Stuck on PCSpecialist logo boot screen

ukyouhan

Member
Hi all,

This will be a bit long but please bear with me - I needed to give full details of the issue and what I've tried!

I bought a Cosmos VIII 17.3" with SSD 256Gb and i7 9750h, with Win 10 Pro x64. I've barely used the laptop, though it booted up fine the first four or five times I had switched it on. However the last time I switched it on the OS loaded and the laptop crashed suddenly. The laptop required a hard shut down and since then, the laptop hasn't gone past the PC logo when I switch it on.

I can access the bios, and the SSD is showing. I thought the issue is with the OS, so I tried creating a USB reset disk to reinstall the OS. But it gave an error "No signed device drivers were found" once it hit the screen where you select where to install the OS. It did see the partitions at this point, though it cleared the screen once I clicked next, and it displayed the above error.

I used the CMD within the USB to check diskpart. The disk is visible in there, again, and the volume info suggests it is usable. I tried using the clean command in this to clear the partition but that also returned an error, and nor could I switch the partition from read-only to write.

I have tried using the Usb in every port also, to no avail.

I have hit a brick wall here. I don't know if it's a problem with the usb or the PC itself. I can't create a new disk currently as I am away from home. I had to borrow a kind student's laptop to create the image in the first place - this kind Samaritan was a stranger and looked at me like I was an alien at first when I asked her for her PC. Desperate times...

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
 

Scott

Behold The Ford Mondeo
Moderator
Does it only have the 1 HDD?

I would try going into the BIOS and removing all boot options other than the SSD. Sometimes having network boot enabled can cause huge delays int he BIOS boot when trying to figure out POST issues. I would disable all other boot options, USB/Removable media... the works.

That way you should at least get an error.

If you don't get an error, try removing the SSD and turning on the Laptop. You should get an error saying no bootable media. If you don't, there is something with the Laptop, if you do... it may be a drive fault.
 

ubuysa

The BSOD Doctor
used the CMD within the USB to check diskpart. The disk is visible in there, again, and the volume info suggests it is usable. I tried using the clean command in this to clear the partition but that also returned an error, and nor could I switch the partition from read-only to write.
If diskpart cannot clean the drive (you do know that clean erases everything on the drive, right?) then there is something fundamentally wrong with the drive.

If this is a SATA SSD I would try removing it and then replacing it, ensuring that it's properly located. I would then boot the Windows installation media, access the command prompt and then run chkdsk /f on whichever driver letter your SSD is assigned in the installation WinPE system. If that won't run or if it generates errors then there is a problem with the drive itself I'm afraid.
 

ukyouhan

Member
If diskpart cannot clean the drive (you do know that clean erases everything on the drive, right?) then there is something fundamentally wrong with the drive.

If this is a SATA SSD I would try removing it and then replacing it, ensuring that it's properly located. I would then boot the Windows installation media, access the command prompt and then run chkdsk /f on whichever driver letter your SSD is assigned in the installation WinPE system. If that won't run or if it generates errors then there is a problem with the drive itself I'm afraid.

Hiya, I've done all of the checks, and still Windows 10 wouldn't install. I tried downloading the Intel Rapid Storage Technology drivers and installing them one at a time, and still no joy. I tried installing Linux Mint also, which returned an I/O error. So I reckon the SSD itself has gone bust, which is a shame after only a few uses. I'll contact PCSpecialist with my findings, after trying a range of steps. Since it's only a month or two old, it is still well within the warranty period and I am sure they'll be helpful.
 

ukyouhan

Member
If diskpart cannot clean the drive (you do know that clean erases everything on the drive, right?) then there is something fundamentally wrong with the drive.

If this is a SATA SSD I would try removing it and then replacing it, ensuring that it's properly located. I would then boot the Windows installation media, access the command prompt and then run chkdsk /f on whichever driver letter your SSD is assigned in the installation WinPE system. If that won't run or if it generates errors then there is a problem with the drive itself I'm afraid.

Yes I did open up the case and tried removing and replacing it as one step of the diagnostics. I should have mentioned that, sorry. This didn't resolve the issue. I do think it's a boot sector that's gotten corrupted, but it's a physical issue rather than software from appearances. SSDs do have a risk of going bust quicker than HDD, counterintuitively (no moving components), but definitely not in the timescale that it happened. But I guess it's still possible, just with a very low probability of it happening. A bit like lightbulbs. If I get it replaced, hopefully it won't happen again.
 

ubuysa

The BSOD Doctor
Yes I did open up the case and tried removing and replacing it as one step of the diagnostics. I should have mentioned that, sorry. This didn't resolve the issue. I do think it's a boot sector that's gotten corrupted, but it's a physical issue rather than software from appearances. SSDs do have a risk of going bust quicker than HDD, counterintuitively (no moving components), but definitely not in the timescale that it happened. But I guess it's still possible, just with a very low probability of it happening. A bit like lightbulbs. If I get it replaced, hopefully it won't happen again.
As I said earlier, if a diskpart clean command fails then the drive is faulty - whether it's an SSD or HDD. It looks like you've been unlucky though, in general modern SSDs have a lifespan pretty much equivalent to HDDs - the days of limit write capability is largely gone. Hopefully lighting won't strike twice in the same place! :)
 

ukyouhan

Member
As I said earlier, if a diskpart clean command fails then the drive is faulty - whether it's an SSD or HDD. It looks like you've been unlucky though, in general modern SSDs have a lifespan pretty much equivalent to HDDs - the days of limit write capability is largely gone. Hopefully lighting won't strike twice in the same place! :)

Yeah you're right, diskpart clean returned an error so it's definitely the SSD.

Didn't know about the days being far gone for SSD not having a similar life as HDD! Even then it should be circa 5 years, not 5 hours 😆

Anyway, PCSpecialist have been fantastic as always, they've offered to send a courier with a new SSD, I have the time to open and replace the SSD and then I return the old SSD to the courier!

This is top notch service, honestly, I am very glad I went with PCS for the purchase!
 

ukyouhan

Member
I got my new harddrive today, plugged it in and it works perfectly now! Top class from PCSpecialist for getting the harddrive out to me, and mainly for having it in their clause that you can open up a PC without voiding your warranty!

Fantastic service, I'd recommend PCS to anyone buying a new laptop/desktop!
 
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