Windows 7 Still freezing / locking up

[anon5123]

So even after getting a brand new SSD, it seems that my Windows 7 PC is still freezing every 3-4 days. Same kind of lockup; screen image frozen, no response from mouse/keyboard, no response when pinging computer, etc.

If the hard drive isn't the problem, and the RAM isn't the problem(checked with Memtest), then what could be causing these weird freezes?

[Jimmus]

Try verifying your Windows files. Open up the command prompt in elevated mode (Search for cmd.exe, right click on it, open as admin) and run "sfc /scannow" without the quotes.

[anon5123]

Well, it's a brand new Windows installation, I haven't really done a whole lot to it. Sites say that this "sfc /scannow" command will reset changes to Windows though; what exactly does it reset?

[Jimmus]

It goes through all of the Windows files, checking for any corruptions or changes made to them. It also repairs them "sometimes" if they can be made while windows is running. If they can't, they'll save a log file, at which point you should run "chkdsk /f" with the command prompt and reboot the computer.

- - - Updated - - -

Alternatively, if you'd like, you can try downloading and running this tool from Tweaking, the Windows All-In-One repair.

http://www.tweaking.com/content/page/windows_repair_all_in_one.html

[Puupi]

I'm not a specialist, but that sounds like a hardware issue especially if you have a fresh Windows install on a new hard drive.

Does your computer restore from the freeze or do you have to reboot? If it restores after some time, I would say the issue might be with your graphics card. If it doesn't, it still might be a graphics card issue. Other possibilities are RAM and motherboard issues. Those usually crash the whole computer (and usually with a blue screen) forcing you to reboot.

[anon5123]

It goes through all of the Windows files, checking for any corruptions or changes made to them. It also repairs them "sometimes" if they can be made while windows is running. If they can't, they'll save a log file, at which point you should run "chkdsk /f" with the command prompt and reboot the computer.

Well, it didn't seem to find any problems:

Does your computer restore from the freeze or do you have to reboot?

Nope, it just completely freezes and I'm forced to hold the power button and shut it off.

Other possibilities are RAM and motherboard issues. Those usually crash the whole computer (and usually with a blue screen) forcing you to reboot.

Well like I said, I used Memtest to check the RAM, and it didn't find any errors. But I don't get any BSOD's, just a freeze/lockup that forces me to do a hard shutdown.

[zaleon]

Is it running for 3-4 days? It could be an overheating problem that just takes a while to develop. Are there any errors or warnings in the event log just before it locks up? I've also seen some defective USB devices cause weird things like that to happen, but they are difficult to troubleshoot without just removing the device for a while and see if it reoccurs.

[anon5123]

Is it running for 3-4 days? It could be an overheating problem that just takes a while to develop.

Nah, I shut it down every night. Heat doesn't seem to be an issue though, I dust the whole thing out every few months(2-3) and even running high-end games, the GPU never really goes above 85C, and CPU cores never really go above 60-65C. The freezes happen when I'm not really doing much, just running Chrome/Skype/Thunderbird.

Are there any errors or warnings in the event log just before it locks up?

There are some errors, but never anything close to the time of the freeze.

I've also seen some defective USB devices cause weird things like that to happen, but they are difficult to troubleshoot without just removing the device for a while and see if it reoccurs.

Not sure. My USB devices are keyboard, mouse, speakers, Bluetooth dongle, and external HDD. It's not the Bluetooth dongle; I tried taking it out, and a couple days later, I still got a freeze. Not sure if it's the external HDD, because I've had it for a little over a year now, but the freezes just started happening a couple months ago.

It might be the keyboard, because it's a Razer Blackwidow, and thus it's got all kinds of macro crap. I'll try unplugging it and see if the freezes persist. (My normal keyboard is a Bluetooth keyboard; I only have the Blackwidow plugged in for getting into BIOS menus and such because the bluetooth keyboard does not turn on until I get into Windows)

[Steve the Sloth]

What type of CPU/Heatsink are you running? Download HW Monitor from CPUID and track your temps, if your core temps on the CPU progressively climb while idle in Windows, you have either a heatsink issue or lack of thermal paste which isn't allowing for proper dispersion. With a stock heatsink, you should be roughly between 45-60 degrees celsius while gaming (60 being a little dangerous).

