Laptop freezing minutes later after booting up (Clean Windows Install)

Hi,

Laptop came pre-installed with Windows 8/8.1 and I didn't like the OS so I decided to downgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate x64.

After finish installing OS, I download all drivers and install on my laptop. (DONE)
I connect to the internet and start to download windows updates and install them. Then the computer randomly freezes in the process of downloading the updates. Sometimes, the laptop will boot up and then freeze without me having a chance to do anything! Other times, it freezes randomly out of the blue when playing a game, installing some programs, or just not doing anything. When the computer freezes, I have to hold the power button to reboot the laptop again. The back lit keyboard is working but that doesn't really matter since the screen froze and I can't do anything unless I reboot.

I have also re installed my laptop with Windows 7, installed all the drivers again and the same problem happens again.

RAM- 6gb (4gb,2gb)
CPU- Intel I5 Ivy Bridge

gregrocker said:

Start over and this time don't force drivers into a driver-complete OS. This is not XP.


Follow the same steps as for Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 especially how to handle drivers in Win7. They will all come in on Windows Update after install. Just have your wireless driver in backup in case you need it to get online and Check for Updates. Then install all Important and Optional Updates, with reboots, until there are no more offered.


If problems persist check your UEFI settings in BIOS. You've already disabled Secure Boot, correct. What are CSM, Legacy BIOS and Boot settings. Did you install to UEFI or in Legacy?


Once you do that then if problem persists start at the top of the Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7

Hi Gregrocker,

You've already disabled Secure Boot, correct.

-Yes I disabled Secure Boot. In bios, it says, "Secure Boot - Disabled, Secure boot mode - Standard"

What are CSM, Legacy BIOS and Boot settings. Did you install to UEFI or in Legacy?

I don't know what CSM means but after doing some google, it means Compatibility Support Module. There isn't CSM in BIOS. Only Legacy and UEFI.



Before installing Windows 7, I changed the Boot Mode from UEFI systems to Legacy mode.

Then, when the windows 7 setup said, "where do you want to install Windows", I couldn't select a partition to install Windows 7. The error came up for every partition I selected.

"Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk is of the GPT partion style. Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The computer's hardware may not support booting to this disk. Ensure that the disk's controller is enabled in the computer BIOS menu."

I fixed this problem deleting all partitions so that it said Disk 0 Unallocated Space. Then I used Shift+F10, cmd prompt popped and used Diskpart Clean Command and then converting it to GPT. After that, I have no problems completing the installation. that's where when my computer started to freeze a LOT !!


Now I am going to re install windows with your guide, under legacy mode & using GPT style partition unless otherwise you say I shouldn't. Before my Windows 7 install, I was using GPT partition style because of the error. But in your opinion, should I be installing using GPT partition style or MBR partition style and installing and using Legacy or UEFI?

I dont know if this helps, But I have csm enabled and uefi enabled and secure boot disabled.

That was the ticket for me to avoid any installation errors. Of course though with mine being a custom rig, mine has a lot more bios options.