Computer keeps freezing/crashing when setting up Windows 8.1.

jackymah · Jan 15, 2016

I tried to upgrade my desktop to Windows 8.1. After installing I could never get through the setup without the system freezing up. I was able to run sfc /scannow and it said that files were corrupt. It claimed to have fixed the files, but it would freeze and crash again after rebooting. I was able to get some CBS logs which are attached. I even tried setting up though a Windows 8.1 download link that Microsoft support gave me. I reverted back to Windows 7 which works fine, but would still prefer to upgrade. Thanks for any help.

BrianDrab · Jan 18, 2016

Hello and welcome

Due to the precise nature of your corruption, you will receive help from a user named CKing123. He's one of our senior trainees here who's in his final phrase of his studies and needs to gain some real world experience in specific areas of Windows Update. This means that he'll be assisting you, but that I will first need to double check and approve his fixes before he posts them to you. If anything this is a good thing for you because it means that you've got at least two of us watching over your thread, but it will unfortunately add a slight delay between each reply. I hope that you understand and can accept the need for us to train up new members in this way in order to carry on doing what we do here, however, if for any reason you object to this setup, I will happily take on your thread myself.

Thank you very much for your understanding. We'll be with you very shortly.

CKing123 · Jan 18, 2016

Hello jackymah and :welcome: to Sysnative!

Before we could have the system upgraded to Windows 8.1 again, let's see if there are any other issues. We will use Speccy to see the specifications and other information about your computer:

[COLOR=#9000]Collecting Information using Speccy[/COLOR]
Download and open Speccy (This is a portable version because the installer bundles unwanted programs)
You will see a spinning circle at the bottom. Wait for it to finish and disappear
Go to File > Publish Snapshot
A warning will appear of publishing the snapshot, click Yes
Now, a window will come, and click on Copy to Clipboard and paste it into your next reply.

-CKing123

jackymah · Jan 20, 2016

Hello and thank you for your help. I ran Speccy64 and here is the snapshot link: http://speccy.piriform.com/results/BHo5F7QFQjckYy3McPwuZbg

CKing123 · Jan 21, 2016

Hello!

Please try updating your NVIDIA graphics drivers. You do not have NVIDIA GeForce Experience installed. It allows you to automatically update your NVIDIA drivers.

[COLOR=9000]Installing NVIDIA GeForce Experience[/COLOR]
1. Download and install NVIDIA GeForce Experience here
2. After installing it, let it update your drivers

-CKing

jackymah · Jan 22, 2016

OK I downloaded NVIDIA GeForce Experience and updated my drivers. I didn't install the latest drivers before because the last time I did it, it stopped my desktop window manager from working. However, it seems to be working with the latest NVIDIA drivers now, so that's good. But shouldn't my graphics drivers not matter when upgrading Windows? Doing a fresh install wouldn't even have any drivers installed, right? Either way, what should I do next? Thanks.

CKing123 · Jan 23, 2016

jackymah said:
OK I downloaded NVIDIA GeForce Experience and updated my drivers. I didn't install the latest drivers before because the last time I did it, it stopped my desktop window manager from working. However, it seems to be working with the latest NVIDIA drivers now, so that's good. But shouldn't my graphics drivers not matter when upgrading Windows? Doing a fresh install wouldn't even have any drivers installed, right? Either way, what should I do next? Thanks.

Well, the fresh install does install only the basic drivers provided by Microsoft, but they will not work with more than one GPUs (You have NVIDIA GPU and integrated Intel GPU which is also managed by NVIDIA driver, although it works best with only laptops, to conserve battery life for light loads using the integrated GPU, but use the discrete GPU for performance)

I think you should upgrade again to Windows 8.1 now, or to Windows 10 for free til June 29, 2016. Windows 8.1 mainstream support will end in 2018, and Windows 10 has more features, that you might want to consider. If you want to stay with Windows 8.1, but want the ability to upgrade to Windows 10 for free, youcan install Windows 10, and then downgrade back to 8.1, so that when you want to upgrade, you will be able to, even after June 29, 2016
Note: Do not do a clean install of either Windows 8.1 or Windows 10, because that will again remove the drivers causing the same issue all over again.

-CKing

jackymah · Jan 27, 2016

Sorry for not updating for a while. I have been busy. Anyway, I just upgraded to Windows 10 without a hiccup! Thanks for all of your help. I find it weird that my lack of NVIDIA drivers was the culprit, but I'm glad that my problem has been fixed. I hope my problem was not too easy for your training, haha.

CKing123 · Jan 27, 2016

jackymah said:
Sorry for not updating for a while. I have been busy. Anyway, I just upgraded to Windows 10 without a hiccup! Thanks for all of your help. I find it weird that my lack of NVIDIA drivers was the culprit, but I'm glad that my problem has been fixed.

Glad to help!

jackymah said:
I hope my problem was not too easy for your training, haha.

Every issue that I work on helps me become better!

-CKing

Search

Search

Computer keeps freezing/crashing when setting up Windows 8.1.

jackymah

Member

Attachments

BrianDrab

Emeritus

CKing123

Sysnative Staff, Windows Update Senior Analyst

jackymah

Member

CKing123

Sysnative Staff, Windows Update Senior Analyst

jackymah

Member

CKing123

Sysnative Staff, Windows Update Senior Analyst

jackymah

Member

CKing123

Sysnative Staff, Windows Update Senior Analyst