Aurora R12, Reinstalling OS Stuck on Starting Services

Question

I'm beginning to wonder if my first Alienware is a colorful boat anchor. A week ago the system crashed to blue screen and would not boot. After attempting to use Dell Support Assist, Dell Recovery - none of which worked, contacted Alienware support. New motherboard and RAM dispatched and installed by a field tech. System finally booted. All appeared normal. Tech leaves an hour later system crashes. I've created recovery media (ISO) to reload the OS. The process gets to Starting Services stuck - turn off router. Start install again - process gets to Starting Services - 40% stuck Start install again - process stuck at Starting Services I'm beginning to think the problem is the SSD. Any suggestions on next steps?

Vanadiel · Answer

Run a complete long ePSA test ePSA   What was the error code when the BSOD happened the second time?

Stovokor · Answer

I've had so many. The most repeatable one was Machine Check Exception

Vanadiel · Answer

Also make sure to unplug any external or internal additional items that came not with the system. Turn off router is a strange error message to have.

Also, make bootable media directly from Microsoft. Don't use anything else as installation media.

Windows 10

You can do the same if you want Windows 11 installation media.

Tesla1856 · Answer

Well, if computer 100% passes ePSA ... only then continue forward.

If it won't completely install Windows ... you have the classic-question ... is it Hardware or Software ? (like maybe the recovery media you created is bad). Hopefully, it was created from microsoft.com and not from (malfunctioning) Dell and Dell's OEM version of Windows.

I suggest you follow these directions. If it doesn't help or you can't get through them, I suggest you call Dell and let them know you are still having problems.

https://www.dell.com/community/Windows-General-Wiki/Guide-to-migrate-to-a-New-Windows-11-computer/ta-p/8307872

Tesla1856 · Answer

@Stovokor wrote:   I'm beginning to think the problem is the SSD.   Anything is possible. I check SMART-Status with Crystal Disk-Info or Passmark's DiskCheckup.

Stovokor · Answer

**Update**

Thank you everyone who responded.

Since I had created the bootable media directly from Microsoft, I contacted Alienware support and requested a new SSD, which they initially wanted to run me through all of the same tests that had already run multiple times with no errors found. They finally sent a new SDD. Installed yesterday and system is up and running again.

Now it's time to reload everything.

Again, thank you for the responses.

Alienware Desktops

Was this post helpful?