That 'Old' pc FREEZE issue - again


  1. Posts : 25
    Win 10 pro
       #1

    That 'Old' pc FREEZE issue - again


    In a nutshell here is the problem I am experiencing:

    I purchased a new quad-core top end pc running W7 home Premium from a computer outlet approx. 3 months ago (full spec below). I have been extremely happy with everything about this setup until approx. 5 weeks ago when I noticed that during normal operation the pc seemed to ‘freeze up’.

    When I say ‘freeze’ I mean the only thing working was the mouse, which still moved the pointer but could not select or open anything. Everything else, including the keyboard was frozen. As far as I could judge the freeze lasted approx. 1 min.

    The only other thing happening was the HD light on the front panel of the pc was lit with a steady glow, no sign of disk activity as such (varying pulses), just a full light.

    Since I became aware of the above I now find it happening approx. every 40 – 50min. I say approx. because I never know exactly when it is about to happen. There is no warning. If I am surfing the web or simply using Firefox to brows I realise nothing is happening and see the (“Not Responding”) notice at the top of the screen.

    What I have tried Already

    1. 1. Run all standard W7 diagnostics which come out clean
    2. 2. Looked through the Event Log which revels no unusual entries and nothing at the times of the freezes which I make a note of in case I can match it with anything
    3. 3. Stopped all non-essential progs running. Only the program I am using at the time is running together with Virgin Media security anti-virus suit in the background. (Windows firewall is switched off)
    4. 4. Scanned with CCleaner and S&D Spybot – nothing!
    5. 5. Defragged – no change
    6. 6. Sfc/scannow – nothing found
    7. 7. Compared all drivers with current offerings from ALL suppliers. Apart from my monitor, Samsung SyncMaster all where/are up-to-date.
    8. 8. Disabled all non-essential “Auto-update” software and double checked “Task Scheduler” – nothing remains or is outstanding.
    9. 8. Re-run full system scan for virus/malware etc. Nothing reported.
    10. 10. Recently downloaded and run “Process Explorer”, “AutoRuns” and “Process Monitor”, but, am having problems understanding what I am seeing. Steep learning curve! Still can’t spot the trouble maker.
    11. 11. Scanned with TUT – Nothing reported.

    Everything indicates that everything “should” be working correctly, but, the freezes keep on occurring making my life a complete misery.

    Any ideas………… anybody? Pretty please………………….


    Pc spec:-
    Model – Advent Centurion CQ9204
    Bios – American Megatrends, version 080015, 25 Sept 2009
    CPU – Intel Core Quad Q8300 @ 2.5GHz
    Graphics – NVIDIA GeForce GT 230, 2GB. Driver ver. 8.17.11.9745
    On-board sound Realtek and Creative Audigy 2zs (no conflicts)
    Operating system – Windows 7 64bit, install date 14th July 2009
    Memory – Ram 6GB
    Page File – 12GB
    Available Page File Mem – 10GB
    Total Virtual Mem – 2GB
    HD – Hitachi 1TB
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 8,870
    Windows 7 Ult, Windows 8.1 Pro,
       #2

    Interrmittant freezing usually points to a harddrive problem so it might be worth while to run a harddrive test to see if it's working right.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 6,885
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64, Mint 9
       #3

    Check your harddrive connections as well. Could be a bad cable.

    ~Lordbob
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 28,845
    Win 8 Release candidate 8400
       #4

    pdoth said:
    In a nutshell here is the problem I am experiencing:

    I purchased a new quad-core top end pc running W7 home Premium from a computer outlet approx. 3 months ago (full spec below). I have been extremely happy with everything about this setup until approx. 5 weeks ago when I noticed that during normal operation the pc seemed to ‘freeze up’.

    When I say ‘freeze’ I mean the only thing working was the mouse, which still moved the pointer but could not select or open anything. Everything else, including the keyboard was frozen. As far as I could judge the freeze lasted approx. 1 min.

    The only other thing happening was the HD light on the front panel of the pc was lit with a steady glow, no sign of disk activity as such (varying pulses), just a full light.

