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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  3. Anonymous
    2011-05-11T10:09:50+00:00

    Short version: Freezes are gone since we added a Gigabit PCI-Adapter to replace the networking hardware that was already integrated on the mainboard

    Long version:

    We had an office computer with Windows 7 64 bit running fine for over a year.  In the process of upgrading from a normal harddisk to an SSD we also installed a new clean copy of Windows 7 64bit. No other hardware changed. The system started to freeze a couple of times a day, so naturally we suspected the SSD. Replaced the SSD with another hard disk and the system still frooze. We replaced the hard disk with the first hard disk, which still had the old copy of Windows 7 on it and the system didn't freeze any longer. Changed back to the new hard disk with the second Windows 7 system and the freezes re-appeared.

    The two Windows 7 systems both had automatic updated turned on and used the same hardware except for the hard disks. Yet one system frooze and the other didn't.

    On a hunch my colleague installed a Gigabit PCI-Adapter. Since that day the freezes are gone. The strange thing is that the old copy of Windows 7 64 bit ran fine with the networking hardware that was integrated on the mainboard, the new copy of Windows 7 64 bit frooze because of same hardware. Maybe a network driver wasn't installed on the old system...

    I was really astonished by the lack of responses in this thread by Microsoft employees. This is the thread with most views in the Win7, so this seems to be a widespread problem. Yet, Microsoft doesn't regularly post in this thread, it's just users helping users.

    I hope my solution helps someone else. If you have an old PCI-Adapter, just put it in your computer and check if the proble is gone.

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  4. Anonymous
    2011-04-28T22:28:48+00:00

    Hi Everyone!

    Like most of the people on this thread, I was getting hammered with “the Freeze Problem”, probably a dozen times a day or more.  After reading “Nick’s” response, I got the courage to go in and change my BIOS.  My DRAM frequency was set to “Auto”, but I noticed when I went in, the BIOS home page indicated 1333.  I knew my memory was 1600, so that is what I set the DRAM frequency to and I haven’t had a “freeze” since.

    For the record, my hardware profile looks like this:

    Motherboard:   ASUS P8P67 DELUXE (Rev 3)

    Processor:   Intel core i7 2600K LGA1155

    Memory:   Corsair DDR3 1600, 16 GB, CMX8GX3M2A1600C9

    PSU:   Corsair 750TX V2

    Hard drive:   Seagate, Barracuda XT, 7200 rpm, 2TB,

    Video Card:   EVGA GeForce GTX460

    Operating System:   Windows 7 – 64bit

    BIOS Version:   1502

    Hope this helps!

    Frank in Denver

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