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
    2010-01-31T12:00:59+00:00

    I'm glad I found this thread, because I'm having similar problems with my PC.  I feel that my problem is sound-related though.  I've currently switched back to XP x64 because I never had problems with lock-ups until I switched to Win 7 64-bit.  My PC is running fine now.  It's pretty frustrating to go through all kinds of tests only to switch back to an older OS as a final solution.  I hope Microsoft is watching these forums so that they can find a solution.

    The problem's not limited to ASUS boards, by the way:

    OS Name    Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP Professional x64 Edition

    Version    5.2.3790 Service Pack 2 Build 3790

    Other OS Description     Not Available

    OS Manufacturer    Microsoft Corporation

    System Name    KING

    System Manufacturer    Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.System Model    G31M-S2L

    System Type    x64-based PC

    Processor    EM64T Family 6 Model 15 Stepping 6 GenuineIntel ~2400 Mhz

    Processor    EM64T Family 6 Model 15 Stepping 6 GenuineIntel ~2400 Mhz

    BIOS Version/Date    Award Software International, Inc. F10f, 6/1/2009

    SMBIOS Version    2.4

    keep an eye on the audiodg.exe task process. It has been known to exceed 1GB of commit memory use and I use 2 memory task utilities to keep this task process within its normal tolerances of 40-140mb use. If it exceeds this, its leaking memory. I use memclean and Minimem utils to control its memory use and reallocate its memory hogging. Until Microsoft fixes this ____. Audiodg.exe has had a problem based on many forums posts from the early Vista days. Its a go-between file between teh OS sound system and your sound card drivers to prevent your system fromo crashing in the event of a sound card driver failure.

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-01-31T11:30:39+00:00

    This issue is very familiar to me as well currently:

    I use Win7 Ultimate 64bit in combination with an SSD (OCZ Vertex FW1.4) in a self build system and also get exactly the same kind of freezes.

    What is strange is that I get not even a hint where the problem could be (the good old BSOD gave you at least some hints what to look out for). There is also no recognisable pattern when the freeze will occur and it often happens when the computer is idle. There is also no lag upfront to warn you that the system will stop. ctr-alt-del doesn't do anything and I need to perform a hardware reset. Sometimes I also get the "screech of death" when playing, but this is more an exception (using the ADI 1988A/B Audio Driver v6.10.X.6585). Also all USB ports seem to power down as the lights on my G11 keyboard switch off when the freeze occurs.

    The error message from the action centre is also not descriptive (this particular error has occurred 45 times since the 15/11/2009)

    Windows was not properly shutdown

    Description

    The previous system shut-down at 16:24:12 on ‎20/‎01/‎2010 was unexpected.

    Event viewer:

    The system has rebooted without cleanly shutting down first. This error could be caused if the system stopped responding, crashed, or lost power unexpectedly.

    System

      - Provider

       [ Name]  Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Power

       [ Guid]  {331C3B3A-2005-44C2-AC5E-77220C37D6B4}

        EventID 41

        Version 2

       Level 1

        Task 63

        Opcode 0

        Keywords 0x8000000000000002

       - TimeCreated

       [ SystemTime]  2010-01-28T14:19:09.961607800Z

        EventRecordID 31095

        Correlation

       - Execution

       [ ProcessID]  4

       [ ThreadID]  8

        Channel System

        Computer Mac7-PC

       - Security

       [ UserID]  S-1-5-18

     - EventData

      BugcheckCode 0

      BugcheckParameter1 0x0

      BugcheckParameter2 0x0

      BugcheckParameter3 0x0

      BugcheckParameter4 0x0

      SleepInProgress false

      PowerButtonTimestamp 0

    A lot of other forum posts are hinting that this could linked to memory issues, but so far any HW diagnostics (memtest etc) are not producing any faults.

    Drivers are all updated to latest version available for Win7 64bit and I disabled all power saving features (performance mode with no power savings activated) to exclude any issues from here (as this was another area where this problem could come from...apparently reading posts from other forums).

    I have also disabled all OC features and memory timings are all set at recommended settings.

    As a last resort I will use my old XP (still on my my old HDD) for a couple of weeks and see if there will be problems, if not this might exclude any hardware issues and leave me with Win 7 64, Win7 64 drivers and/or SSD as possible culprits to checkout.

    Nevertheless any ideas/hints are appreciated how to narrow down what the problem might be (which is my biggest frustration at the moment not to pinpoint the issue) and I'm happy to provide any additional info if this will help.

    My System specs:

    Asus P5K3 Deluxe WiFi Intel P35 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR3 Motherboard

    Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 5870 1024MB

    Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650

    OCZ 4GB DDR3 PC3-10666C9 1333MHz Gold (4x1GB)

    1 x OCZ Vertex Series 120GB 2.5" SATA-II

    2 x Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 1.5TB

    Seasonic M12 Modular 700W Silent ATX2.0

    Regards

    MacZ

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  4. Anonymous
    2010-01-30T23:48:29+00:00

    I too am expeirencing random Windows 7 freezes, but i have been having this issue from using Win 7 RC, the released 32 bit verion and today with the install of the 64 bit version i still have this issue which i will elaborate on.

    First off my ssytem is a Dell XPS 420, which came with Vista 32 bit which runs no problems. I have been wanting to upgrade to Win 7 and as i previously explained i started off with the RC version. The issue i encounter is that after a length of time of around 1 - 2 hours uisng the computer in Windows 7, programs, folders, drives, explorer all stop responding. It generally starts with the window or application i am using which fades out and gives me "not responding." Then the issue seems to spread, i try the task manager, but i could never end a process, then that hangs, then all my windows hang, then my start menu bars freeze up, and then finally before i force a shut down, my background fades out.

    At first it thought it had soemthing to do with the external hard drive, but after i disconnected it, used the system for 1 -2 hour, the issue repeated regardless.

    I have downloaded all latest windows updates, latest chipset drivers and all other system drivers (not warning messages in device manager), it is a fresh install, but as i said i have installed Windows 7 different version from the release of Win 7 RC all the way up today, and the issue has not been resolved. I doubt it is a hardware issue, as my computer functions perfectly in Vista and XP. I have tried disabling sleep mode and hybrid sleep mode, through lookign through this post, but is anyone else experiencing the same freezing as i am?

    Regards

    Whisky

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