Solved Windows, apps freeze, resume, freeze, resume

[NormD]

System is AMD processor, 8 GB of RAM, Win 7 Ultimate, 32-bit, SP 1. (Cannot run a Windows Update and the update repair indicates a problem with doing an update.)

Once booted, Windows itself, File Manager, other utilities, Word, other apps will all freeze every few minutes, then unfreeze after about a minute and on and on. Pointer "donut" just spins and spins until system unfreezes. If typing into, say, Word a few characters typed after the freeze will appear after the unfreeze. Task Mgr. shows mostly about 98% idle going into this condition; nothing is coming on to hog resources that I can find. Performance shows all processors working if I give it something intense to do, and then flat-line until system unfreezes.

I've run memory diagnostic, chkdsk, sfc with no problems.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hello and welcome NormD mate if it was the Windows memtest then it is not that much good this is the only memtest we recommend RAM - Test with Memtest86+

Now keep in mind this takes a fairly long time to run and is best run overnight because it is so long.

The other thing to keep in mind is that you have to let it run for at least 8 passes any less and you may as well not bother. Now if you get errors pop up before the 8 passes then you can stop the scan and if there are errors you will need to replace the RAM again keeping in mind it is best to get as good a quality set as you can afford - these days DDR3 is not that expensive anyway if that is what you have got it doesn't say in your specs. If you need advice on brands you only need ask.

Now before you go off to do the memtest please run these again and use the switches mentiond in the links
SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker
Disk Check < if necessary include the /f and /r in the command line as per Option2
Run these in safe mode and the sfc often best run for two to three runs – you can leave out the /r switch in ckdsk if you feel it not necessary

 

[NormD]

Follow-up on freeze

Memory diagnostic I ran was the one available from the Windows boot screen, not from within W7 itself. Don't know if there is a difference.

What I didn't say is this system is mostly new. New MB, processor, memory, power supply, even the case. What was kept is video card and disks. HOWEVER, previous system did the same thing. (Had a PS problem that fried MB caps, so I just cleaned house.)

Had run sfc with option. Reran chkdsk with /r; had used /f. Way longer, but it found no problems. Checked and video driver is current one for card.

Noticed today that if I'm in IE or Outlook typing and app hangs, mouse pointer is not visible in that app but when I move it out onto the main window it appears; disappears when I move it back to the hung app.

Anyone know if I can do an upgrade to W10 64 bit from this W7 32 bit system? I know there is an in-place upgrade function for W10 but don't know if it has this restriction.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Norm the memtest you ran is still not the one we recommend is has to be the one I linked.

The upgrade sorry you cannot do see this System Type - 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) Windows 10 - Windows 10 Tutorials if you want it you will need to buy a 64bit OEM 10 version

 

[AddRAM]

When was the last time Windows was installed.

Is all your hardware in good working order.

Why do you have Windows 7 Release to Manufacturer in your specs ?

What version of W7 are you running ?

 

[ICIT2LOL]

What version of W7 are you running ?

Addram mate it says in the specs 7 ?RTM? 32bit am not quite sure what the RTM stands for.

 

[AddRAM]

I wrote what it stands for in reply #5

Release to manufacturing (RTM)
The term "release to manufacturing", also known as "going gold", is a term used when a software product is ready to be delivered or provided to the customer. This build may be digitally signed, allowing the end user to verify the integrity and authenticity of the software purchase. A copy of the RTM build known as the "gold master" or GM is sent for mass duplication. RTM precedes general availability (GA), when the product is released to the public.

It is typically used in certain retail mass-production software contexts—as opposed to a specialized software production or project in a commercial or government production and distribution—where the software is sold as part of a bundle in a related computer hardware sale and typically where the software and related hardware is ultimately to be available and sold on mass/public basis at retail stores to indicate that the software has met a defined quality level and is ready for mass retail distribution. RTM could also mean in other contexts that the software has been delivered or released to a client or customer for installation or distribution to the related hardware end user computers or machines. The term does not define the delivery mechanism or volume; it only states that the quality is sufficient for mass distribution. The deliverable from the engineering organization is frequently in the form of a golden master media used for duplication or to produce the image for the web.

