That 'Old' pc FREEZE issue - again

[pdoth]

[FONT=&quot]In a nutshell here is the problem I am experiencing:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I purchased a new quad-core top end pc running W7 home Premium from a computer outlet approx. 3 months ago (full spec below). I have been extremely happy with everything about this setup until approx. 5 weeks ago when I noticed that during normal operation the pc seemed to ‘freeze up’.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]When I say ‘freeze’ I mean the only thing working was the mouse, which still moved the pointer but could not select or open anything. Everything else, including the keyboard was frozen. As far as I could judge the freeze lasted approx. 1 min. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The only other thing happening was the HD light on the front panel of the pc was lit with a steady glow, no sign of disk activity as such (varying pulses), just a full light.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Since I became aware of the above I now find it happening approx. every 40 – 50min. I say approx. because I never know exactly when it is about to happen. There is no warning. If I am surfing the web or simply using Firefox to brows I realise nothing is happening and see the (“Not Responding”) notice at the top of the screen.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]What I have tried Already[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]1. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]1. Run all standard W7 diagnostics which come out clean[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]2. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]2. Looked through the Event Log which revels no unusual entries and nothing at the times of the freezes which I make a note of in case I can match it with anything[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]3. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]3. Stopped all non-essential progs running. Only the program I am using at the time is running together with Virgin Media security anti-virus suit in the background. (Windows firewall is switched off)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]4. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]4. Scanned with CCleaner and S&D Spybot – nothing![/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]5. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]5. Defragged – no change[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]6. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]6. Sfc/scannow – nothing found[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]7. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]7. Compared all drivers with current offerings from ALL suppliers. Apart from my monitor, Samsung SyncMaster all where/are up-to-date.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]8. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]8. Disabled all non-essential “Auto-update” software and double checked “Task Scheduler” – nothing remains or is outstanding.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]9. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]8. Re-run full system scan for virus/malware etc. Nothing reported.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]10. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]10. Recently downloaded and run “Process Explorer”, “AutoRuns” and “Process Monitor”, but, am having problems understanding what I am seeing. Steep learning curve! Still can’t spot the trouble maker.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]11. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]11. Scanned with TUT – Nothing reported.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Everything indicates that everything “should” be working correctly, but, the freezes keep on occurring making my life a complete misery.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Any ideas………… anybody? Pretty please………………….[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Pc spec:-[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Model – Advent Centurion CQ9204[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Bios – American Megatrends, version 080015, 25 Sept 2009[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]CPU – Intel Core Quad Q8300 @ 2.5GHz[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Graphics – NVIDIA GeForce GT 230, 2GB. Driver ver. 8.17.11.9745[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]On-board sound Realtek and Creative Audigy 2zs (no conflicts)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Operating system – Windows 7 64bit, install date 14th July 2009[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Memory – Ram 6GB[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Page File – 12GB[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Available Page File Mem – 10GB[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Total Virtual Mem – 2GB[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]HD – Hitachi 1TB [/FONT]

 

[chev65]

Interrmittant freezing usually points to a harddrive problem so it might be worth while to run a harddrive test to see if it's working right.

 

[Lordbob75]

Check your harddrive connections as well. Could be a bad cable.

~Lordbob

 

[zigzag3143]

