Random lockups and freezing

[cheewongken]

Random lockups and freezing. No error when lock up.

Hey guys, I'm having an issue where my system just locks up and refuses to respond. It can happen randomly while the computer is idle or while I'm actively using it. Even happened once right after boot when I was going through Windows Explorer.

Dump files are attached.

I'm not really sure what else to say other than that, any additional info I'll edit in later.

- x64 Ultimate (SP1)
- Original installed OS
- Full Retail
- Hardware around 2 years 4 months old.
- OS 5 months old.

EDIT: Might want to mention that I don't actually get a BSOD. The screen just freezes.

EDIT2: Event Viewer logs available on post #5

EDIT3: More Event Viewer logs available on post #10. I've also updated my LAN driver

 

[JMH]

No DMP's inc.


We do need the DMP file as it contains the only record of the sequence of events leading up to the crash, what drivers were loaded, and what was responsible.

If you are overclocking STOP

We could also use some system information, which you can get easily by running msinfo32. To do that go to start>run>type msinfo32>enter

When it is finished running go to file>save>name it and upload to us here.

You may be able to get the DMP files without crashing by booting into safe mode (F8) with networking.

To enable us to assist you with your computer's BSOD symptoms, upload the contents of your "\Windows\Minidump" folder.

The procedure:

* Copy the contents of \Windows\Minidump to another (temporary) location somewhere on your machine.
* Zip up the copy.
* Attach the ZIP archive to your post using the "paperclip" (file attachments) button.
*If the files are too large please upload them to a file sharing service like "Rapidshare" and put a link to them in your reply.

To ensure minidumps are enabled:

* Go to Start, in the Search Box type: sysdm.cpl, press Enter.
* Under the Advanced tab, click on the Startup and Recovery Settings... button.
* Ensure that Automatically restart is unchecked.
* Under the Write Debugging Information header select Small memory dump (256 kB) in the dropdown box (the 256kb varies).
* Ensure that the Small Dump Directory is listed as %systemroot%\Minidump.
* OK your way out.
* Reboot if changes have been made.

 

[cheewongken]

Thanks for replying, JMH

I posted the attachment as required by the BSOD posting instructions, but for my issue my system just freezes instantly and doesn't BSOD, which might be the reason why no dump files were in the zip file.

I am not overclocking any of my hardware. I've never done it and I don't plan to..

System information from msinfo32 is already included in the zip file on the first post.

\Windows\Minidump folder does not exist.

Just unchecked Automatic Restart and changed Write Debugging Information to Small memory dump (256 kB)

 

[JMH]

* There are several reasons that may prevent you from having a DMP file in the usual places.

If you control panel is not configured for small dump you probably will then find it in C:\windows and it will be called MEMORY.dmp. It will overwrite every crash.

Other reasons are if you have UAC turned off, if you have a small page file, or a page file on a different HD than the OS.


* Please provide us with your Event Viewer administrative logs by following these steps:

Click Start Menu
Type eventvwr into Search programs and files (do not hit enter)
Right click eventvwr.exe and click Run as administrator
Expand Custom Views
Click Administrative Events
Right click Administrative Events
Save all Events in Custom View As...
Save them in a folder where you will remember which folder and save as Errors.evtx
Go to where you saved Errors.evtx
Right click Errors.evtx -> send to -> compressed (zipped) folder
Upload the .zip file here.

 

[cheewongken]

@JMH:

MEMORY.dmp does not exist in C:\Windows either.

I do have UAC turned off, my page file is of 4087 MB and on the OS drive.

Event Viewer logs are attached. Kernel-Power events are most likely due to me manually restarting the PC after it locks up.

 

[writhziden]

You need to have UAC turned on to get .dmp files... JMH was telling you they will not be generated if UAC is turned off.

 

[zigzag3143]

The most frequent event viewer errors are network related. You also have a corrupt "firmware" that needs re-installing/upgrading and what ever disk issue you were having in February seems to have resolved itself.

Since networking is involved I would re-install the Realtek driver with newest available.

