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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments No comments
Answer accepted by question author
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

Was this answer helpful?

80+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments No comments

966 additional answers

Sort by: Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2012-01-14T10:38:30+00:00

    Hi Stupid61,

    Remove Microsoft's Security Essentials or Remove Norton. Having both installed, causing the computer to run very slow and can cause Lockups, if the same file is accessed at the same time, by two different programs.

    Stupid61, you are using CCleaner. Try downloading TuneUp Utilities 2012 and install it. The Programmers give you a 15-Day Trial.

    http://www.tune-up.com/download/

    Run its TuneUp Registry Cleaner as well as its Broken Shortcut Cleaner and see what happens.

    Hi Creator (and other frustrated potentially-ex-Microsoft customers!),

    I had only installed MSE as a method of getting the remaining Windows Updates to install. This they did straight away, so I then uninstalled it again. I was also then able to access all my Asrock driver downloads and install them without any problems. I did have one further seizure as XFast USB was loading after a boot, but another shutdown / wait ten minutes / re-boot got me past that and all has been ok since.

    This morning I have booted up and everything so far looks tickety-boo, but time will tell. I should have said yesterday that my problems seemed to start when my then 8-month old motherboard's CMOS battery died and I had to replace it. The freezes then just kept on coming.

    I've installed and run the Tune-Up Utilities and the report found loads of potential problems. Looks like a useful piece of software, so I will buy it from Amazon.

    Wouldn't it be nice if someone would invent a stable, secure operating system that didn't try to put your whole life online, integrate every little compartment that you try to keep separate and then watch where and when you browsed and what you browsed for without you having to opt out and disable features everywhere? It should be opt-in. I thought Android might end up being that but nope (sorry, off-topic rant).

    Finally, I would like to say also what a helpful forum this seems to be. I will abandon others and come here in future. Thanks all for educational reading!

    Should have known better - 2 hours in and another seizure. It does seem for all the world sometimes like it's temperature-related, but my processor is at 30degrees!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  2. Anonymous
    2012-01-14T11:56:06+00:00

    Hi Barz450, thanks for the response but I don't get the "STOP" so I wont try loading the Hotfix.

    I don't know why, it could be my imagination, but it seems to start freezing when the "Memory starts to take off on Firefox.  So I am trying Chrome to see if it makes a difference.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  3. Anonymous
    2012-01-14T19:53:37+00:00

    Hi Creator (and other frustrated potentially-ex-Microsoft customers!),

    I've installed and run the Tune-Up Utilities and the report found loads of potential problems. Looks like a useful piece of software, so I will buy it from Amazon.

    Hi Stupid61,

    Here is a trick. Wait 14 Days and uninstall TuneUp Utilities. In the past, the Browser opens up and they offer $20.00 off the price for TuneUp Utilities.

    But it doesn't fix Not Responding Messages. I still get them but no Lockups.

    Also read this thread that I started.

    http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7itproperf/thread/d424afbe-f373-4310-b16e-242f0957217a

    I am still taking Not Responding messages,  but they eventually start Responding.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  4. Anonymous
    2012-01-15T03:11:25+00:00

    I read the thread thecreator gave and then linked to here from there:

    http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7itproinstall/thread/91f94991-de03-45f9-b560-25e28ce9e786

    At the end of this thread the following is presented as the fix to the random freezes: What do you all reckon?

    Hotfix for this problem has been released by Microsoft. See this article:

    http://www.technize.net/fix-windows-7-service-pack-1-random-freezes/

    • Marked As Answer byCarey FrischWednesday, November 16, 2011 3:30 AM

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments