Relatively New PC - Broad Software Issues

Hi,

About 3-4 months ago I started having issues where multimedia software would stop launching (i.e. Cubase, Premiere Pro, After Effects). It sort of happened gradually from what I remember, and during this period I did not make any major hardware or software changes -- if any at all.

I’ve done a few reformats, even trying Windows 10 (problems were apparent right away), before eventually rolling back to Windows 7 (clean install again). I was running fine for two weeks after reformatting before all the errors began happening again, programs hanging, crashing, not opening. This time the errors all happened simultaneously after a restart this weekend, the computer was running stable before this. I hadn’t made any software changes for a week prior to this and I’m not connected to the internet on this computer either.

Many of the applications I have are installed through backups on an external hard drive, I don’t keep CD’s or re-download software through the internet.

If I wait for a program that has crashed and not force quit it will usually work again after waiting about 10-20 minutes.

Here is a list of the most common errors:
- Auto-OC will occasionally fail when booting.
- Many programs will crash when opening.
- Programs wont initialize at all (clicking icons on the taskbar does nothing).
- When performing actions in software, Sony Vegas for example, occasionally the program will close instantly with no error message.
- Previously W7 would hang occasionally when loading Windows. The splash screen with the windows logo would freeze and I would have to restart.
- Previously W7 when booting would display a black screen with a flashing underscore and fail to boot.
- W10 would often freeze when logging in not letting me get past the login screen, and if I did get in I would get a “Windows Desktop Manager has stopped working”.
- Having to manually refresh Windows explorer to view modified files/folders.
- Ending process in task manager doesn’t always close the application immediately.

Here are my computer specs, the computer itself is <2 years old:
- Intel Core i7, 5930K CPU, OC using Auto-OC in BIOS.
- Asus X99-A Mobo
- Asus GTX Strix 970 GPU.
- Seagate X850 PSU.
- 32GB RAM: Corsair HyperX Predator DDR4 2133mHz (x4 8gb sticks)
- Sandisk SDSSDXPS480G, 480GB SSD (for OS and program files).
- 4TB HDD (for media files and software backups).
- Windows 7 Ultimate SP 1 64-bit. 6.1, Build 7601.


Here are a few ideas I've been thinking might be causing this:
- Virus on an external HDD that I haven't detected.
- Hardware issue.
- SSD.

If anyone has input, even from prior experience maybe dealing with these symptoms, I would appreciate any feedback. I have attached some pictures with specific examples of errors.

Thanks in advance,

Zach

Welcome to the forum.

I know you gave us your hardware specs, but you should edit your profile and put them there so anyone can see on any post you write.

I would say that you're with a hardware problem.
- Disable OC
- Do you have a hardware monitor? How are your temperatures? HWiNFO - Download
- Run a memory test. Click Start, type mdsched.exe in the Search box, and then press Enter. Choose whether to restart the computer and run the tool immediately or schedule the tool to run at the next restart. Windows Memory Diagnostics runs automatically after the computer restarts and performs a standard memory test automatically.
- Schedule a disk test on C:. On a CMD window type chkdsk c: /f

Software:
- Run a System file check. On a CMD window type sfc /scannow
- Run a antispyware: SUPERAntiSpyware - SUPERAntiSpyware Portable Scanner

Thanks for the welcome. Just updated my profile with the system specs.

I'm thinking the same thing... Thank you for all the advice and tools, I will run a diagnostic later on tonight before bed and report back shortly.

Memtest came back fine, I did find a few viruses that I removed in safe mode. Also took it into a technician who said that my RAM and graphics card weren't in the optimal slots. I disabled a few boot processes and disconnected from the internet entirely. Ran CCleaner, reinstalled some software, updated drivers, ran SFCFix..

did a bunch of stuff half of which I can't remember. But now my computer is running fine. I have no idea what the problem was, I think it may have been a virus on one of my hard drives that I didn't wipe when reformatting. But anyways, problem solved... for now.

Thanks for your help.