Windows 7 64 bit randomly freezing

[TacticalTimbo]

Hi guys, really loosing it now, been having my PC randomly freeze on me for about 3 months now with no idea what is causing it. I ran a memory test using memtest86 and got around 3-4 passes using the standard set of tests (1-8) and it found no errors. I've also used Western Digital's 'Data Lifeguard Diagnostics' app on both my hard disks, that reported no errors, giving both a pass. I've tried wiping the system and doing a clean install. I've been monitoring my temps using various apps including HW Monitor and GPU-Z. My i7 920 idles around 42c and after an hour of GTA IV is hitting 55c/56c. Not great considering my cooler but not terrible either. The GPU (bearing in mind it's a 4870x2) idles at around 76c/77c and can after an hour of GTA IV see temps of 94c with fan speed set to auto. The fan does go up to 60%+ speed by itself, so it is a bit odd that it stays so hot?!

I don't want to give the impression that the freezes happen under any fixed set of circumstances, far from it. The freezes are completely at random, sometimes straight after start-up, today it happened during shutdown and often it occurs after hours of running perfectly fine. There can be days, even weeks between occurrences!

Looking in event viewer doesn't seem to reveal anything, I get the Critical Event 41 Kernel-Power, the Error Event 6008 "The previous system shutdown at 07:14:30 on ‎28/‎04/‎2010 was unexpected" and an Information Event 5611 WMI, which seems to correspond; stating "The Windows Management Instrumentation service has detected an inconsistent system shutdown". So no useful info at all!

Please, really need some help...I've tried to be as detailed in my description as possible but go ahead and ask for more.

 

[IggyAZ]

Hi guys, really loosing it now, been having my PC randomly freeze on me for about 3 months now with no idea what is causing it. I ran a memory test using memtest86 and got around 3-4 passes using the standard set of tests (1-8) and it found no errors. I've also used Western Digital's 'Data Lifeguard Diagnostics' app on both my hard disks, that reported no errors, giving both a pass. I've tried wiping the system and doing a clean install. I've been monitoring my temps using various apps including HW Monitor and GPU-Z. My i7 920 idles around 42c and after an hour of GTA IV is hitting 55c/56c. Not great considering my cooler but not terrible either. The GPU (bearing in mind it's a 4870x2) idles at around 76c/77c and can after an hour of GTA IV see temps of 94c with fan speed set to auto. The fan does go up to 60%+ speed by itself, so it is a bit odd that it stays so hot?!

I don't want to give the impression that the freezes happen under any fixed set of circumstances, far from it. The freezes are completely at random, sometimes straight after start-up, today it happened during shutdown and often it occurs after hours of running perfectly fine. There can be days, even weeks between occurrences!

Looking in event viewer doesn't seem to reveal anything, I get the Critical Event 41 Kernel-Power, the Error Event 6008 "The previous system shutdown at 07:14:30 on ‎28/‎04/‎2010 was unexpected" and an Information Event 5611 WMI, which seems to correspond; stating "The Windows Management Instrumentation service has detected an inconsistent system shutdown". So no useful info at all!

Please, really need some help...I've tried to be as detailed in my description as possible but go ahead and ask for more.

Hi and welcome.
Great explanation with details.
I don't have an anser at the moment but I would suggets you try this.
Open CMD and run as Administrator
type sfc /scannow then enter. (between sfc and / is a space)
Let us know what happens.


One other thing. What motherboard BIOS are you running?
Seems your MB has many updates all the BIOS since last year.
LINK

 

[TacticalTimbo]

Yea afraid I've tried the BIOS route already, running the latest 1003 build. As for sfc have done it before, here are the results:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7600]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Windows\system32>sfc /scannow

Beginning system scan. This process will take some time.

Beginning verification phase of system scan.
Verification 100% complete.

Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.

C:\Windows\system32>

 

[IggyAZ]

I know this is frustrating but we need to review some steps you may have done already.
It is a process of elimination.

Ok so Win7 is good, Bios is updated.
Now a question. You said it started 3 months ago. Is this when you build the new system or can you remember a time when all worked well with Win7.
I'm hoping you also did a clean full new install on your HD.

 

[TacticalTimbo]

It ran without a hiccup for about a month but that's about it. When it had Vista on it before the issue wasn't there. As for the install, yea I wiped the disk clean before I did it. I only formatted it with the standard high level pass that is built into Windows 7 mind.

 

[TacticalTimbo]

Bump

 

[IggyAZ]

Bump

No message bumping allowed as per the forum rules.

Well the next step would be to try to look at the drivers a little closer.
Video Card and Network Card. Other than that have you installed any hardware like a scanner or webcam etc.

What does your startup menu look like?
What programs do you have running in the background?


Anyone else have any suggestions just jump right in. It won't hurt my feelings.
The more suggestions the better.

