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Windows 10 crashing, but not sure why.

In the last couple of days, Windows 10 fails to start when switching from OS X to Windows in Bootcamp. I recently installed the latest update to OS X El Capitan and Windows started fine from Bootcamp. After about 3-4 mins in Windows -- it was downloading and installing updates -- screen goes black, and then a screen pops up indicating "Attempting Automatic Repairs". Those automatic repairs failed. After several attempts to restart, I eventually got a "no bootable disk found" error.


So I decided to use Bootcamp Assistant to uninstall Windows and remove the partition, and then do a fresh partition and windows reinstall. Same thing happens. Windows installs fine, runs fine for 3-4 mins and then crashes.


I have no idea if this crash is due to a Microsoft issue involving updates, a conflict involving Bootcamp or Apple drivers, or something else. Anyone have ideas?

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.3), iMac 2015 21.5 4k Retina

Posted on Jan 28, 2016 5:42 PM

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Posted on Jan 28, 2016 9:32 PM

Can remove and re-install W10 and not connect to any network during the W10 installation? Once W10 is completely installed and BC drivers are in place, create a Windows System Restore point. Connect to the Internet and try Windows Update. If it behaves the same way, roll back to the Restore Point without connecting to the network, and disable Windows Automatic Updates. After Automatic Updates are disabled, connect to the network and test.

100 replies

Mar 6, 2016 2:50 AM in response to Headhunter06

Hi Headhunter06,


I experienced the exact same problem described by you and so many others here. I followed the steps of installing W10 through BCA without connecting to the Internet and turning off Auto update all together. After a couple of trials I managed to get a stable installation, so first of all thanks very much to you and others in this discussion for getting me this far.


THe unfortunate thing with this solution is that now you won't have any updates at all, which is not entirely satisfying to me. Searching the internet I came across a howto that tells you how to exclude a device from having driver updates on the basis of its hardware-id. It's done through the local group policy editor. Here's the link: http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/take-back-control-driver-updates-windows-10/


I did this and it seemed to work. To be sure of that I restored the first stable with the Winclone image I made of it and repeated the procedure and hey presto! It worked again. After turning back on the auto update the first updates started to download and install but for the Iris 6200 update it gave the glorious message: installation failed. Exactly what you want to see. I had to share this with you all and I hope it helps you too, at least untill MS closes this loophole. From what I read I get the eery feeling that they are on a zealous mission to take total control over our machines.


During this process I also found out that the iMac still works ok when you use the Microsoft basic video driver instead of the Intel driver. So if all else fails you could decide to go with that. I didn't test it any further but when after the first connectionless installation you go to the device manager, look foor the graphics adapter and choose the option to roll back to the previous drivers, it gives you this basic driver, the one Windows installs before you install the Apple WindowsSupport files. I guess you won't be bothered with updates after you've done that but that is just a hunch.


So I hope that this info will help you all. Have a nice sunday and happy computing!

Mar 7, 2016 8:06 PM in response to Loner T

Hello, sorry for being so computer illiterate, but I'm having trouble following this thread. Is there any way that someone who wouldn't mind terribly much could explain out how I should proceed once I'm at the point of crashing and restarting. I think I'm grasping that you should reinstall windows, but how would I redo the process, and what would I do differently?


I feel like this is a very annoying/stupid question but I've been trying to figure this out for a while so I thought I'd ask! 😉

Mar 8, 2016 3:51 AM in response to Klewis270

@Klewis270:

In my opinion reinstalling Windows is useless, as the problem is in Windows update, that pushes an Intel driver update which makes the system to crash.

See for the solution that worked on my system (iMac late 2015, iOS and Bootcamp/Win10) the post of Headhunter06 of 29 Jan. 3:36 pm (ref. my post of 5 Feb. 2:29 pm).

After implementing these instructions Windows update stays functional (so you will receive updates) but the Intel driver update is blocked, thus preventing your system to crash.

Good luck!

Mar 9, 2016 6:34 PM in response to Headhunter06

There might be some light at the end of the tunnel. One of the features in the change log of Windows 10 Build 14279 is "We fixed an issue where downloading certain drivers from Windows Update was causing some PCs to bluescreen."


I have not yet been able to get my hands on this build (I have Insider builds turned on but they take a while to propagate), but it's possible that this will fix our issue.

Mar 9, 2016 11:52 PM in response to Headhunter06

I had the same problem , windows 10 crashed about 2 weeks ago , Apple support where not much help . I eventually found this post , read through most posts and decided to reinstall bootcamp as per Bootcamp assistant , installing windows 10 without internet connection , installed bootcamp drivers . Then I reinstalled windows 10 within the bootcamp partition and only installed the windows drivers from bootcamp usb . The only disadvantage is getting back to El Capitan which requires restart and hold options key and selecting El Capitan ( late 2015 4k retina iMac ) Windows 10 has worked fine , installed all updates that have been received from windows automatic updates

Mar 10, 2016 1:50 PM in response to Headhunter06

I had this problem and these are the steps that I have put in place, the system is working reliably:


1.) Install windows 10 don’t install BC software

2.) Within OSX download windows support software from the action menu

3.) Copy this folder to a freshly formatted USB thumb drive.

