Solved My Computer Freezes Consistently

[ykisana]

I built a computer recently. Everything was going fine, until it began freezing. I thought it was a software problem, so I reinstalled Windows 7, and it began to freeze during the installation. I partitioned my HDD and it still froze during the installation. Luckily I did get past the installation, but it still freezes quite a bit. This is definitely a hardware problem. Any idea which piece of hard ware it is? I had built computers before, and one with the exact same specs, but I have never had it freeze before. So one part is definitely faulty. But, can anyone tell me which one it probably is. Like what piece of Hardware usually causes a computer to freeze. My CPU Fan stopped working for a period of time. I don't know if that would effect anything.

 

[solarmystic]

Hello ykisana,

Please follow this tutorial to determine which hardware is at fault, with particular emphasis to steps 8, 9, 10 and 11:-

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/220165-troubleshooting-steps-windows-7-a.html

Hope that helps!

 

[ykisana]

I'll try that tomorrow.

 

[TVeblen]

We will need more information to answer your question. Performing the tests in the link from solarmystic may supply some important clues.

It is very helpful to us to know your system specs. You should fill out the "My System Specs" form in your user profile for SevenForums.

But the primary suspect for hardware side freezing is always the power supply and/or power related problems.

Having the CPU fan turn off by itself is a major problem. The CPU will shut off to protect itself from overheating, therefore minimizing any damage, so I would be surprised if the CPU was bad. But you (we) need to determine the cause of that fan going off. That cause could affect everything.

 

[archer]

The most common cause of computer freezes is a corrupt registry.
Most likely your registry is bloated and overstuffed with an assortment of useless pieces of data. The operating system while running your computer has to pick its way through all this excess material. There will be bits of programs which were not completely uninstalled, parts of programs which were never completely installed, fragments of miscellaneous data, useless drivers, and a multitude of other bits and pieces.
The answer is to clean your registry and remove all the material which is not needed.

Get the best one, and completely clean your windows registry with a few clicks of the mouse.

Often there is also spyware which is using your computer for nefarious purposes and slowing its operation.
The answer is to scan your pc with a best anti-spyware to clean spyware/trojan/virus

 

[Monster212]

have you tested your hard drive.. make sure its good. a bad hard drive can cause issues like this..

 

[ykisana]

I just updated my System Specs. See if my specs have anything to do with it.

 

[DELL SudheerK]

Hi ,
My name is Sudheer K and I work for the Social Media and Community Team at Dell.
I would like to help you with few steps regards to the issue you have.
Most of time freezing issues leads to faulty memory, harddrive, CPU fan.
Step 1: Try running the harddrive test from the vendor website and check if there are any bad sectors
Step2: Also try resetting the memory sticks and check if that helps you out.
Memory diag tools : http://download.cnet.com/Memory-Diagnostic/3000-2094_4-10629429.html
OR
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/Memory-Tweak/Microsoft-Windows-Memory-Diagnostic.shtml
Step3 : Tried disconnecting all external usb devices and check as well.
Step 4: Go to msconfig and disable the startup items , so any services which are interrupting also will allow you the system to freeze.
Msconfig instructions : http://www.optimizingpc.com/windows7/windows_7_msconfig.html
Step 5: Try running CCleaner for cleaning the registry as well
CCleaner link : http://download.cnet.com/CCleaner/3000-18512_4-10315544.html
Please update for any futher help
Thanks
Dell_Sudheer_Kota
Dell Social Media Responder

 

[TVeblen]

Thanks.
I can see from your specs that you do not have the typical case of too much hardware being run on a too small power supply. And I can eliminate the usual problems that can be caused by video cards and multiple hard drives.

Your 450W power supply is plenty big enough for your system, but that does not rule out a defective unit. Do you have a multimeter that you can test with?
Otherwise, can you borrow a known good PS from another system to test?

Let's see what Memtest and the hard drive diagnostic tells us.

As for temps, in your BIOS settings there should be a "Hardware Monitor" selection or similar. In there you will find the temperatures being reported for the major components by the motherboard. What do they show?

And one of the simplest tests to see if you have temperature problems is to run the system with the sides taken off, and maybe point a house fan directly into the case while you run it. If the freezing goes away in that test then you have your answer.

 

[ykisana]

Would a 500w power supply be better? Such as the Corsair Builder Series CX500 V2 Power Supply. Memtest is taking a while...

 

[ykisana]

How can I do a hard drive test?

 

[ykisana]

My computer shut off during Memtest it was at Pass 43% and Test: 37%. Is this normal?

 

[ykisana]

I am currently doing the Western Digital Data Lifeguard Diagnostic...

 

[ykisana]

My computer froze during the Hard drive check. Are there any Hard drive check I can do during boot up on a USB? Such as Memtest, but for Harddrives... and on a USB.

 

[ykisana]

I used CCleaner and cleaner my registry. No virus or malware... checked via Malwarebytes and avast. I have attempted the Hard drive scan again.

 

[ykisana]

It froze during the test, again. Any solution????

 

[TVeblen]

Would a 500w power supply be better? Such as the Corsair Builder Series CX500 V2 Power Supply. Memtest is taking a while...

The power supply you have now should be sufficient. But if it were defective it could explain your problem. A 500W replacement would be better, obviously, and the Corsair is very well recommended.
It would be much better, IMO, to test with a borrowed unit before buying new parts.

My computer shut off during Memtest it was at Pass 43% and Test: 37%. Is this normal?

No. Not normal. That indicates your problem definitely has nothing to do with the operating system. A pure hardware problem.

My computer froze during the Hard drive check. Are there any Hard drive check I can do during boot up on a USB? Such as Memtest, but for Harddrives... and on a USB.

I believe that WD Lifeguard has an ISO version you can burn to a CD and boot from. You would need to check to see if they have added a USB version recently.

It froze during the test, again. Any solution????

I'm still going to guess power supply. But you could try this:

• Disconnect everything from the system except the power supply, CPU & heatsink, and ONE stick of RAM in the first RAM slot. No cards. No drives. No keyboard or mouse.
• Start the computer, let it boot. It won't go far. It should stop on a message telling you that there is no bootable device (duh!).
• Leave it running like that. See if it does anything that would indicate a change in status (shut down).
• If nothing then shut down and then start adding devices back one at a time. Start with the keyboard, then mouse, then switch the RAM (still one stick), then add the other stick of RAM, then the hard drive (it will now start Windows), then the optical drive.
• You will not be able to do much to test with in the first few instances. You are just looking for any indication that the system's status is changing. You can enter the BIOS settings once the keyboard is attached and look around to see if it freezes or shuts down there.
• You are looking for clues. Something that would indicate a failing piece of hardware other than CPU, motherboard, RAM stick, or power supply. If it shuts down with nothing attached back yet then that will narrow it down to one of the 4 remaining components.

Let us know!

 

[ykisana]

Unfortunately I don't really have time for that...

 

[ykisana]

It froze during "Starting Windows" and Check your hard disk for errors

 

[ykisana]

Alright, so I replaced my HDD and got a 500W Power Supply. Unfortunately, it still freezes.