Computer locks up randomly

[cp2k]

nope, temperatures have stayed roughly the same. It has been cooling down here, but that has been the case for about a week now. It hasn't been in any extreme temps one way or another either. I'm clueless, its a relatively new battery (though two have been tried, both of which operate fine) I've tried multiple adapters. The system board was replaced a few weeks before it started for another issue, so all of that is relatively new. I first wanted to blame the new board, but again its worked flawlessly for weeks.

When it started freezing bad previously I ran the MemTest all night (about 8 hours, then posted the results on here) and magically it worked perfect the next day and had up until today. I know there is no logically correlation between that program and it starting to work fine, but its the only difference that occurred.

 

[SquonkSC]

nope, temperatures have stayed roughly the same. It has been cooling down here, but that has been the case for about a week now. It hasn't been in any extreme temps one way or another either. I'm clueless, its a relatively new battery (though two have been tried, both of which operate fine) I've tried multiple adapters. The system board was replaced a few weeks before it started for another issue, so all of that is relatively new. I first wanted to blame the new board, but again its worked flawlessly for weeks.

When it started freezing bad previously I ran the MemTest all night (about 8 hours, then posted the results on here) and magically it worked perfect the next day and had up until today. I know there is no logically correlation between that program and it starting to work fine, but its the only difference that occurred.

Well, the mainboard could well be the thing that introduced this problem,
since that is what was replaced just before it started.
Mainboards do fail sometimes.

Another thing.
Have you measured the temp of your graphics card?
You can use Everest to read the graphics temp.

Good luck.

 

[Antman]

Dell laptop.

 

[SquonkSC]

Dell laptop.

Yes, me too.

Everest can see the temp of the internal graphics too.

 

[H2SO4]

Despite having been called a tool, I'll try to help. A few questions first:

1) Is the laptop on XP or win 7 currently?
2) During periods where it's being difficult, do the hangs happen in safe mode too?
3) Have you ever reinstalled the OS from scratch while troubleshooting this issue?
4) If so, has the hang manifested itself before you installed apps and updates?
5) Have you tried uninstalling all anti-virus and security utilities and testing what happens without them?
6) Are you quite sure it happens exclusively while idling - never while the user is around?
7) Has the new RAM altered the nature or frequency of the problem in any discernible way?
8) Is the BIOS up to date?
9) How much do you like this particular friend? Are you willing to spend a couple of hours following some esoteric instructions and doing some testing if necessary?

Now for some rambling.

The fact that your mouse pointer moves indicates that at least parts of the OS are still alive and functional. It is possible for the type of symptom you describe to have both software and hardware causes (though not both concurrently!). Hence, the main focus right now ought to be to rule out one or the other. If it never happens in safe mode, that stongly suggests a software link. Otherwise, if it happens under a fresh spanking new OS install - hardware.

 

[Antman]

Despite having been called a tool, I'll try to help...

Guilty, as charged.

I guess I did say that.

I meant to say power tool?

 

[cp2k]

Thanks for taking a look at it, here is what I can tell you:

1) Is the laptop on XP or win 7 currently? Currently XP, has been for about 3 weeks (before it started working right again, during the entire time it was working OK, and now that it has quit working right again)

2) During periods where it's being difficult, do the hangs happen in safe mode too?

I haven't tried in safe mode, I have however noticed that unplugging the AC adapter seems to be a sure fire solution. I have never had it freeze while running on Battery power, and after I ran an 8+ hour MemTest (again I know this should have no bearing) it magically worked fine for the two week period, and had worked fine until tonight. It ran for hours fine all day, then magically froze 3 times within 2 hours or so. It always is plugged into a surge protector, and I've seen it happen at multiple places so I don't think the current coming in is an issue. I've also tried multiple adapters/batteries.


3) Have you ever reinstalled the OS from scratch while troubleshooting this issue?

Not yet, that was going to be one of my next troubleshooting steps.

4) If so, has the hang manifested itself before you installed apps and updates?

5) Have you tried uninstalling all anti-virus and security utilities and testing what happens without them?

Haven't tried that, I was just going to make the OS move before trying that.

6) Are you quite sure it happens exclusively while idling - never while the user is around?

I've personally seen it happen about 20+ times, and in all cases the laptop was just sitting on its own. Sometimes it would sit 20 minutes and freeze, sometimes 5 minutes. There is little rhyme or reason to it. Power management is set for everything to ALWAYS stay on regardless of Adapter or Battery, and the screen saver is set on 20 minutes (standard Windows XP logo screensaver). Usually when this happens it freezes before it makes it to that stage though.


