System freezing (7 Pro 64-Bit)

[Hollow Man]

I installed Win 7 Pro 64-bit about 5 days ago and I'm having a problem where about every other day I will get a hard freeze that completely halts the computer (no BSOD), so I have to force power down. Twice it's happened when I'm simply using Firefox, the other time it happened when I was playing a game (Left 4 Dead 2 demo). Most of the time the system is just fine, so it's peculiar.

This machine was very stable when I was running XP Pro on it, so I suspect it's a driver issue, but am unsure. The only hardware change I made since the upgrade was to add an extra 4 GB of RAM to it (total of 6GB), but I'm running it at specifications, and a MEMTEST 86+ check runs successfully.

I am not finding a minidump file, but I did see someone recommend changing that option to "small memory dump", so I just did that. We'll see if I get anything at the next crash.

Does anyone have any ideas? I've hunted through the logs around the time that I see the Kernel-Power error stating the machine rebooted unexpectedly, but I'm not seeing anything helpful.

My next thought is to throw Prime95 at it and see what happens. I ran it for a bit with no problems, but I may let it go overnight tonight.

Much thanks in advance,

-HM

 

[random0munky]

Hmm I'll take a stab at it. I too am experiencing freezing/lockups however I have Windows 7 x64 installed on a laptop. I experience most of the freeze ups and lock ups during heavy usage when the temps rise up. The only weird thing is, I was doing just fine with windows xp during heavy usage. Double check all your drivers and see if they are windows 7 compatible and x64 compatible. If you have any unknown hardware devices in your device manager, see about taking care of those. I've been on these forums and haven't been able to figure out why this freezing/ lockup happens but maybe we can help some of the people experiencing this problem at least.

 

[Hollow Man]

Thanks for responding in my thread. Yeah, I've updated all the drivers I can. All are 64-bit. It isn't a temperature rising thing because I can simply be surfing at my desktop and it happens. But it's so intermittent - only 3 times in a week. I've had the machine on for well over 24 hours now with no crashing. And I've been doing some tasking stuff, such as playing Dawn of War 2 and Left 4 Dead.

Someone elsewhere did state they think it's a Firefox thing, so I've decided to start using Chrome and see if that avoids the issue.

-HM

 

[random0munky]

Thanks for responding in my thread. Yeah, I've updated all the drivers I can. All are 64-bit. It isn't a temperature rising thing because I can simply be surfing at my desktop and it happens. But it's so intermittent - only 3 times in a week. I've had the machine on for well over 24 hours now with no crashing. And I've been doing some tasking stuff, such as playing Dawn of War 2 and Left 4 Dead.

Someone elsewhere did state they think it's a Firefox thing, so I've decided to start using Chrome and see if that avoids the issue.

-HM

Hmm yea its a weird. I ran Prime95's blend test and had the motherboard temp believe its the northbridge and both of my cores in my T3400 at around 82 C with no crash. The laptop was so hot after that lolz, but no crash whatsoever. I was a concerned about how I just cut in half the life expectancy of my hardware but meps its an Acer lolz. I'll keep posting if I find something. I uninstalled MineField which is a x64 bit version of Firefox.

 

[wallyinnc]

Hi HH
I have seen similar problems because of overheating and incompatible hardware (in that case, TV tuner card).
I can suggest two things:
- Check the temperature rather than only assuming it is not it.
- Fill in your system specs (click "My system Specs" on the left lower corner of any of your posts), so we can better help

 

[Hollow Man]

System specifications added. Note I played Borderlands for 3 hours straight yesterday with no crash. PC was on all day with no crashing. It's very, very intermittent.

-HM

 

[wallyinnc]

Thanks HM, good job filling in complete specs. Nice rig.

I don't want to be a pain, but looking at your case, which is very small, and the fact that you have not actually monitored the temperature, makes me suggest again that you take a look at it. I hope you prove me wrong. Actually not, since then it is more even complicated. Check the CPU cooler connections (another member had a similar problem and solved by thightening the screws)

I found a reference at the Shuttle forum website to the Cricual Ballistix being problematic with this system. I found a lot of Crucial in the QVL for the Intel board D975XBX2 (I think this is it, it is the only one listed under the 975X chipset), but they list the PNs, not the models. Take a look and check if your memory is listed as compatible. What memory frequency are you using, btw?

 

[Hollow Man]

It crashed last night, once, without Firefox running, so that's not it. After that crash it was perfect the rest of the night. Again, played Borderlands for a few hours with no problems.

I actually scaled the timings back to 5-5-5-18 because the new 4 GB of Ballistix would crash Memtest at its rated 4-4-4-12. I'm running it @800 (specifications). Putting 2V into it.

I'd tend to think it was temperatures if the machine wasn't so damn stable 90% of the time. It only crashes fairly soon after boot...like it's a process that kicks in that ticks off the system. Although admittedly the hard freeze is indicative of a memory or CPU issue. I guess I really need to remember to throw Prime95 at it tonight.

I also turned off the Computer Browser service, which seems to kick on and off right before the crash. I doubt it's the issue, but who knows. I'm also skeptical of the new Microsoft Security Essentials (which I've never used before), but again, it sure doesn't seem like it should cause a hard freeze.

Any suggestions of the best way to read the temperatures in the thing?

