Ok.
I think I’ve fixed it. The issue was with a file called netwtw06.sys
Quick search sees loads of results pop up from October last year right up to last week in the windows support forums. It looks like an update corrupts that file somehow. That file being a key driver for Intel WiFi chips 🙁
What keyed me into it was that last night I tried the full nuclear option first on the SSD and then on my normal HDD, and both times I got the BSoD. So I went to bed pretty pissed off about it all as I thought it might be something further up the chain, like the mobo. This morning I decided to go again and realised the BSoD was happening immediately after Windows install asked me to enter a WiFi password.
I also noticed the above filename in tiny text in the error message, clocked the “net” bit and did a search; and found it was a driver.
So I told it I had no internet. And it installed fine on the HDD. I flattened again, installed on the suspected "fritzy’ SSD the same way and bingo! It worked fine. I’ve disabled the WiFi chip in device manager as I don’t trust it now.
Connected via ethernet right now and have a good usb WiFi dongle winging it’s way from Ming the Merciless’ online store ( Amazon I believe it’s called ).
I’ve gone through a full day of updates and restarts with no issues. Currently re downloading rfactor 2 and all my workshop subscriptions (a lot) and the SSD isn’t batting an eyelid. I’m obviously still a bit wary but I really think it was this feckin driver update that did for me.
There’s some things I don’t quite understand. Like why every so often it would let me boot back in to Windows; thankfully, so I could back up.
It was such a frustrating problem to try and solve; but bright side, I’ve been thinking about flattening the system for a while, I got my work backed up, and I’m getting a 1TB SSD that can go in a spare m.2 slot which I’m assured my laptop has. Fingers crossed…