Random Computer Feezes: Can only run in Safe Mode

[Rammerx]

Hi everyone! This is my first post on here
Anyways, I've had this problem for months now and I cant seem to fix it!

I have an:
HP Pavilion dv6 Notebook PC
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
4gb of Ram
Intel Core i3 CPU M350 2 Cores

I have read a couple threads on here with the same problem but its not helping my issue. My computer freezes out of nowhere. Usually within 5 minutes on logging into my account. The Whole screen freezes, nothing works or moves. No mouse no keyboard. It will then shut off on its own after about 20 seconds.

First i thought it was overheating but it not. The temperatures are fine. The pc runs GREAT in safe mode. I am on safe mode with networking right now and its perfect! So that leads me to believe its not a hardware issue and its not a microsoft issue..?? am i right on this one? ... I have done "Clean Boot" (only Microsoft Service on startup) and it still freezes a couple minutes in. I've notice this usually happens quicker when watching movies or videos or any media.

I have download and installed the Hotfix from microsoft and it does not help. I do not have SP1 installed. All my drivers are up to date. I have restored the pc to factory default settings and the problem still continues. Can you please help me out with this issue!

Many Thanks!!

 

[Rammerx]

When i go into the Event Viewer, i do not find anything on the Applications tab that says it crashed or hung. But under the System tab, i find a couple Event ID 41. It basically states that windows did not properly shut down (cause i forced it to shut down after it freezes). These event are consistant with the times my pc has frozen. But BEFORE that event, there are 4 events that are also consistant!

The event right before the Critical 41, is Event ID 1 which is Watchdog. This I imagine kicks in once the windows has frozen up and times out.

The 2 events before Watchdog are Event ID 6 which is a Filter Manager source. I do not know what this is. This happens at the same time as Watchdog so maybe thats not the problem.

And the event before all these which is also always there is Event ID 12. the source is Kernel-General. The details read "The operating system started at system time ‎2013‎-‎05‎-‎04T15:54:24.109999400Z." I do not know what this is neither. This event always happens 1 second before Watchdog so i dont know if this may be logging the problem? ....

I attached a picture. Please help! Thanks!

 

[Arc]

If you can you the computer flawlessly in safe mode, it should not be a hardware issue.

Follow the steps from the top of the list: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/220165-troubleshooting-steps-windows-7-a.html

 

[Rammerx]

can I skip all these steps and just go straight to a clean install? i just want this fixed already ....

 

[Arc]

can I skip all these steps and just go straight to a clean install? i just want this fixed already ....

Yes you can. But if the freezes are caused by any hardware element (outlined in steps 8,9, 10 and 11), then a clean reinstall will not work. So we find it is good to determine the cause.

At the same time, a clean reinstall will mostly nullify the possibilities of a software/driver driven freeze.

 

[Rammerx]

Ok guys, So i went straight for the clean install! I have an HP notebook so they have that option of doing a minimum image install, which is basicall a clean windows 7 install with just a few minor HP service like their Support and assistance things. I did just that. It kept freezing up on me when the pc kept rebooting as it was installing the new files. I probably tried the clean install 4 times and finally went through without freezing on the 4th try!

So far i am like 1 hour into using it and no freezing yet!!! i ran youtube videos and everything and still fine Dont know exactly could have been causing the problem. Judging that this install fixed it, it must have been a 3rd party service.

 

[Arc]

Good to know.
For any further issue, let us know.

 

[Rammerx]

..... I take that back. I just froze on me again.... ugh!
So after the clean install, it still had a few HP service installed. After that, I installed Firefox, Revo Uninstaller, and Norton Online Security. Windows download and update like 3 updates. Oh and i also install Adobe Flash. Then i was playing with the built in webcam when it crash.

I get the same Event Id's as before. ...

 

[Arc]

Clean these places.

1. Click on the Start button
2. Type “msconfig (without quotes), click the resulting link. It will open the System Configuration window with the "general" tab selected.

• Click the "startup" tab. Click "Disable all" > Apply > OK.
• Click on "services" tab. Check the "Hide all Microsoft Services"; Click "Disable all" > Apply > OK

Next, it is to check if Norton is causing it or not. Uninstall Norton and all Symentec products using Norton Removal tool. Use Microsoft Security Essentials as your antivirus with windows inbuilt firewall, and free MBAM as the on demand scanner.

Then observe the situation again.

 

[Rammerx]

Clean these places.

1. Click on the Start button
2. Type “msconfig (without quotes), click the resulting link. It will open the System Configuration window with the "general" tab selected.

• Click the "startup" tab. Click "Disable all" > Apply > OK.
• Click on "services" tab. Check the "Hide all Microsoft Services"; Click "Disable all" > Apply > OK

Next, it is to check if Norton is causing it or not. Uninstall Norton and all Symentec products using Norton Removal tool. Use Microsoft Security Essentials as your antivirus with windows inbuilt firewall, and free MBAM as the on demand scanner.

Then observe the situation again.

Okay, I have done this. So far since the clean install it has only frozen once when i was messing around with the webcam. I'm going to go mess with the webcam again with these new setting you recommended to see if it still freezes.

 

[Rammerx]

Okay so I did the same thing and it froze again! .. I launch the HP Webcam so i can add effects and animations to my webcam, then i go on Omegle to video chat and BOOM it freezes!...

I doubt its the webcam because before the clean install it would freeze without the webcam being on. I'm starting to think if its my browser. I have always used Firefox. Could firefox be causing it to freeze?? I have firefox on my desktop Windows Vista and its perfect. This is my first and only Windows 7 and I'm not sure if it firefox. Thinking back of when its frozen, it usually happens when I'm on Youtube or any webpage... I dont know, it could or it could not be firefox.

Any thoughts on what i should do or try next? All your suggestions are helping a lot! Thanks for all your input.

*Update* So I went on Youtube using firefox and it froze. I had to manually shut it down and rebooted it right after and it froze on the log in screen. I shut it down again and rebooted it and it froze again at the log in screen! So I manually shut it down again and waited 5 minutes. I booted it up normally and i managed to log in this time... If any one has ideas or suggestions please feel free to say them. Anything helps. Thanks guys!

*Update* I uninstalled Firefox and all its data. I ran the webcam again and launched ethernet explorer and it crashed as well. It seems to crash when playing media most of the time. I'm starting to wonder if maybe it is hardware..?

Should i just ditch Windows 7 and install Vista?

 

[Rammerx]

i should also mention that i do not have SP1 installed. Should i install it?

 

[Arc]

Service Pack 1 is a must to install, and all the other necessary updates.

Also try it:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/271263-firefox-gpu-hardware-acceleration-turn-off.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/271264-chrome-gpu-hardware-acceleration-turn-off.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...lorer-gpu-hardware-acceleration-turn-off.html

 

[Rammerx]

okay so since i did a clean install, i am downloading and installing all "Important" updates that windows is showing me. Where do i get SP1 from? Will that come through the updates or do i need to get it from microsoft? Thanks guys for all the help!

 

[VistaKing]

Hi Rammerx

Now a days SP1 is pushed down automatically from Windows Update . If you didn't get it . Here is the manual download for it

Download Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (KB976932) from Official Microsoft Download Center

 

[Arc]

These links are also useful.
Learn how to install Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1)
Service Pack Center - Microsoft Windows