Understanding and Troubleshooting Boot Issues with Hardware and Software Changes: A Guide for PC Users
Introduction
Experiencing boot problems can be a frustrating experience for PC users, especially when they interfere with regular use. Common symptoms include the system hanging on the manufacturer logo screen, displaying blue screens with graphical anomalies, or requiring repeated forced shutdowns. Such issues can stem from a variety of causes, including hardware components, driver conflicts, or recent changes to system security software.
This article aims to help users understand potential causes of these problems and provides a structured approach to diagnosing and resolving them.
Symptom Overview
The primary issues described include:
- System hanging on the boot logo indefinitely unless manually powered off and restarted.
- Occasional appearance of a plain blue screen adorned with horizontal black dashes or lines.
- The problem began after disabling or uninstalling Windows Defender during a game installation, followed by a fresh Windows installation.
Hardware and Software Context
System specifications include:
- Motherboard: Asus TUF Gaming series
- Graphics Card: Zotac GeForce RTX 2060 6GB
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 Six-Core CPU
- RAM: 16GB DDR4 (configured as 2 x 8GB modules)
These components are generally stable and well-supported, and the system has been performing reliably until the recent issues.
Potential Causes and Troubleshooting Steps
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Recent Software Changes
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Disabling or uninstalling Windows Defender can potentially disrupt system security and stability, especially if not fully reconfigured afterward.
- Although reinstalling Windows Defender fixed some issues, residual software or registry inconsistencies might remain.
Recommendations:
- Ensure all Windows updates are installed.
- Use Windows System File Checker:
- Open Command Prompt as administrator.
- Run:
sfc /scannow
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Run the Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
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Hardware Integrity Checks
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Since the system’s core components like GPU and RAM are unlikely to be faulty given stable operation during gaming, focus on:
Memory:
– Use Windows Memory Diagnostic or MemTest86 to verify RAM health.
Storage Devices:
– Run CHKDSK or manufacturer-specific SSD/HDD utility to check drive health.
Graphics Card and Drivers:
– Ensure graphics drivers are up to date.
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