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
    2011-12-11T01:27:21+00:00

    I completely agree, I have never had any issues on my laptop since I had Win7Ultimate 64bit installed.

    I have patched Win 7 64 to the latest and still get these random freezes.  I just wait for about a couple of minutes whilst the disk thrashes and it comes back again.  It would not worry me if it was once a month but its about 2-3 times every hour or so.  I reckon its got something to do with 64 bit and perhaps explorer or some other MS product that is incompatible with 64 bit.  It is very irritating, especially when it crashes explorer.

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-12-10T21:25:46+00:00

    So whatever causes this - the problem is on the MS side of things FOR SURE

    it's a root problem -they will have to track it down, change the way Windows handles things or give out correct (or corrected) docs to soft & hardware developers to prevent this behavior...

    btw - I would actually have my lawyer check to get MS to pay for my broken hardware. Good thing for them, still got warranty on my system - hey maybe it's a feature and they teamed up with hardware manufacturers to get sells up ;) you never know...

    this s-u-c-k''S BIG TIME get a team together and fix this. ASAP please

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-12-10T21:09:43+00:00

    Aright everybody

    • as far as I am concerned this is definetly not a hardware issue, since I just had my notebook completly tested (hardware-wise) by the OEM Manufacturer
    • actually they came up with a faulty CPU and Mainboard - send the system back to me, I put The HD back in performed a clean install - BAAM same problem
    • I had this BSOD issue for about a year COMPLETLY RANDOM I actually came to believe that these frequent lock-ups caused my CPU and Mainboard to dust off since repeatetly cutting out power to components will damage them in the long run.

    A very interesting fact is that my machine never Black's-OUT when it is under medium to heavy load. So as long I keep crysis wars running in the background and my CPU, GPU RAM are at at least 50% it never crashes - I can work, browse the web etc.

    As soon as I take the load away, meaning to shut the game (or any other) down, it literaly takes a few minutes then the screen goes black (ocassionaly like every 100 times it reboots itself or I get a bluescreen instead) - then I have to do a Hard Reset.

    I tried all possible settings, drivers etc. It is random and it is Operating System related

    THIS IS DUE TO THE OPERATING SYSTEM (in my case win7 pro 64bit) HAVING SOME SORT OF PROBLEMS INTERACTING WITH ANY GIVING HARDWARE its hundrets of ppl reporting this, loads of diffrent types of hardware this is not an hardware or driver issue and if it is then it is cause microsofts documentaion which the hand out to OEM's etc is wrong ... or their stuff is just not working properly...

    SO GO FIX THIS **** GODDAMMIT

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  4. Anonymous
    2011-12-08T14:30:04+00:00

    After 6+ weeks of freezes every 2 to 5 hours I fixed it.

    I had disabled many services mentioned above.  I removed the video card - used the onboard.  Updated drivers.  Logged what software was used.  Pored through the event logs.  Used it in domain & non-domain environments.

    It was an USB flat bed scanner.  Once I unplugged it - not one freeze.  It's an older scanner that worked using native Win7 drivers.  Don't know why it freezes the machine if left plugged in but it did.  (yes, why did it take me soooo long to try unplugging it - doh.)

    I realize this isn't a solution for everyone's problem.  This Win7 freeze post is a catch-all for a symptom that probably has many, many root causes. But there is hope.  Pick away at it.  Remove more and more. Swap things around.  Keep notes.  Post successes.

    Good Luck All

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