Windows 7: System Freeze/Crash when viewing streaming videos online

Posting this for a friend, actually.

We just wanted to know how to report this problem of his where all of a sudden, he couldn't stream videos anymore without his laptop crashing.

Can I use the BSOD reporting tool for this even though he doesn't encounter the BSOD?

He can view video files (with VLC for example), but when streaming videos like on YouTube or Dailymotion... his system freezes immediately as soon as the video loads and all he can do is restart.

He's running Windows 7 Home Basic 32-bit on a laptop with the following specs:



CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) i3 CPU M 370 @ 2.40GHz
MoBo: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. R439
BIOS: Phoenix SecureCore(tm) NB Version 03US.M004.20100605.LEO
RAM: total memory 2.00 GB usable 1.93 GB
HDD: TOSHIBA MK3265GSX
GPU: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 545v
Audio: (1) ATI High Definition Audio Device (2) Realtek High Definition Audio
OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Basic 32-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1

Please give provide complete specs. Is this laptop or a desktop?

^ sorry about that. forgot to make him gather his specs:

CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) i3 CPU M 370 @ 2.40GHz
MoBo: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. R439
BIOS: Phoenix SecureCore(tm) NB Version 03US.M004.20100605.LEO
RAM: total memory 2.00 GB usable 1.93 GB
HDD: TOSHIBA MK3265GSX
GPU: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 545v
Audio: (1) ATI High Definition Audio Device (2) Realtek High Definition Audio
OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Basic 32-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1

(this is a laptop)

Thanks

What browser is he using? Firefox, chrome or internet explorer? and can you explain the crashes in more detail? Do you mean the browser hangs/gets unresponsive?

^ He's tried it both using Chrome and Firefox, but his system still freezes.

It's not only the browser that freezes, but rather the entire system.

Everytime he follows a video link (like on youtube for example), the page loads, but once the video has loaded and supposed to begin to play, his entire system freezes. Even Ctrl + Alt + Del doesn't work.

Thanks

Uninstall all the versions of flash player from control panel and install fresh copies for both IE and non IE browsers: Download Flash Player 11.4.402.265 (IE) - FileHippo.com (you will see the other versions if you scroll down a little).

Time to disable Hardware acceleration:

Firefox:

1. Click on the firefox tab
2. Click on Options Options
3. Go to the Advanced tab
4. Unselect Use hardware accelerations when available
5. Restart firefox. See if the problem goes.

Chrome:

Disabling hardware accelerated video playback
While we work with Adobe to smooth out a few kinks, the following steps will allow you to disable hardware-accelerated playback, and get back to watching YouTube videos:

1. Right-click in the middle of the video below (or on the on the video you're having issues with)
2. Click Settings
3. Click the left-most tab
4. Uncheck the 'Enable hardware acceleration' checkbox to disable hardware acceleration.
5. Refresh the page

Disabling hardware accelerated video playback - YouTube Help

Enable or Disable Hardware Acceleration in Google Chrome - Jkwebtalks

Let us know if it helps or not

^ Well, this was tricky since the first time we tried it, the system freezed even before we could right-click on the video.

The second time, we did it fast enough to disable hardware acceleration... but the system still freezed anyway.

Also, he already tried re-installing Flash before but that also didn't work. He already has 11.4.402.265 on his system.

Sorry that didn't work

I need to see what all is installed on the laptop so upload screenshots of the installed programs in Control panel/programs/uninstall a program

Go to safe mode with networking from advanced boot options and see how the videos load there

Post back

Hi Guys,

A friend of mine has almost the same issue.

Hardware
AMD Phenom II X4 965
ASUS M5A87
ATI GEFORCE 8500 GT
Corsair Dominator 8 Go (Kit 2x 4 Go) DDR3-SDRAM PC12800 CL9

OS
Windows 7 64 bit SP1

Drivers / Firmwares
As recommended in most forums, drivers for graphic card are up to date.
Even motherboard firmware has been successfully flashed with last ASUS version.
Except for integrated DELL SMARTCARD READER in keyboard.

Symptoms
Hard freeze on any browser (Firefox, IE, Chrome - all up to date versions).
Seems to be always linked to FLASH PLAYER utilisation (pages using flash video content or flash modules)
Triggered by mouse scroll or mouse click.
Hard freeze, no BSOD, mouse and KB not responding, sound hashing for 2-3 seconds then silence. Hard reset needed.

Checks done:
Previously, exact same config (except HDD) ran with Windows 7-32 without any trouble during 1 year.
CHKDSK - no error
Withdraw 1 RAM unit, then other, switch them... no improvement.
Uninstall ADOBE FLASH PLAYER and use CHROME (with FLASH module integrated): it goes better but still freezing/crashing.

If someone got an idea...

Cheers.

1. No freeze/crash in safe mode
2. No freeze/crash when graphic card adapter is disabled

...