Laptop freezing minutes later after booting up (Clean Windows Install)

[WindowsOP]

Hi,

Laptop came pre-installed with Windows 8/8.1 and I didn't like the OS so I decided to downgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate x64.

After finish installing OS, I download all drivers and install on my laptop. (DONE)
I connect to the internet and start to download windows updates and install them. Then the computer randomly freezes in the process of downloading the updates. Sometimes, the laptop will boot up and then freeze without me having a chance to do anything! Other times, it freezes randomly out of the blue when playing a game, installing some programs, or just not doing anything. When the computer freezes, I have to hold the power button to reboot the laptop again. The back lit keyboard is working but that doesn't really matter since the screen froze and I can't do anything unless I reboot.

I have also re installed my laptop with Windows 7, installed all the drivers again and the same problem happens again.

RAM- 6gb (4gb,2gb)
CPU- Intel I5 Ivy Bridge

 

[gregrocker]

Start over and this time don't force drivers into a driver-complete OS. This is not XP.


Follow the same steps as for Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 especially how to handle drivers in Win7. They will all come in on Windows Update after install. Just have your wireless driver in backup in case you need it to get online and Check for Updates. Then install all Important and Optional Updates, with reboots, until there are no more offered.


If problems persist check your UEFI settings in BIOS. You've already disabled Secure Boot, correct. What are CSM, Legacy BIOS and Boot settings. Did you install to UEFI or in Legacy?


Once you do that then if problem persists start at the top of the Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7

 

[WindowsOP]

Start over and this time don't force drivers into a driver-complete OS. This is not XP.


Follow the same steps as for Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 especially how to handle drivers in Win7. They will all come in on Windows Update after install. Just have your wireless driver in backup in case you need it to get online and Check for Updates. Then install all Important and Optional Updates, with reboots, until there are no more offered.


If problems persist check your UEFI settings in BIOS. You've already disabled Secure Boot, correct. What are CSM, Legacy BIOS and Boot settings. Did you install to UEFI or in Legacy?


Once you do that then if problem persists start at the top of the Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7

Hi Gregrocker,

You've already disabled Secure Boot, correct.

-Yes I disabled Secure Boot. In bios, it says, "Secure Boot - Disabled, Secure boot mode - Standard"

What are CSM, Legacy BIOS and Boot settings. Did you install to UEFI or in Legacy?

I don't know what CSM means but after doing some google, it means Compatibility Support Module. There isn't CSM in BIOS. Only Legacy and UEFI.



Before installing Windows 7, I changed the Boot Mode from UEFI systems to Legacy mode.

Then, when the windows 7 setup said, "where do you want to install Windows", I couldn't select a partition to install Windows 7. The error came up for every partition I selected.

"Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk is of the GPT partion style. Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The computer's hardware may not support booting to this disk. Ensure that the disk's controller is enabled in the computer BIOS menu."

I fixed this problem deleting all partitions so that it said Disk 0 Unallocated Space. Then I used Shift+F10, cmd prompt popped and used Diskpart Clean Command and then converting it to GPT. After that, I have no problems completing the installation. that's where when my computer started to freeze a LOT !!


Now I am going to re install windows with your guide, under legacy mode & using GPT style partition unless otherwise you say I shouldn't. Before my Windows 7 install, I was using GPT partition style because of the error. But in your opinion, should I be installing using GPT partition style or MBR partition style and installing and using Legacy or UEFI?

 

[gregrocker]

That's why you got the error. The installer will format MBR once you delete all. If not we need a closer look at BIOS settings

 

[WindowsOP]

That's why you got the error. The installer will format MBR once you delete all. If not we need a closer look at BIOS settings

Since I'm going to re install Windows 7, what should I do now?

Install Windows 7 under Legacy or UEFI, and convert my disk to GPT or MBR?

If it helps, I can also post the BIOS for you if you'd like before installing.

Honestly, I have no idea what I'm doing... as of right now, I'm re installing windows using legacy and MBR partition style.

DISKPART
LIST DISK
SEL DIS 0 (after confirming Windows 7 target HD #)
CLEAN
CONVERT MBR
CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY SIZE=102400 (for 100gb partition, adjust as desired)
FORMAT FS=NTFS LABEL="WINDOWS 7"
ACTIVE
EXIT
EXIT

Next click Install Now to Clean Install Windows 7 to the partition you created. If it fails then report back at which step and the verbatim error message.

In addition read over these steps to understand the tools and methods which work best to get and maintain a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. The steps are the same for retail.

But anyways... honestly I have no idea what I'm doing...

 

[gregrocker]

Let us know how it goes including any error messages or failure behavior

 

[andrew129260]

I dont know if this helps, But I have csm enabled and uefi enabled and secure boot disabled.

That was the ticket for me to avoid any installation errors. Of course though with mine being a custom rig, mine has a lot more bios options.

 

[WindowsOP]

I dont know if this helps, But I have csm enabled and uefi enabled and secure boot disabled.

That was the ticket for me to avoid any installation errors. Of course though with mine being a custom rig, mine has a lot more bios options.

I don't have CSM in bios.. only Legacy and UEFI.

uefi disabled, enabled legacy and secure boot disabled.

mbr format

 

[WindowsOP]

Let us know how it goes including any error messages or failure behavior

I re installed windows, laptop came default 800x600 resolution so I changed it to 1600x90. Then I installed one driver from the support page of my manufacturer laptop, ,started to download window 7 updates.

The laptop froze again... the back lit keyboard works (the light turns on whenever I press a key). I can't move my mouse, ctrl+alt+tab not working. I have to reboot my computer by holding the power button until it reboots.

I reboot it again and then it froze again. It almost instantly froze after booting up...

Before re installing windows 7, I disabled secure boot, enabled legacy and deleted all partitions and converted to MBR format and created a 100gb partition and used that partition to install windows.

 

[gregrocker]

Work through the Troubleshooting Steps starting with hardware tests

 

[WindowsOP]

Work through the Troubleshooting Steps starting with hardware tests

I think I fixed the problem but not exactly 100% sure. I burned a new Windows OS on a new disc and selected 4x speed. The disc I ran was burned @ AWS which is max speed? It could have been a bad burn but who knows.

Marking this resolved.. so weird though.. I also used the digital river link instead of the one I got from a torrent website but the hashes were matching with the ones on mdl and windows microsoft page.