Everything randomly freezes (Not Responding)

[KaTzEvans]

(Please tell me immediately if I posted this in the correct thread...)

As the title says, Everything just randomly freezes from time to time, and if I try to do anything the "Not Responding" label shows on the window. I mostly want to make sure whether this is a software problem rather than hardware, because from where I am, what I already have is considered as "very expensive" already and even I know it's not even a good rig...

To further it up, I've tried several of things like for software, I did: Defragmenting, Antivirus Scan, Malware Scan, tried those rootkit/adware cleaners, updated drivers, did some registry cleaning (CCleaner...), and CHKDSK scans.

And for hardware, I did: Cleaning the GPU Fans/Vents, CPU Heatsink, and the Motherboard.

I have also checked for errors in the Event logs, but nothing, no error logs were created whenever these freezes happened. I'm really worried that It's my HDD or CPU, as my HDD have about 300 GB worth of projects and my CPU is rather the most expensive part I currently have...

I'm currently uploading a video (via crappy phone camera and is uploading in YouTube) but it should only show how the freezes happen.

And a quick note about the "freezes" whenever one program freezes, then almost every program freezes along with it, mostly that gets frozen along with it are the system programs like sound, explorer, control panel, etc.

My specs should be in my profile. Please kindly give out suggestions or thorough explanations and such.
Thank you.

EDIT: The video I was talking about that shows how the random not responding/freezes happen is shown here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3XmDnhaTUY
(Please don't mind the background sound, someone was watching TV...)

Another EDIT: So, I tried this "Sensor View" program and ran it as someone suggested to check my temperatures, and most were at around 30-45 degrees (Celsius) but as we kept checking, a sudden "not responding" happened and when it got back to normal, the HDD usage bar spiked up from 0% to 100%
Is that normal whenever something becomes "not responding"?

 

[mdd1963]

Remove power from rear of case, reseat your memory modules...

If no change, try running off one RAM module one at a time in the correct slot required for single stick operation (this will be in your MB manual)

You might also try a Linux LIVE CD (Mint17 or Ubuntu), if your system seems stable here (runs from the CD ROM/DVD and RAM, does not need/use hard drive), you might want to consider backing up any needed data, and try a nuke and pave reinstall.

 

[KaTzEvans]

Remove power from rear of case, reseat your memory modules...

By "Memory modules" you mean the RAM right?
(Sorry, not too well accustomed to the computer parts. And I only have one 4 GB RAM, but yeah, I'll give that a try if that's what you meant)

 

[DarKnight]

(Please tell me immediately if I posted this in the correct thread...)

As the title says, Everything just randomly freezes from time to time, and if I try to do anything the "Not Responding" label shows on the window. I mostly want to make sure whether this is a software problem rather than hardware, because from where I am, what I already have is considered as "very expensive" already and even I know it's not even a good rig...

To further it up, I've tried several of things like for software, I did: Defragmenting, Antivirus Scan, Malware Scan, tried those rootkit/adware cleaners, updated drivers, did some registry cleaning (CCleaner...), and CHKDSK scans.

And for hardware, I did: Cleaning the GPU Fans/Vents, CPU Heatsink, and the Motherboard.

I have also checked for errors in the Event logs, but nothing, no error logs were created whenever these freezes happened. I'm really worried that It's my HDD or CPU, as my HDD have about 300 GB worth of projects and my CPU is rather the most expensive part I currently have...

I'm currently uploading a video (via crappy phone camera and is uploading in YouTube) but it should only show how the freezes happen.

And a quick note about the "freezes" whenever one program freezes, then almost every program freezes along with it, mostly that gets frozen along with it are the system programs like sound, explorer, control panel, etc.

My specs should be in my profile. Please kindly give out suggestions or thorough explanations and such.
Thank you.

Hey,does your mouse or keyboard keep working when the system "freezes" or they get frozen just like softwares? And what about HDD LED ,does it keep lighting?

 

[KaTzEvans]

Hey,does your mouse or keyboard keep working when the system "freezes" or they get frozen just like softwares? And what about HDD LED ,does it keep lighting?

Nope, they all work fine whenever it freezes.

 

[DarKnight]

Nope, they all work fine whenever it freezes.

hmm,then we can definitely say,there's no problem with your HDD.
Can you remember how did it started? After installing a new OS?

 

[KaTzEvans]

hmm,then we can definitely say,there's no problem with your HDD.
Can you remember how did it started? After installing a new OS?

Ah, well.. actually I think this whole started when I updated my GPU drivers some time ago or rather, I'd prefer to say that updating my GPU drivers were the last significant thing that I did before the whole random freezing happened.

And if it helps, I tried to uninstall the GPU drivers once and had it re-updated and the problem still occurs, and also I tried running in safe mode and yeah, no dice...

 

[DarKnight]

Ah, well.. actually I think this whole started when I updated my GPU drivers some time ago or rather, I'd prefer to say that updating my GPU drivers were the last significant thing that I did before the whole random freezing happened.

And if it helps, I tried to uninstall the GPU drivers once and had it re-updated and the problem still occurs, and also I tried running in safe mode and yeah, no dice...

Ahh,there might be 3 solutions for you...

1.There can be a problem with the GPU driver.Have you tried using SlimDrivers? The software automatically checks for out-of-date and missing drivers and updates&restores them.
I hope,the computer doesn't get "frozen" instantly when you turn it on and you have much enough time to run Slim Drivers

2.You can try "System restore" feature and get back your computer's earlier setting.

and

3.What about reinstalling windows? If there's no problem with hardware,then reinstalling OS will fix any problems and bugs.

If you need any help with these steps ,notify me

 

[KaTzEvans]

Ahh,there might be 3 solutions for you...

