Resolved Win 7 Ultimate x64... Blackout followed by issues

Sorry to be so cryptic. Computer has been working great. A few days ago, my desktop just shutdown for no apparent reason (after I had walked away to do something). Pressing the power on button did nothing. But an LED on the SD card reader was still working. Besides, any power supply failure that I have seen was always accompanied by smoke. I would occasionally try to power it on but nothing.

A couple of days later, it suddendly powered on when I pressed the button. Normal start, just asking if I wanted to start Windows normally. Since then I am finding issues like it is now slower in general, Windows Update won't work (error 80072EFE) and shortcuts that I have always used no longer "allow" me to do so. I reset the memory sticks already. SFC was fine. IIRC, CHKDSK is not run on an SSD.

Any suggestions? Thanks, Larry

 

Did you reset the memory sticks before it powered back up or after doing a shutdown?

 

I reset the memory sticks just this morning, after about 3 days of coming back to life. More a response to sluggishness than the "big event". Should I run memtest anyway?

 

Don't know how many sticks you have. Leave just one in and reboot and see how it goes. Then put another one in where you had the first one at. Could be just a bad stick of ram causing this problem.

 

[QUOTE[Windows Update won't work (error 80072EFE)[/QUOTE]
Support for Windows 7 ended on January 14, 2020

What is Microsoft error code 80072efe?


This error code 80072EFE hints to connection interruption，which means there is a problem connecting to Windows Update. Support for Windows 7 has ended on January 14, 2020, including Software updates and Security updates or fixes.11/07/2021
Let's hope as MrBill suggests that there is a hardware problem.
Your Profile shows you have overclocked your unit, so it may have cooked some hardware!

 

Support for Windows 7 ended on January 14, 2020

What is Microsoft error code 80072efe?


This error code 80072EFE hints to connection interruption，which means there is a problem connecting to Windows Update. Support for Windows 7 has ended on January 14, 2020, including Software updates and Security updates or fixes.11/07/2021
Let's hope as MrBill suggests that there is a hardware problem.
Your Profile shows you have overclocked your unit, so it may have cooked some hardware![/QUOTE]

 

Could there be a "primary" slot that must be used with just one stick?

 

[/QUOTE]
The fact that I have lost some permissions on shortcuts, etc along with this WU Connection Interruption, it sounds more like software. Thoughts? Memory stick test tomorrow. This "blackout" is still a mystery, too. Now that seems like hardware!
Thanks, Larry

 

This morning when I tried to open up Windows from Sleep, it rebooted to a bios window asking if I wanted to set the bios to default settings. I said no but I did reduced the overclock from 4.2 to 3.7. The voltages all look good. The power supply is an EVGA 750W SuperNova NEX750G PLUS GOLD. The computer came overclocked.

I have now also reset all the plugs associated with the power supply (either pulled out and plugged back in or jiggled them).

I am curious how a power supply issue could cause these Windows issues (like WU and permissions, etc)? Thanks

 

Now that I have reset the plugs, should I wait a while and see what happens before I replace the PS? How would I specify a new PS?

Once I replace the PS, is there a way to rebuild the permissions, etc? Or do I need to do a Windows disc based install "overlay"? BTW- I have been getting occasional updates from MS, usually Malicious Tool Remover (or something like that), though the WU error only began after the "blackout".

Should I still do the memory stick test?

It's nice to see the old guard, Mr Bill, RT, Evan and you! Haven't seen Arie or Mattman in a long time. Thanks.

 

Hi, I was going to ask you if the check disc function is safe with my SSD. Seems to be issues with windows sometimes after doing that. Your thoughts?

However, instead, I woke up to another blackout. Computer appears to be completely dead and unresponsive except that a little LED on my SD card drive header is on. Also, after the PS being off a while, plugging it back in and pressing the on button, the HDD activity light on the front momentarily flashes once, too.

I think I will unplug the desktop completely for a while. Anything diagnostically you can think of?

 

I am now shopping for a new PSU and I’m a little confused. My current unit has two plugs that are marked PATA and are both being used. Only one of the SATA plugs are being used. My C Drive is an SSD, I have my old SSD connected and two old HDD’s connected.

The new model of the one that I have has nothing that says PATA but they do say PERP1. Same thing?? It has three SATA plugs.

I finally found my PSU manual and the jacks ID’d as PATA on the unit are called PERP1 in the manual. Weird

 

Thanks Evan.