RTM is given to all the PC makers.

A short time after that the Product goes Retail to the general public, all us little people

 

[Megahertz07]

I had a similar issue. It was Windows update that was running endless.
Try to disable WU (never check) and reboot.
Report if still freezes.

 

[NormD]

Windows Update

Good idea given that Update has not been running right when I try. But I already had it disabled; I hate MS doing me these "favors" automatically. So no change. But thanks.

 

[Megahertz07]

Set WU to manual at Services - Windows Update

Run Disk Cleanup %windir%\system32\cleanmgr.exe

 

[NormD]

Back to normal

Thank you all for your suggestions. Had someone locally work on it. Basically two issues. 1) a multitude of drivers accumulated from in being several years old and using several motherboards. Uninstalled old drivers and got them all current. 2) (As I sort of expected, again with the original W7 install, which was an upgrade from XP using PCMover) the Registry was loaded with bad stuff. Cleaned it up and repaired things. Won't know for a while if it is cured, but it is way better!

 

[Layback Bear]

I don't remember being able to upgrade from XP to Windows 7.
Maybe it's just my memory.
If one could do the upgrade the drivers would be a big problem.

Jack

 

[ICIT2LOL]

(As I sort of expected, again with the original W7 install, which was an upgrade from XP using PCMover)

Well my friend I am one for example who is not a fan of the softwares that move things or update drivers etc because most of them do more harm than good.

Plus like Jack I don't ever remember an upgrade from XP to 7. What I am curious about is what you said about using several motherboards doing what you have as usually the activation code for a copy of Windows is tied to the first board that it goes onto - if it is an OEM copy and if it is a retail copy I think Microsoft are fussy about how many times you can use the retail's code.

For example the retail code can only be used on any one machine at any one time and from my experience they will message you to say the code has been used too many times - I do forget after how many times you used it though - I seem to have that number as about three times.

 

[Megahertz07]

That explains all.
If you really want things running as it should, backup your data and do a clean install. Clean Install Windows 7

Buy a 128G SSD and install Win 7 and programs on it and use the HDD to store data. Move the \Users folder to the HDD using Kari tutorial. User Profiles - Create and Move During Windows 7 Installation

 

[ICIT2LOL]

That explains all.
If you really want things running as it should, backup your data and do a clean install. Clean Install Windows 7

Buy a 128G SSD and install Win 7 and programs on it and use the HDD to store data. Move the \Users folder to the HDD using Kari tutorial. User Profiles - Create and Move During Windows 7 Installation

I agree it would solve everything. Plus if you want my own personal like you could after the install go through this it is really good for getting the machine running at an optimum.
Optimize Windows 7

 

[NormD]

XP to W7 upgrade

As far as I know there was no MS-supplied upgrade, but LapLink had/has PCMover which does it, and did a pretty good job. You had to have a running W7 system to migrate to, which I suppose would solve the driver problem. PCMover migrated users, files and apps, e.g., Office.

I agree a fresh install of the OS is best and cleanest, and it seems like after a year or so Windows gets cluttered with so much stuff that starting over again is a good thing to do if you can stomach all the follow-on reinstalls. There ought to be a way to refresh the os w/o reverting to global thermonuclear war.

Re the MB changes you of course need to have the same processor type, i.e., AMD to AMD. I don't know if there is a limit on the number of times you can do this (why should there be?) but unless it is a small change Windows and other MS apps (e.g., Office) will want to validate. I've done that with no problems. This last time I went from an ASUS MB with AMD FX 4-core to a ASRock MB and 8-core AMD at 4.7 GHz (and water cooling!)

I'm probably going to install a new, fast HDD and install 64-bit W10. Have to do a new install because while one can upgrade from 32-bit W7 to 32-bit W10 (so I've read) you can't to 64-bit W10. And, as we all seemingly agree, a clean install is better.

 

[Layback Bear]

Take a serious look and reviews of SSD's.
It would be a wise investment to use a SSD.

Now to get done to brass monkeys and watermelons.

With all the Vista, PCMover and motherboard changes a Clean Install is the best and only option I see that you have left.

Let us know what you decide to do.

Jack