BSOD on install

User Support Hub Hardware & Peripherals
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1

Hi,

I wish I didn’t have to ask, but I need some help!

Have been happily using MSFS, steam version, since it came out. Really happy with it. But over the weekend I had a crash in VR and it CTD. I then reloaded and it stuck on checking for updates - so I uninstalled and went to reinstall.

I have tried 10-15 times, getting to various stages (twice 500mb from finish) and it BSOD, with different reasons. I’ve gone through every BSOD ‘help’ I can find, checked RAM, disk, HD Formatting, run in safe mode, stopped non-MS processes, removed all USB devices, everything and the same thing still happens. Each time I do a full uninstall, deletion of remaining folders and reboot.

I can happily play, run and install other intensive games without a problem, this only happens when trying to install MSFS.

I’ve checked the temps of the machine and they’re all low (an in southern UK, given the temp today, that’s a good result!).

My PC specs are :

Windows 11 Home 64bit
Intel I9, 10900K @ 3.7GHz
32GB RAM @ 1069
NVidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti
1TB Seagate SSD

I can see this is a recurring issue with MSFS and having had nearly two years of excellent performance, I just want to get it installed again!

Any help and advice, really, really appreciated.

TIA.
Steve.

2

Can you tell us what various BSOD faults you get? (BSOD are mainly driver or hardware related)

3

Thank you for the query, yes :

unexpected_store_exception
critical_process_died
system_service_exception

These are the main culprits, think I had one relating to memory, but didn’t write that one down.

Thanks, again.

4

I would recommend at first the usually system check ( sfc /scannow ; dism ***** ) .

Also, in not less cases the anti-virus solution caused BSODs. Which one you have installed ?
( and is enough free space on your disc ? )

I asssume tried to disable xmp mode already ?

5

Hi, thanks for your response.

Have completed the system checked, disk, ram, image - all good.
I do have Norton 360 running.
I have 500gb of free space, to install.
XMP mode on the board is set to auto (no XMP profile selected).

What is bizarre, is nothing has changed (other than auto software updates), but it’s made a massive impact!

Thanks again, for your help.
Steve.

6

Try running the WhoCrashed program. It should give you more hints regarding those BSOD faults.

7

Any overclocking? I found I could BSOD MSFS if I had any overclocking on my ram.

8

Thank you, I’ll try that. That is one of the most frustrating things, not having anything meaningful in the Event Viewer.

Appreciate your advice.

9

Thanks for the thought, no, completely vanilla, no pushing of anything.

Thank you, though.

10

im going to guess this is the important clue, disable or even uninstall the antivirus and double check your drive would be my advice
your saying its happening with Large writes to the drive so thats the first suspect

you can read more about this unexpected_store_exception error here - its a critical system problem so follow All steps Exactly and in Order when trying to repair (dont skip any, 1 may depend on a previous step)

this one looks as good as any

11

as mentioned, may try to uninstall it… In special for Norton we have some topics where it caused bsod, latest I remember: Instant Blue Screen (BSOD) when trying to run MSFS - See Error Msg below - #113 by MichaMMA
( and where users also nothing changed on the pc )

It at least a test worth … and note: often it was not sufficent to disable norton, users uninstalled these tool. It bring so many bloadware, who knows…

12

Thank you for your response. Have uninstalled Norton, rebooted and re-tried, but to no avail - still BSODs.

Appreciate your considerations.

13

Hi,

Thank you for your suggestion - have removed, but still the same issues.

Am beginning to think a re-install of Windows might be the next step :frowning:

Thanks again.

14

hmmm… not sure… bsods is usually a hardware or driver thing… you can try to reinstall windows from scratch. In this way you do at least install the newest drivers too. But if it was hardware related…

“chkdsk” you have already executed ?

And in case it comes from gpu, have you already tried limiting fps to a low value ( e.g. 30 , or less in case 4k ) ?

15

Hi,

Yes, CHKDSK’d many times, checked windows integrity, all fine. Checked memory, all fine. I’ve even started the PC with only windows, running from the onboard HDMI to limit impact. It only happens during install, so graphics settings aren’t relevant - I’m not even pushing the card at that point (and temp is 38 degrees, in high ambient).

I’m really at a loss as to what it is?!

Thanks again,
Steve.

16

ähmm… not if we speak about MSFS :rofl: … the load on gpu is in meanwhile reduced, but can still be high while install/update. But 38 is like cool :slight_smile:

So… then only idea on this way I have is about the the RAM or realy somewhat with a driver…

And last ideas If we assume not a system issue: Had you removed the MSFS files in AppData before install-retry ?

17

So, faulty RAM could be an option, you think? It’s two years old - possibly.

After each BSOD, I uninstall MSFS (from Steam), delete the SteamApp folder and the AppData folder completely, before retrying.

18

it’s possible, but of course we are limited in “online analyse” :slight_smile:

Important is that you tried a test-case without enabled xmp profile. You can also check whether the windows-memory test find a issue.

Otherwise… may be the re-install of windows will be an option… driver , etc…

19

Thank you, yes I have checked that XMP profile is NOT enabled. Have undertaken the memory tests and all h/d tests I can find - all come back great.

This morning I ‘bit the bullet’ and refreshed Windows 11, took back to vanilla, removing all settings, drivers and software. Have loaded and setup with minimal things and it’s now 40% into the 122gb install. We’ll see how it does!

Thank you for all your help and considerations.

Will let you know!
Steve.

2 Likes
20

Quick update, it installed! Had a strange CTD (but not blue screen) at 80gb, but installed fully. I can’t get online services working, but I think I need to get all the XBOX software installed. Will have a play tomorrow.

Thank you for all your help and advice, so pleased it actually loads now!