    Since I became aware of the above I now find it happening approx. every 40 – 50min. I say approx. because I never know exactly when it is about to happen. There is no warning. If I am surfing the web or simply using Firefox to brows I realise nothing is happening and see the (“Not Responding”) notice at the top of the screen.

    What I have tried Already

    1. 1. Run all standard W7 diagnostics which come out clean
    2. 2. Looked through the Event Log which revels no unusual entries and nothing at the times of the freezes which I make a note of in case I can match it with anything
    3. 3. Stopped all non-essential progs running. Only the program I am using at the time is running together with Virgin Media security anti-virus suit in the background. (Windows firewall is switched off)
    4. 4. Scanned with CCleaner and S&D Spybot – nothing!
    5. 5. Defragged – no change
    6. 6. Sfc/scannow – nothing found
    7. 7. Compared all drivers with current offerings from ALL suppliers. Apart from my monitor, Samsung SyncMaster all where/are up-to-date.
    8. 8. Disabled all non-essential “Auto-update” software and double checked “Task Scheduler” – nothing remains or is outstanding.
    9. 8. Re-run full system scan for virus/malware etc. Nothing reported.
    10. 10. Recently downloaded and run “Process Explorer”, “AutoRuns” and “Process Monitor”, but, am having problems understanding what I am seeing. Steep learning curve! Still can’t spot the trouble maker.
    11. 11. Scanned with TUT – Nothing reported.

    Everything indicates that everything “should” be working correctly, but, the freezes keep on occurring making my life a complete misery.

    Any ideas………… anybody? Pretty please………………….


    Pc spec:-
    Model – Advent Centurion CQ9204
    Bios – American Megatrends, version 080015, 25 Sept 2009
    CPU – Intel Core Quad Q8300 @ 2.5GHz
    Graphics – NVIDIA GeForce GT 230, 2GB. Driver ver. 8.17.11.9745
    On-board sound Realtek and Creative Audigy 2zs (no conflicts)
    Operating system – Windows 7 64bit, install date 14th July 2009
    Memory – Ram 6GB
    Page File – 12GB
    Available Page File Mem – 10GB
    Total Virtual Mem – 2GB
    HD – Hitachi 1TB

    Nice rig. offhand given the steady HD light I wonder about indexing, page file, etc. Does it do it in safe mode(F8)? sorry about the things you probably have already thought of.


    Ken J
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 25
    Win 10 pro
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Thanks for the quick reply Guy's...most impressive. I have just run the WD LifeGuard Diag. and the drive passed with flying colors. I did see some comments on this forum concerning the "Green" WD drive.......but....on this evidence I'm not so sure.
    Haven't tried running in SafeMode yet. I would have to run for at least 1 - 2 hrs to get a good idea if there was an issue with drivers.
    Also ran the driver scan.......nothing came up, so, still looking for just a glimmer of hope before junking the whole thing (frustration getting to me I suppose).
    Pleae keep them ideas a-coming..........
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 25
    Win 10 pro
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Almost forgot.....tried turning off Indexing......made no diff.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 10,200
    MS Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-bit
       #7

    Replace your anti-virus with Microsoft Security Essentials.
    MSE - Microsoft Security Essentials
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 6,885
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64, Mint 9
       #8

    Again, check the HDD cable. The hard drive could be fine, but the error could be in the cable.

    ~Lordbob
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 25
    Win 10 pro
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Thanks for the thought Karlsnooks, but, I changed from SE because I thought that maybe the issue. It wasn't. The HDD cable is still on the table as a possible LordBob75, thanks. My only concern is that the occurances are a little too regular for a "random" cable fault, although, at this stage I'm not rulling it out.

    Another little "issue" which may or may not be a clue to where the problem lies the when using Firefox. Approx 1 in 4 selections, when generally surfing results in "Not Responding" error. In other words the pc freezes. This is much higher than could be expected. I gut feeling is....there is a conection there somewhere. I don't think it is Flash related, but, there is something about using the browser and all the other stuff that is going on.

    I just need to figure out what................
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 6,885
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64, Mint 9
       #10

    Sounds like it could be hitting a bad sector. I know you already checked it, but its worth looking again.

    ~Lordbob
      My Computer


 

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