Well, around 11am, the computer came to life again and rebooted. Since I have gone back to default settings in the bios, can I reduce the wattage to 500 or 650? I probably won’t be keeping this computer for more than another six months. The hard part is the full modular aspect and all the HDDs (which I can reduce).

Ran memtest86 with no errors. Windows Mem Diag would not run and when booting into Safe Mode, repair, Windows Mem Diag still would not run. The boot manager said some GUID line was wrong.

 

Hi Larry, Before you rush out and purchase a new PSU, have you run the comp in a "bare bones" state to see if some peripheral is the problem?
You mention "blackouts" --- does that mean ALL power is gone? Wall socket is OK?
Have you plugged the comp into a different wall socket?
These are things I would do before condemning the PSU to the rubbish bin.

 

Hi RT,

Not sure what you are referring to with "have you run the comp in a "bare bones" state to see if some peripheral is the problem? ". Tell me more! That this is rather infrequent is the issue. Acc to the event viewer (see way below...) this has happened 6 times in August (but only noticed the last 2 of them) and 5 times in June (don't recall them). If they started right back up, then I wouldn't have given them much attention, honestly.

Computer is not totally dead. A blue LED on the card reader header stays on (5v?). Mainboard has no LEDS so no other indicators but that seems like it means a lot. Since this is a fully modular PSU, should I try switching around any plugs (of a similar spec) to see what happens? I tried jiggling and reseting all the plugs. It is on for now, but it is so random. Becoming active again (twice now) has not been a result of any action on my part other than pressing the power button. It does seem very similar to a Windows Sleep state with the blue header LED being on and all. But if feels so "hardware'y".

During a blackout, when I press the power button after about 30 secs of rest, everything starts for about 1/10 of a second. Lights go on and fans blades start to turn but just momentarily.

Is there a PSU hardware testing program that will make weaknesses apparent? When its working, the voltages look good (acc to the Bios).

Just had a thought to check the Windows Event Viewer. Windows logged an unexpected shutdown for those two blackouts. Not sure if there is anything of value here. I compared the two logs and they are the same exc that one is true for SleepInProgress and one is false.
...............
Log Name: System
Source: Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Power
Date: 8/21/2022 10:00:20 AM
Event ID: 41
Task Category: (63)
Level: Critical
Keywords: (2)
User: SYSTEM
Computer: ZPC-C5Z87-GF65
Description:
The system has rebooted without cleanly shutting down first. This error could be caused if the system stopped responding, crashed, or lost power unexpectedly.
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
<System>
<Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Power" Guid="{331C3B3A-2005-44C2-AC5E-77220C37D6B4}" />
<EventID>41</EventID>
<Version>2</Version>
<Level>1</Level>
<Task>63</Task>
<Opcode>0</Opcode>
<Keywords>0x8000000000000002</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2022-08-21T17:00:20.247203100Z" />
<EventRecordID>1216484</EventRecordID>
<Correlation />
<Execution ProcessID="4" ThreadID="8" />
<Channel>System</Channel>
<Computer>ZPC-C5Z87-GF65</Computer>
<Security UserID="S-1-5-18" />
</System>
<EventData>
<Data Name="BugcheckCode">0</Data>
<Data Name="BugcheckParameter1">0x0</Data>
<Data Name="BugcheckParameter2">0x0</Data>
<Data Name="BugcheckParameter3">0x0</Data>
<Data Name="BugcheckParameter4">0x0</Data>
<Data Name="SleepInProgress">true</Data>
<Data Name="PowerButtonTimestamp">0</Data>
</EventData>
</Event>
......................

Lastly, I just took the comp off my UPS to eliminate that as a suspect.

Thanks!!

 

The PSU could be tested by a competent Technician. There are also small devices available to plug into the 20/24 pin connector which will give an indication of whether the PSU is operating 100%, but the best test is under load.
"Bare Bones" is unplugging printer/scanners, external drives, web cams etc. Also run the comp with one HDD/SSD that has your OS on it.
This is to test if there may be an external device causing a problem. As MrBill suggested, you have already run the comp with minimal RAM.
I've had in the past a fault caused by the comp push button switch! Not usual or expected these days.
Have you checked the condition of the M/B power connector plug and pins? I had one on an HP about 7/8 years ago where the connector was in bad contact and it arced until there was a complete loss of contact.