...that Windows 10 is utter and complete shite. Seriously, I believe the latest updates have rendered not one, but two high-end systems completely useless.
WTF!?
That sucks, dude. One of the big reasons I've stayed away from Win 10 is the mandatory updates.
What are the symptoms, JH?
Alright...so the problem may not be entirely the fault of windows. It could be a very severe problem caused by webroot, my antivirus software. Windows will not boot and it's telling me that the problem is the result of a file WRkrn.sys, which is allegedly missing or corrupt. This is a webroot driver that apparently has been known to cause this problem on windows machines under certain circumstances. The fix is allegedly to remove or replace the file. Problem is, I cannot get windows to load to access the file. I can't even get safe mode or a command prompt. So, I'm making a recovery drive on a usb. If I can't get it sorted, it will be off to geek squad. This issue may be over my limited tech capabilities and I'll be damned if I'm goi;to buy ANOTHER system.
Wow. Not even the recovery usb could help me. It did get me into the troubleshooting menu, but it won't restore the system. I suspect it is because the recovery drive comes from a win10pro system and I'm trying to restore a win10home system. It will get me to a command prompt but I can't seem to do much with it.
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on March 11, 2018, 12:01:17 AM
It will get me to a command prompt but I can't seem to do much with it.
If you can get that far, can't you just delete or rename the file and see if that allows your PC to boot? From what I've found this morning it seems like the offending file is:
C:\Windows\System32\drivers\WRkrn.sys
So at the command prompt just rename it to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\WRkrn.bak or something like that, then give booting a try.
I've tried that, but the recovery usb gives me x:\windows\system32 and whenever I try to rename or delete the file, it gives me a path not specified or does not exist error message.
Try booting from a linux distro disk or stick and then using it's file manager to rename the bad file. You can make a bootable Ubutu disk or stick here:
https://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/1710
After making the change you can reboot back into Win10
I read about Ubuntu as a potential path to a fix but I've never heard of it and it seemed very complicated. Linux? Yeah right.
You don't install the Linux distro, you just create the boot disk. Then:
[1] boot from it
[2] go into your Windows file folders using a fairly familiar looking file manager (much like Windows)
[3] deal with the offending file
[4] take out the boot disk
[5] reboot into Windows again
After that you can throw the disk away, save it for future issues, use it for a coaster, hang it from your birdfeeder to confuse the squirrels, etc, etc.
Yes, exactly what Staggerwing said. A Linux live disk was going to be my next suggestion - it really should work. It can access Windows filesystems just fine, and all you need to do is rename or delete that file.
Wow. So this is seriously FUBAR.
I went back to ubuntu and successfully created a bootable USB drive. I'm able to get the computer running with ubuntu and search the file system in the windows/system32/drivers folder. The supposedly corrupt file that I need to rename or delete isn't even fucking there!?!?!
On the chance that it is missing, I tried bringing it over from a working system. I was able to get the file into the proper directory by renaming it first. However, after moving the file over, when I shut down and rebooted, the new file was gone??? WTF? I'm all out of options at this point I think. All sources I have found on the internet state that the WRkrn.sys error is a webroot error requiring that file to be deleted or renamed. How am I supposed to do that if the stupid file isn't even there? I tried to check if it was hidden, but there didn't seem to be any obvious way to hide or unhide files in ubuntu. What about uninstalling webroot from ubuntu? Is this a possibility?
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on March 11, 2018, 08:15:52 AM
What about uninstalling webroot from ubuntu? Is this a possibility?
You could try to remove the webroot directory but that wouldn't take care of removing it from the Windows registry. It might still work but then you'd need to clean up the registry later on. It might also bork things a bit more.
I'm wondering if this is not some kind of virus causing the file to disappear.
I just don't know. All I do know is that I'm a broken man without my main gaming rig. First world problems...lol
Can't you just plop in your backup drive? :-"
Quote from: bbmike on March 11, 2018, 08:49:16 AM
Can't you just plop in your backup drive? :-"
"Shieldwall!!"
Backup drive? I have two HDs in the system. An SSD with the OS and SATA with 2TB. I can't boot from the SATA, right?
No files would have been hidden from Ubuntu. If it isn't there, it isn't there - at least, not where you're looking. Are you 100% positive this file is the source of the error? Can you post a photo of the screen that says it is?
I'm not 100% sure of anything to be honest. I'm running a system restore now. We'll see what happens.
