Bad SSD?

[Haole Boy]

I'm trying to upgrade a SONY VAIO AIO model number SVT21213CXB from a very slow, possibly defective, Toshiba 500 GB spinner to a Crucial BX500 240 GB SSD. Downloaded the Acronis transfer software from the Crucial website, and ran it. It completed without error.

Installed SSD, system boots (quicky!) and runs fine for 2 - 5 minutes and then shuts off. No blue screen or any error indicator, it just turns itself off. Booted several times - same thing. Can't check event log for errors as it won't stay running long enough.

Removed the SSD and put it in my USB dock station connected to my bench machine. Chkdsk fixed a bunch of errors. sfc /scannow ran clean.

Put it back in the AIO, same issue.

Put the original HD back in, runs fine no problems (other than very slow). Put the SSD back in, shuts off after 2 - 5 minutes.

The original HD has Win 8.1 on it as does the cloned SSD. Since this wasn't working, I tried to install Win 10 1909 using a USB stick that has been used many times before without a problem. Part way through install, system turns itself off. ARRRRRGH!!!!!!

So, do I blame the SSD and return it? Is this particular machine not compatible with an SSD? Other suggestions?

Mahalo,

Harry Z

 

[AlexCa]

Never saw that happening... Maybe you have another spare SSD to test?

 

[Dave 1973]

You could try putting the suspect SSD back in and booting with a Windows PE on a USB. If it runs OK it would seem to

indicate a software issue. If it shuts down, it would seem to indicate a hardware issue with the SSD.

 

[Larry Sabo]

... or leave all drives out and boot a Win PE and run Prime95 and then Furmark. If it doesn't shut down after temps stabilize, I'd try a cloning to a new, different brand SSD.

 

[HFultzjr]

I've only had ONE SSD that gave me fits installing/cloning, etc.
Yeap it was that one!
Different brand drive, no issues.
Not worth the time to figure out.

 

[NviGate Systems]

If you have another SSD to try, try that, even if another brand.

The fact that it's powering off indicates the PSU might think it's being overload or you may have hit a firmware bug. If you can, you can maybe try powering the SSD using external PSU. If it still Powers off its likely a firmware glitch.

There are bios updates but it's a risk. You can read the errata and see if anything is listed about HDD or power updates. Some systems have power firmware that can be buggy and expect certain loads on certain rails. I had one Acer that would only stay powered on if it ran Windows. Any did based diagnosis would power off after a while.

 

[Haole Boy]

Thanx for all the replies. Tried another SSD, Gandalf's PE USB, and a Linux USB. All either failed to boot or the system turned itself off after a short time. I'm assuming there is some incompatability with firmware / hardware with newer technology (this is a Win 8.1 machine).

I've ordered a "spinner" drive and will see if that will work for the customer. Will update when it arrives.

Harry Z

 

[Sky-Knight]

Computer Bloke is correct, that's not a drive issue, that's a mainboard issue.

Sounds like the CPU cooler came unplugged while you were rooting around in there.

Defective drives cause crashes. Only electrical or thermal safeties being tripped cause an instant off. Given it's an older AIO, the thing might just needs cleaned too. I'll bet good money on the CPU cooler being clogged into next week.

Something is strange though because the spec sheet says the unit is equipped with an Intel i5-4200U... those will thermal throttle, it won't actually shutdown unless it's getting HOT, like CPU cooler not installed hot.

Considering how thin it is, that makes some sense... you might have to pull the entire CPU cooling system apart, clean it, and reset it with good thermal compound. If you go that far in, make darned sure there is no tape over the contact surface of the CPU cooler. So many machines in that age range went out with shipping tape in there... they've never worked right and they do this crap on the bench later.

 

[Markverhyden]

Since you're seeing the same problems when booting from a USB device it probably has nothing directly to do with the SSD or the drive interface, and it's certainly not a software problem. It's time to take a broader perspective and look for other things that change when you take the HDD out of the equation.

One possibility is that the original HDD was the slowest component in the system and that while Windows was spending much of its time waiting for the HDD to respond the CPU was doing less work and therefore running cooler. By removing that bottleneck you're now allowing the CPU to run at full speed, which gives it a chance to get hotter. That's completely consistent with the way the computer shuts down with no warning or BSOD.

If the machine runs for a few minutes with the SSD installed before switching itself off, can you spend those few minutes monitoring the CPU temperature? It's a quick, easy test and could be very informative.

Yes, but he said he booted from a couple of USB sticks, which are typically slower than molasses on a winter day, and had the same/similar symptoms. So I doubt it's stressing the chip set.

I'm guessing you've updated/reflashed the BIOS @Haole Boy ?

Have you done a search to see if that computer model has had boot issues with SSD's?

 

[Sky-Knight]

Yes, but he said he booted from a couple of USB sticks, which are typically slower than molasses on a winter day, and had the same/similar symptoms. So I doubt it's stressing the chip set.

I'm guessing you've updated/reflashed the BIOS @Haole Boy ?

Have you done a search to see if that computer model has had boot issues with SSD's?

You've got that mentally backwards, booting to USB doesn't mean operating an OS off the USB. Most live USBs create a RAM disk, copy the OS into that, and run from there.

If the SSD allowed the system to cook, RAM will do so even more not less!

 

[Haole Boy]

Thanx for all the feedback. Much appreciated.

I have a new spinner on order. We'll see what the machine does with that.

Harry Z

 

[Sky-Knight]

But that won't fix it...

 

[Haole Boy]

Yes, I understand what you're saying, but I ordered the drive before all you good folks came up with alternatives that I had not thought of. If I have free time before the spinner arrives, I might take a look at this a little further.