BSOD Causes on Windows 11: Diagnosis and Solution

Random reboots with Blue Screen of Death on your computer can be caused by several interconnected issues related to new RAM, BIOS settings, and potential cooling or power problems.

Contents

• Main BSOD Causes
• RAM Issues
• BIOS Settings and Compatibility
• Cooling and Thermal Paste Issues
• Diagnosis and Solution
• Windows Reinstallation
• Rebuilding with Components

Main BSOD Causes

Based on your error codes and system configuration, the main causes of reboots may be:

1. CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED (0xEF) - indicates failure of critical system processes, often caused by driver issues or resource shortages
2. KERNEL_DATA_INPAGE_ERROR (0x7A) - indicates inability to read data from the paging file, often related to disk or memory problems
3. IO1_INITIALIZATION_FAILED (0x69) - indicates failure during I/O initialization, usually related to storage controller drivers
4. 0xc000021a - critical Windows subsystem error, often caused by corrupted system files or drivers

These errors indicate complex issues related to both hardware and software.

RAM Issues

Your problems started after installing 128GB Kingston FURY Beast Black, and this is not coincidental. Research shows several key points:

Compatibility with Ryzen 5000:

• Ryzen 5000 series processors have an integrated memory controller that can experience stress when working with 4 memory modules
• Kingston FURY Beast often requires precise voltage and timing settings for stable operation on AMD platforms

Issues with 128GB configuration:

• As noted in discussions, the processor may be “overloaded” when processing 128GB of memory
• Even when reducing frequency to 2400-3000 MHz, problems persist, indicating hardware incompatibility

Recommendations:

1. Use 2 modules of 64GB instead of 4 modules of 32GB
2. Disable XMP and set frequency to 3200 MHz with CL16 timings
3. Increase SoC voltage to 1.08-1.1V in BIOS
4. Check for updated BIOS that supports 128GB configurations

BIOS Settings and Compatibility

Specific issues with Gigabyte B550 AORUS MASTER are known from research:

Required BIOS settings:

• SoC Voltage: Set to 1.08V instead of standard 1.2V for XMP profiles
• DRAM Voltage: May need to be increased to 1.4V for stable operation with 4 modules
• RTT settings: For 32GB+ configurations, RttNom, RttWr, and RttPark values often need to be configured

BIOS versions:

• Your current F18i version may not fully support 128GB configurations
• Updating to the latest BIOS version may resolve compatibility issues

Steps for configuration:

1. In BIOS, disable XMP
2. Manually set frequency to 3200 MHz
3. Increase DRAM Voltage to 1.4V
4. Set SoC Voltage to 1.08V
5. Configure RTT values according to recommendations for your configuration

Cooling and Thermal Paste Issues

The light orange substance found under motherboard heat sinks may be causing overheating and instability:

Possible issues:

• Thermal paste may have gotten on contacts and caused a short circuit
• Excess thermal paste under heat sinks may impair heat dissipation
• Orange film on chips serves as protection from contact with heat sinks

Recommendations:

1. Carefully clean thermal paste using isopropyl alcohol
2. Ensure heat sinks do not contact components without protective films
3. Check component temperatures using HWMonitor
4. Verify proper installation of CPU cooling system

If the CPU overheats, it can cause system failures and BSOD, especially under load.

Diagnosis and Solution

To diagnose problems, perform the following steps:

1. Driver check:

• Update motherboard drivers from the official Gigabyte website
• Check disk and storage controller drivers
• Use Driver Booster or similar program to update drivers

2. Memory testing:

• Run testing in MemTest86 with each module separately
• Check operation with 2 modules instead of 4
• Use Windows Memory Diagnostic to check for errors

3. Disk check:

• Run chkdsk /f /r for all drives
• Check disk SMART status through CrystalDiskInfo
• Test disks using H2testw to detect bad sectors

4. Temperature monitoring:

• Use HWMonitor to track temperatures
• Check VRM and chipset temperatures on the motherboard
• Ensure cooling system is working properly

5. Testing without load:

• Disconnect all drives except the system M.2
• Check operation in idle mode
• Test with minimal number of running processes

Windows Reinstallation

Reinstalling Windows can be a useful step, especially if problems are caused by corrupted system files:

Benefits of reinstallation:

• Elimination of corrupted system files
• Removal of malware
• Reset of drivers to factory settings
• Resolution of registry issues

Recommendations:

1. Create a backup of important data
2. Perform a clean Windows 11 installation
3. Install all drivers from official websites
4. Check system stability before installing additional software
5. Install components one at a time to identify problematic ones

However, reinstallation won’t fix hardware issues, so you first need to ensure hardware is functioning properly.

Rebuilding with Components

Rebuilding your computer with old components may be justified in the following cases:

When to do this:

1. If a specific faulty component has been identified
2. When diagnosis is impossible without complete disassembly
3. If old components are more stable with your system
4. If there are doubts about the quality of new components

Recommended sequence:

1. First build a system with minimal components: CPU, 1 RAM module, motherboard, SSD
2. Check stability
3. Add components one at a time with testing after each
4. If problems persist with 4 RAM modules - use 2 modules

Alternative approaches:

• Return to old RAM
• Use a different RAM model with better compatibility
• Exchange the motherboard for one with better Ryzen 5000 support

Conclusion

The main causes of your BSOD issues are most likely related to compatibility of 128GB Kingston FURY Beast with your system and BIOS settings. To resolve the issue, we recommend:

1. Configure BIOS with increased SoC Voltage to 1.08V and DRAM Voltage to 1.4V
2. Check operation with 2 memory modules instead of 4
3. Ensure there are no issues with thermal paste under heat sinks
4. Update BIOS to the latest version
5. If necessary, reinstall Windows after fixing hardware issues

If none of these steps help, consider using other components with better compatibility.

Sources

1. Microsoft Learn - Bug Check 0x7A KERNEL_DATA_INPAGE_ERROR
2. Driver Easy - KERNEL DATA INPAGE ERROR Blue Screen Fix
3. Reddit - BSOD Kernel data inpage error
4. Kingston FURY Beast RAM Compatibility
5. Gigabyte B550 XMP Issues
6. Thermal Paste on Motherboard Issues