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
    2012-01-05T22:15:37+00:00

    I "upgraded" from XP to Windows 7 a couple weeks ago and wish I hadn't.  I have an older home built computer that was working fine with XP, but now has the random freezing issue.  By freeze I mean the display freezes in it's last state with no response from the keyboard or mouse.  No activity on HDD.  Will stay frozen forever (or at least 8 hours) until I press the reset button.

     

    Occurs most often when playing games or browsing the web.  When computer is idle it will sit there for all day without freezing up.   Web browsing can occasionally go as long as 2-3 hours without freezing up, other times freezes within a few minutes.  The game Civilization 5 freezes within 1-5 minutes with high resolution settings and within 5-30 minutes under low resolution settings. 

     

    Here are my system specs:

    MB:  Gigabyte GA-K8NS-939

    CPU:  AMD Athlon 64x2 4400+ 

    RAM:  4x1GB PNY PC-3200 DDR

    GPU:  nVidia 7600GS (AGP8X) with 512MB RAM

    HDD: 2x80GB IDE drives

    PSU:  450W

    Audio:  Onboard MB

    LAN:  Onboard MB

    Clean install of Windows 7 with SP1 and all other updates to date

     

    I have tried the following "fixes", all of which have had no effect:

    1.  Updated all drivers

    2.  Updated BIOS

    3.  Disabled  on-board SATA

    4.  Uninstalled Microsoft Silverlight

    5.  Swapped out RAM in various combinations

    6.  Disabled McAfee

    7.  Disabled all other non-windows processes-ie "Clean" start.

    8.  Installed Windows 7 Hotfix 2575077

     

     

     

    Hi NZ123,

    Which version of Windows 7?

    If you installed Windows 7 Service Pack 1 on top of Windows 7, you did not need to install Hotfix 2575077. This Hotfix was included with Service Pack 1.

    It will usually freeze or you get Not Responding Messages when you are accessing a different partition or Hard Drive and the Hard Drive does not spin up fast enough to satisfy Windows.

    You can't fully disabled McAfee.

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-01-05T22:06:31+00:00

    I "upgraded" from XP to Windows 7 a couple weeks ago and wish I hadn't.  I have an older home built computer that was working fine with XP, but now has the random freezing issue.  By freeze I mean the display freezes in it's last state with no response from the keyboard or mouse.  No activity on HDD.  Will stay frozen forever (or at least 8 hours) until I press the reset button.

     

    Occurs most often when playing games or browsing the web.  When computer is idle it will sit there for all day without freezing up.   Web browsing can occasionally go as long as 2-3 hours without freezing up, other times freezes within a few minutes.  The game Civilization 5 freezes within 1-5 minutes with high resolution settings and within 5-30 minutes under low resolution settings. 

     

    Here are my system specs:

    MB:  Gigabyte GA-K8NS-939

    CPU:  AMD Athlon 64x2 4400+ 

    RAM:  4x1GB PNY PC-3200 DDR

    GPU:  nVidia 7600GS (AGP8X) with 512MB RAM

    HDD: 2x80GB IDE drives

    PSU:  450W

    Audio:  Onboard MB

    LAN:  Onboard MB

    Clean install of Windows 7 with SP1 and all other updates to date

     

    I have tried the following "fixes", all of which have had no effect:

    1.  Updated all drivers

    2.  Updated BIOS

    3.  Disabled  on-board SATA

    4.  Uninstalled Microsoft Silverlight

    5.  Swapped out RAM in various combinations

    6.  Disabled McAfee

    7.  Disabled all other non-windows processes-ie "Clean" start.

    8.  Installed Windows 7 Hotfix 2575077

     

     

     

    Ah-ha! It sounds like you and I have the same problem exactly.  Mine has some differences:  an Intel processor (i7 x990), more memory (24GB DDR), 1000W power supply.  Perhaps then these can be ruled out.  The common elements in our hardware setup are:

    Gigabyte motherboard  (model: G1.Guerilla)

    nVidia graphics card (but different model; I have dual 580)

    I have 2 flash drives in RAID 0 as my boot drive and then 1 larger traditional drive for storage

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  3. Anonymous
    2012-01-05T20:57:30+00:00

    I "upgraded" from XP to Windows 7 a couple weeks ago and wish I hadn't.  I have an older home built computer that was working fine with XP, but now has the random freezing issue.  By freeze I mean the display freezes in it's last state with no response from the keyboard or mouse.  No activity on HDD.  Will stay frozen forever (or at least 8 hours) until I press the reset button.

    Occurs most often when playing games or browsing the web.  When computer is idle it will sit there for all day without freezing up.   Web browsing can occasionally go as long as 2-3 hours without freezing up, other times freezes within a few minutes.  The game Civilization 5 freezes within 1-5 minutes with high resolution settings and within 5-30 minutes under low resolution settings. 

    Here are my system specs:

    MB:  Gigabyte GA-K8NS-939

    CPU:  AMD Athlon 64x2 4400+ 

    RAM:  4x1GB PNY PC-3200 DDR

    GPU:  nVidia 7600GS (AGP8X) with 512MB RAM

    HDD: 2x80GB IDE drives

    PSU:  450W

    Audio:  Onboard MB

    LAN:  Onboard MB

    Clean install of Windows 7 with SP1 and all other updates to date

    I have tried the following "fixes", all of which have had no effect:

    1.  Updated all drivers

    2.  Updated BIOS

    3.  Disabled  on-board SATA

    4.  Uninstalled Microsoft Silverlight

    5.  Swapped out RAM in various combinations

    6.  Disabled McAfee

    7.  Disabled all other non-windows processes-ie "Clean" start.

    8.  Installed Windows 7 Hotfix 2575077

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  4. Anonymous
    2012-01-04T20:59:47+00:00

    I had freezes when I listened music and watched movies. I tried adjust power setting but i didn't helped. Then i uninstalled HP power manager software and everything is working perfectly now.

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