Windows 7 freezes

[algis87]

Hello,
I have a problem, my pc freezes randomly when playing games and sometimes when doing something else (like watching a video or just surfing the net). No BSOD, it just freezes with an annoying looping sound. Usually it freezes in the end of the round in several games (mw2 and bc2), but sometimes randomly. When testing stability with prime 95, I ran it with no errors or freezes for few hours, when I stopped the test, the pc froze immediately. Now when I run prime 95 for five minutes and stop it, pc freezes every time. I tried the same in windows xp: played a few games for few hours and ran&stopped prime 95 - no freezes. I have been using windows 7 since launch and didn't have any problems until a week ago.

What I did trying to find and fix the problem:
Checked the temperatures: everything is fine. All temps are below 60 C.
Checked my RAM with memtest 86. Ram is OK
Reinstalled windows 7 both x64 and x86 several times.
Reflashed motherboard BIOS.

I don't know what to do now, can someone help me solve this problem?

My pc specs:
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 3ghz
Mobo: Gigabyte M61PM-S2 (rev.2.0)
GPU: Gigabyte 9600gt 512MB
RAM: 2gb DDR2 667
HDD: 500gb
PSU: 400w

Thanks in advance.

 

[Crispy]

I suggest you get a new power supply at least 500W+

 

[algis87]

I suggest you get a new power supply at least 500W+

Yes that may be problem. My PSU is getting hot sometimes and it is almost at its limit in my pc. Do you know why my pc doesn't freeze in xp? If the problem is hardware related it should be also present in xp. Or does windows 7 require more power?

 

[severedsolo]

At a guess, it's likely XP isn't pushing your hardware as much as Windows 7 is, so therefore doesn't require as much power. As i said, just a guess, but if your mainly seeing it while gaming, it sounds like it's only showing up when your hardware is being pushed

 

[userme]

did you solved the problem?
if not -what antivirus do you have?

 

[Crispy]

I suggest you get a new power supply at least 500W+

Yes that may be problem. My PSU is getting hot sometimes and it is almost at its limit in my pc. Do you know why my pc doesn't freeze in xp? If the problem is hardware related it should be also present in xp. Or does windows 7 require more power?

Windows 7 has a graphical interface and uses the graphic card to generate most of the effects there for requiring more power as for Windows XP it still uses the CPU to handle all of the interface as opposed to 7 and Vista.

 

[algis87]

did you solved the problem?
if not -what antivirus do you have?

I didn't solve it yet and my antivirus doesn't matter really (its nod32 now if you wanted to know) because It still freezes when no antivirus is installed. I think will buy a new good PSU, so I will be able to use it in my future pc build I'm planning this summer.

 

[userme]

did you had AVG free installed before?
i think it's not the PSU cause playing in XP take resources from you hardware just as win7.
there is an option do catch the freeze with forced BSOD and get some details about the cause.

 

[algis87]

did you had AVG free installed before?
i think it's not the PSU cause playing in XP take resources from you hardware just as win7.
there is an option do catch the freeze with forced BSOD and get some details about the cause.

No I didn't have AVG installed, and with each win7 reinstall I formatted my hdd partition completely. The strange thing is that I get freezes not on full load, but when the load quickly goes down. When I stop prime 95 or in the end of the round in several games. Maybe in windows 7 the power is managed differently. I still think its my PSU, I have had several problems with it earlier. BTW how to force BSOD and get the details?

 

[Capt.Jack Sparrow]

Hello !!

You could try to reboot the System in Selective Startup Run Selective Startup using System Configuration

Hope this helps,
Captain

 

[userme]

How to Force BSOD that will generate kernel memory dump

Hi Algis87,
here are instructions how to force BSOD.
???? ?? ? - ????? ???? ?? ?????
it will work with PS2 Keyboard only. there is an option to work it with usb keyboard but than the BSOD won't come in freeze time.
so connect a PS2 keybaord for the test.
once you have the memory dump file let me know - i can guide you thruogh the analyze process.

cheers.

