Random freezes with windows 7 - 64 bit

OK I'd been having the random freeze problem with a 64-bit version of Win7 for a few months when it finally started to really bore on me and I decided to revert back to Vista (yes, I was that desperate). However, the guy that fixes my computer for some reason neglected my plea and installed Win7 again, only this time it was the 32-bit version. He said it should run better as opposed to the 64-bit job. Less bugs. Etc. Etc. So, I got my machine back with a clean 32-bit Win7 install, hoping for the best this time. About 5 minutes into me installing all the peripherals that I need, the whole works locked up, which raised quite a bit of an eyebrow. However, by then I had only managed to install two applications: the software for the Logitech G35 headset (that couldn't have caused the problem, the freezes had originally started long before I got that) and, surprise! the drivers and utilities for my Logitech Performance MX mousie. Which, incidently, runs without the benefit of any wires, just like every other mouse I've been using with this setup. Gonna pop to the store and buy some proper mouse with a big fat wire now to see if that'll fix the problem. If it does... a huge thumbs-up to Microsoft! 100 euro down the drain to say the least.

I have just finished my fourth conversation with Microsoft support. They told me that this issue is not a hardware problem and the only way for me to fix the problem is to reinstall Windows 7 64 bit and then see if that runs on its own without a freeze. If it runs without a freeze I should then add my software one at a time and wait to see which one is causing the problem. This will take me weeks to complete since I do use quite a lot. I was told that 32 bit software should work on 64 bit Windows but it is not garanteed and it is definately a problem with one of my 32 bit programs. I was also told that Google Toolbar is known to cause an issue (I don't use it!) and Google Earth which I have uninstalled. Norton Anti Virus and iTunes are also known to cause freezes! Once again, they said RAM settings or changing them will not help!

So, there you go folks. Windows 7 64 bit doesn't like some 32 bit programs. I haven't decided what I am going to do next but I will probably go back to Win 7 32 bit and just feel sorry for you guys!

Anyone have problems with iTunes 64 bit? I have had 2 freezes just trying to open it! I really think it a bit rich that Microsoft blame third party software for this problem when they claim on their website that 32 bit applications will work with Windows 7 64 bit. It seems that even 64 bit applications don't work let alone 32 bit! Using Windows 7 64 bit is like using Windows 95/98. It might work or it might not but whatever happens you will have to reinstall it regularly and spend most of your time trying to fix it rather than just using it!

Anyone have problems with iTunes 64 bit? I have had 2 freezes just trying to open it! I really think it a bit rich that Microsoft blame third party software for this problem when they claim on their website that 32 bit applications will work with Windows 7 64 bit. It seems that even 64 bit applications don't work let alone 32 bit! Using Windows 7 64 bit is like using Windows 95/98. It might work or it might not but whatever happens you will have to reinstall it regularly and spend most of your time trying to fix it rather than just using it!

Hello. I've been reading this thread in the hopes of finding a solution to the same problem i've been experiencing lately. Here's my rig's specs, first of all:

Intel Core i7, *** Email address is removed for privacy ***

Win7- 64 Bit

Geforce GTX 295 (Driver ver. 197.45), 240 CUDA cores,  Gfx factory clocked at 576 MHz, processor at 1242 MHz, 896MB dedicated video Memory

X3 Corsair 2GB Mem sticks, Type TRX36G (@1333MHz) for a total of 6GB Ram

MOBO is Intel Extreme PD55KG (type LGA1156), with onboard Realtek 7.1 Audio (Which I use)

X2 WD HDD's with 500GB's in each, plus one external 1TB USB HDD for backup.

Clean install of OS to complement a clean install of a brand-new system build, just over 5 months old!

Now, for the past couple of weeks or so, whenever I'm browsing, or simply opening a folder, randomly, and out of nowhere, the system just stops responding! Mouse can scroll all over the place, but browser doesn't respond, nor does the folder I'm trying to open. Same applies when I'm running a game (Steam or otherwise), it freezes momentarily, then cuts back to where it's supposed to be. I updated all the drivers I could think of (Graphics, Audio, BIOS, MOBO, you name it!) and I still get those darn freeze-ups, which are sometimes immune to the CTRL-ALT-DEL commands, or sometimes ignore them for a few minutes!!

At first, I thought it was my Chrome Browser, since every now and then, a multi-media-intensive site almost crashes it, so I used Opera, Firefox, IE8, all the same.

Then I thought it was my P2P client, so I stopped that for a while & tested the waters, no deal.

Then I thought it was my Anti-Virus, so i stopped it completely and offloaded it from memory, the freeze-ups still happen.

Then I thought it was the iTunes,  (64-bit edition) especially since it's ethernet network driver is always showing an error in my Device driver list, so I removed it completely (after a few rounds of reinstall-uninstall-reinstall!!) No Deal.

Then I thought that it might be my external HDD, so I removed that and...well you know the rest!!

And finally, I Googled "Windows 7 64-bit random freeze" and here I am, reading about other poor souls who still can't find a solution to this issue.

Strangely enough, I had ZERO problems with my rig 4-5 weeks back. It took everything I threw at it like a pro (COD4, Bad Company2, C&C4, Empire:Total War, World In Conflict, all in Ultra High Settings), absolutely no problems whatsoever.

Anyone with a cure to this itch will not find me disappointed!!