Daily full system lock ups, very puzzling, seemingly random.


  1. Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
       #1

    Daily full system lock up on fresh installs of windows 7 64 bit


    Hi I haven't been on here in quite sometime because I've never really been this stuck before. My computer and my sisters new computer both have the same freezing problem. Randomly, things like opening chrome or accessing drives will make the computer start to slow down, freeze, and then require a restart. This never happened for me before until I got a new SSD and reinstalled windows. However I'm fairly sure it has nothing to do with my SSD because my sister's computer doesn't have one. The only hardware our computers have in common is Gigabyte motherboards (she has 970a I have 990fxa) however both boards seem to work, and mine has worked fine since the beginning of summer. The computers can run linux fine, as well as windows 7 in safe mode. Once in normal start up though, the freezing will occur again. I've been pulling my hair out for weeks and I can't figure out ANYTHING that could be doing this. Since it's isolated to windows 7 in normal boot, and since I have tested most my hardware for errors (and it's all new anyways) My best guess is that it is some type of crippling driver problem. I don't know why though, and I don't know why it disappears and reappears so much. For instance right now my computer is fine and I'm using chrome, however at any time, launching chrome or closing chrome could start hanging my system, as well as doing literally nothing could. I have re installed windows on both computers, time after time after time. I have tried installing MOBO drivers and leaving them out, I have tried every combination of MOBO settings I can imagine, no matter what i do inside windows or out, it KEEPS crashing, on both computers, at complete random. I'm turning here because I have exhausted my mind, options, and time and have not made an inch of progress to getting these computers stable. Please help!

    CPU: Amd FX 8320
    MOBO: gigabyte 990fxa -ud3
    Ram: kingston 8 gb
    Graphics: Nvidia GTX 660 TI
    PSU: Antec 750w
    SSD: Samsung Evo 830
    HDD: Western Digital x2
    Last edited by mohawkmoe10; 16 Sep 2014 at 17:27.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,992
    10 Pro x64
       #2

    have you ran memtest 86 on both computers and have seen them get though id say about 10 passes (could be hours to accomplish) just because its new hardware does not mean its bad hardware. i would start with that and see what it brings you. Most likely its not the issue as you say linux runs fine but I would check to be safe its not part of the problem. Also what media are you using to install windows maybe it is corrupt? have you installed the drivers off the disk it came with or the net?

    rvcjew
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thanks for the response, and Yes, I'm sorry I should have mentioned. I have ran memtest in both computers several times with no errors, the hard drives have all been checked for errors wiped and then checked again, all of the hardware has either been tested or I have been using since the beginning of summer with no problems. The CD I use to install windows is an official OEM CD that I have used many times for many computers to install windows 7. When it comes to drivers, I have tried installing no drivers, I've tried installing the mobo drivers, I've tried letting windows find its own drivers online, and a mixture of the two. This problem seems to happen regardless of what drivers are installed or not installed. I've noticed that in safe mode it never crashes, and one time I noticed the computer crashed on a fresh install right AFTER installing nvidia drivers, so I thought for a moment it might be the nvidia drivers. However since the problem happens at complete random it was most likely a fluke, as wiping the drivers and installing older ones did nothing for the crashing.

    Also I don't know if this means anything but I've noticed while keeping an eye on my windows logs that these crashes never occur near any errors or anything. The system looks to be running smoothly until one window stops responding, then explorer stops responding, desktop and toolbar freeze, then the mouse freezes and now the whole thing is bricked. Sometimes I can get to the control alt delete page but I get nothing but a spinning wheel and "preparing security options" until the screen freezes. After restarting I get the message in the logs about "shutdown was unexpected" but I never see an error near by. Also windows never shows me the popup that says it recovered from a serious error.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 1,992
    10 Pro x64
       #4

    Is the other pc same except for the mobo? and has same symptoms? I wonder if it's a power draw issue is it on a powerstrip? if so are both on the same one? Far-fetched question but I have seen dirty power cause this before. When in linux are you using nvidia's drivers with like X or just default for the GUI. AS in did you even compile any for the linux partition. Is windows started by Grub, or is windows boot manger the loader for both?
      My Computer

  5.    #5

    Sounds like some driver you've forced or program you have in common may be involved. Compare the install you have on the PC's to the perfect install compiled in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7, especially how drivers are handled in a driver-complete OS. If you want to do it over be sure to delete all partitions during the booted install. Install all rounds of Updates first, testing performance after each. Then install each program with time to test performance after each. Make no settings changes until updates and programs are installed with no issues detected. Report back progress and when the freezes start. Use Restore points to roll back to the point before the problem begins. This way you can isolate the cause.

