Computer freezes a lot, often at startup

[Ray2003]

Hi, my computer freezes all the time, often right after startup. There is no blue screen or anything. Everything just freezes and I can't do anything (Ctrl-Alt-Delete doesn't work, etc.) so I could only hit the power switch to turn off the computer.

I've run the DM Log Collector and have uploaded the file here. However, it seems a lot of the info are 0 KB. If you need more info, I can run the SF Diagnostic Tool (I've been on this forum before, and it's been great before, and I've run that then; not sure if it's how it's done now). Anyways, please help. My freezing computer is driving me nuts!

 

[torchwood]

Hi Ray,
when it freezes, is it just a blank black screen, if so had you scheduled either dskchk or sfc scannow to run on next boot?

Roy

 

[indianacarnie]

I think maybe you should go ahead and run the system file check. Have you installed anything new right before this started? Sure were having a lot of update fails there......... what, if any malware/virus scans have you made?

 

[Megahertz07]

As it's a 5 years old computer, the heat sink can be blocked with dust. Or even the fan isn't working.
Open the case, remove the fan (not the heat sink, and with a paint brush, clean it.

Install a temperature monitor. Downloads - Open Hardware Monitor

As Torckwood recomended, schedule a disk check and on a CMD type sfc /scannow

 

[Ray2003]

Thanks for the responses. I'm going to run the recommended programs and get back to you.

It's never a blank screen. At startup, it goes to the desktop, I see my icons, but then I can't open any programs and it just stalls.

I always run Speccy in the background and the temperatures are always low (see screenshot). I checked the fans just now. They were relatively clean (I cleaned them just a month ago) and they were working.

 

[Megahertz07]

as you can have a corrupted file, schedule a disk check and on a CMD type sfc /scannow

 

[Ray2003]

OK, I've finished the steps--CHKDSK and SCANNOW--and I've attached the results in a zip file. I followed the scannow steps illustrated here:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/929833

And for CHKDSK, I just restarted the computer in safe mode with command prompt.

There doesn't seem to be any problems. What is the next step? Thanks a bunch!

 

[Megahertz07]

Run a memory test

- Click Start, type mdsched.exe in the Search box, and then press Enter.
- Choose whether to restart the computer and run the tool immediately or schedule the tool to run at the next restart.
- Windows Memory Diagnostics runs automatically after the computer restarts and performs a standard memory test automatically. If you want to perform fewer or more tests, press F1, use the Up and Down arrow keys to set the Test Mix as Basic, Standard, or Extended, and then press F10 to apply the desired settings and resume testing.
- When testing is completed, the computer restarts automatically. You’ll see the test results when you log on.

Note that if a computer crashes because of failing memory, and Windows Memory Diagnostics detects this, the system will prompt you to schedule a memory test the next time the computer is restarted.

 

[Ray2003]

OK, I ran mdsched.exe at startup and left the computer while it ran. Then I heard the computer restart. However, when it did, it froze again at startup (I see the desktop but I can't access any programs). I saw no test results. I had to manually turn off the computer twice before I could get to a desktop where I can access programs. Again, I saw no test results.

I went to the Event Viewer and could only find the following (please see the zip file, which contains screenshots). Also, there has been a BSOD since the last time, but there was no memory dump; it just froze at the BSOD forever so I had to shut down manually. Please help.

 

[Megahertz07]

Memory test can last a day. If the computer booted in minutes, run it again and stay close for about 10 minutes (fist pass).

You can clean the memory contacts.
- Shutdown, remove the power cable from the power supply and wait 1/2 minute.
- Remove one memory stick at a time and clean with a cloth with alcohol. Let it dry before inserting back into the slot.

 

[Ray2003]

OK, I've followed instructions. I cleaned the memory sticks and contacts and then ran the mdsched again. Same result. It goes very quickly--like the entire program takes around 10 minutes--then the computer restarts and I'm at the login page again and when I typed in my password, I go to a desktop that is frozen (I can't access any of the programs). I'm including an image of what I see right before the computer restarts. Please help.

 

[Ray2003]

Actually, something new came up. It takes the desktop so long to work, I just let it wait--for maybe 10 minutes. Finally, it unfreezes, and in the lower righthand corner was an icon that told me "No memory errors detected" or something like that.

And new problem occurred also: I was working, and all of sudden my 2 monitors went blank and my computer stayed on. I couldn't access anything either.

 

[Ray2003]

Hi, anyone reading this? Can someone help me with the next step? Thanks.

 

[Megahertz07]

Did you install the hardware monitor as I suggest on post 4.
You may have high CPU temp and it slows down to cool.

 

[Ray2003]

I've had Speccy installed for years. It's not the temp (see screenshot). The fans are working too.

 

[Megahertz07]

Ray, 50ºC doesn't mean much. What was the Max?
I already used Speccy. Didn't like as it is medium.
There is HWiNFO, that is much more complete, and is good to find information.https://www.hwinfo.com/download.php

My favorite is Open hardware monitor. Downloads - Open Hardware Monitor

It isn't so complete as HWiNFO but it's light, logs Max and min (temp, voltage, fans etc) and you can see the CPU temp at the task bar.
Mine starts with windows.

 

[Ray2003]

OK, I've run HWinfo and posted a screenshot of its results. However, I'm not sure it's the temp. The computer, again, freezes on startup. What happens is the hard drive seems to just stall (blinking at regularly intervals but not with regular, intermittent cycles [when it's healthy]). Whether it freezes at startup (when I see the dashboard) or in the middle of me working, it's the same thing with the hard drive. I've included a video of the drive's light. Please help. Thanks!

 

[Megahertz07]

Ray, when it blinks as yours does, it means it getting stuck when loading a drive.
Open device manager to see if there is a yellow alert.
Does it boot normally on safe mode?

 

[Ray2003]

It boots in safe mode. It boots mostly in normal mode too. Every 4th or 5th time, however, it stalls. And occasionally, in the middle of working (after I've had the computer working for a few hours), it stalls (i.e., the hard drive got stuck). I've run device manager but see no yellow alerts (are those yellow question marks? I don't know). I'm include a screenshot.

 

[Megahertz07]

Ray, all devices are now with their right drivers (no more yellow alert marks).
Check disk, system file checker and memory check didn't find any problem so I can't think of anything else, sorry.

Try superantispyware. SUPERAntiSpyware - SUPERAntiSpyware Portable Scanner