Random freezes with windows 7 - 64 bit

Anonymous

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

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Anonymous

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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966 additional answers

Anonymous

2009-11-07T00:06:57+00:00

All,

Here are some items to try and some information we would like to know.

Clean Boot your system and test.

From the Action Center run the check for performance issues.

Open the Performance troubleshooter by clicking the Start button, and then clicking Control Panel. In the search box, type troubleshooter, and then click Troubleshooting. Under System and Security, click Check for performance issues.

If your system freezes, without going to a blue screen error, how do you get out of the freeze? Do you have to reboot, are you able to reboot through Ctrl+Alt+Del or do you have to do a hard reset?

Check the Event Viewer for any warnings or errors. Specifically look in the System and Applications logs. Let us know the Source and Event ID.

If you are getting a blue screen error, what is the error code?

Mike - Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

I'll try this tonight. I wasn't in the clean boot (never done that before), but I haven't had any issues in Safe Mode with Networking on.

I can tell you that I've tried to view the the trouble shooting area in the control panel to see what would show and it gave me an error...lol. I thought the error was rather ironic.

As for those who are only getting a freeze without the BSOD, I think you will find that your problem will turn into a BSOD if you let it sit long enough. Sometimes I get a re-boot right away (most times), sometimes its a freeze followed by a reboot with out a BSOD, sometimes is straight to BSOD.

This is very frustrating. I just did a format last night and I have minimal programs installed.
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Anonymous

2009-11-07T01:38:21+00:00

NB I think I answered Q's in my previous posts - I'm getting a gradual freeze up over 10 - then total freeze - a hard reset is the only way to continue - nothing in event viewer. Anyway far more detail in my other posts.

Another suggestion:

Well maybe it's buggy DRM (a lovely new feature you could do well without XP lovers), or dodgy intigration with sound drivers, or sound drivers conflicting with DRM ->

I notice the audiodg.exe has loads of page faults and is taking up too much CPU time. Googling I found out that this maybe an interesting step to take, well we will see:

Start/Control Panel/Hardward and Sound/Sound/Playback/Speakers/Playback/Enhancements -> and tick disable all enhancements.

See how this gets along over the next few days.
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Anonymous

2009-11-07T04:11:31+00:00

Still having freezes although not as often since running recovery. Also, MSDNAlexS, I checked to see if my sound enhancements were checked and they aren't so it might not be your problem. But you never know. I am going crazy. This thread has the most requests for answers by far so you think someone would pay attention.
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Anonymous

2009-11-07T06:29:18+00:00

Ok, My laughing fit has subsided from reading the response from "MIKE" from MS

Mike, I think the people engaged in this thread have tried just about everything there is to find a COMMON source

for this delema. If you'll take the time to READ the posts instead of skimming you will pick up on this!!!!!!!!!!!

Now,

Its been 24hrs since I did my reformat and reinstall off of my recovery disk. (for the 7th time)

The PC is still isolated from the net.

I installed the drivers for my Creative Sounblaster Audigy SE from the installation disk, and the sound appeared.

The drivers listed in device manager were: VERSION 5.12.1.2002    DATED: 4/9/2007

I brought up "don Henley's" The Boys Of Summer and within 5-7 sec it started to stutter at

roughly the same interval. The curser also was "sticking" at the same time as the stutter if I tried to move it.

I closed the Win Med Plyr and everything settled down in less than 2 min.

retrieved the newest drivers from the creative web sight w/ my laptop and transfered via flash drive.

Funny though, the drivers were identified during download as   VERSION 1.04.0090    DATED   7/2/09

After installing, the device manager identified them as             VERSION 5.12.1.2016 DATED   5/27/2009

So what's up with that?

Anyway, she is, as I type this, playing D. Henley's album "actual miles"

***NOTE tried to rip Journey's Evolution album and it kept saying it couldn't get album info and it would all be blank.

I clicked ok and all the RIPPING colum said was error for every song. So I tried just playing the CD and after getting halfway through the first song it stopped, gave me an error message that said the disk is dirty, etc, etc, ad nausium!

I've gotten that error before and MS does have a patch for it but this OS is staying clean and will be "updated and tested one at a time. BTW, the music that is on the HDD was transfered via flash drive.

Also, pics have been transfered for wallpaper and simple slide show for SSaver with no problems.

Next I will download my drivers from install disk for my GPU.

Will report again tommorrow.
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