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
    2010-02-25T18:45:03+00:00

    Sorry, can't help you there. That's how much I hate using IE. I'd rather not surf than use it.I'd suggest you install firefox on your spare drive without add ons, or keep the installer ready for use whenever you need to reinstall after recovery. IE is seriously not the way to go...

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-02-25T05:37:30+00:00

    Hmmmm,

    Things just get stranger and stranger!

    Not sure who is using OC ram and Asus Mobo with i7 or i5, but I have a reasonably stable system by adjusting ram voltages.

    Here is what I have done.

    Set my OC profile to XMP (My ram supports this @1.65v 8-8-8-24-2T), set my IMC to auto and my dram voltage dropped to 1.55v, I did try 1.5v but this fell over as soon as I started Firefox with wmp too, but setting to dram to 1.55v and imc to auto still gives me 1600 and seems to be very stable, running Prime 95 for 5 hours, with wmp and firefox about 30 tabs and cpu-z with resource monitor to monitor cpu and ram frequencies.

    One thing I have noticed dropping dram voltage to 1.55v is that the I am still getting speeds upto 3.6Ghz from turbotech but cpu does not drop below 1.2 as it used to and cpu temp is still around 21 -23 c idle and 46 - 53c full load, also no gfx driver not responding something that used to happen at least once a day, which usually led to freeze shortly after.

    I still have 8-8-8-24-2T timings on ram too.

    I appreciate that it is early days yet, but this is the first time from a cold boot that I have not had a freeze within 10 minutes as I usually did.

    Something new to try I guess, I will keep you updated, though I should have my new crucial ram tomorrow but may hold off installing for a few days to see how I get on with these settings.

    Can anyone recommend a decent game demo or full that I can download to push to limits?

    Cheers and good luck to everyone with this most irritating problem

    Sisoft Sandra can push your system pretty good with its benchmarking features. I think I have a post with thier direct link somewheres around here. But yeah, memory timings and voltage if not set correctly manually in the BIOS can crash your system in a heartbeat.

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-02-25T05:33:33+00:00

    Just an update on where I am at - fixed hopefully.

    Had built a new i7 unit with Gigabyte GA-P55-UD3R, 2*2gb, Sapphire 4890, Samsung hd.

    I was getting freezes all over the place. Updated every driver, bios etc.

    Took out 1 of the 2gb of ram and all was fine, and found 1 stick of ram was faulty.

    Even with the good 1 *2gb it frooze on large file transfers.

    Also, found out the ram I had was not compatible - from the corsair & crucial websites.

    RMA'd the 2*2gb and got compatible ram - 2*2gb again and was playing MW2 today.

    initial ram - Corsair 4gb (2x2gb) Ddr3 1333mhz Xms3 Memory Kit Cl9 (9-9-9-24)

    replaced with - Crucial 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 1333MHz/PC3-10600 Memory Kit CL9 1.5V

    Thanks to the folks who sugested I take out 1 of the ram, helped to solve it for me.

    K

    All still running ok?

    I don't suppose you have the part number for your ram by chance?

    What is MW2?

    I just dropped the voltage on my ram from 1.65v to 1.55v and trying this for moment

    Be careful when you change voltage as undervolting memory can damage it as much as overvolting it. This is from Corsairs technical support itself and I trust them on their knowledge of memory. The same should be true for other memory vendors memory. Just make sure your chips can tolerate a lower voltage for that memory and still perform as you require it. If you doubt me just call your memory vendors tech support and ask em. Better safe then sorry when 1 year down the road the memory starts doing weird things.

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  4. Anonymous
    2010-02-25T05:22:12+00:00

    Just an update on where I am at - fixed hopefully.

    Had built a new i7 unit with Gigabyte GA-P55-UD3R, 2*2gb, Sapphire 4890, Samsung hd.

    I was getting freezes all over the place. Updated every driver, bios etc.

    Took out 1 of the 2gb of ram and all was fine, and found 1 stick of ram was faulty.

    Even with the good 1 *2gb it frooze on large file transfers.

    Also, found out the ram I had was not compatible - from the corsair & crucial websites.

    RMA'd the 2*2gb and got compatible ram - 2*2gb again and was playing MW2 today.

    initial ram - Corsair 4gb (2x2gb) Ddr3 1333mhz Xms3 Memory Kit Cl9 (9-9-9-24)

    replaced with - Crucial 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 1333MHz/PC3-10600 Memory Kit CL9 1.5V

    Thanks to the folks who sugested I take out 1 of the ram, helped to solve it for me.

    K

    here is the thing thats super important in your case make sure Memtest shows the same memory timings that you set in the BIOS for that memory. If your memory timings are incorrect then thats the issue regardless of the actual memory tests u perform. Use Memtest to reveal the timings its running the test at and correlate those are the timings you set in the BIOS. Please note this distinction from just running Memtest to check for errors as it a huge one!

    Also, modern Mobo's are very poor at setting specific manufacturer-recommended timings if you use the "auto" setting of your BIOS. You have to go into your BIOS and "manually" tell the BIOS what the timings should be based on the manufacturers recommendation. And do not forget about the correct voltage for that timing as well!

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