Ashampoo Driver Updater just bricked my laptop

from Stardock Forums

I purchased this Ashampoo Driver Updater software via you last year and recently installed it on an MSI GS75 laptop.

I ran a scan... it replaced 14 drivers... rebooted... and now the PC is a brick!

BSoD is all I get; no Windows repairs have worked so far. Now I am looking at a very lengthy complete wipe and re-build of this PC thanks to this - yes I'll say it - flawed and pathetic piece of software.

I have submitted a support ticket to Ashampoo, since I know it is their issue. But I strongly suggest you reconsider your third party promotions of their stuff, when it leads to utter failures like this one. It reflects badly on YOU as well. And I also have a lot of your software... it actually WORKS.

3,919 views 3 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Update:
After hearing nothing from Ashampoo Support for over a day, I was forced to do a Windows Restore and totally rebuild the OS on my bricked PC.

To be clear, for people reading this later and thinking I had other options:

  • I exhausted every option in the BSoD Troubleshooting area before resorting to Windows Restore
  • I made every effort to get to Windows Safe Mode to try to use Ashampoo's Driver Backup feature; Safe Mode refused to launch
  • I suspect (but cannot prove) some driver they updated messed with access to the boot device. At least I know I saw a warning along the way that Windows was unable to access the boot device, and thus NO level of Windows could launch. Lost boot device = death.
  • As far as I could find, there is no CLI (DOS) command structure for their Updater, so I had no options there (assuming I could even get to DOS).

So *BUYERS BEWARE*:
Ashampoo Driver Updater is a great concept, but it's execution is NOT FLAWLESS. Admittedly, I have used it successfully in the past on other machines, but at least on my latest PC, it totally bricked it beyond repair short of a complete Windows Restore.

Stardock:
I would appreciate it if you can REMOVE my email from you periodic sales offerings involving any software from Ashampoo. I will never buy another item from them, and the fact you offer this flawed third party software, IMHO, tarnishes your own reputation. Thanks.

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

I feel your pain, Remus - I had a similar problem a while back with a different driver updater program; they're more trouble than they're worth.

That made me get a full backup solution - Macrium Reflect to a local hard drive, and Backblaze Personal to the cloud. Worth every penny in peace of mind. With Reflect, you can restore the whole system or browse any backup to replace missing or corrupted files. Other backup software is available  ;)

Galactic Civilizations III
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Excellent tips! Thx, davelorde, for the ideas. I'll look into them!