7) Has the new RAM altered the nature or frequency of the problem in any discernible way?

I installed it to see if it would make a difference since the MemTest produced massive #'s of errors, but no it seems to freeze as frequently after as before but no worse.

8) Is the BIOS up to date? Yes

9) How much do you like this particular friend? Are you willing to spend a couple of hours following some esoteric instructions and doing some testing if necessary?

Sure, we don't get a chance to look at it much because he's busy with school and work lately but whenever we can get in the same place I try to work on it and would be willing to try anything else. I've talked to Dell, they are clueless

Some background on the system: Its a Dell 1525, purchased a year and a half ago. Since that time Dell replaced the board once because a USB Port broke, but had to replace that board because the battery refused to charge. The new board was installed well before the problem began, and the battery charges fine now with it. I've considered the board, adapter and battery to all be part of the blame but it doesn't make sense for it to be the board because it works perfectly for long stretches and then will resurface. I've tried multiple adapters, two batteries (since I have the same model laptop).

Could the board switch (if anything was different on it, even slightly) have created some issues with the OS possibly? It wasn't reinstalled after the board swap.

 

[H2SO4]

Despite having been called a tool, I'll try to help...

Guilty, as charged.

I guess I did say that.

I meant to say power tool?

It's just my little attempt at humour. I know full well what you meant and I'm sincerely thankful for the implied compliment.

I prefer "poser".

 

[H2SO4]

OK. The link to the battery and the fact that it only seems to happen while idling suggests some sort of power transition SNAFU, despite the "always on" power plan. There are power management factors which cannot be directly controlled through the Windows power plans, such as processor "C-states" and the like.

Ordinarily, I'd suggest that you focus on (separately) testing what happens in safe mode and with all AV/security utilities completely uninstalled.

However, in this instance there's something even more important which needs doing first. The old adage was "new motherboard = new install", and that's what I think you should do. While Win7 (and Vista) are a lot more tolerant of having the motherboard swapped out from underneath an OS install than older versions of Windows, the nature of your symptom means it would be better to be sure - and to reinstall.

Once you reinstall the OS from scratch, I suggest keeping it away from the internet and from all updates or apps/games/whatever. If the lockup still occurs, and the thing is on the latest BIOS, it is obviously a hardware fault.

 

[cp2k]

Thanks, as I say that was going to be my next plan. My only concern with carrying it out is the laptop does function now (but with the freezes), I was almost afraid to try the OS reinstall because if it starts freezing during the installs it'll no longer function at all compared to now. But I guess I have to take a gamble & go for it.

 

[H2SO4]

Thanks, as I say that was going to be my next plan. My only concern with carrying it out is the laptop does function now (but with the freezes), I was almost afraid to try the OS reinstall because if it starts freezing during the installs it'll no longer function at all compared to now. But I guess I have to take a gamble & go for it.

I guess it depends on the friend's priorities and whether the laptop is under warranty. Personally, I live in fear of underlying hardware wonkiness, especially on machines still under warranty.

 

[Corpsecrank]

This issue is not a ram problem at all. If you have IOBit security 360 installed remove it and reboot.

If you do not have security 360 installed think back to the last couple of things you installed and remove them.

Install them one at a time giving a few days between them to see which one is causing the lock ups.

I would bet money this is a software issue because I had the exact same thing happen when using security 360 and removing it fixed the problem.

 

[SquonkSC]

I would bet money this is a software issue because I had the exact same thing happen when using security 360 and removing it fixed the problem.

I could put a list here of what could be causing this that would extend to the next page.
Both hardware and software issues.

The fact that your seemingly similar problem was caused by your 360 software doesn't mean this applies to the OP's problem.
If it would turn out to be the problem, it would be a very lucky guess at best.
The OP never mentioned he has 360 software installed.

After 20 yrs of troubleshooting I learned never to bet on anything.
You'll lose too many times.

But thanks for the suggestion.
If the OP does have 360, it's something he could try.

Greetings

 

[Antman]

I would bet money this is a software issue because I had the exact same thing happen when using security 360 and removing it fixed the problem.

I could put a list here of what could be causing this that would extend to the next page.
Both hardware and software issues.