For full disclosure, something was really wrong yesterday. The SSD was running at 100% activity so everything else was just chugging along. As a possible solution I ran CCleaner and cleaned the registry...obviously, it didn't help. :-[
Hmm...it is starting to sound more like a virus now then, I'm afraid. You're going to have to start thinking about restore options if the Windows system restore doesn't help. I'll keep looking but everything I've seen points to WRkrn.sys being found only in that drivers directory.
If it's a virus then it could be seeding itself from either HD. You'll want to redo both if possible. IIRC, Steam has some kind of cloud savegame option so you may be able to get your saved games back after reinstalling Steam. Not sure about other games/platforms such as Elite, RoF, and DCS though.
I'm pretty sure GOG Galaxy has cloud saves too. Beyond that, purge everything with purifying fire. How does a machine come down with such an ornery beast of a virus? I've never heard of anything like this. I'm afraid.
It will be almost impossible to trace where he picked it up (if it even is a virus that's caused the problem), but it's been a long-established practise for viruses and other malware to carry a component that attacks antivirus products it detects.
Unfortunately, malware these days is so advanced that if you get infected, the general advice is to reformat. :/
Damn.
:o
I'm not convinced this is a virus. Looking around, issues with WRkrn.sys are common. JH, it's possible you aren't looking in the right location for the file. Before you nuke the drive, I'd try to get someone else to look at it for you. Or try contacting Webroot support - https://www.webrootanywhere.com/servicewelcome.asp
Thanks. I've done both, but it's Sunday and all, so not expecting to hear anything until tomorrow at earliest. I actually left the state to get as far away from the computer as possible, otherwise, it would drive me crazy. LoL.
Quote from: mirth on March 11, 2018, 12:19:53 PM
I'm not convinced this is a virus. Looking around, issues with WRkrn.sys are common.
Correct, but in every issue I found the user had the file on their disk. Jarhead says he can't see it on his. So unless he wasn't looking in the right place (you did look in C:\Windows\System32\
drivers\ right Jarhead? Because you omitted the drivers directory when you reported back) I think a fresh copy of that file has a good chance of fixing the problem.
All the public posts by Webroot support I've seen have involved reinstalling the software, which Jarhead obviously can't do.
Quote from: Huw the Poo on March 11, 2018, 02:56:50 PM
Quote from: mirth on March 11, 2018, 12:19:53 PM
I'm not convinced this is a virus. Looking around, issues with WRkrn.sys are common.
Correct, but in every issue I found the user had the file on their disk. Jarhead says he can't see it on his. So unless he wasn't looking in the right place (you did look in C:\Windows\System32\drivers\ right Jarhead? Because you omitted the drivers directory when you reported back) I think a fresh copy of that file has a good chance of fixing the problem.
All the public posts by Webroot support I've seen have involved reinstalling the software, which Jarhead obviously can't do.
I understand all that, but I'd look for some additional help before I wiped the drive.
It's a moot point because so far I've been unable to format, restore or reset the computer. All efforts at doing so have failed. I'm starting to think that maybe the hard drive is just dying.
I definitely looked for the file in the correct place. Totally not there. So bizarre.
Perhaps the issue is PURE EVIL.
I've made "some" progress. As it turns out, I was successful in bringing the WRkrn.sys file over to the system through Ubuntu. I had renamed the file as some places on the web had suggested. However, by restoring it to its original name, I am now able to get past the blue screen. I can load the Bios menu, but it still doesn't want to boot normally and its obvious that something is still severely nerfed. I think at this point I'm really going to make an effort to let it rest until a professional can look at it. I'm at least a little more confident that some of the data can be saved by someone who knows what they are doing.
I brought both of my ailing rigs into a local professional. My main gaming rig was unsalvageable. Had to wipe the C: drive and reload windows. It's up and running now. I'm hesitant to declare it totally cured since it's performance is still a little suspect, but it could be loading drivers and stuff still. I will say that steam is an extraordinary piece of software. I had steam installed on the C: with my library installed on my E: drive. Was certain I'd have to reinstall everything. Well, reinstalled steam on the C: drive, directed it to my library and it detected everything. I hope I don't need to install all of my non steam stuff though...we'll see.
I left the other rig with the guy overnight. We'll see what he can accomplish.
Although I was able to recover the main system, I'm left feeling uncomfortable over not knowing what caused the corruption. I hope it doesn't happen again.