[Javelin3o4]

Check Event Viewer to see if there are a specific reoccuring error in the logs.

[Vurdah]

So even after getting a brand new SSD, it seems that my Windows 7 PC is still freezing every 3-4 days. Same kind of lockup; screen image frozen, no response from mouse/keyboard, no response when pinging computer, etc.

If the hard drive isn't the problem, and the RAM isn't the problem(checked with Memtest), then what could be causing these weird freezes?

Do you have an Nvidia GPU? If so uninstall the latest drivers and use a pre R331 driver. I have an EVGA GTX560 SC and when I use any of the R331 drivers my pc locks up at random. Sometimes every other day and sometimes multiple times a day. So now I'm using the 314.22 driver and I haven't had any issues in over two months. Try using your Event Viewer and look for any other possible problems if you try my solution and it does not work. Best of luck.

[anon5123]

What type of CPU/Heatsink are you running? Download HW Monitor from CPUID and track your temps, if your core temps on the CPU progressively climb while idle in Windows, you have either a heatsink issue or lack of thermal paste which isn't allowing for proper dispersion. With a stock heatsink, you should be roughly between 45-60 degrees celsius while gaming (60 being a little dangerous).

Like I said, it's not a heat problem. If it was a heat problem, wouldn't I be getting freezes all the time, instead of every 3-4 days?

Do you have an Nvidia GPU? If so uninstall the latest drivers and use a pre R331 driver. I have an EVGA GTX560 SC and when I use any of the R331 drivers my pc locks up at random. Sometimes every other day and sometimes multiple times a day. So now I'm using the 314.22 driver and I haven't had any issues in over two months. Try using your Event Viewer and look for any other possible problems if you try my solution and it does not work. Best of luck.

How exactly do I go about installing an older driver?

Check Event Viewer to see if there are a specific reoccuring error in the logs.

This is the only error that showed up between boot up and the freeze, yesterday:



I did find a thread just now about someone else having similar issues with their computer locking up, with this same Event Log error:

https://forums.geforce.com/default/t...r-nvstreamsvc/

I'm going to try disabling the "NVidia Streamer Service" service and see if that helps. From what I read, all it does is assist in streaming games to their "SHIELD" handheld...which I don't even have. :P

- - - Updated - - -

Okay, it doesn't seem to be the nVidia Streamer Service because I just got another freeze. This is the only Event Log item that shows up between boot and the freeze:

http://i.imgur.com/BDdTJih.png

But notice that it was roughly 4 hours before the freeze.

[Stevecow]

if the older video driver doesnt work try running onboard graphics if your processor supports it and see how it goes.

[anon5123]

Installing the 314.22 graphics drivers now...hopefully that'll fix it. This is getting rather annoying.

[Deleted]

If you used the driver crap from Windows Update then thats probably the issue.

Did you also install the platform update for Win 7 in the "optional" updates?

[anon5123]

If you used the driver crap from Windows Update then thats probably the issue.

Nah, I always get GPU drivers directly from nVidia.

Did you also install the platform update for Win 7 in the "optional" updates?

No, which one? There's like 20 "Update for Windows 7" updates under Optional Updates.

[Deleted]

it may be that there are too many programs running on your pc. to disable programs on startup go to the startup tab on the msconfig menu and uncheck the programs you don't need, then reboot

[rjparker1]

So even after getting a brand new SSD, it seems that my Windows 7 PC is still freezing every 3-4 days. Same kind of lockup; screen image frozen, no response from mouse/keyboard, no response when pinging computer, etc.

If the hard drive isn't the problem, and the RAM isn't the problem(checked with Memtest), then what could be causing these weird freezes?

it's one of 2 things drivers or hardware (or maybe both). you replaced the hard drive, so that's fine. Reset your BIOS to defaults and make sure the BIOS has latest firmware. Then see what happens.

Also did you set your SSD drive to use AHCI mode?

[Faithh]

That nobody adviced you to update the SSD firmware surprises me. What's your SSD/motherboard? Just asking the motherboard just to find out if you use any 3rd party sata controllers because they tend to have lots of issues.

[anon5123]

This thread is old, guys. Someone decided to bump it for whatever reason, even though it was on like, the 6th or 7th page...haven't had any freezes in almost a month.