Random freezes with windows 7 - 64 bit

Anonymous
2009-10-28T19:01:43+00:00

I use to run Vista home premium x86 on a acer computer. This summer I downloaded Windows 7 rc x86. A month ago I bought all new parts and since I could use 64-bit system now I installed a 64-bit Windows 7.  Then did the problem start. Every new and then the computer freezes, some days over 30 times. I thought it was hardware problem and tried a lot of hardware finders and nothing helped. I also installed windows 7 rc my mothers laptop (The same version I use to have that work fine) that used to run on Vista home basic.. But her computer didn’t freeze it just got a black screen now and then.

The I started to suspect that it was because it was a beta version so when windows 7 were released I bought two of them a 32-bit and a 64-bit. But the problem didn´t go away. It´s still there and It´s kind of frustrating and even more now when I’m trying to write a essay.

I used windows upgrade advisor and it didn´t see any problem with an upgrade to windows 7. What can I do?

original title: Random freezes with windows 7

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Windows update

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Anonymous
2009-11-14T19:44:19+00:00

Guys,

I might have the answer to your problems.  This might fix your sleep/suspend problems and your random freezing problems.  Bottom line is that the default and "auto" values in Win 7 and your BIOS might not produce a stable computer...even with a virgin install.

RANDOM FREEZES FIX:

My computer used to freeze randomly until I fixed the memory timings.  I suspected bad memory early on and tested it with MEMTEST, but it passed with flying colors.  I even tried swaping memory out, trying to eliminate bad memory and/or slots.  It turned out that it was a memory frequency/timings/voltage issue.  No more freezes!  If you have a similar setup, this will most likely fix it.  If not, then check your memory and/or power supply.

The "AUTO" settings in BIOS *may not* produce a stable setting.  You have to goto the ASUS support website and download the latest memory QVL and lookup the memory settings for your particular brand there.  For my memory (OCZX1333LV6GK(XMP)) I had to make the following adjustments in the BIOS:

DRAM Freq:1066  (even though my memory is rated at 1333 frequency, the QVL guide recommended a lower freq!)

7-7-7-16 for the rest of the timings.  The other settings I was able to leave in "AUTO"

DRAM BUS Voltage: 1.6

*warning: be sure to consult your memory/motherboard documentation...the wrong value could damage your components!

SUSPEND/SLEEP FIX:

My computer used to hang when coming out of sleep or wouldn't completely goto sleep.  This solution may be partially dependent on you fixing a random freezing issue if you have one. 

In your "advanced" power settings, disable "Hybrid Sleep".  That's it!  My motherboard doesn't like hybrid sleep.

*If you have a desktop with a UPS, Win 7 will treat it like a laptop and apply the battery settings....sooo make sure you adjust the "on battery" settings!

My setup:

Processor:Intel core i7 920

Motherboard:Asus P6T

Memory: OCZX1333LV6GK(XMP)    (ie. 6GB in 3 sticks)

Harddrive:  3 x WD Caviar Black drives in RAID 5

PSU: X3 1000W

Video card: 2 x NVIDIA 9800 GTX+ SLI

*I have all of the ASUS overclocking/energy savings programs uninstalled

*I have the latest BIOS 0801 and all the latest drivers installed

Nick

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  1. Anonymous
    2010-04-05T02:42:17+00:00

    Hi MainFrame,

    Please let us know how it goes with CMOS @ S1 instead of S3.   I was looking at that today too but already changed some things and don't want to do too much all at once.   

    I did try setting the power management to High Performance.    Also disabled Workstation in System Config.    Crashed 3-4 times today since.

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-04-04T21:19:34+00:00

    MainFrame,

    I think it's more than Windows 7 64bit.   I'm running 32bit and I've read all of this thread.    32bit hasn't been mentioned too much but I get the same random lockups, doesn't seem to matter what the program is.   I've had it with Firefox, IE, uTorrent, using explorer looking at folders, Adobe, Quicken, you name it.   Only freeze i haven't had is using Media Player, I'm sure it won't be long.   This has been going on daily for me since I built my machine in late Nov09.   When it gets to be 5-6 times a day, I have found rolling back to a reset point reduces the freezes, but they seem to keep getting worse after a few weeks.   Very frustrating, no BSoD, just frozen.    I've have noticed my fans kick into high gear when it happens.

