnight:
a) HD Tune full error scan
b) Sea Tools for Windows long generic test

11) For any BSOD run the V2 log collector to collect new log files

Sigurd · 21 Feb 2021

Thanks - working my way through this.

- - - Updated - - -

Here are the batch files and images requested.
I'll wait for your comments before tackling BIOS - doing things with that always makes me very nervous.

zbook · 21 Feb 2021

The bat files were posted instead of the results from running them.
Please post the results.

For Ccleaner uncheck:
a) Memory Dumps
b) Windows Log Files

Please confirm the motherboard version and website link.

Temporarily skip the BIOS steps and post results for the drive tests.

1) Open administrative command prompt (ACP) and type or copy and paste:
2) sfc /scannow
3) dism /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth
4) dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
5) sfc /scannow
6) chkdsk /scan
7) wmic recoveros set autoreboot = false
8) wmic recoveros set DebugInfoType = 7
9) wmic recoveros get autoreboot
10) wmic recoveros get DebugInfoType
11) wmic Computersystem where name="%computername%" set AutomaticManagedPagefile=True
12) wmic Computersystem where name="%computername%" get AutomaticManagedPagefile
11) bcdedit /enum {badmemory}

12) When these have completed > right click on the top bar or title bar of the administrative command prompt box > left click on edit then select all > right click on the top bar again > left click on edit then copy > paste into the thread

Use this link as needed when posting results:
How to Change Post Editor to Source or WYSIWYG Mode at TenForums.com

13) Open administrative command prompt (ACP) and type or copy and paste: (all at one time)

Code:

bcdedit /enum all
bcdedit | find "osdevice"
reagentc /info
diskpart
lis dis
lis vol
sel dis 0
det dis
lis par
sel par 1
det par
sel par 2
det par
sel par 3
det par
sel par 4
det par
sel par 5
det par
sel par 6
det par
sel par 7
det par
sel dis 1
det dis
lis par
sel par 1
det par
sel par 2
det par
sel par 3
det par
sel par 4
det par
sel par 5
det par
sel par 6
det par
sel dis 2
det dis
lis par
sel par 1
det par
sel par 2
det par
sel par 3
det par

14) When these have completed > right click on the top bar or title bar of the administrative command prompt box > left click on edit then select all > right click on the top bar again > left click on edit then copy > paste into the thread

Use this link as needed when posting results:
How to Change Post Editor to Source or WYSIWYG Mode at TenForums.com