desktop freezing 5-10 minutes after startup. help me troubleshoot

its a gaming desktop. i was running windows 7 ultimate sp1. activated genuine. rarely updated. most downloads occured through steam. system not used to surf the internet, of course it happened but not often and never for long.

i had to update to play the new skyrim and i think this happened the days after it was released.

the update gave me app microsoft security essentials. wich i didnt have and.. well it was the latest update att the time i didnt think anything of it. i started to play the game and the game froze. i thought it was something with the video options but after a few tries i realized this happened even if i didnt start a game, and after a while i noticed that it happened even if i just let the windows logincreen where you type the password.

it freezes 100% of the time so this dosent give me time to check, to download, to recover. to restore, now im failsafe mode writing this.

so i tried to make a fresh instal but for some strange reason it wont recognize my windows disc to boot from so i tried to download a fresh image from microsoft then i realized i dont have my product key so i cant download anything. (dont think this is related)

i tried to upgrade to win 10 but it wont let me in failsafe and in normal mode i dont have time to complete the download.


what can i try next?

If you computer is a Custom build and you said it has a genuine Win 7 ultimate, how come you don't have the product key?
Who installed and how Win 7 was installed?

That's all strange.
- You don't have the product key.
- Rarely updated
- wont recognize the windows disc to boot

It seems that you have a Pirate Windows installation disk.

its not pirate. i installed it. product key misplaced its been a while since install. i didnt want uppdates because of metered connection. and boot dont even recognize a ubuntu disc i tried.

now.. any ideas what to do.

thank you. i have the key now. ill download iso file from microsoft now and make a fresh install.