[FONT=&quot]In a nutshell here is the problem I am experiencing:[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]I purchased a new quad-core top end pc running W7 home Premium from a computer outlet approx. 3 months ago (full spec below). I have been extremely happy with everything about this setup until approx. 5 weeks ago when I noticed that during normal operation the pc seemed to ‘freeze up’.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]When I say ‘freeze’ I mean the only thing working was the mouse, which still moved the pointer but could not select or open anything. Everything else, including the keyboard was frozen. As far as I could judge the freeze lasted approx. 1 min. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The only other thing happening was the HD light on the front panel of the pc was lit with a steady glow, no sign of disk activity as such (varying pulses), just a full light.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Since I became aware of the above I now find it happening approx. every 40 – 50min. I say approx. because I never know exactly when it is about to happen. There is no warning. If I am surfing the web or simply using Firefox to brows I realise nothing is happening and see the (“Not Responding”) notice at the top of the screen.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]What I have tried Already[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]1. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]1. Run all standard W7 diagnostics which come out clean[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]2. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]2. Looked through the Event Log which revels no unusual entries and nothing at the times of the freezes which I make a note of in case I can match it with anything[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]3. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]3. Stopped all non-essential progs running. Only the program I am using at the time is running together with Virgin Media security anti-virus suit in the background. (Windows firewall is switched off)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]4. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]4. Scanned with CCleaner and S&D Spybot – nothing![/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]5. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]5. Defragged – no change[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]6. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]6. Sfc/scannow – nothing found[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]7. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]7. Compared all drivers with current offerings from ALL suppliers. Apart from my monitor, Samsung SyncMaster all where/are up-to-date.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]8. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]8. Disabled all non-essential “Auto-update” software and double checked “Task Scheduler” – nothing remains or is outstanding.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]9. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]8. Re-run full system scan for virus/malware etc. Nothing reported.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]10. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]10. Recently downloaded and run “Process Explorer”, “AutoRuns” and “Process Monitor”, but, am having problems understanding what I am seeing. Steep learning curve! Still can’t spot the trouble maker.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]11. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]11. Scanned with TUT – Nothing reported.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Everything indicates that everything “should” be working correctly, but, the freezes keep on occurring making my life a complete misery.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Any ideas………… anybody? Pretty please………………….[/FONT]


[FONT=&quot]Pc spec:-[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Model – Advent Centurion CQ9204[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Bios – American Megatrends, version 080015, 25 Sept 2009[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]CPU – Intel Core Quad Q8300 @ 2.5GHz[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Graphics – NVIDIA GeForce GT 230, 2GB. Driver ver. 8.17.11.9745[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]On-board sound Realtek and Creative Audigy 2zs (no conflicts)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Operating system – Windows 7 64bit, install date 14th July 2009[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Memory – Ram 6GB[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Page File – 12GB[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Available Page File Mem – 10GB[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Total Virtual Mem – 2GB[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]HD – Hitachi 1TB [/FONT]

Nice rig. offhand given the steady HD light I wonder about indexing, page file, etc. Does it do it in safe mode(F8)? sorry about the things you probably have already thought of.


Ken J

 

[pdoth]

Thanks for the quick reply Guy's...most impressive. I have just run the WD LifeGuard Diag. and the drive passed with flying colors. I did see some comments on this forum concerning the "Green" WD drive.......but....on this evidence I'm not so sure.
Haven't tried running in SafeMode yet. I would have to run for at least 1 - 2 hrs to get a good idea if there was an issue with drivers.
Also ran the driver scan.......nothing came up, so, still looking for just a glimmer of hope before junking the whole thing (frustration getting to me I suppose).
Pleae keep them ideas a-coming..........

 

[pdoth]

Almost forgot.....tried turning off Indexing......made no diff.

 

[karlsnooks]

Replace your anti-virus with Microsoft Security Essentials.
MSE - Microsoft Security Essentials

 

[Lordbob75]

Again, check the HDD cable. The hard drive could be fine, but the error could be in the cable.

~Lordbob

 

[pdoth]

Thanks for the thought Karlsnooks, but, I changed from SE because I thought that maybe the issue. It wasn't. The HDD cable is still on the table as a possible LordBob75, thanks. My only concern is that the occurances are a little too regular for a "random" cable fault, although, at this stage I'm not rulling it out.

Another little "issue" which may or may not be a clue to where the problem lies the when using Firefox. Approx 1 in 4 selections, when generally surfing results in "Not Responding" error. In other words the pc freezes. This is much higher than could be expected. I gut feeling is....there is a conection there somewhere. I don't think it is Flash related, but, there is something about using the browser and all the other stuff that is going on.

I just need to figure out what................

 

[Lordbob75]

Sounds like it could be hitting a bad sector. I know you already checked it, but its worth looking again.

~Lordbob