IE11 seizes up overnight, fixed by reboot

I have a Windows 7 Pro 64 bit Dell Vostro 270s which is kept on continuously and has worked faultlessly as a home/office computer for 6 years. I have NOT added any new software apart from MS updates. Recently, however it has developed a horrible IE11 browser fault. My router is a BT Home Hub 5 with 80Mbs service.

First thing in the morning the browser is essentially seized up. A Google search returns no response for around 30 seconds. The BBC news Home page populates with text but no images and the images don't appear for about thirty seconds. A laptop using the same BT router running Windows 10 works perfectly using IE11 or FireFox. Rebooting the Vostro restores normal service. The machine will then perform faultlessly all day and is left on and working overnight. But the next morning it is 'seized up' again. And rebooting fixes the problem again... Previous testing has suggested that using a mobile data connection did NOT show the 'seized up' problem, but BT tell me there is nothing wrong with my broadband.

I have tried rebuilding the machine on a new hard disc using a Macrium Reflect image from 2015, and adding back in all my later data and emails, as well as all the MS updates. Initially this seemed to work but now it has started failing again. I have fixed many PC problems in the past but can't get a handle on this one. Any advice very much appreciated.

Hi MrDuck-

As a first cut, try going to Tools, Internet Options. Check the box to "Preserve.........". Then check the first four boxes. Click on Delete.

In addition, in Tools, run Express Cleanup. I'm not on my Win 7 system right now so I'm not sure that option is there in IE 11.

Hi Mr Duck,

As you've clean installed, with no probs on your W10, if Firefox is also slow- installed??,
then id go for a failing hard drive

please run, from an elevated command mode
sfc /scannow.

any bad blocks ??

Roy

No disrespect intended but why do you thing IE freezing is an indication of a failed hard drive?

Thanks for the advice everyone. The hard disc is brand new, and the problem was present before with the previous disc, so can discount that. I have tried Deleting temporary files etc. with no effect. Its only a full reboot that solves the problem.
But last Thursday there was Security Update for IE11 and since then the problem has not recurred, but I am now getting regular Schannel errors 40 and 70 in Event Viewer overnight (at 02:47) when the machine is left to its own devices. I have no idea what these mean or how to fix them, or whether they are related!
I should explain that my rebuild was not a full rebuild but a three years rewind to a state when I had a known clean system.

Schannel is Microsoft Secure Channels and is used to securely connect a client to a server.

Open IE and select Tools, Internet Options, Advanced. Scroll down to the security options. Is SSL 3 and TLS 1.2 enabled?

wither 2: Yes, both SSL 3.0 and TLS 1.2 are enabled. SSL 2.0 is present but NOT enabled.
On another PC I have, also using IE11, SSL 3.0 is NOT enabled, but TLS 1.2 is, and there is no SSL 2.0 entry.

I'm quite confused now and grateful for your interest!

Honestly, if your not experiencing any operational problems in IE, I wouldn't worry about it. I've looked around the web on this and the causes vary widely, some by installed software. I'm not sure how to go about chasing the cause down unless we look at all the details of the error on your system to find a clue. I think your settings are correct.

I did find this from one person using Firefox-

Event ID: 36887 Schannel is triggered by websites where the URL was upgraded to https but the locally stored link is still http. I have numerous old bookmarks to forums that have upgraded, but my bookmarks are still http. Some trigger the event 36887, but the majority don't.

However, unless a person actively selects a favorite/bookmark with http, I don't know how the Schannel error would be activated or if you would even see a message.