Solved Windows 7 Corruption Issues

[GlobalArchitect]

I am running Windows 7 64-Bit Ultimate with 16 processors (4 Quad i7 cores), 128GB of RAM on 2TB of SSD drives. and I have a range of issues. The most prevalent is that the computer will completely freeze while typing into any application (Word, PowerPoint, Firefox, VS, etc... - even Notepad) and all of the screens will whiteout as if something is processing. The active application will show a processing icon and then, within 15-30 seconds the system unfreezes. This happens every 10 minutes or so and will happen even if nothing is running outside of the restricted set of services I allow.



The second symptom is that processes will not die when I close them. The GUI goes away but the processes still exist in Task Manager and nothing - not Task Manager, Process Explorer or Process Hacker 2 (all running in Admin Mode) can stop the processing. If I run too long and open and close applications, I will have each closed version running in tandem. Restarting usually works but sometimes I am forced to hard reset the system to get it to log off.


I have run File System Checker (sfc /scannow) about 25 times in a row, rebooting between each run, and the last scan still states that it found corrupted files and corrected them.
When I looked in the event log, I found a large number of VSS write errors but I followed the steps detailed here - Error message when you run the "vssadmin list writers" command on a Windows Server 2003-based computer: "Error: 0x8000FFFF" - and those errors have gone away. I do not have any other errors in the event log at this time.


Finally, I ran CCleaner on the registry and nothing unusual was there. I also ran Malwarebytes and it found nothing (it is off by default). I have AVG Pro running full time and its system scan found nothing of interest.


The system worked fine for a long period of time and now the issues are mounting and I cannot figure out what is wrong or even how to approach figuring out a solution. Microsoft wants me to "upgrade" to Windows 8.1 but I seriously doubt that will help.


Does anybody have any ideas on next steps short of reinstalling Windows 7 from scratch?


Have a great day.


Ken

 

[Ztruker]

With a computer like that, I'd say backup your data and upgrade to Windows 8.1 X64 and get off of XP.

How much ram do you actually have? You said 128GB which I find hard to believe and your specs say Memory 8 – 2GB DDR2 667MHz PC2-5400 64Mx8 ECC FB-DIMM Memory which would be 16GB.

 

[GlobalArchitect]

Thank you for your reply - the information for my system was seriously out of date and I forgot to ever update it. I have updated it to reflect what I have today.

 

[DavidE]

Are you running 2 real-time Anti Virus programs, Norton and AVG?
If you are, that can cause issues.

 

[gregrocker]

Sounds like a Hal with a mind of his own.

Next thing I'd try is uninstalling AVG which is now considered bloatware and try running for awhile with the preferred Microsoft Security Essentials.

As with all of the really bloated AV's it requires running a special AVG uninstaller | Download tools and utilities.

From there if necessary continue working through the Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7 which will often uncover the cause. I'd start with the hardware tests to test the RAM and whatever drive diagnostics your SSD maker provides.

 

[DavidE]

Norton Antivirus is also listed in the OP System Specs / Other Info ...

 

[carwiz]

Ditto on AVG and Norton. AVG can be a memory corrupter. I wouldn't put Norton on a rotary dial phone even if you could. Sounds like they've corrupted the system disk in the process.

One question. How do you get four CPUs on a mother board that holds one?

 

[HelpGiver]

Hi GlobalArchitect,
Your computer specs are quite high and these corruptions should not exist.
These advices should work :-
1) Remove any unused programs. They slow the computer system.
2) Use less programs at the startup - Disable programs that are not required to start at system startup.
3) Use a antivirus. I suggest to use Avast.
4) Disable aero theme and use basic theme. Use less animations.
5) Use AVG PC Tuneup. It will give you some suggestions to speed up your PC
6) If nothing mentioned above works do ------------------ A CLEAN INSTALL.
Thanks,
HelpGiver

 

[mitchell65]

Hi GlobalArchitect,
Your computer specs are quite high and these corruptions should not exist.
These advices should work :-
1) Remove any unused programs. They slow the computer system.
2) Use less programs at the startup - Disable programs that are not required to start at system startup.
3) Use a antivirus. I suggest to use Avast.
4) Disable aero theme and use basic theme. Use less animations.
5) Use AVG PC Tuneup. It will give you some suggestions to speed up your PC
6) If nothing mentioned above works do ------------------ A CLEAN INSTALL.
Thanks,
HelpGiver

On no account use AVG Tuneup. Causes more problems than it cures. Anyway you do NOT NEED third party bloatware to "tune up " Windows 7. This is Windows 7 not Windows 95!

