[PoonTatLeun]

Hopefully you all can help me with this, as I've run aground as far as ideas with what to do are concerned. This problem concerns someone else's computer with the following specs:

MSI b150m mortar motherboard
Geforce GTX 950
Intel i5-6500 LGA1151
2x4G DDR4 Memory
Windows 10 Home(upgrade from Windows 7)

The computer was assembled new about a month and a half ago, and aside from having to install the USB 3 drivers into the Windows 7 installation media, everything worked fine from the get go. If you need any other information I can provide it.

So, the problem started with the most recent large update to Windows 10. After the update the computer started freezing and providing a blue screen with the error being "CLOCK WATCHDOG TIMEOUT". For a bit the computer occasionally couldn't finish loading the OS, and would simply bluescreen with the same error. After trying to get into safemode(apparently can't do it out of the box with f8 any more), and a few restarts, the computer booted up again and seemed to be working. A day or so later, another update came down the pipeline and forced the computer to restart again. After this update, the computer could no longer finish loading the OS, and would always bluescreen with the same clock watchdog error.

Assuming it had something to do with the recent update, I made a USB drive with which to install Windows 10. After having to pull the HDD out so I could change it from MBR to GPT and format it(as Windows 10 wouldn't install to the MBR hard drive for some a reason it didn't provide). After a few reboots I was finally able to get it to begin installing, but when it would reboot after copying files to the hard drive it would BSoD again(was not around to see the error code).

After scouring the internet, I found that the clock error can be caused by USB device drivers, and can also be caused by an out-dated bios. So I replaced the wireless keyboard with a wired keyboard, flashed the bios, and tried to install Windows 10 again, and it seemed to work just fine. I installed everything and after multiple restarts I didn't have any problems. However, after a couple of hours it again froze and blue-screened. The user(not me) attempted to fix the problem by restarting it a few times.

After looking at it, the computer again would freeze or bluescreen before loading the OS. So I attempted again to reinstall the OS, though every time I tried it would freeze a few seconds into loading the install environment. I also tried Windows 7, as well as the most recent Ubuntu release just to cover my bases. Same thing with all of them. I have tried them on known working computers and they load the install environment just fine.

I tried flashing the BIOS again, to no avail. I also pulled out the hard drive and the video card to see if they were causing problems, still the same freezing with all three OS installs. I've pulled out one of the dimms, as well as changing their placement in the motherboard without effect. I've also run the memory test utility included with Ubuntu without problem and found no errors. I've also poked around in all the motherboard's BIOS settings trying to find a solution to no avail.

After all I've done to try and fix it, the only possibilities I can see are that the motherboard itself is bad, or that the CPU is bad. I suspect the motherboard as I've had many problems with motherboards, and never had one with CPUs.

My questions are: what else can I try to repair the problem? Should I have the user purchase a new motherboard? Am I missing something(a BIOS setting or combination of them perhaps)?

Any help will be appreciated, and I can provide more information if needed.

 

[Masterchiefxx17]

What is the make and model number of the PSU?

Inside the BIOS, what are the 12V, 5V, 3.3V, and VCORE voltages?

 

[PoonTatLeun]

Masterchief,

The PSU is a Raidmax RX-500s

Form the BIOS, the voltages are: 12V: 12.192V 5V: 5.120V 3.3V: 1.696V VCORE:1.184V

Anything else?

 

[Masterchiefxx17]

How well does the system perform if you just use Ubuntu from the CD and not install it?

 

[PoonTatLeun]

I was able to get it to come up in live mode once, and it froze as soon as it came up. Then afterward, the same as trying to install it. It would freeze partway through loading the live environment.

 

[Masterchiefxx17]

Please preform a MemTest86 test using this guide here:

How to perform a MemTest86 Test - Tech Support Forum

 

[PoonTatLeun]

I did, there were no problems with the memory.

 

[Masterchiefxx17]

My guess is either your PSU or motherboard. You would have to test with replacement units to see what is the cause.

 

[PoonTatLeun]

I hadn't thought that the PSU could be the problem. I swapped it out with a working one, and had the same results. So I'm pretty sure it's the motherboard that's causing the issues as it's now been narrowed down to that. I'm going to have the user purchase a new one.

Thank you much for the help, much appreciated.

 

[Masterchiefxx17]

I recommend a board made by Gigabyte or Asus.

 

[PoonTatLeun]

Yeah, I haven't had many problems with either of those manufacturers. Thank you very much, I'll pass the recommendation along.

 

[Superion]

If you do end up transferring or upgrading to another motherboard please note if you don't have a boxed full retail license you may have to purchase another Windows license.

 

[PoonTatLeun]

Thanks Superion, still have the one that I used for it originally.

Update on the issue however. The user purchased a new motherboard, a GIGABYTE GA-H170M-DS3H (rev. 1.0) Micro ATX Intel Motherboard. After putting all the hardware together, I again tried to install windows 10, and windows 7 with it freezing in the same place as with the previous motherboard.

However, I was able to get Ubuntu(14.04.3) installed and it seems to be working without issue aside from Ubuntu not recognizing the on board audio. I've been troubleshooting that with no luck so far.

I'm wondering why the Windows 10 and 7 installation media still has a problem. The only thing that it could be now is that the new motherboard is also faulty, or there's a problem with the CPU. Is there a way I can diagnose and find out what is STILL causing the windows 10 and 7 installation media to crash during install?

 

[Masterchiefxx17]

Unlikely to have two faulty motherboards.

Where did you get the copy of Windows?

 

[PoonTatLeun]

Windows 7 downloaded directly form the Microsoft website using the key form my retail copy(the user has a retail key as well).

Windows 10 using the update tool from Microsoft(create install media for other computers).

So both from legitimate sources.

I find it strange though, that neither of the Windows installations work, but linux distros DO work(I've tried Ubuntu 14, 15(sound works here) as well as Mint 17).

 

[Superion]

Have you tried installing Windows under AHCI mode in BIOS yet?

 

[PoonTatLeun]

I have not tried that, and have to admit that I do not know how to do that

 

[Superion]

Should be a setting in BIOS in advanced settings and SATA Configuration. If it's already on AHCI you are fine. After setting it to AHCI from IDE you should be ready to reinstall Windows 7 or you will BSOD like crazy. I have read that Windows 10 has had problems with IDE mode with the DCP Watchdog Violation. It's worth a shot.

 

[PoonTatLeun]

Yeah, definitely worth a shot. Ubuntu works, but he uses it mostly for gaming, so windows will be easier for him. Thank you for the suggestion

 

[PoonTatLeun]

Gave it a shot, it was set to AHCI already, tried it with the RAID setting as well. Install still froze at the logo with both settings. Going to try swapping the PSU again(since it's a new motherboard) and see if that gets me anywhere.

Other than that, still at a loss as to why I can't install Windows 10 or Windows 7 on this new machine...