Windows 7 freezes ONLY when starting a program

[Venom Hawk]

If the computer has been on for an hour or so windows freezes 9 of 10 times when starting a new application. No matter which app it is, it can be Maya, 3ds Max, Photoshop, After Effects, Spotify or even a simple jpg/targa picture in any program. But just after rebooting everything works fine for about an hour or two, it's then the problem starts. And it doesn't freeze always, sometimes the computer can be on for a couple of days without rebooting and I start any application normally, but that happen like 1 of 10 times. I'm running the latest drivers for the graphics card, mobo, mouse/keyboard and I've even tried with older drivers for the components but the problem still remains.

After reading on some forums I did some tests for the memory and cpu. I ran memtest86 and prime95 for 24h each without any error reports. I also ran several 3dmark och pcmark tests to see if the graphics card was causing any problem, but it didn't crash during the tests so it seems there is no hardware issue, at least according to the various tests.

During the last 2 months I've reinstalled windows 7 at least 10-12 time with different dvd's and versions of windows 7, always a clean install not an upgrade. Once after I did a clean install I let the computer be for a few hours without installing any drivers, then I started a program that comes with windows and it still froze, even when opening a picture in windows photo album.

A while ago I went back to Vista to see if the problem occured there and it did in the same way as in windows 7. But the difference here is that in Vista it goes back to normal state after 3-4 minutes and the computer works as it should. But in windows 7 the only solution is to hard reset, and in the event viewer it only says the usual that windows did not shut down properly due to some problem.
I've been running windows 7 since the beta in april/may and haven't experienced any of these problems in beta nor RC releases. It began with the RTM and now the final build released in october.

I've also scanned the computer with Nod32, Oupost Firewall, spybot, hijackthis, ccleaner and some others that I can't remember the names of at least 10 time with each but haven't found any viruses nor any spyware. Ran sfc /scannow with no errors. Haven't overclocked the computer. The temperatures are ok; graphics cars 54-55 C, cpu 48-49 C, HDD's 43-44 C, so there is no overheating of the components. I havent changed the settings in the BIOS, it's default setting except boot priority.


Does anyone have any clue or a solution of the problem? Like I said, it ONLY occurs when the computer has been on for a while and I try to start a program. Otherwise it works just fine without any other problems. My specs are in the specs tab.

// Thanks

 

[Geo64]

Hello. Please uninstall your antivirus as it sounds like it may be the cause. Disabling only will not be helpful. Uninstall all antivirus apps starting with Windows, currently.

 

[BSkiLLs]

Sounds like to me to many process's running or starting when not suppose to or needed/wanted. i do see where you have 6gb of ram but way it seems is something might be going out or bad and cant handle the amount they are suppose to.

Have you checked those out manually and what your system is running at ?? / like CPU and process number and amounts ??

 

[Venom Hawk]

Hello. Please uninstall your antivirus as it sounds like it may be the cause. Disabling only will not be helpful. Uninstall all antivirus apps starting with Windows, currently.

Do you mean temporarely or as a permanent solution? If so, how about threats and viruses out there? Should I uninstall both the antivirus and the firewall or just the antivirus?

Sounds like to me to many process's running or starting when not suppose to or needed/wanted. i do see where you have 6gb of ram but way it seems is something might be going out or bad and cant handle the amount they are suppose to.

Have you checked those out manually and what your system is running at ?? / like CPU and process number and amounts ??

Currently there's 64 processes and 917 threads running according to the taskbar. About 2 gb of memory used right now. I can't see any unknown or weird processes running, I've disabled most of the unneeded in the autostart. Even when I'm running several memory intense programs (when it works) like Maya, 3ds max, Photoshop and some other simultaneously they never reach above 4-4.5 gb except maybe when simulating or rendering intensive stuff. So if only one instance of e.g. Photoshop is started it shouldn't eat up all memory?
But if it can't handle the amount processes needed, how can it still play a song or a movie (only the sound) in the background if it freezes. Shouldn't it kill them all instantly?
And when it happens in Vista, after a couple of minutes it goes back to normal, but in windows 7 it doesn't. It is quite frustrating when working on something and then just start another program or open a rendered image and everything just freezes and all the unsaved work is lost...

I don't know where the culprit is. I've just picked up some stuff on various forums and tried different solutions like scanning the computer with different tools, formatting, trying with different versions of windows and so on. I was running xp x64 for a couple of months on the same system without any problems at all. Maybe it's a Vista/windows 7 related issue? Or could it be a hardware failure somewhere? I've done several tests on memory, cpu, graphics card and the hdd's but didn't get any errors.


Is there something else to try out?