4.) Reboot into windows, go to WindowsSupport>Bootcamp>Drivers and delete the Realtek folder completely

5.) Allow windows to restart immediately

6.) Do not connect to the internet at this point or windows will crash

7.) Go to control panel, administrative tools, then chose services.

8.) Scroll down to windows update and double click on it

9.) Select stop if possible. (under service status)

10.) Select the startup type dropdown and select disable.

11.) Click apply and exit out to the desktop

12.) Connect to the internet

13.) Start> Settings> Network & Internet> WIFI > Advanced options (may be down page)

14.) Make the connection metered.

15.) go to https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/kb/3073930

16.) Download the “show/hide update tool”

17.) Go through the tool and hide all of the intel drivers

18.) Go to control panel, administrative tools, then chose services.

19.) Scroll down to windows update and double click on it

20.) Select the startup type dropdown and select manual. (then click apply)

21.) Select Start (under service status)

22.) Go to start>settings>update and recovery

23.) Go to update and select check for updates

24.) If you see an intel update in the list of installing updates immediately go back to step 6!

25.) Allow windows to install all non intel updates

26.) Allow windows to restart after updates

27.) Go to apple software update and install any available updates

28.) Allow windows to restart after the install

29.) After restarting carry out steps 7 -11 ensuring windows update is stopped and disabled

30.) Create a system restore point (type system restore in start)

31.) Always keep the wifi connection metered, to install future updates follow from step 15 and repeat all steps

Apr 14, 2016 5:00 PM in response to Hans_NL

I had this problem but fixed it.


I struggled for the better part of one night and the next day with this problem. My scenario was a new iMac 21.5" with Retina display, purchased 12/15. This included the Intel Iris Pro 6200.


I tried all sorts of other things but each, in turn, failed and caused the system to crash anyway when that graphics driver was updated. That driver update by itself was causing the crash, then restore loop.


As is often the case, the solution was quite simple.


I had only connected via wifi, so when the restore option came up, I chose the other option, went to advanced, and then did a reset of the PC, removing everything; apps, etc. This removed the wifi settings, and since no ethernet cable was connected, it guaranteed that when Windows reinstall (reset) finished there was no internet access. I then just got the hardware ID from the graphics card but instead of just grabbing one of the device ID values, I grabbed all of them and then added them to the Group Policy setting described in that same article. This also served to disable other hardware items that were being updated, in turn that might be adding to the issue. Therefore I didn't need to turn off Windows Update, or even change any of the default settings, nor did I have to remove all the other Intel items from Windows update; just the device ID values mentioned.


I was then able to connect, run Windows update, and everything went smoothly. That display adapter works great, the system doesn't crash, and updates are keeping everything else in line. I rarely add comments to these types of forums, but this was such a relief to have solved that I wanted to say thanks and share my solution.

Apr 19, 2016 10:55 PM in response to Joey Schmoey

Thank you for the tips Joey!


I have the same model as you, bought more or less in the same period, so I tried to do just as you said.

Good news is Windows is not crashing anymore, and I can use it or reboot or switch between Windows and OS X without problems.


However, when entering a game, the FPS rate is really low, like 1 or 2 fps. And it's not because of graphics being too high, because I have tried in Assassin's Creed 3, and in Age of Empires 2 HD (just to be sure it was the graphics problem, and not the game).


In the Windows Update window, there is the "Intel Corporation driver update for Intel(R) Iris(TM) Pro Graphics 6200, and it gets an error when trying to install, maybe because of the setting you wrote, which I guess is good, because it prevents the crash.


I tried to re-download and re-install the Bootcamp support drivers and still no good.


Do you know what might be happening?

Any help would be appreciated!


Thanks in advance!

Apr 20, 2016 9:37 PM in response to jpnkira

Hi, just got it to work!


It happens I had installed the Bootcamp drivers after making the graphics display not update anymore, and so it seems it was not installing.


So I just disabled the rules for preventing updating temporarily, installed Bootcamp drivers (and now the Intel Graphics icons showed up in the desktop, as well as in the Device Manager), and then enabled the update preventing rules again.


And it's working! Up until now, no problems, no crash, updates running (except for the Intel one), and everything seems ok!


Thank you once again!

May 25, 2016 8:26 AM in response to Joey Schmoey

Joey - From what i read in the link you shared the group policy editor is only available in enterprise or pro versions. I am using windows 10 home edition trying to do a clean install via bootcamp and having the same issues. Boots to desktop, installs bootcamp driver and then goes into restart loop. Is the only option to disable windows update entirely???? Has this issue really not been fixed?

Windows 10 crashing, but not sure why.

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