Unsolved
This post is more than 5 years old
11 Posts
0
3303
October 31st, 2018 19:00
Aurora-R7, Instability and boot fails
Salutations Dell Fam,
I purchased an R7 (AWAUR7-7999)in march/april, and I must say this computer is a beast. Unfortunately I have had several instances where the computer would freeze and would fail boot or blue screen right afterwards. I keep everything meticulously up to date with support assist and GeForce Exp. Sometimes the freezing would occur during a youtube video/playing game, or would not turn on the monitor from sleep. When the OS crashes or a hard reset is required, the only option is a clean install, nothing else seems to get the computer to boot (I have tried everything, well over 30/40 hours total. (One time right before a crash, the OS would load but took like 20+ mins to get to the desktop and most windows apps would not load, no CMD, Explorer, Powershell, system restore, support assist app etc,.. would start). I have had to reinstall windows 5/6 times (about every 3-4 weeks), full clean installs with renewed partition, as restore, roll backs, startup repair, and refresh never worked (typically fails when a restart is required).
Alienware support has helped me a few times reinstall windows (they have been awesome) but the problem keeps occuring. I have seen several instances of people reporting the same issues with the R7.
Respectfully I ask if anyone has discovered a solution or would be willing to give some advice (it would be greatly appreciated). If you have similar problems, would you please share what steps you have performed as well.
The support team and I have tried various check disks, SFC scans, hardware scans, bios tweaking, startup repairs, clean install from factory image, dell creation media, microsoft creation media.
I am using logitech G600 mouse, G710+ Keyboard, USB Logitech Microphone, Logitech satellite speakers, samsung monitor (Model # LC32F391FWNXZA). Not much installed in the way of programs other than firefox, LOL, logitech software, alienware bloat and drivers, etc,..
Thank you all in advance. Please be well.
Edit: 11/23/18
Dell support replaced the optane SSD and HDD. The system is much more stable. The data on the optane ssd must have been corrupting which explains the boot fails and the random freezes. Thank you very much for all of those who helped troubleshoot and have given advice. Be well.
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
•
17.1K Posts
0
October 31st, 2018 21:00
1. That's fine. But how do you go from a Hard-Reset to a clean-install? Did you try Safe-Mode?
2. Where exactly?
3. Sounds like you have a hardware problem. This is not one of those "oh, I had that problem ... it's this" kind of problems.
4. After a Clean Install with Microsoft Media Creator flash-drive, the only Dell software you need is Alienware Command Center.
5. That's crazy. That is not acceptable. I think I would try a different HDD/SSD for the C: drive right about now.
List your complete hardware config, including any drives like Optane.
AAKraus
11 Posts
0
November 1st, 2018 18:00
Hello Telsa. I hope all is well. Thank you for your response.
1. Typically the the computer would blue screen with error code (stop code 0xc000021a) with a continuous reboot loop or go into the blue startup fail screen. Trying all options typically fail and only reinstalling with a USB works.
2. Browsing the support forums here, several R7 boot problems on the front page or two.
3. Thank you for this advice. Would you have any ideas what type of hardware problem? Do you think it would be worth trying to make sure the connectors in the pc are secure? Any ideas what other stress test or scans I could run?
4. I go to the dell driver page and look for drivers with my service tag. Various driver packages are required to have the pc run correctly to include the gpu drivers, support assist, rapid storage technology app for the optane.
PC Link:
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/alienware-aurora-r7-desktop-intel-core-i7-16gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-gtx-1070-1tb-hard-drive-intel-optane-memory-epic-silver/6155310.p?skuId=6155310
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
•
17.1K Posts
1
November 1st, 2018 20:00
1. I think only a hardware problem would cause this kind of catastrophic OS failure:
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/drivers/debugger/bug-check-0xc000021a--status-system-process-terminated
2. You will have to be more specific.
3. Whatever "disk" Windows installs to. If still a problem, work your way back from the main disk.
4. None of that Dell/Intel software is required (for non-Optane config.).
https://www.dell.com/community/Alienware-Desktops/M-2-NVMe-bootable-options/td-p/6073037
5. Remove 1TB HDD and Intel Optane Memory module.
Clean install Microsoft.com's Windows-10 to a different (100% working) disk. It might as well be a SSD. Use above link.
If you skip any parts of my posts, you will likely miss the problem.
As with any desktop, it should be connected to a good USP (like APC with the LCD and AVR).
AAKraus
11 Posts
0
November 4th, 2018 17:00
Thank you for your respinse. I have contacted support several times. I have told them this is a reocurring problem with the R7 (I see several post on this forum daily regarding similar problems). I have installed windows about 6 times. I have escalated the problem and asked them for a repair/replacment, they agreed to a harddrive swap. I hope a solution is found.
https://www.dell.com/community/Alienware-Desktops/Aurora-R7-Instability-and-boot-fails/m-p/6209522#M6470
Here is a list of others having similar problems :
https://www.dell.com/community/Alienware-Desktops/Aurora-R7-froze-and-now-fails-to-start-windows/td-p/6203968
https://www.dell.com/community/Alienware-Desktops/Aurora-R7-scan-failed-forced-windows-reinstall/td-p/6209026
https://www.dell.com/community/Alienware-Desktops/Aurora-R7-will-not-boot/td-p/6102422
https://www.dell.com/community/Alienware-Desktops/R7-crash-and-won-t-restart-Partition-problem-Help/m-p/6211617#M6568