 

[zigzag3143]

Hi guys, really loosing it now, been having my PC randomly freeze on me for about 3 months now with no idea what is causing it. I ran a memory test using memtest86 and got around 3-4 passes using the standard set of tests (1-8) and it found no errors. I've also used Western Digital's 'Data Lifeguard Diagnostics' app on both my hard disks, that reported no errors, giving both a pass. I've tried wiping the system and doing a clean install. I've been monitoring my temps using various apps including HW Monitor and GPU-Z. My i7 920 idles around 42c and after an hour of GTA IV is hitting 55c/56c. Not great considering my cooler but not terrible either. The GPU (bearing in mind it's a 4870x2) idles at around 76c/77c and can after an hour of GTA IV see temps of 94c with fan speed set to auto. The fan does go up to 60%+ speed by itself, so it is a bit odd that it stays so hot?!

I don't want to give the impression that the freezes happen under any fixed set of circumstances, far from it. The freezes are completely at random, sometimes straight after start-up, today it happened during shutdown and often it occurs after hours of running perfectly fine. There can be days, even weeks between occurrences!

Looking in event viewer doesn't seem to reveal anything, I get the Critical Event 41 Kernel-Power, the Error Event 6008 "The previous system shutdown at 07:14:30 on ‎28/‎04/‎2010 was unexpected" and an Information Event 5611 WMI, which seems to correspond; stating "The Windows Management Instrumentation service has detected an inconsistent system shutdown". So no useful info at all!

Please, really need some help...I've tried to be as detailed in my description as possible but go ahead and ask for more.

Was that the only critical error in event viewer>windows logs>application tab???

 

[TacticalTimbo]

Bump

No message bumping allowed as per the forum rules.

Well the next step would be to try to look at the drivers a little closer.
Video Card and Network Card. Other than that have you installed any hardware like a scanner or webcam etc.

What does your startup menu look like?
What programs do you have running in the background?


Anyone else have any suggestions just jump right in. It won't hurt my feelings.
The more suggestions the better.

I've installed the new Catalyst 10.4 driver set for my card so will have to wait and see if that has solved the issue. As for scanners and webcams, no webcam but I do have a multifunctional Canon MP610. My startup menu is empty and the main things active in the background are Avast, the sound driver and Catalyst Control Centre.

 

[TacticalTimbo]

Was that the only critical error in event viewer>windows logs>application tab???

Yes

 

[TacticalTimbo]

Well it froze up again today at about 18:00, so that's about three days since it last froze. Really I'm tearing my hair out, if anybody could shed any more light on this issue please do.

 

[TacticalTimbo]

Does this mean anything:

- <Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
- <System>
<Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Power" Guid="{331C3B3A-2005-44C2-AC5E-77220C37D6B4}" />
<EventID>41</EventID>
<Version>2</Version>
<Level>1</Level>
<Task>63</Task>
<Opcode>0</Opcode>
<Keywords>0x8000000000000002</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2010-05-01T17:03:10.846014700Z" />
<EventRecordID>7381</EventRecordID>
<Correlation />
<Execution ProcessID="4" ThreadID="8" />
<Channel>System</Channel>
<Computer>PC</Computer>
<Security UserID="S-1-5-18" />
</System>
- <EventData>
<Data Name="BugcheckCode">0</Data>
<Data Name="BugcheckParameter1">0x0</Data>
<Data Name="BugcheckParameter2">0x0</Data>
<Data Name="BugcheckParameter3">0x0</Data>
<Data Name="BugcheckParameter4">0x0</Data>
<Data Name="SleepInProgress">false</Data>
<Data Name="PowerButtonTimestamp">0</Data>
</EventData>
</Event>

 

[Zirro]

Hi,
Since I installed Office 2010 RTM x32 Win7 x64 my system has been randomly freezing and running very slow.
I share your frustration.

 

[Zirro]

My problem turned out to be a faulty hard disk.
It was a Western Digital Caviar Green Power - with the advanced power saving features.
It eventually died.

I suggest steering clear of these. If buying WD get the blue or black series.

 

[TacticalTimbo]

My problem turned out to be a faulty hard disk.
It was a Western Digital Caviar Green Power - with the advanced power saving features.
It eventually died.

I suggest steering clear of these. If buying WD get the blue or black series.

Oh right, glad you found the culprit in your case...my drives are Western Digital's, but not Green Power ones and the tests I've run seem to say their okay?! Despite this I am still getting these lock up's and today I got a BSOD "Machine_Check_Exception". In a bid to make it easier for those trying to help, I've attached a rar containing the information asked for, in accordance with the instructions given in the "BSOD - Posting Instructions" thread.

Please anyone!!

 

[TacticalTimbo]

anyone?

 

[TacticalTimbo]

Still having issues with my PC Randomly locking up/freezing. I've tried running the system without the second hard drive, the bluetooth/card reader and have replaced all the memory with Corsair Dominator ram at a cost of £120, but still it freezes. As it seems blue screen's only occasionally appear together with the freezes, and that a minidump is never generated, I've attached a picture taken with my phone of the blue screen. The error code is Stop: 0x0000009c (0x0000000000000000, 0xfffff88003101c70, 0x0000000000000000, 0x0000000000000000)

Please any help greatly appreciated!

 

[LobsterMobster]

I'm having much the same issue! Computer has frequent freezes. I've tried replacing my SATA cables and all my Western Digital drives check out alright (plus they were pulled from a previous computer, since this is a new rig, and they worked fine there, as far as I know). Could it be them, though?