1.There can be a problem with the GPU driver.Have you tried using SlimDrivers? The software automatically checks for out-of-date and missing drivers and updates&restores them.
I hope,the computer doesn't get "frozen" instantly when you turn it on and you have much enough time to run Slim Drivers

2.You can try "System restore" feature and get back your computer's earlier setting.

and

3.What about reinstalling windows? If there's no problem with hardware,then reinstalling OS will fix any problems and bugs.

If you need any help with these steps ,notify me

Hmm, I'll try this SlimDrivers then...
Oh, and I think I tried System Restore, but still didn't work...

And one more thing, does reinstalling my OS require me to buy an OS?
(One thing is because I don't have an installer whatsoever...)
If not so, then please do tell me how to do that.

Because though, it's actually been a while that I have wanted to install a new OS and most preferably a 64-bit one, but as I'm still kinda tight on budget (still just a college student).

Though, correct me if I'm wrong but Linux is free, but I'd rather if I'd stick to Windows OS.

 

[DarKnight]

Hmm, I'll try this SlimDrivers then...
Oh, and I think I tried System Restore, but still didn't work...

And one more thing, does reinstalling my OS require me to buy an OS?
(One thing is because I don't have an installer whatsoever...)
If not so, then please do tell me how to do that.

Because though, it's actually been a while that I have wanted to install a new OS and most preferably a 64-bit one, but as I'm still kinda tight on budget (still just a college student).

Though, correct me if I'm wrong but Linux is free, but I'd rather if I'd stick to Windows OS.

No,you're not wrong,Linux is absolutely free but it isn't as user-friendly as Windows is(just my opinion,some people may find Linux more user-friendly...)

If you want to install Windows,then you should download the OS from internet. I can give you a few web-addresses for it(the file size is about 4-5GB) if you decide to reinstall windows.

Then you'll have to use a software called "Power ISO".

Before moving to the next step,you must know,that it's necessary to have an USB flash or CD/DVD drive to move the windows files on it(unfortunately there's no way of installing Windows 7 from D hard drive,only newer windows OS-es can be installed that way)

Then you have to format your flash/CD drive
And after that ,with Power Iso you can easily move windows files from computer to the drive.
When all these steps are successfully followed,an usual flash drive will turn into a bootable drive that's ready for installation...

 

[KaTzEvans]

No,you're not wrong,Linux is absolutely free but it isn't as user-friendly as Windows is(just my opinion,some people may find Linux more user-friendly...)

If you want to install Windows,then you should download the OS from internet. I can give you a few web-addresses for it(the file size is about 4-5GB) if you decide to reinstall windows.

Then you'll have to use a software called "Power ISO".

Before moving to the next step,you must know,that it's necessary to have an USB flash or CD/DVD drive to move the windows files on it(unfortunately there's no way of installing Windows 7 from D hard drive,only newer windows OS-es can be installed that way)

Then you have to format your flash/CD drive
And after that ,with Power Iso you can easily move windows files from computer to the drive.
When all these steps are successfully followed,an usual flash drive will turn into a bootable drive that's ready for installation...

Ah, well I think I'll have to hold that then...
I'd think I'd need to get a new HDD before I install a new OS, because as I've said above, I really don't want to format my drive as there is about 300 GB worth of all my projects.

Well, I've tried the SlimDrives updates, and It kinda suppressed the freeze times just a bit as from now...
But yeah, that's about it...

Any more suggestions I should do?
(anything that doesn't require a full wipe of HDD and/or replacing CPU)

Thanks for taking your time to help by the way.

 

[DarKnight]

Ah, well I think I'll have to hold that then...
I'd think I'd need to get a new HDD before I install a new OS, because as I've said above, I really don't want to format my drive as there is about 300 GB worth of all my projects.

Well, I've tried the SlimDrives updates, and It kinda suppressed the freeze times just a bit as from now...
But yeah, that's about it...

Any more suggestions I should do?
(anything that doesn't require a full wipe of HDD and/or replacing CPU)

Thanks for taking your time to help by the way.

You can move your data on another drive( D disc), the C disc should be formatted if you want the new installed OS not to get messed with the old windows files.During the installation process,you'll be able to choose which drive to format. Just move your data to D disc and format C,let the system files be written on C and your files will be kept on D without any risks of losing them.

Let's see if the system keeps getting frozen ,even after using SlimDrivers,if it does,then we'll think of something else,there's no tasks that can't be accomplished

 

[KaTzEvans]

You can move your data on another drive( D disc), the C disc should be formatted if you want the new installed OS not to get messed with the old windows files.During the installation process,you'll be able to choose which drive to format. Just move your data to D disc and format C,let the system files be written on C and your files will be kept on D without any risks of losing them.

Let's see if the system keeps getting frozen ,even after using SlimDrivers,if it does,then we'll think of something else,there's no tasks that can't be accomplished

Ah, well the freezes still happen by the way...
And like I keep saying, I'll do anything that doesn't require a full wipe or changing the CPU.
I'll be changing the OS once I get enough money to buy another HDD...
So, what will be the next thing I should try to do?

Anyways, here's the vid that shows how the freezes just randomly happens... (Sorry for crap camera quality tho)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3XmDnhaTUY
(Tho the vid only shows how it does it, too bad it doesn't really help, but here you go anyway...)

 

[KaTzEvans]

So, I tried this "Sensor View" program and ran it as someone suggested to check my temperatures, and most were at around 30-45 degrees (Celsius) but as we kept checking, a sudden "not responding" happened and when it got back to normal, the HDD usage bar spiked up from 0% to 100%
Is that normal whenever something becomes "not responding"?

(I also edited/added this in the main thread just to inform...)