Win 7 Ultimate 64 freezes after login

[badkarma11]

Hello Everyone:
Here's the story, I ordered some parts to make my 775 socket system last a few years longer.
Original system:
Antec Nine Hundred case
Gigabyte mobo
4GB DDR2 RAM
Core 2 Duo 2.66 Conroe E6750
GeForce 8800GTS vid 512MB
CoolMax 600w power supply
Seagate 250 GB HDD
Western Digital Caviar 500 GB HDD
Windows Vista Ultimate x32
This system has served my needs since 2007

The upgrade was just going to be a faster CPU and a newer video card:
Core 2 Quad Q9505 Yorkfield 2.83GHz 775 socket
GeForce GTS 450 1GB PCIE 2.0x16

I installed the CPU in the existing system (because it arrived first) and ran the machine for a few days with no problems.
When the new video card arrived, I went to install it and found that it was so big that it would cover the other 2 PCI slots (thus having no room for sound card and network card). I decided to order a new mobo, case and power supply intending to use old mobo, case, video card and RAM + 2 HDD from an old Dell to replace the Dell.
Additional new items include: Intel DP43BF LGA 775 P43 ATX mobo, Antec Three Hundred case, Antec 650w power supply. New items arrive, I realize that I need DDR3 RAM for this mobo. I ordered the RAM (Crucial 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Dual Channel ).

I installed into the new case the following: the new power supply, mobo, took the CPU out of original machine (the quad core) and installed on new mobo, installed RAM, removed HDDs and DVD drives from old machine and installed in new case. O/S is still Vista at this point.
Due to Intel's poor documentation, it turns out that the Crucial (single sided) memory that I ordered is not compatible with the new Intel mobo. I run out and get some PNY 2GB double sided sticks and HOORAY the new machine starts up.

I installed the mobo drivers and so forth (or tried to) since Vista kept freezing up after logon (usually after about a minute). Safe mode was not much better, stability wise. I then decided to install Windows 7 Ultimate x64 (Full Retail). I formatted the boot drive, installed O/S. The install went OK, but the freezing problem remained. Safe mode with network stayed up for 5-10 minutes, then would freeze. I managed to flash the BIOS to the latest version, managed to load the latest video and sound cared (64 bit) drivers and reloaded the mobo drivers. The BIOS upgrade seemed to provide more stability in Safe Mode.

Current System:
Antec Three Hundred case
Antec 650w power supply
Intel DP43BF LGA 775 P43 ATX mobo
Core 2 Quad Q9505 Yorkfield 2.83GHz 775 socket
GeForce GTS 450 1GB PCIE 1.0x16
4GB PNY 1333 DDR3 RAM
Seagate 250 GB HDD SATA (from original system)
Western Digital Caviar 500 GB HDD SATA (from original system, boot drive)
DVD-R drive SATA
DVD-RW drive SATA
Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Full Retail
Current symptoms:
Safe Mode with or without network stays up for a while (so far longest stretch was about an hour, with a controlled shutdown) still freezes occasionally. Normal mode is good for no more than about 3 minutes (usually much less) until it freezes solid. Nothing in the event logs except a complaint about EBIOS32.sys not starting because it's incompatible with the O/S.
I've tried (along the way) removing and reinstalling all of the hardware (CPU, RAM, Cards, etc). Took the sound card out completely, no change in symptoms.
I can't use Windows update in Safe Mode, and Normal mode won't stay up long enough for me to try it there.

Any suggestions? I'm about ready to try another mobo, but maybe someone here can share wisdom. I've searched high and low, and haven't found anyone with quite the same situation.

Thank you

 

[Capt.Jack Sparrow]

Hello and Welcome !

Follow this article Run Selective Startup using System Configuration and run Selective Startup and see if that happens.

Follow this link and Run a Hardware Diagnostic Hardware Diagnostic !! « Captain Debugger

Hope this helps,
Captain

 

[badkarma11]

Thanks Capt'n Jack. That was (as The Cars song goes) just what I needed. I seem to be on the road to recovery. I will post again, succeed or fail.

 

[Golden]

Normal mode is good for no more than about 3 minutes (usually much less) until it freezes solid. Nothing in the event logs except a complaint about EBIOS32.sys not starting because it's incompatible with the O/S.

It's worth just checking this file out a bit further too. Is this related to your bios by any chance? Try find out what this file controls. Perhaps its a corrupted one?

regards,
Golden

 

[badkarma11]

Golden,
Thanks for your reply. I was unable to find anything useful on the web about that EBIOS32 file other than questions about it. It is an old, unsigned, Microsoft SMI driver. The only suggestion someone made was to 'get the latest version' but no guidance on how to do so. I don't think this is causing my issues, but I mentioned it because it was the only thing in the log that didn't say either 'the computer was powered off unexpectedly' and numerous normal startup entries.
Cheers

 

[badkarma11]

Update:

I've been playing with CaptainJack's 1st suggestion and have had some success. There are quite a few services, I went through the first ten and found that 'Creative Driver helper' seemed to cause a quick lockup. I then went through 10 or fifteen more. At this point I'd rebooted 25 or so times and I was getting impatient, mostly because the stuff that I'd 'turned on' didn't cover network stuff so I couldn't get on the internet. I played with a few variations of turning stuff on and off and sometimes I'd get lucky for a while (1/2 hour or more) sometimes not. I've turned off all sleep and hibernation modes (saw a bunch of posts with wakeup issues). I have the latest drivers for sound and Audio card, I'm working on getting the x64 mouse driver. This morning I disabled all the services and re-enabled all the services at the top of the list up to the aforementioned Creative critter and just let the computer sit there. If it hasn't frozen by the time I get home I'll continue with starting one service at a time. It's hard, because I don't know how long to wait for a freeze before activating the next service. I have been moving files and opening and closing windows for a few minutes between activations. I want to be thorough about this so I can either identify or eliminate services as a problem. Windows update has put in a bunch of stuff but fails on some too, I'd like to get the rest of them.

Still at it, I'll keep y'all posted.

 

[badkarma11]

I got home, 'puter was frozen. I think it may be a hardware/heat issue. I opened the case, removed the video card (which is covering one of the bridges) moved some cabling around, turned up the speed on the front fans. I brought the machine to work to do all this (since I'm working Xmas eve, mandatory IT 'boots on the ground'). I plugged it into another monitor, mouse and keyboard and now it won't boot. Stupid me, I didn't bring my damn OS disks. *sigh* Maybe there's a set around here somewhere....

 

[badkarma11]

Got it home, repaired the startup with the OS disk. Still freezes. I ordered a new mobo, should come today, will report back if THAT helps. Phooey.

 

[badkarma11]

last post, new mobo did the trick. If anything else happens, I'll post again. Night all

 

[Capt.Jack Sparrow]

Thanks for the Updates Mate ! We really appreciate it

 

[badkarma11]

Thank YOU for your help. As before, if anything weird happens, I'll alert the community.

 

[badkarma11]

Whoever does such things can consider this particular issue 'case closed' I'll start new thread(s) as needed for additional issues. mark it with the 'ol green check mark.