 

[HelpGiver]

Hi GlobalArchitect,
Your computer specs are quite high and these corruptions should not exist.
These advices should work :-
1) Remove any unused programs. They slow the computer system.
2) Use less programs at the startup - Disable programs that are not required to start at system startup.
3) Use a antivirus. I suggest to use Avast.
4) Disable aero theme and use basic theme. Use less animations.
5) Use AVG PC Tuneup. It will give you some suggestions to speed up your PC
6) If nothing mentioned above works do ------------------ A CLEAN INSTALL.
Thanks,
HelpGiver

On no account use AVG Tuneup. Causes more problems than it cures. Anyway you do NOT NEED third party bloatware to "tune up " Windows 7. This is Windows 7 not Windows 95!

I think you are right Mitchell65

 

[GlobalArchitect]

Thank all of you for your responses - I had no idea AVG was a bad move. I had read elsewhere that Microsoft Security Essentials was way behind on definitions and that I needed to move to something better. Having suffered with McAfee for years, I did not want to go down that road so I thought purchasing AVG was the best option.

You guys would recommend just using Microsoft Security Essentials?

Norton was older - I will take it out. I only ever run one virus software at a time but I will run one-off malware scans using Malwarebytes.

I already have selective startup which filters out all unwanted programs and I am fairly tight on services I will allow to run in the background.

As for the processor question, when I go into my Device Manager, it shows 32 cores running and, when I looked in the BIOS, it shows the processors being over-clocked. I went back through the configuration that was built for this system and it says that I have 4 quad core processors...I am not really sure what was exactly done.

 

[GlobalArchitect]

I was also told on another forum that I could run an in-place upgrade of Windows 7 using the exact same installation CD and that would resolve a corrupt system file issue even when sfc fails. That post said that I might lose some Windows customizations but none of my applications would be affected.

What do you guys think?

 

[gregrocker]

As already suggested uninstall AVG and Norton using both of their uninstallers required in addition to normal uninstall in Control Panel: Uninstallers (removal tools) for common antivirus software - ESET Knowledgebase

Install MSE which is adequate protection and recommended by all of us here at the home of Win7 where most of it's repair regimens were developed. If you get infected regularly you only need to add Malwarebytes Real Time Protection which ends all chronic infection I've seen.

This should resolve the worst of your corruption issues but understand these are some of the most crippling bloatware programs we see so now might be a good time to consider investing in a perfect install similar to a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 which compiles what works best to get and keep a perfect Win7 install, based on tens of thousands we've helped with here.

Short of that if SFC /SCANNOW Command cannot resolve remaining corruption then a Repair Install may help since it reinstalls the OS but may also pass back through corrupt settings. You can also go over your install thoroughly following the Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7.

 

[carwiz]

As for the processor question, when I go into my Device Manager, it shows 32 cores running and, when I looked in the BIOS, it shows the processors being over-clocked. I went back through the configuration that was built for this system and it says that I have 4 quad core processors...I am not really sure what was exactly done.

There's something wrong there. The 3970x is a 6/12 processor. (6 Cores, 12 Threads) Your motherboard holds only one processor so there's no way to have 32 cores. Perhaps there's a problem with the BIOS.

 

[GlobalArchitect]

OK now I am officially freaked out.

So I ran the AVG uninstaller and then I ran Revo Uninstaller which found additional AVG tidbits laying around and then I rebooted. Now I count 12 processors total in the device manager - no idea how to count cores - which lines up with what you said but it NOT what I had before.

 

[gregrocker]

I would stop overclocking to continue troubleshooting.

Run CCleaner w Registry tab to clean up empty Registry keys.

Confirm results of each of the http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/220165-troubleshooting-steps-windows-7-a.html

 

[andrew129260]

I think he states its 32 cores, but he probably saw 32 bit under system type. I think the Original posters terminology is way off.

 

[DavidE]

Here are some tutorials that should help see what your specs are:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/180324-system-info-see-your-system-specs.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/306654-speccy-advanced-system-information-tool.html

Might help if you post some screen shots from Speccy
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html

 

[GlobalArchitect]

For those with the same issue, the in place upgrade ended up being the correct path to tkae - you can find that solution here Windows 7 Issues

Thank you all for your help!