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
    2009-11-10T01:09:33+00:00

    Running PSMON gives me an idea that audiodg.exe may be the problem (see earlier) as it was blasting the CPU (and of course taking CPU power I'd rather it didn't take :( - and of course we cannot disable this right *DRM Grrrr*?.

    Also (touch wood) I haven't had any big problem since I did this the following (below):

    Control Panel/Sound/Playback - and disabling: "Speakers" and making default "SPDIF Out".

    Not a great workaround perhaps.... and I may come back here at any moment and state it didn't work after all (early days).

    Cr*p it froze again - totally as usual - nothing in log. I don't seem to be getting distorted sound mind after an hour or so of streaming audio (from whatever source) anymore .... of course that could change again as well further down the line.

    Yet another idea - Windows Messenger could be at fault- this time I was running it (normally I don't do this, but I remember the full system crash happened last time I was running messenger):

    http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7itproappcompat/thread/e8c4b374-b8ea-44e1-8a30-84601c9c4dc4/

    Apols if I'm coming on with idea after idea here - but ideas is all I have.

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  2. Anonymous
    2009-11-10T01:23:41+00:00

    I have the same problem with the most of the posts, so I wont start messing around with my terrible English skills to tell preciously what my settings etc are. One good way to cause the freezing problem is to use program called Spotify. I just change between couple of songs and there we go :(

    Sorry this post went to 1st after the main post. I ment to post this dooooown..

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  3. Anonymous
    2009-11-10T03:25:29+00:00

    ok i ran procmon and captured a buttload of things running at the same time. I'm actually on the bad PC (with fingers crossed).

    Now, how do I import the information that I captured??????

    Q: My MEMORY doesnt get overwelmed like the HDD. Is it possible my HDD is not getting the signal to use ram and instead

    is using the HDD as available ram, thus overwhelming it?

    I'm telling you this HDD looks to me anyway, like its just getting brought down.

    Last night After uneventfully doing clean boot, I turned on WMP to play some music and sure enought it started stuttering in

    unisone with the light.

     I stopped it and went to the graphes in performance mon and actually watched the PC activity slowly decay until it froze.

    It was like watching it die. Strange

    Anyway if you can leave explicite info on how to post the results of my capture from procmon and chew on the hdd question id be as happy as a pig in

    liquid excrement.

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  4. Anonymous
    2009-11-10T10:45:14+00:00

    ok i ran procmon and captured a buttload of things running at the same time. I'm actually on the bad PC (with fingers crossed).

    Now, how do I import the information that I captured??????

    Q: My MEMORY doesnt get overwelmed like the HDD. Is it possible my HDD is not getting the signal to use ram and instead

    is using the HDD as available ram, thus overwhelming it?

    I'm telling you this HDD looks to me anyway, like its just getting brought down.

    Last night After uneventfully doing clean boot, I turned on WMP to play some music and sure enought it started stuttering in

    unisone with the light.

     I stopped it and went to the graphes in performance mon and actually watched the PC activity slowly decay until it froze.

    It was like watching it die. Strange

    Anyway if you can leave explicite info on how to post the results of my capture from procmon and chew on the hdd question id be as happy as a pig in

    liquid excrement.

    Did you check my post about sound drivers? Which ones do you have installed? Did you check my post about SPDIF out (that at least sorts out the distortion problem over a period of time - maybe).

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