 

[algis87]

Hi Algis87,
here are instructions how to force BSOD.
???? ?? ? - ????? ???? ?? ?????
it will work with PS2 Keyboard only. there is an option to work it with usb keyboard but than the BSOD won't come in freeze time.
so connect a PS2 keybaord for the test.
once you have the memory dump file let me know - i can guide you thruogh the analyze process.

cheers.

You were right, it wasn't my PSU. I connected a brand new PSU and the freezes are still happening. Also I tried forcing the BSOD with a PS2 keyboard.I tried pressing & holding ctrl+Scroll lock several times and BSOD didn't come at the freezing time. I got a BSOD and a memory dump while running normally, but I think it isn't what I need. Any other suggestions?

 

[userme]

how much passed from the freeze to the time you pressed the CTRL and scroll lock?
if it wasn't in the second after the freeze - try to catch it right after the freeze.

Take a look at the event viewer for any errors.

 

[algis87]

Can't catch it no matter what. I start clicking ctrl+scroll lock immediately after the freeze, still no BSOD. In event viewer I didn't find anything interesting, only reports that my system hadn't shut down properly, with no details...

 

[userme]

just making sure - are you using the right side CTRL?
if yes - sounds like other major hardware issue. cpu mabye.

sorry with no dump i can't think of a way to catch the freeze.
to make sure it's not cpu try a fresh install of windows with nothing else installed -than recreate the freeze.
there might be that win7 uses cpu features and commands that xp doesn't.
do you have Intel VT virtualiztion equivalent feature enabled in the bios?

 

[algis87]

just making sure - are you using the right side CTRL?
if yes - sounds like other major hardware issue. cpu mabye.

sorry with no dump i can't think of a way to catch the freeze.
to make sure it's not cpu try a fresh install of windows with nothing else installed -than recreate the freeze.
there might be that win7 uses cpu features and commands that xp doesn't.
do you have Intel VT virtualiztion equivalent feature enabled in the bios?

Yes I'm using right side ctrl. I can make a BSOD this when running normal, but in freeze this trick doesn't work. Virtualization is disabled in BIOS.
I followed Capt.Jack Sparrow's instructions and found out that in safe mode I don't get freezes. I disabled all services and started enabling them while "hunting" for the freeze. Finally I found out that I get freezes when a service called "Power" is enabled. I also noticed that I get freezes when audio is enabled. Audio gets disabled when I disable the "Power" service. So my problem is probably caused when audio is enabled (not when its playing, but when its enabled). I'm using the latest realtek sound drivers. What now?

 

[Capt.Jack Sparrow]

Yes I'm using right side ctrl. I can make a BSOD this when running normal, but in freeze this trick doesn't work. Virtualization is disabled in BIOS.
I followed Capt.Jack Sparrow's instructions and found out that in safe mode I don't get freezes. I disabled all services and started enabling them while "hunting" for the freeze. Finally I found out that I get freezes when a service called "Power" is enabled. I also noticed that I get freezes when audio is enabled. Audio gets disabled when I disable the "Power" service. So my problem is probably caused when audio is enabled (not when its playing, but when its enabled). I'm using the latest realtek sound drivers. What now?

Power manages power policy and power policy notification delivery. So it might be the Sound. So i have disabled / Enabled sound in BIOS. Is in On-board sound card or PCI ?? If in PCI try using the on-board one and see whether you having the same problem. If you having PCI Sound card this disable the on-board card and try the PCI card. Maybe some is defective with sound card or on-board sound adapter.

Hope this helps,
Captain

 

[userme]

can you post the regedit branch of the Services in HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet for the AUDIO?

 

[algis87]

Don't think it's audio problem any more (btw its on-board sound ). I uninstalled sound drivers, disabled sound device under device manager and even disabled on-board sound in bios, still I get freezes. It must be something with that Power service...

 

[userme]

did you installed the chipset drivers?
if yes - which one?