Hardware Urgent! BSOD on Windows 10 after installing AMD Overdrive.

[Seliph]

So, like an idiot I installed Amd overdrive without realizing that it isn't compatible with ryzen cpus. Now I have a BSOD on boot and I can't figure out how to boot into safety mode. I've tried typing bcdedit /set {default} safeboot minimal but I just get an error that the bootconfig could not be found or something to that affect. I have my hard drive set up in Raid 0 so that may be why I'm getting the error but I have no idea how to solve it. Help!

 

[Captain_N]

do you have any windows 10 install discs? or usb windows installs? you can invoke the recovery mode from there and choose to use a previous restore point. Installing amd overdrive should have created a recovery point of your system state before it installed. You can also use a windows live disc like Ganldolfs windows 10 live to enter recovery mode.

 

[Seliph]

do you have any windows 10 install discs? or usb windows installs? you can invoke the recovery mode from there and choose to use a previous restore point. Installing amd overdrive should have created a recovery point of your system state before it installed. You can also use a windows live disc like Ganldolfs windows 10 live to enter recovery mode.

I can try it, I'll let you know if I can get it to work.

 

[Foxi4]

Why go to the extreme? Start the system in Safe Mode and pick a restore point, you don't need any installation disc. Depending on your BIOS you should be able to get into Safe Mode by pressing F8 or Shift+F8 during boot *or* by interrupting the boot sequence three consecutive times, at which point the system will load recovery options automatically. It's easier than finding a disc or downloading the ISO on a separate computer just to access a menu that's already there.

 

[The Real Jdbye]

Why go to the extreme? Start the system in Safe Mode and pick a restore point, you don't need any installation disc. Depending on your BIOS you should be able to get into Safe Mode by pressing F8 or Shift+F8 during boot *or* by interrupting the boot sequence three consecutive times, at which point the system will load recovery options automatically. It's easier than finding a disc or downloading the ISO on a separate computer just to access a menu that's already there.

It's not that easy to start Windows 10 in safe mode. Shift and F8 no longer work.

So, like an idiot I installed Amd overdrive without realizing that it isn't compatible with ryzen cpus. Now I have a BSOD on boot and I can't figure out how to boot into safety mode. I've tried typing bcdedit /set {default} safeboot minimal but I just get an error that the bootconfig could not be found or something to that affect. I have my hard drive set up in Raid 0 so that may be why I'm getting the error but I have no idea how to solve it. Help!

If Windows 10 fails to boot a few times it should enter startup repair automatically. From there you should be able to fix it. But if the BSOD doesn't occur on the boot screen, it probably won't be counted as a boot problem so that screen will never appear.

 

[Seliph]

Why go to the extreme? Start the system in Safe Mode and pick a restore point, you don't need any installation disc. Depending on your BIOS you should be able to get into Safe Mode by pressing F8 or Shift+F8 during boot *or* by interrupting the boot sequence three consecutive times, at which point the system will load recovery options automatically. It's easier than finding a disc or downloading the ISO on a separate computer just to access a menu that's already there.

I'd love to do that but when I get to recovery options safe boot literally just won't show up, there isn't even a reboot icon. F8 and F8 + win also don't seem to work.

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It's not that easy to start Windows 10 in safe mode. Shift and F8 no longer work.

If Windows 10 fails to boot a few times it should enter startup repair automatically. From there you should be able to fix it. But if the BSOD doesn't occur on the boot screen, it probably won't be counted as a boot problem so that screen will never appear.

Yeah, startup repair can't diagnose the problem so I'm doing the usb drive with Windows on it method. If that fails, I'll just have to erase the data on my hard drives. It'll suck but at least my game saves and most important files are on the cloud.

 

[The Real Jdbye]

I'd love to do that but when I get to recovery options safe boot literally just won't show up, there isn't even a reboot icon. F8 and F8 + win also don't seem to work.

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Yeah, startup repair can't diagnose the problem so I'm doing the usb drive with Windows on it method. If that fails, I'll just have to erase the data on my hard drives. It'll suck but at least my game saves and most important files are on the cloud.

In startup repair you get an option that lets you boot into safe mode.
Anyway, can you access advanced startup? There's an option in there that loads a menu with a lot of options like disable driver signature enforcement etc. and one of those options is safe mode.
Alternatively, boot a live CD/USB of some sort and delete the files for AMD Overdrive so it can't load.

 

[Seliph]

In startup repair you get an option that lets you boot into safe mode.
Anyway, can you access advanced startup? There's an option in there that loads a menu with a lot of options like disable driver signature enforcement etc. and one of those options is safe mode.
Alternatively, boot a live CD/USB of some sort and delete the files for AMD Overdrive so it can't load.

Nope, there's no advanced startup. How does a live usb work? I'm downloading gandalf's Windows live, do I just burn it onto my usb and then boot the usb on my pc and from there Windows will launch correctly and I'll still be able to access programs like AMD Overdrice?

 

[The Real Jdbye]

Nope, there's no advanced startup. How does a live usb work? I'm downloading gandalf's Windows live, do I just burn it onto my usb and then boot the usb on my pc and from there Windows will launch correctly and I'll still be able to access programs like AMD Overdrice?

There's a way to access advanced startup from startup repair.
https://www.digitalcitizen.life/4-ways-boot-safe-mode-windows-10
Check method 6.

It will be booting Windows off the USB so you won't have any of your programs or drivers but you can still access the HDD to delete the AMD Overdrive files off it. But don't delete all the files, only delete the driver or main executable or whatever it is that's causing the BSOD, so the program can still be uninstalled normally afterwards to get rid of any leftovers. Better yet, rename the entire folder, reboot into the Windows install, rename it back then uninstall.
But I don't think you need to do this. The method I mentioned above should work and is cleaner.