 

[cheewongken]

The most frequent event viewer errors are network related. You also have a corrupt "firmware" that needs re-installing/upgrading and what ever disk issue you were having in February seems to have resolved itself.

Since networking is involved I would re-install the Realtek driver with newest available.

Could you point out this firmware to me? I can't seem to find the one you mean in the Event Viewer.

Also I can't seem to find the proper Realtek driver for my device. Windows Update reports that it is already updated, so I tried looking manually.

I've found this, Realtek , the RTL8168D driver, but my driver is of RTL8167, so I'm unsure if I can use that.

 

[writhziden]

Log Name:      System
Source:        Microsoft-Windows-HAL
Date:          4/5/2012 1:01:33 PM
Event ID:      12
Task Category: None
Level:         Error
Keywords:      (1)
User:          N/A
Computer:      Desktop
Description:
The platform firmware has corrupted memory across the previous system power transition.  Please check for updated firmware for your system.

There seems to be missing information as to which firmware. Please provide the compressed (zipped) version of the LocaleMetaData folder that is saved in the same location as your .evtx file you saved last time, or create a new version of both and compress (zip) both together in a folder to upload here. The following steps may be helpful:

1. Click Start Menu
2. Type eventvwr into Search programs and files (do not hit enter)
3. Right click eventvwr.exe and click Run as administrator
4. Expand Custom Views
5. Click Administrative Events
6. Right click Administrative Events
7. Save all Events in Custom View As...
8. Save them in a folder where you will remember which folder and save as Errors.evtx
9. When asked, save the display information in English.
10. Go to where you saved Errors.evtx
11. Create a new folder by right clicking in a blank area within the folder Errors.evtx is saved in. You could also click New Folder at the top of the directory under the directory path box.
12. Name the new folder Errors.
13. Place Errors.evtx and the LocaleMetaData folder into the new Errors folder.
14. Right click the Errors folder -> send to -> compressed (zipped) folder
15. Upload the .zip file here.

For the Realtek: GIGABYTE - Motherboard - Socket 1156 - GA-P55-US3L (rev. 2.3) -> Downloads -> Choose your OS: Windows 7 64bit -> LAN ->

Realtek LAN Driver	7.049.0927.2011	3.48 MB	2012/03/21

You may have uninstall the current version and install the new one. To do so, download the above driver first and save it in a known place. Then do the following steps:

1. Click Start Menu
2. Right Click My Computer/Computer
3. Click Manage
4. Click Device Manager from the list on the left
5. Expand Network adapters
6. Right click the Realtek Ethernet device
7. Click Uninstall (do not click OK in the dialog box that pops up after hitting Uninstall)
8. Put a tick in Delete driver software for this device (if this option is available, otherwise just hit OK) and hit OK
9. Restart your computer only if Windows asks you to.
10. Install the latest driver for the device.

Alternatively:

1. Login as an adminstrative user.
2. Click Start Menu
3. Click Control Panel
4. Click Hardware and Sound
5. Click Device Manager (the last link under Devices and Printers)
6. Expand Network adapters
7. Right click the Realtek Ethernet device
8. Click Uninstall (do not click OK in the dialog box that pops up after hitting Uninstall)
9. Put a tick in Delete driver software for this device (if this option is available, otherwise just hit OK) and hit OK
10. Restart your computer only if Windows asks you to.
11. Install the latest driver for the device.

 

[cheewongken]

Alright, uploaded a fresh errors.evtx with LocaleMetaData in the zip. A full lock up occured at around 2:46 pm (At least, that was shown on the clock)

No events were shown in between my reboot and the previous event at 5:41 am, which is the HAL firmware issue mentioned.

I've updated my LAN driver as instructed (after compiling errors.zip)

 

[writhziden]

Unfortunately, that did not provide information on what firmware needs updating. Could be the BIOS, hard disk, DVD drive, etc. Could also just be Windows corruption.

• Run http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html up to three times to fix all errors with a restart in between each. Post back if it continues to show errors after a fourth run or if the first run comes back with no integrity violations.

 

[cheewongken]

Alright, ran sfc /scannow already, 3 times, did not show any integrity violations for all 3 times.

