Computer constantly freezes.

[garethgkr]

My computer has been constantly freezing each time I boot it up. there is no blue screen, it just freezes on whatever image its displaying. Sometimes I'll be lucky to get one minute out of it without it freezing. And when it freezes I have to reboot it. I tried Safe Mode and it doesn't freeze while in it.
Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!
Thanks.

 

[richc46]

Welcome

Actually you gave us quite a few clues. Try a clean boot, if it freezes, then the problem is probably a driver, if it does not freeze follow the clean boot instructions and find the problem. I am guessing the anti virus.
How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows Vista or in Windows 7

 

[garethgkr]

I tried doing that but before I could change the settings it froze again. So I did it in safe mode. Rebooted it and it still freezes.
:S

 

[richc46]

Here is a good article that may help
Troubleshooting Computer Freeze (Lockup) Problems

 

[garethgkr]

Thanks, but I can't do anything with it though. I'm struggling to get 1 min of it without freezing.

 

[richc46]

Have you made any changes lately?
Have you been to any sites that may have a virus
Any email from strangers with attachments that you opened
Anyone else use your computer lately
Are you overclocked?

Very good chance that it is hardware, with RAM as a good possiblity.

 

[karlsnooks]

My computer has been constantly freezing each time I boot it up. there is no blue screen, it just freezes on whatever image its displaying. Sometimes I'll be lucky to get one minute out of it without it freezing. And when it freezes I have to reboot it. I tried Safe Mode and it doesn't freeze while in it.
Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!
Thanks.

SafeMode only loads basic MS drivers.
Since you can run in Safe Mode, then one could assume that your problem is related to a driver which is being loaded/used when you are not in Safe Mode.

While in Safe Mode perform a System Restore to a point in time before this problem appeared.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/700-system-restore.html

 

[garethgkr]

Have you made any changes lately?
Not recently.

Have you been to any sites that may have a virus?
Not that I know of. I use it to download movies/tv shows. Use it as a HTPC, hooked up to the tv.

Any email from strangers with attachments that you opened?
Nope.

Anyone else use your computer lately?
Yes, but they only use it to watch movies.


Are you overclocked?
Nope.

If its a RAM problem, how do I investigate it?

 

[richc46]

Ill get you memetest86, be right back.

Here you go
Download memtest86 and test RAM
www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105647-ram-test-memtest86.html

You may want to give the system restore idea a try before proceeding.

Karl is correct in the safe mode analyis, if his suggetion does not work, I am leaning toward ram, since in safe mode not much is used. The results of the clean boot, however would suggest otherwise.

 

[karlsnooks]

What AV are you using?

 

[garethgkr]

I've just done a system restore to the 16/9/2010 just before a critical update. (had to do it while in safe mode)
It still crashes.


Im using AVG Anti-Virus latest version.

PS. I'll be going to sleep now. Thanks for everyones help.

 

[karlsnooks]

When you awake,

Download Microsoft Security Essentials.

Remove AVG.
AVG Removal
AVG - Tools download

Install and run Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE).

MSE is free, updated regularly by MS, small footprint, non-interfering, excellent performance in all aspects (the evaluation is from reviews and tests by reputable security centers/services/sites).

You will not regret this action.
http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

 

[garethgkr]

It WORKS!! Thanks a lot!
Should I download another AV or stick with Microsoft Security Essentials?

 

[richc46]

Stay with MSE, it is considered one of the best, so why switch. BTW it is the one that I use. I swtiched from Mcafee. On my first scan it found 6 nasties missed by Mcafee. Good luck.

 

[karlsnooks]

I agree with Rich. Also do NOT run two AV programs.