    I've seen lots of talk about Asus on here but I'm running Gigabyte.    Since there are so many different hardware combos, to me this is a Win7 problem.

    I have not tried any of the fixes talked about yet.   This thread started 5 months ago so I was really hoping someone had a solution by now.  Going to try a few things with power settings and the hotfixes and see how it goes.  

    Btw, I had this problem regardless of using Norton, then Zone Alarm, then AVG (which I now like most)

     

    Win7 32bit

    AMD Phenom II X4 955 8mb

    Gigabyte GA-MA790FXT-UD5P

    Mushkin 4GB HP3-10666 (2X2gb)

    eVGA GeForce GTX260 896mb

    Seagate 1TB SATA 7200.12

     

     

     

    I think you're right, obviously this is just a Windows 7 32-bit AND 64-bit issue :-/ Doesn't matter what hardware anyone has got; they're still going to have the same problems. I use Microsoft Security Essentials which doesn't interfere with a lot on the system (and is a ____ of a lot better than most AV programs that's for sure!).  My system was freezing even when not running any programs except uTorrent. And it has frozen when using Media Player :-/

    I have however been able to run uTorrent now but only by doing as someone suggested and changing my CMOS setting to S1 rather than S3.  So far no freezes in the past hour and a half.... yet again though I do not think one solution is the solution to rule them all if you know what I mean.

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-04-04T20:34:25+00:00

    Yes, mine freezes sometimes, but only when using my wireless internet.  I've got no chance to see an error code because it requires a hard restart every time it dies.   I've noticed a lot of the problems are coming from ASUS boards.  Mine is as well, a P5K-Pro.  

    Other specs:

    Video - Nvidia 8800 GT

    OS - Windows 7 (64x)

    Ram - 4 gb DDR2

    I am using Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit.

    My motherboard is an Asus A7V8X motherboard, this board was made when Windows ME and Windows 2000 was the main event.

    I have not had one screen of death or system freez since I installed Windows 7 in December 2009.

    I might add I am using an Athlon XP 2400+ clocked at 2000 Mhz and 3 Gigabytes of 3200 DDR RAM.

    All my settings are set to default settings and my video card is an Nvidia Geforce 6200 AGP.

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  4. Anonymous
    2010-04-04T18:58:41+00:00

    MainFrame,

    I think it's more than Windows 7 64bit.   I'm running 32bit and I've read all of this thread.    32bit hasn't been mentioned too much but I get the same random lockups, doesn't seem to matter what the program is.   I've had it with Firefox, IE, uTorrent, using explorer looking at folders, Adobe, Quicken, you name it.   Only freeze i haven't had is using Media Player, I'm sure it won't be long.   This has been going on daily for me since I built my machine in late Nov09.   When it gets to be 5-6 times a day, I have found rolling back to a reset point reduces the freezes, but they seem to keep getting worse after a few weeks.   Very frustrating, no BSoD, just frozen.    I've have noticed my fans kick into high gear when it happens.

    I've seen lots of talk about Asus on here but I'm running Gigabyte.    Since there are so many different hardware combos, to me this is a Win7 problem.

    I have not tried any of the fixes talked about yet.   This thread started 5 months ago so I was really hoping someone had a solution by now.  Going to try a few things with power settings and the hotfixes and see how it goes.  

    Btw, I had this problem regardless of using Norton, then Zone Alarm, then AVG (which I now like most)

    Win7 32bit

    AMD Phenom II X4 955 8mb

    Gigabyte GA-MA790FXT-UD5P

    Mushkin 4GB HP3-10666 (2X2gb)

    eVGA GeForce GTX260 896mb

    Seagate 1TB SATA 7200.12

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