The main rig is still running, but I'm still having some issues with it. Some routine activities take much longer than they should and the SSD just seems to be working overtime. I also have periodic lock-ups that cause a hard reboot. I'm thinking I'm just going to swap the drive, even though I've already gone through the hassle of reinstalling much of what I lost from the drive wipe.
The back-up rig is also up and running, but the issue on that system was definitely a failure of the SATA drive. I had to replace it with a new one and I added an SSD for the boot drive. I haven't picked it up yet, but the tech says its running very fast.
So, I've been through a lot with these rigs over the last few weeks but I think I see the light at the end of the tunnel. I'm glad I have this local tech on speed dial now. Now when i have a catastrophic failure, I will call him before buying a new system.
Good news mate!
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on March 15, 2018, 08:38:16 AM
The main rig is still running, but I'm still having some issues with it. Some routine activities take much longer than they should and the SSD just seems to be working overtime. I also have periodic lock-ups that cause a hard reboot. I'm thinking I'm just going to swap the drive, even though I've already gone through the hassle of reinstalling much of what I lost from the drive wipe....
I have a couple of thoughts. First of all, if your C: drive on your main rig wasn't reformatted before the operating system was reinstalled, there might have been something nasty left on it. Also if the drive wasn't reformatted, I am wondering if the DRM from one or more of the games you installed might be the culprit(s); either alone or in conjunction with your Anti-virus software. Some DRM isn't removed even if the game that required it has been uninstalled. :-\
Interesting....I would think it was reformatted because it wiped everything on the C:, not just the windows install. I'll ask the tech.
In searching google, it's not an unheard of issue with windows.
Also, steam is sometimes working peculiarly...downloads such as game updates will cause significant activity and large quantities of data appear to be downloading without there being any indication that it is related to a game.
FINALLY have my main machine repaired. Although we initially did a wipe of the C: and reinstalled windows, it was clear early on that this did not solve the problem. In looking deeper, there were many bad blocks on the drive, so it was obvious that the SSD was simply dying. I had to replace it. Now, the machine is running like new. I'm very happy, but its going to take awhile to get everything loaded and installed the way I like. Although the data drive I use is still good, most of the registries were on the c: so much of what I had installed no longer functions.
With respect to the other machine that had crashed, that one is now up and running like new too. I picked up a KVM switch so I can run it and the replacement rig I had purchased together off of the same monitor, keyboard and mouse. Its a pretty sick set up now. I've got three pretty powerful rigs up and running.
How old was the SSD? I know that they are limited by the number of read/write cycles. I really do need to make backups of all my drives.
Quote from: bbmike on March 19, 2018, 11:11:13 AM
How old was the SSD? I know that they are limited by the number of read/write cycles. I really do need to make backups of all my drives.
it wasn't that old. I'm a little surprised it died so quickly. Perhaps 2-1/2 to 3 years old, at most. The annoying thing is that SSD scanning tools indicated it was a healthy drive. Clearly, it was not.
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on March 16, 2018, 06:18:23 AM
Also, steam is sometimes working peculiarly...downloads such as game updates will cause significant activity and large quantities of data appear to be downloading without there being any indication that it is related to a game.
I've seen that recently myself on my rig, although mousing over the Steam icon on the system tray reveals that it's updating, say, ARK for example. But it doesn't list on the download screen per se -- it shows activity across the top tracker, but not why the activity.
This suggests something has gone wrong in the Steam coding. I don't recall seeing an update for the Steam program itself recently before this started happening, tho.
Sometimes disk activity continues for a while after Steam finished downloading something. I believe it's normal - probably unpacking files or something. It happens on Linux too.
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on March 19, 2018, 11:21:56 AM
Quote from: bbmike on March 19, 2018, 11:11:13 AM
How old was the SSD? I know that they are limited by the number of read/write cycles. I really do need to make backups of all my drives.
it wasn't that old. I'm a little surprised it died so quickly. Perhaps 2-1/2 to 3 years old, at most. The annoying thing is that SSD scanning tools indicated it was a healthy drive. Clearly, it was not.
Has your system (Win10) been auto-defragging the SSD? Or have you been doing that manually on a regular basis?
That will quickly generate bad sectors on an SSD. I defrag mine once a year on general principle (since things do get scattered around on it naturally, and I can't bring myself to trust that the system architecture will safely access the data at the same efficiency when it's so scattered), but I'm leery about doing even that.
