Two Razer Blade Stealths stuck in boot loop

First and foremost, I have already put a ticket in with support. I wanted to reach out to the community to see if others are experiencing this issue to help me make up my mind about moving on to a different device.

I have two first-generation Razer Blade Stealths. This is the first RBS that Razer released, not the new one. Both of them have developed the EXACT same issue following the exact same process.

I am a software engineer who does some of my work from coffee shops, some from my home, and some from my office, so being able to hook the Stealth up to the Core or go work somewhere else with just the stealth was a great solution for me. However, I need my work devices to be reliable and having RMAd the Stealth in the past, I know that Razer cannot guarantee that data wont be wiped. Even though my code goes into hosted repositories, this always sets me back some.

Ok, with all of that out of the way, here is what happened. The story is exactly the same for BOTH Stealths that I have, though one of them went through this probably six months ago and the other went through it about an hour ago.

For months, the Stealth (UHD 512GB) was working fine connected to the Razer Core with an (ASUS STRIX) GTX1080 inside.

• Finished the work day and go to shutdown my Razer Blade Stealth.
• Windows needs to update on shutdown.
• Windows finishes update and shuts down.
• Next time I start up (the next day), Windows begins applying updates warning that the system may restart several times.
• System restarts during the update.
• No post or anything whatsoever appears on the screen though fans can be heard.
• Razer Blade Stealth turns off after 6 or 7 seconds.
• Razer Blade Stealth starts up again.
• No post or anything whatsoever appears on the screen though fans can be heard.
• Razer Blade Stealth turns off after 6 or 7 seconds
• Razer Blade Stealth starts up again.
• No post or anything whatsoever appears on the screen though fans can be heard.
• Razer Blade Stealth turns off after 6 or 7 seconds
• Etc.

I figure the Windows Update part of the equation HAS to be connected, I mean, I only go through the update process once every month or two and I shutdown and start up my computer 5 or 6 times a day EVERY day.

Looks similar to the issue described in this thread: https://insider.razerzone.com/index.php?threads/razer-blade-stealth-stuck-in-boot-loop.16992/

And this thread (thanks bmoconno!):
https://insider.razerzone.com/index.php?threads/new-razer-blade-stealth-help.19481/

...And this... clearly not alone here:
https://insider.razerzone.com/index.php?tags/reboot-loop/

Anyone have any thoughts or ideas... or rants about this not being a support forum?

Thanks everyone!

 

That's very interesting, I remember reading another thread about the same issue, unfortunately that thread didn't get anywhere either.

I'm running updates on my 1st Gen Blade Stealth right now to see if I can replicate the problem.

Do you have another motherboard or external enclosure that you can put the M.2 drive into to see what's going on with a stable system?

Or can you make a bootable Windows 10 Recovery USB to see if you can access the system?

Edit: My RBS is now fully updated, no luck in replicating the problem.

If you take the RBS out of the equation, there's about a million google results for Windows 10 continuously looping after an update and a multitude of solutions out there to fix the problem... just sayin'

 

Hey bmoconno, thanks for your reply!

I do not have another mobo or enclosure unfortunately and as opening the chassis could void the warranty, I'd rather save that for a last resort (ie when the warranty is expired in a few days). I have tried plugging in a usb recovery drive, however, as the system does not post, this accomplishes nothing.

It isn't Windows that is looping. Again, the system does not actually post. System unresponsive, nothing on the screen, shuts down and restarts after 6-7 seconds.

And I have updated Windows since I got the Stealth so it cleary is not EVERY Windows Update that causes this, though I really, really, really appreciate you trying this out for me on your own Stealth. You're a good person!

I'm going to go ahead and add the thread you referenced to the OP.

 

I still think it is Windows related, or at least not exclusive to RBS, so I do not think the support can help you too much in this situation.

CMOS clearing may help, but you need to open your laptop for that.

However, Razer has a keymacro to reset the bios, not sure if it works and is same for all RBS versions, but try this.

After turning the laptop on of course.

-del
-left arrow (1x)
-down arrow (4x)
-enter (2x)
-arrow up (4x)
-enter (2x)

Edit - found the topic where we discussed it - https://insider.razerzone.com/index...tern-to-reset-bios-on-razer-blade-2016.16983/

 

Obviously. I hadn't used my Blade Stealth in about 8 months, I was hoping to possibly catch whichever update might have messed up your system. Unfortunately, I ended up getting one big cumulative update.

That's unfortunate, and without being able to go in to remove the battery you can't clear the CMOS to see if that'll have any affect.

These are just the keystrokes to press to reset the BIOS to defaults if you can't see the screen.

 

Exactly, it is possible that windows update messed with some settings.
Besides it's not hard to give it a shot, when you do not have better ideas

 

The system doesn't post, so he can't access the BIOS.

 

He doesn't need access to BIOS, the whole point of making a long and painful key press reset is to use it when all else fails .

 

Thanks PlatinumC, I'll give that a shot as soon as I get home!

Bmoconno, I can't see anything on the screen, but I can see my keyboard hehe. Don't think I need to be able to see the screen to reset the bios if this does what I think it does. Worth trying. Worst that can happen is... nothing at all.

 

GL, and keep us posted either way.

 

I guess, but usually when a system I get can't post I can't access the BIOS either (not just not see it, but actually can't access it).

The keystrokes listed above don'r get you where you need to be, check the last post of that thread for the correct order of strokes:

The original set just takes you to Save BIOS then confirm, then back up to Save & Exit

 

OH, now I get the confusion.

It's just what you need to do to reset bios from bios, I thought it's actually buttons for resetting it .. You know like on phones/mp3 players, press power and volume for system recovery, etc kind of thing.
My bad, but @OP, still worth a shot I guess.

 

Hey guys, just gave it a shot, no luck as far as I can tell. I made a video of me pressing buttons so you can tell me if my speed is off or something haha.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6jb0dew2c2sadqq/BiosNotResetting.MOV?dl=0

 

As I said, my misunderstanding, thought it's a direct reset thing, like removing CMOS battery.
Luckily I am the kind of person, who does not fret about warranty much, so I would just open it, and fix it or at least get my data.

 

Me too!

 

I think this may be the cause to your problem:
https://insider.razerzone.com/index.php?threads/razer-blade-stealth-boot-loop-solved.19895/