//Thanks

 

[BSkiLLs]

Yeah sounds like the system itself not really the OS.

are you running a dual boot. like with vista and win7 at the same time ??

also when you open the programs or way you are mentioning when it freezes, have you went ahead and opened those to try and make it freeze but instead do your work like normal or at least start it i mean and like check it and your process and CPU / ram numbers then ??

Also do this. Take a screen shot of your "performance" tab on your task manager and post here.

 

[Venom Hawk]

No I don't run dual boot. Only one OS at the time. I just did a fresh install of windows 7 last night. And when I tried to open Maya this morning it froze once again. Didn't have any other programs running. But this time it was a little bit different. Everything froze, but mouse pointer was responsive still for a few minutes, then it eventually froze as well.

Now I have uninstalled antivirus and firewall like mentioned in a post above. Gonna see of that helps. I'm also gonna post a screenshot of performance tab in the task bar before a freeze as well as after it with a camera when I get back home tonight. Didn't actually think of watching it while starting any of the programs when I think it's gonna freeze.

Edit: Btw I saw this thread Vista x64 / 7 x64 freezes due to host protection - Outpost Users Support Forum, where others have similar problems as I do. It seems that the problem is caused by the Outpost Firewall host protection feature. I've already uninstalled Outpost, so hopefully it will solve the problem.

 

[BSkiLLs]

OK yeah, post that and also let us know.

Might also be how you are installing it besides what mentioned above. Did you mark it during install to format drive / disk ?? That way it's actually a FULL & real CLEAN install.

 

[Venom Hawk]

I haven't been able to reproduce the freezing since I turned off the host protection feature in Outpost Firewall after reading about it in this thread Vista x64 / 7 x64 freezes due to host protection - Outpost Users Support Forum. The computer has been on for more than a day without rebooting. It should have frozen at least a couple of times during that time. Host protection seems to be the culprit. And on top of that, the programs start up twice as fast now that it is off.

I'll be testing it for a couple days more to be 100% sure that it has been resolved. It would be such a relief hehe. I'll post here in a couple of days if everything goes well.

 

[BSkiLLs]

OK cool. Let us know the outcome. Strange as it shouldnt be that either i wouldnt think but...

weird!!

Goodluck.

 

[lordx78]

Hi guys. I've read the posts here. I'm facing the similar problem like u guys here. I first encountered this issue of freezing when I upgraded my Windows 7 RC to full version somewhere in September this year. In this 3 months period, I've at least reformatted my Windows 7 partition for 15 times. Here is my specs,

AMD Phenom II x4 965 3.4GHz
ASUS Crosshair III Formula 790FX/750 chipset
Corsair XMS3 DDR3 2x2GB 1600MHz (OC)
ASUS EAH-5770 1GB 128bit GDDR5
Cooler Master Silent Pro 500W
WD 250 / Seagate 500GB

I haven't been able to reproduce the freezing since I turned off the host protection feature in Outpost Firewall after reading about it in this thread Vista x64 / 7 x64 freezes due to host protection - Outpost Users Support Forum. The computer has been on for more than a day without rebooting. It should have frozen at least a couple of times during that time. Host protection seems to be the culprit. And on top of that, the programs start up twice as fast now that it is off.

I'll be testing it for a couple days more to be 100% sure that it has been resolved. It would be such a relief hehe. I'll post here in a couple of days if everything goes well.

Is this Host-Protection is for the Outpost Firewall software or it's a windows setting?

 

[Venom Hawk]

Is this Host-Protection is for the Outpost Firewall software or it's a windows setting?

Hi. Host protection is a feature of the firewall. You can find it on the first page in the middle when you open Outpost Firewall or in the settings. I chose to turn it off, but I've seen some people have it on low setting. They claim it works for them. I turned it off completely just to be sure no more freezes would occur.

 

[lordx78]

Thanks Venom Hawk. I'm a bit confused about that earlier.

By the way, I've just uninstall my AVG 9 Free Anti-virus and installed Microsoft Security Essentials. Guess what, my Windows 7 Ultimate x64 runs for flawlessly. No more unknown freezing. Apart from that, I've installed TuneUp Utilities 2010 to repair windows registry and changed the power plan to High Performance. That's all, all running fine now.

Anyway, not to be proud in this early stage. I'll keep my windows running till tomorrow morning to see the results. Keep posted!

 

[lordx78]

Hi guys,

It has been 11 Hours and my Windows 7 still rocking.