This is also why for my main game/data storage I use a proper disc HD: I can dang well defrag it every month or so and not worry. On a very high octane game or two I'll install it on my SSD with the expectation I'll delete it relatively soon -- I've got KC:Deliverance on it now, and I think something else.
Quote from: Huw the Poo on March 19, 2018, 11:34:40 AM
Sometimes disk activity continues for a while after Steam finished downloading something. I believe it's normal - probably unpacking files or something. It happens on Linux too.
True, but when it's unpacking or pre-allocating, the Steam dl list says what it's doing, and (to some extent) what it
has done (i.e. it lists that it's unpacking "X" which implies it has finished downloading "X").
This new activity I'm talking about doesn't show up as listed on the Steam dl window at all. The activity tracker across the top will show it, but it won't
list what it's doing. I only know it's downloading an update for a game because of the mouseover on the systemtray icon. (...or, heck, that's what it
says it's doing, which might be a lie. So I don't know for sure.)
Quote from: JasonPratt on March 19, 2018, 11:36:14 AM
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on March 19, 2018, 11:21:56 AM
Quote from: bbmike on March 19, 2018, 11:11:13 AM
How old was the SSD? I know that they are limited by the number of read/write cycles. I really do need to make backups of all my drives.
it wasn't that old. I'm a little surprised it died so quickly. Perhaps 2-1/2 to 3 years old, at most. The annoying thing is that SSD scanning tools indicated it was a healthy drive. Clearly, it was not.
Has your system (Win10) been auto-defragging the SSD? Or have you been doing that manually on a regular basis?
That will quickly generate bad sectors on an SSD. I defrag mine once a year on general principle (since things do get scattered around on it naturally, and I can't bring myself to trust that the system architecture will safely access the data at the same efficiency when it's so scattered), but I'm leery about doing even that.
This is also why for my main game/data storage I use a proper disc HD: I can dang well defrag it every month or so and not worry. On a very high octane game or two I'll install it on my SSD with the expectation I'll delete it relatively soon -- I've got KC:Deliverance on it now, and I think something else.
Interesting post. I'm glad you mentioned something because I believe my system is set to auto defrag and it does do it fairly regularly. I will remedy this immediately.
I'm not sure you need to worry about it too much
http://www.hanselman.com/blog/TheRealAndCompleteStoryDoesWindowsDefragmentYourSSD.aspx
^Alright, but honestly...I'm not a big fan of windows doing anything on its own, without my express say so.
You're running Win10, right? There's lots of things Windows is doing on it's own in Win10 :P
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on March 19, 2018, 01:11:23 PM
^Alright, but honestly...I'm not a big fan of windows doing anything on its own, without my express say so.
Good luck with that. One of my biggest beefs with Win 10 is that it will reset configuration setting as part of Windows Update. A good example is I always disable the camera on my laptops unless I really need it. I did that on my work Win 10 rig and lo and behold, after a Win 10 update, the camera was back to enabled.
I was not amused.
Quote from: mirth on March 19, 2018, 01:18:37 PM
You're running Win10, right? There's lots of things Windows is doing on it's own in Win10 :P
Yes...but I've shut most of that down. At least, those things that it lets you shut down.
Well, the defrag should only be happening once a month (and for what sounds like a good reason).
I don't like a lot of things MS has done since Win7, but they have become much better about routine maintenance stuff.
Quote from: JasonPratt on March 19, 2018, 11:38:15 AM
This new activity I'm talking about doesn't show up as listed on the Steam dl window at all. The activity tracker across the top will show it, but it won't list what it's doing. I only know it's downloading an update for a game because of the mouseover on the systemtray icon. (...or, heck, that's what it says it's doing, which might be a lie. So I don't know for sure.)
Fair enough if you're not used to this on Windows, but honestly, this is the way it has always been on Linux. I doubt it's anything untoward.
I have heard that every boat pulls air different and that may explain your observation.
What blade length you running fl cracker?
^Spam...but really odd spam.
Good bye.
Quote from: Gusington on December 21, 2018, 06:21:00 PM
^Spam...but really odd spam.
Good bye.
Correction...pretty hilarious spam. That's the way to do it.
Don't those guys have elections to hack or something other than bother honest people? :idiot2:
I never hacked an election!
Quote from: Gusington on December 21, 2018, 06:54:10 PM
I never hacked an election!
Have you ever elected a Hack?
Yes :-[