Solved Random freezes - Seven Professional x64

[bigfeh]

WD's tool test also came in clean. I'm starting to think this isn't the HDDs... Shouldn't we move on?

 

[x BlueRobot]

Okay good, and have you tested the RAM?

• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105647-ram-test-memtest86.html

Run Memtest86+ for least 9-10 passes, and preferably overnight as it can take a while to fully complete.

Test each RAM stick individually, if an error is found then move the same RAM stick into the next DIMM slot and test again, if errors are found for the same RAM stick in every available slot then you have a faulty RAM module. On the other hand, if no errors are found in the next slot or the other slots for the same RAM module, then you have a faulty DIMM slot.

Test each RAM stick and every motherboard DIMM slot available.

test|Slot1|Slot2
RAM1| Error | Error
RAM2|Good|Good

It is a RAM, a bad RAM.

But if you have got a result like that:

test|Slot1|Slot2
RAM1| Error |Good
RAM2| Error |Good

It is a motherboard issue. The particular slot is bad.

Prime 95 Stress Test (CPU):

• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/100352-hardware-stress-test-prime95.html

Enable "Round off checking" before the test (see first post below tutorial).

 

[bigfeh]

Okay good, and have you tested the RAM?

• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105647-ram-test-memtest86.html

Run Memtest86+ for least 9-10 passes, and preferably overnight as it can take a while to fully complete.

Test each RAM stick individually, if an error is found then move the same RAM stick into the next DIMM slot and test again, if errors are found for the same RAM stick in every available slot then you have a faulty RAM module. On the other hand, if no errors are found in the next slot or the other slots for the same RAM module, then you have a faulty DIMM slot.

Test each RAM stick and every motherboard DIMM slot available.

test|Slot1|Slot2
RAM1| Error | Error
RAM2|Good|Good

It is a RAM, a bad RAM.

But if you have got a result like that:

test|Slot1|Slot2
RAM1| Error |Good
RAM2| Error |Good

It is a motherboard issue. The particular slot is bad.

Prime 95 Stress Test (CPU):

• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/100352-hardware-stress-test-prime95.html

Enable "Round off checking" before the test (see first post below tutorial).

Long ago, RAM is OK. Downloading Prime95 and will run it later today.

 

[x BlueRobot]

Okay, thanks for the update.

 

[bigfeh]

Ran it right after computer froze and in rapid succession (less than 2 minutes of test) it froze in my face. Rebooted and left it running for two hours, no errors, no hangs, nothing.

EDIT: How do we test the sound card anyways?

 

[gregrocker]

Disable or disconnect the sound card to see if problem persists.

 

[bigfeh]

Disable or disconnect the sound card to see if problem persists.

Do I need to uninstall something, change some config or just pull it out?

 

[gregrocker]

Probably best to carefully remove it because it could be shorting rather than just a driver conflict.

If it resolves the freezes to run without it, then carefully reinstall it to see if they come back and if so replace the card, or just replace the card outright.

 

[bigfeh]

Probably best to carefully remove it because it could be shorting rather than just a driver conflict.

If it resolves the freezes to run without it, then carefully reinstall it to see if they come back and if so replace the card, or just replace the card outright.

Yeah, I know
I meant to pull it but not literally (like in ripping it out). Is reseating the sound card worth a try?

 

[gregrocker]

Yes, you can reseat it. If that doesn't help then remove it to see if freezing stops without it.

 

[bigfeh]

OK So I'm not really sure how exactly I'm going to remove it. I don't have much proficiency in messing around with hardware, not to mention it's pretty tight in there and it looks like it's fixed by a couple screws as well (no, it's not integrated)

Anything else we could try?

 

[gregrocker]

Try disabling the Sound card device in Device Manager.

 

[carwiz]

I installed all of these in rapid succession soI can't really remember which one was installed last.

Start over (Clean install with OEM motherboard drivers, Windows updates and hardware drivers ONLY) and follow the advice on post #45. Do NOT load McAfee, Symantec (Norton) or AVG! Use anything else but we recommend MSE because we know it works well with Windows 7 and it's not bloatware.

Do not load any additional software or drivers until Windows completes it's housework. This could take an hour or more. The only drive activity you should see is a blip about every second. Reboot, then run the BSOD utility selecting MSINFO and post it here.

Add ONE software package and check for stability. Reboot then add ONE more and so on (Reboot, add one, check stability). If you get a freeze, run the BSOD utility selecting MSINFO and post it here. If you get a BSOD, run the Grab All and post it.

So in summation, your next post here should be an MSINFO upload showing a clean/fresh install with nothing else running.

 

[gregrocker]

Thanks for jogging my memory Ken, as I had given this advice a week ago which apparently was ignored.

 

[carwiz]

I know. I've been following this thread.

 

[bigfeh]

I don't get any BSODs. Last one I got I was running driver verifier and apparently the driver wasn't the problem.

EDIT: Look, I have already done that (I installed the hardware drivers all at once, then proceeded to install software one at a time. Exceptions were Firefox, and Thunderbird, and only these. The rest was installed later on), and I think either you misunderstood me or I misunderstood you. (this was probably the second case, anyways, so I guess I'll try it again this weekend or so) Either case, I'll try it again if I have done it wrong. I still haven't installed McAfee or any other AV.

EDIT 2: I'm sorry if it seemed like I ignored you; I didn't, I just think it'd be too time consuming for now. Besides, I'll install a Linux distro to make sure it is/it isn't software. Plus, it's just too random. Sometimes it stays stable for some days, and sometimes it hangs 3 times in an hour. But what's the relation? What could possibly be the trigger?

 

[bigfeh]

I reinstalled the BIOS (won't say updated, I already had the latest version). Let's see if that works

EDIT: Did not work :/

EDIT 2: Will install the Linux distro this weekend and will update.

 

[bigfeh]

Just something I thought might be worth a try, but I don't want to screw this up. Do you guys think installing the newest NVIDIA Beta driver could work?

 

[cipley]

I would prefer a stable release...
Beta drivers are "incomplete" version...could lead to future problems

 

[gregrocker]

Have you followed our advice or the steps in Clean Reinstall to install only the drivers pushed through by Windows Updates, then after all rounds of Updates and restarts import only drivers missing in Device Manager?

Only then install programs slowly over time with enough space in between to gauge whether each program is causing the problem.

Before install run Dell Diagnostics Utility - How to Run the