    You can also go over your current install thoroughly using Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7 which will often uncover the problem.

    Did you force a bunch of drivers or let Win7 deliver the ones it wants during install and afterwards via Windows Update?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #6

    I have tried doing a completely fresh no-update install, and the very first thing I installed was nvidia drivers. After installing them I experienced my first crash (again, most likely coincidence) after that I've tried installing all the provided drivers, updating others online, etc etc and still nothing yet. I suppose I could start over again tomorrow and install windows fresh and see if it ever crashes with literally nothing installed, but every time I do this I always end up at the same spot. Eventually I have to start installing display drivers and google chrome and whatnot. I originally thought it was the motherboards because it seemed liked NOTHING in the software could be causing it (as I have installed windows SO many times on SO many computers and never had this problem) but I soon after decided it couldn't be, as both computers run linux or windows in safe mode just fine. One stray observation I have is that both these computers are now using Samsung LED monitors with HDMI cables, I don't know how or why that would have anything to do with this problem but it is one of the only hardware changes we both have in common since the freezing began. Before that I used a regular dvi cable connected to a monitor. I did however have her computer connected to a non HDMI connection and it still happened so its probably not that, I'm just trying to bring up as much information as I can.
      My Computer

  7.    #7

    Did you even read what I wrote? I said nothing about installing any drivers yourself, in fact I said specifically that the problem sounds like you were forcing drivers that win7 doesn't want. Win7 is not XP, it's a driver complete OS in the installer and via Window Update.

    After deleting all partitions during the booted install to create and format a new one for Win7 as shown in Clean Install Windows 7, provide if necessary your ethernet or wireless driver to get online if the installer doesn't provide it in order to get online.

    Then enable Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3),
    check for Updates, install all Important and Optional Updates, with requested reboots, until no more are offered.

    Then test performance.

    Then check Device Manager to see if any drivers are still missing, import them from the Device's Support Downloads webpage, testing performance after each is installed.

    Then install Programs, testing performance after each program is installed.

    Pinpoint where the problem begins. System Restore to before that point to avoid the problem going forward.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Yes I did read what you wrote, and as I said I have tried letting windows download all it's own drivers, and I've tried forcing the drivers that came with the motherboard. Whether I install the drivers or whether windows does it itself, either way the same problems exist. Normally I always let windows update and download drivers itself, the only reason I even tried the drivers that came with the MOBO are because the drivers windows got for itself weren't making things any better. Tomorrow I will attempt the steps you provided and cleanly install windows again, I'm just skeptical because of the frustration I have been through re installing this OS like 6 times on 2 separate computers in the last few weeks.

    RVCJEW - Both computers share no hardware other than a 2 tb Western Digital HDD (I bought 2 on sale) Other than the HDDs and motherboards (which are very similar, mines slightly newer and has a higher price point) all hardware is different. Here's a basic rundown of my sisters stuff:

    650w EVGA PSU
    EVGA GTX 750
    Corsair 2 GBx3 ram
    AMD FX 6300
    Gigabyte 970a-dsp3
    Western Digital 2 tb green

    Both computers have been in separate rooms and the same room, always connected to different outlets though (through surge protector power strips). As to linux, I have been using the nvidia drivers provided from Linux Mint's driver utility and those have always treated me well, as do the default display drivers, so no problems there. On my computer windows is started through Grub, on my sister's linux is currently not installed so it is started through the standard boot loader.
      My Computer

  9.    #9

    I'd test performance immediately after install, then after each group of Updates, then after each program install or settings change, to try to isolate what is causing this.

    If it happens immediately after install, then doesn't remediate after Updates are installed, any missing drivers are provided, then it would seem to point to hardware.
      My Computer


 

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