Thanks again for checking in,

-HM

 

[jimjoeb]

I installed Win 7 on my laptop over a week ago and was working fine. For the last few days I keep getting freezing and ultimately a window that says that windows is experiencing problems and needs to shut down. Even when I say ok, it can't do it by itself so I need to force shutdown. This is during ordinary usage (Microsoft Office Suite and Thunderbird and Firefox usage). I am not a techy so finding dump files is Greek to me. It is not a hardware issue (ie. temperature).

Help! I run a home based business and this is paralysing me!

 

[wallyinnc]

Any suggestions of the best way to read the temperatures in the thing?

HM, I don't overclock or anything so it seems you will have more experience than me with this. I have only used Speedfan so far, nothing beyond that

I am not a techy so finding dump files is Greek to me.

Welcome to the forums Jimjoeb
This thread has instructions how to locate and post the dump file that should have been generated at the time of the crash. Basically you have to copy one directory, zip it and post it here. As described there, you might be better off creating a thread with your problem description, filling in the "My system Specs" (lower left corner of your post, or click on "User CP" up on top) and attaching the zipped dump file.

Both: please check here for other methods of recording the crash situaiton, in case you do not have a dmp file

Good luck and let us know

 

[jimjoeb]

I would love to even try this but I can't get my laptop to boot and work without freezing and all I have open is Windows control panel. I'm trying a tip from another thread to disable are applications set to go at start up. If I can get Window to be stable enough to try your advice I will.

 

[jimjoeb]

OK. It held together long enough for me to check for a minidump file. Nothing comes up on a search. When I tried to find it through computer, it froze again. I have now forced shut down again. I doubt if it is good news but I still haven't had a BSOD. Maybe that would help!! I have to stop trying to find a solution now but will check this site again tomorrow with my husband's computer tomorrow.
I can't begin to tell you how frustrating and disappointing this is for a small business user who went to the effort to run and do all of the actions from the Upgrade Advisor before proceeding. It doesn't make sense. I also upgraded my husband's computer which is the hub for our home network (my laptop connects to the internet via a wireless connection to my husband's computer). It seems to be working without problems although there have been quite a few important updates in the last few days.

 

[Hollow Man]

Ok I had one freeze again. I swear it freezes once when I get home, then I reboot, and it's fine for the rest of the night. I don't get it.

Anyway, I'm using Core Temp and it's showing the highest temps I get under load is 57 degrees C. Not too bad considering with this PC there's not much I can do outside of the stock heatpipe.

I may try taking the PC down to 4 GB RAM instead of 6 and see what happens. If memory serves, when I was first running the PC with only 4 GB, it was more stable. Maybe it isn't playing nice since the two 2 GB sticks are slightly different than the two 1 GB sticks.

-HM

 

[Hollow Man]

Update: after another freeze I decided to start fiddling with the hardware. First I tried setting the clock speeds back a bit, and the system wouldn't POST...until I removed two of the memory sticks.

So in the interests of changing only one thing at a time, I'm back to the speeds I had before, but went with my idea above (only 4 GB RAM). This is how I had the PC when I first installed Windows 7 on it, and to be honest, had no freezing issues. It started once I put the original 2 GB back in to get me to 6. The memory sticks are similar, but since 2 sticks are meant for 2.5 volts, and the other are 2.0...they are clearly different enough

Won't know for certain until I run it for a few days.

-HM

 

[random0munky]

Hmm are the sticks all the same brand model and such. Have you tried upping the voltages for all sticks to 2.5.

 

[Hollow Man]

They're supposed to be the same but since two are 2 years newer they have different voltage requirements. It seems that shoving them all up to 2.5v, when the two newer sticks are rated for 2.0v, would be a bad idea.

-HM

 

[jimjoeb]

FYI, I did a restore to the point before the recent wave of critical and optional updates. Everything works perfectly. My plan is to make sure that I have the updated version of my drivers and software and then proceed one by one to install the updates. That way I can check exactly what may be causing the issue (if I still have one after proceeding in this way). Wish me luck!!

 

[wallyinnc]

HM, it sounds like a good idea. You might want to run Memtest86 for some hours with the 6G and see if it gets anything. It would have to be a long term test, since short term it only catches really bad memory problems. Leave it overnight.

JJ, it sounds like a good plan. I just tought of something: do you have an anti-virus installed? I would uninstall it and for your experience use Microsoft Security Essentials . It is for free and surely compatible with Windows. If everything goes well then revert to your antivirus and see if you have the problem again. I just think the AV is a pretty good candidate for your problems (probably in combination with something else, but then it is harder to find which)
Good luck and keep us posted

 

[jimjoeb]

At least for the moment, everything is working well. For anyone else who has been experiencing problems, here's what I did.
1) went to a restore point on Oct 29 (before wave of critical updates)
2) Reinstalled McAfee security suite 9 and made sure that there were no updates
3) installed the optional updates because they were for my hardware (modem, display, etc) except the update for Windows Live, then did a re-start
4) installed two remaining critical updates one at a time with a re-start after each
5) checked for any new updates (there were none)

That's it! I'll post something here if the freeze problems re-occur.

 

[wallyinnc]

JJ, thank you VERY much for posting your results in such detail. Other people having the same problem should be able to benefit from it.

Let us know if it starts acting up again!