 

[BSkiLLs]

Hi guys. I've read the posts here. I'm facing the similar problem like u guys here. I first encountered this issue of freezing when I upgraded my Windows 7 RC to full version somewhere in September this year. In this 3 months period, I've at least reformatted my Windows 7 partition for 15 times. Here is my specs,

AMD Phenom II x4 965 3.4GHz
ASUS Crosshair III Formula 790FX/750 chipset
Corsair XMS3 DDR3 2x2GB 1600MHz (OC)
ASUS EAH-5770 1GB 128bit GDDR5
Cooler Master Silent Pro 500W
WD 250 / Seagate 500GB

I haven't been able to reproduce the freezing since I turned off the host protection feature in Outpost Firewall after reading about it in this thread Vista x64 / 7 x64 freezes due to host protection - Outpost Users Support Forum. The computer has been on for more than a day without rebooting. It should have frozen at least a couple of times during that time. Host protection seems to be the culprit. And on top of that, the programs start up twice as fast now that it is off.

I'll be testing it for a couple days more to be 100% sure that it has been resolved. It would be such a relief hehe. I'll post here in a couple of days if everything goes well.

Is this Host-Protection is for the Outpost Firewall software or it's a windows setting?

Hi lordx78,
Welcome to the forum. hey please put your system info inside your profile system stats for later reasons ok incase you need help we can see it there if we need to be able to help you out ok.

and glad you also got it fixed up so far. it is still strange to me that that would be happening to you 2 as that shouldnt effect and be making it freeze really.

Never has on mine nor a lot of other so seems might be something conflicting somewhere maybe with a piece of software you guys might be using along with regular system stuff.

 

[win7clutz]

Hi guys. I've read the posts here. I'm facing the similar problem like u guys here. I first encountered this issue of freezing when I upgraded my Windows 7 RC to full version somewhere in September this year. In this 3 months period, I've at least reformatted my Windows 7 partition for 15 times. Here is my specs,

AMD Phenom II x4 965 3.4GHz
ASUS Crosshair III Formula 790FX/750 chipset
Corsair XMS3 DDR3 2x2GB 1600MHz (OC)
ASUS EAH-5770 1GB 128bit GDDR5
Cooler Master Silent Pro 500W
WD 250 / Seagate 500GB

I haven't been able to reproduce the freezing since I turned off the host protection feature in Outpost Firewall after reading about it in this thread Vista x64 / 7 x64 freezes due to host protection - Outpost Users Support Forum. The computer has been on for more than a day without rebooting. It should have frozen at least a couple of times during that time. Host protection seems to be the culprit. And on top of that, the programs start up twice as fast now that it is off.

I'll be testing it for a couple days more to be 100% sure that it has been resolved. It would be such a relief hehe. I'll post here in a couple of days if everything goes well.

Is this Host-Protection is for the Outpost Firewall software or it's a windows setting?

Hi lordx78,
Welcome to the forum. hey please put your system info inside your profile system stats for later reasons ok incase you need help we can see it there if we need to be able to help you out ok.

and glad you also got it fixed up so far. it is still strange to me that that would be happening to you 2 as that shouldnt effect and be making it freeze really.

Never has on mine nor a lot of other so seems might be something conflicting somewhere maybe with a piece of software you guys might be using along with regular system stuff.

Huh?????

 

[BSkiLLs]

Hi guys. I've read the posts here. I'm facing the similar problem like u guys here. I first encountered this issue of freezing when I upgraded my Windows 7 RC to full version somewhere in September this year. In this 3 months period, I've at least reformatted my Windows 7 partition for 15 times. Here is my specs,

AMD Phenom II x4 965 3.4GHz
ASUS Crosshair III Formula 790FX/750 chipset
Corsair XMS3 DDR3 2x2GB 1600MHz (OC)
ASUS EAH-5770 1GB 128bit GDDR5
Cooler Master Silent Pro 500W
WD 250 / Seagate 500GB



Is this Host-Protection is for the Outpost Firewall software or it's a windows setting?

Hi lordx78,
Welcome to the forum. hey please put your system info inside your profile system stats for later reasons ok incase you need help we can see it there if we need to be able to help you out ok.

and glad you also got it fixed up so far. it is still strange to me that that would be happening to you 2 as that shouldnt effect and be making it freeze really.

Never has on mine nor a lot of other so seems might be something conflicting somewhere maybe with a piece of software you guys might be using along with regular system stuff.

Huh?????

I guess you figured out what i mean as you have it entered there now soo....

 

[T Alimario]

For everyone having a "freezing" problem, here is the solution:
http://www.nvidia.com/object/win7_ [...] 97.13.html

Brand new drivers from Nvidia - there was a "fan problem" causing mother boards burn, and everything freeze.
Hope this helps!

 

[mpau0516]

I would start by running www.malwarebytes.com

 

[BRAR]

Thank you so much!!!!!

My 4 year old laptop which worked perfectly till now started freezing on opening any application or program, be it chrome, My Computer, winrar, itunes etc. Windows hangs for 5-10 minutes and then the program would work fine after that , until closed and started again. I have to keep all programs running and hibernate my system instead of shut down.

Any idea???