The fact that your seemingly similar problem was caused by your 360 software doesn't mean this applies to the OP's problem.
If it would turn out to be the problem, it would be a very lucky guess at best.
The OP never mentioned he has 360 software installed.

After 20 yrs of troubleshooting I learned never to bet on anything.
You'll lose too many times.

But thanks for the suggestion.
If the OP does have 360, it's something he could try.

Greetings

I'll bet you are right.

 

[cp2k]

Don't use 360, and no new software was installed around the time of the incident or since. I actually don't think anything new has been installed on it in months, he typically only uses Office, Internet, etc (and yes I've done multiple virus, spyware scans, etc- it's clean). I guess the OS reinstall would be the best option to try now, that would rule out software for all intents & purposes. If it still does it when its back to Dell and the hardware issue.

 

[Antman]

Where do I collect?

 

[chev65]

Heck I would have reinstalled the Op system first thing. That is usually my first course of action when I have unfixable problems. And usually it's faster than trying to track down the problem since Win 7 installs in ten minutes. Now with XP it was another story altogether with it's rediculously long installation time.

Honestly, freezes can be so many things it's hard to say what it might be.

 

[Phoscur]

Hi guys,
I think I'm expiriencing a similar problem, split if you want the topics separated.
My history and description of the "bug":
I was first using Win7 build ~7200, till it ran out of support and I did a fresh install with Win7 RTM OEM 64Bit Ultimate. Running it I started expiriencing the bug.
Videos stop randomly for ~1-2mins and get of sync in WMP; Firefox turns to "no reponse" and gets white after I clicked on a link. Clicking on another programm (the mouse is not freezing) makes the program stop to "no response". This also happens to the taskmanager, I've always opened on my second monitor.
After the freeze for ~1-2mins, everything continues normally.
I thought something could be buggy with my Installtion and installed another Win7 Professional RTM 64Bit. Which I'm running now.
The some sort of this bug already happend without any drivers (running the pure OS), but I'm still not completely sure about it, if it's the same bug. I was sure it would go away with the fresh install and didn't, care I'm sorry.
Another issue:
Running WarCraft3 in windowed mode never took me down to 20fps, which is unplayable, it was ok as I had my new 24'' Monitor and tried to run it in window mode full screen on it to get down to 20-25fps on high grafics, but now it's 15-20fps really laggy on my laptopmonitor, which makes me think about my freeze bug.
Google couldn't help me, installing newest drivers and clean windows didn't help me.
I'm going to run Memtest86+ this night, bringing result tomorrow (for me it's 2:37 o clock, germany).
I didn't install new software until that bug appeard, so I guess it's a new driver (because I couldn't find the old ones) or Win7 new onboard driver problem.

@thread-starter:
Have you done any driver updates until that bug appeard for you?

 

[SquonkSC]

Hi guys,
I think I'm expiriencing a similar problem, split if you want the topics separated.
My history and description of the "bug":
I was first using Win7 build ~7200, till it ran out of support and I did a fresh install with Win7 RTM OEM 64Bit Ultimate. Running it I started expiriencing the bug.
Videos stop randomly for ~1-2mins and get of sync in WMP; Firefox turns to "no reponse" and gets white after I clicked on a link. Clicking on another programm (the mouse is not freezing) makes the program stop to "no response". This also happens to the taskmanager, I've always opened on my second monitor.
After the freeze for ~1-2mins, everything continues normally.
I thought something could be buggy with my Installtion and installed another Win7 Professional RTM 64Bit. Which I'm running now.
The some sort of this bug already happend without any drivers (running the pure OS), but I'm still not completely sure about it, if it's the same bug. I was sure it would go away with the fresh install and didn't, care I'm sorry.
Another issue:
Running WarCraft3 in windowed mode never took me down to 20fps, which is unplayable, it was ok as I had my new 24'' Monitor and tried to run it in window mode full screen on it to get down to 20-25fps on high grafics, but now it's 15-20fps really laggy on my laptopmonitor, which makes me think about my freeze bug.
Google couldn't help me, installing newest drivers and clean windows didn't help me.
I'm going to run Memtest86+ this night, bringing result tomorrow (for me it's 2:37 o clock, germany).
I didn't install new software until that bug appeard, so I guess it's a new driver (because I couldn't find the old ones) or Win7 new onboard driver problem.

@thread-starter:
Have you done any driver updates until that bug appeard for you?

Hi Phoscur,

You have to start your own thread on this matter.

The problems are likely completely different, and it is not done to hijack someones else's thread.

good luck