 

[writhziden]

Looks good. Still, it might be a good idea to http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html Windows 7 to rule out Windows corruption as a cause.

 

[cheewongken]

Looks good. Still, it might be a good idea to http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html Windows 7 to rule out Windows corruption as a cause.

I'm worried about taking that risk... It looks pretty complicated.

Anyways I'm here to report that the issue still isn't fixed. Computer locked up again right after i booted it up and started Google Chrome.

 

[writhziden]

Alright, since you are hesitant to do the repair install, we will proceed with other troubleshooting steps. The simplest would be to check if there is an application or service conflicting with Windows. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...ation-conflicts-performing-clean-startup.html

 

[cheewongken]

EDIT: I guess I spoke too soon. Computer just froze again even on a clean startup.

Might want to add that it has a high tendency of freezing shortly after resuming from sleep. But it does happen every few without going to sleep.

Also want to add that I've unplugged my DVD reader from the PC (both SATA and power port) since I don't use it anymore and so I could rule that out from being the cause.

 

[writhziden]

Sounds like hardware to me. Let us know how things go with the DVD reader unplugged. If you still freeze, we will provide further troubleshooting steps for hardware to check.

 

[cheewongken]

Sounds like hardware to me. Let us know how things go with the DVD reader unplugged. If you still freeze, we will provide further troubleshooting steps for hardware to check.

Its been unplugged since Friday last week.

 

[writhziden]

Ah, proceed with the following hardware checks, then.

• Monitor temperatures during the following tests.
  
  Use the following programs to monitor the temperatures.​
  • Real Temp is a good CPU temperature monitor.
  • Speccy - System Information - Free Download will monitor all hardware temperatures.
  • HWiNFO, HWiNFO32 & HWiNFO64 - Hardware Information and Analysis Tools can be inaccurate for CPU temperatures, but is a good program for GPU temperature monitoring.
  • Use FurMark: VGA Stress Test, Graphics Card and GPU Stability Test, Burn-in Test, OpenGL Benchmark and GPU Temperature | oZone3D.Net to test the graphics card GPU. Let it run until the GPU temperatures even out or until the GPU temperatures reach a dangerous level (you can find the max temperature for your card on either the nVidia or AMD sites; if you are not sure, ask us). The goal is to get a steady temperature, find out if the GPU is overheating, or to see if there are any artifacts present in the test itself: look for strange pixelated patterns on the screen or colors that do not look like they belong. Then use the |MG| Video Memory Stress Test 1.7.116 Download to test your graphics card memory. Let the memory test run for at least seven passes; the more the better.
    
    
  • Run http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/100352-hardware-stress-test-prime95.html to determine any hardware problems. Run all three tests for a few hours each. If you get errors, stop the test and post back here.
    
    
  • Follow the steps for doing a CPU stress test using IntelBurnTest
  
  
• Run the boot version of Memtest86+ paying close attention to Parts 2 and 3 of the tutorial. Also, in case Memtest86+ misses anything and comes up with no errors, run the extended version of the Windows Memory Diagnostics Tool for at least five passes. These you may want to run overnight since they take a long time to complete (run them an hour before bed each of the next two nights and check before going to sleep that they are still running).
  
  If you swap any memory components, follow these steps for ESD safety:
  1. Shut down and turn off your computer.
  2. Unplug all power supplies to the computer (AC Power then battery for laptops, AC power for desktops)
  3. Hold down the power button for 30 seconds to close the circuit and ensure all power drains from components.
  4. Make sure you are grounded by using proper grounding techniques, i.e. work on an anti-static workbench, anti-static desk, or an anti-static pad. Hold something metallic while touching it to the anti-static surface, or use an anti-static wristband to attach to the anti-static material while working.
  Once these steps have been followed, it is safe to remove and replace components within your computer.

 

[cheewongken]

Did Memtest for 12 passes last night (overslept) without any errors. Will continue with the rest.

However, just wanna state that my computer freezing seems to happen most often after resuming from sleep. Within half an hour from resuming from sleep. Could it be any of my hardware being sleep-incompatible?