 

[Seliph]

There's a way to access advanced startup from startup repair.
https://www.digitalcitizen.life/4-ways-boot-safe-mode-windows-10
Check method 6.

It will be booting Windows off the USB so you won't have any of your programs or drivers but you can still access the HDD to delete the AMD Overdrive files off it. But don't delete all the files, only delete the driver or main executable or whatever it is that's causing the BSOD, so the program can still be uninstalled normally afterwards to get rid of any leftovers. Better yet, rename the entire folder, reboot into the Windows install, rename it back then uninstall.
But I don't think you need to do this. The method I mentioned above should work and is cleaner.

Yeah, the first method doesn't work for me, I've gotten to the part where you click on the troubleshooting icon but when I click on it everything but the startup settings shows up, it's very odd but that's how it is.

 

[Captain_N]

Why go to the extreme? Start the system in Safe Mode and pick a restore point, you don't need any installation disc. Depending on your BIOS you should be able to get into Safe Mode by pressing F8 or Shift+F8 during boot *or* by interrupting the boot sequence three consecutive times, at which point the system will load recovery options automatically. It's easier than finding a disc or downloading the ISO on a separate computer just to access a menu that's already there.

While this is true, your method fails when the os is damaged and wont boot any mode. Disc is always best. If he can get the advanced boot menu then he can restore if not then he has to use a boot disc

 

[Seliph]

There's a way to access advanced startup from startup repair.
https://www.digitalcitizen.life/4-ways-boot-safe-mode-windows-10
Check method 6.

It will be booting Windows off the USB so you won't have any of your programs or drivers but you can still access the HDD to delete the AMD Overdrive files off it. But don't delete all the files, only delete the driver or main executable or whatever it is that's causing the BSOD, so the program can still be uninstalled normally afterwards to get rid of any leftovers. Better yet, rename the entire folder, reboot into the Windows install, rename it back then uninstall.
But I don't think you need to do this. The method I mentioned above should work and is cleaner.

So I know the file that's the problem, aoddriver.sys. When I get Windows live up and running I just have to rename only that file and then reboot from my hard drive like normal so I can then uninstall it?
Edit: got it up and running but my hard drive doesn't show up

 

[The Real Jdbye]

So I know the file that's the problem, aoddriver.sys. When I get Windows live up and running I just have to rename only that file and then reboot from my hard drive like normal so I can then uninstall it?
Edit: got it up and running but my hard drive doesn't show up

Maybe the live CD/USB you're using doesn't mount them by default. Check Disk Management if it shows up there and assign it a drive letter.
Or try advanced startup like I said.
Edit: Oh, didn't realize you said you tried it and it didn't work.
I guess you'll have to try one of the other methods. But for that you'll need a recovery disc or install disc.

 

[Seliph]

Maybe the live CD/USB you're using doesn't mount them by default. Check Disk Management if it shows up there and assign it a drive letter.
Or try advanced startup like I said.
Edit: Oh, didn't realize you said you tried it and it didn't work.
I guess you'll have to try one of the other methods. But for that you'll need a recovery disc or install disc.

I've tried advance startup... the hard drive won't show up in disk management :/

 

[Foxi4]

While this is true, your method fails when the os is damaged and wont boot any mode. Disc is always best. If he can get the advanced boot menu then he can restore if not then he has to use a boot disc

I'm pretty sure that Windows 10 has a restore partition specifically for that purpose, but you're right - if the drive wasn't co-operating at all, this would be the case. However, we do have boot, it just ends with a BSOD, so he should be able to use a restore point.

 

[Seliph]

I'm pretty sure that Windows 10 has a restore partition specifically for that purpose, but you're right - if the drive wasn't co-operating at all, this would be the case. However, we do have boot, it just ends with a BSOD, so he should be able to use a restore point.

I tried the restore point as well, the problem is that it asks me to specify the windows version I want to restore to when I click on it but I can't select the windows version I want to restore to.

 

[Foxi4]

I tried the restore point as well, the problem is that it asks me to specify the windows version I want to restore to when I click on it but I can't select the windows version I want to restore to.

Yup, sounds like a repair installation is in order. That, or a whole fresh installation, if possible. You should perform a fresh install every year or two anyways, otherwise the system gets bloated and stuff like this happens. What I'd suggest is downloading the latest Windows ISO from Digital River - it's legal and free if you have a Windows key. Once you do that, create a bootable stick and copy over the installation files, there are plenty of guides online on how to do that.

 

[Seliph]

Yup, sounds like a repair installation is in order. That, or a whole fresh installation, if possible. You should perform a fresh install every year or two anyways, otherwise the system gets bloated and stuff like this happens. What I'd suggest is downloading the latest Windows ISO from Digital River - it's legal and free if you have a Windows key. Once you do that, create a bootable stick and copy over the installation files, there are plenty of guides online on how to do that.

If perform a fresh install will I lose the data on my hard drive like games?

 

[Foxi4]

If perform a fresh install will I lose the data on my hard drive like games?

You won't lose most of your saved data, but you will lose any settings you might have and all of the actual installation logs from the registry, effectively requiring you to re-install everything. It's a pain, but you can recover from it. Treat it as a last resort if a repair installation won't do the trick.

 

[Seliph]

You won't lose most of your saved data, but you will lose any settings you might have and all of the actual installation logs from the registry, effectively requiring you to re-install everything. It's a pain, but you can recover from it. Treat it as a last resort if a repair installation won't do the trick.

Alright, thanks. I'll work on that tomorrow and see what happens.