Dell VOSTRO 5471 BSD "CRITICAL PROCESS DIED"

Hello,

On Tuesday morning my trusted Dell Vostro 5471 started entering BSD boot loop indefinably. The error message is "critical process died".
I tried following guides online, created a boot USB with Win11 and tried to fix the boot. I tried system restore, I tried to remove latest windows updates from the troubleshoot menu (both options fails and suggested I reset the computer), I also tried various command prompt commands such as SFC and CHKFS and they were OK. Also, the Dell hardware diagnostics is OK.

I did manage to enter safe mode with networking (that's how I manage to post this). But alas, I cannot update drivers in safe mode using Dell assistant (since I cannot install new software. I also tried to add the registry key to allow me to install but the command failed).
The safe mode did allow me to backup all my personal files and documents. However, I prefer not to reinstall my OS since I'll need to install all of the software again, and reset my preferences.

The log collector zip is attached to this post.

I hope that maybe you can help.

Some of the steps that you had performed may be repeated.


Find a camera or smartphone camera > take pictures > post images or share links


Make sure that images or share links are posted for all steps / tests.





1) While in safe mode with networking run Tuneup plus > post a share link







2) Uninstall all non-Microsoft AV and firewall software using the applicable uninstall tools






3) Make sure that Microsoft defender is on



4) Run Sea Tools Long generic test (all drives) > post images or share links

https://www.seagate.com/content/dam...ds/seatools/_shared/downloads/100869623_B.pdf

https://www.seagate.com/content/dam...shared/downloads/SeaToolsWindowsInstaller.exe




5) Run HD Tune (all drives) (run an old version so that it produces results for the whole drive)
HD Tune website
a) Health
b) Full error scan




6) Open administrative command prompt and copy and paste:

chkdsk /b /v

Run these chkdsk switches on all drives using the syntax: chkdsk /b /v C: or chkdsk /b /v D: or chkdsk /b /v E: etc.

Make sure that the windows drive runs overnight while sleeping.

C:\WINDOWS\system32>chkdsk /b /v
The type of the file system is NTFS.
Cannot lock current drive.
Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another
process. Would you like to schedule this volume to be
checked the next time the system restarts? (Y/N)

Type: Y

Reboot as needed.




7) After completing all chkdsk /b /v run:

https://www.tenforums.com/attachmen...-files-use-bsod-debugging-chkdskfromevent.bat

Batch files for use in BSOD debugging - Windows 10 Help Forums

Batch files for use in BSOD debugging - Windows 10 Help Forums





Make sure that this runs only after the prior three steps for each drive.



8) Run HD Sentinel (all drives) > post images or share links (do not run until posting results for each steps 5, 6, 7 and 8)

Hard Disk Sentinel - HDD health and temperature monitoring
a) Overview
b) Temperature
c) SMART



9) Please make sure that all of the above steps are performed in sequence

These steps / tests can be performed overnight while sleeping:

a) Sea Tools Long generic test
b) HD Tune Full error scan
c) Chkdsk /b /v






C:

Thanks for your detailed reply and help.
The comment is very detailed, it was even a little scary.

Before attempting it, I tried to follow the steps of Chris Titus Tech's video AND IT FIXED MY BOOT!!!

(I ran bootsect.exe /nt60 /force only the the volumes with the SYSTEM and the ~500MB, and not everything like he recommends).

After finishing I also followed his suggestion and added registry backup. And followed it with a restore point. I also removed both AVAST and McAfee from the system as per your recommendation.

Thanks again, I hope your detailed help would help other people in trouble.