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

2012-01-15T20:43:15+00:00

The random freezes are likely not from any specific program your using but high memory usage. One of the problems was a package transfer protocol or something that was having trouble. it wasn't sure what to do at times so the system would stop responding.

Basically, anytime you're running something that uses high system memory you have a high chance of running into freezes.

RandomFellow, please clarify what you mean by "High memory"

Do you mean a high usage of available memory (i.e. little or no free memory), or

Use of memory at the high end (i.e. memory with high addresses.

Please also clarify why you feel that is the cause.
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Anonymous

2012-01-16T01:56:31+00:00

The random freezes are likely not from any specific program your using but high memory usage. One of the problems was a package transfer protocol or something that was having trouble. it wasn't sure what to do at times so the system would stop responding.

Basically, anytime you're running something that uses high system memory you have a high chance of running into freezes.

RandomFellow, please clarify what you mean by "High memory"

Do you mean a high usage of available memory (i.e. little or no free memory), or

Use of memory at the high end (i.e. memory with high addresses.

Please also clarify why you feel that is the cause.

Hi MikeColvin,

Programs that can use lots of memory are Internet Explorer, McAfee McShield and Windows Explore. But it isn't High Memory Usage, but programs that take over the CPU, like some Anti-Virus prgram like McAfee and other programs.

If the Mouse isn't frozen, on the screen or if the mouse isn't moving because the battery died and the computer isn't really frozen, because the mouse is moving.

In this case, while not Frozen, it isn't Responding, which happens a great deal with me.

Microsoft, I don't think tests the operating system with more than one Hard Drive inside and that is something that they should be doing.

Lots of Users have Systems with multiple Hard Drives for one reason or another and Microsoft isn't looking into computers with two or more Hard Drives inside, when testing in-house that I know of.

Even though, one may have just one Browser Windows open, that Browser Window may contain multiple tabs that are open and each tab open shows up in Windows Task Manager as iexplore.exe process listed one time for each tab open. This takes up Memory.

So, as long as you can move the mouse or its battery hasn't died, when nothing Responds, the computer isn't locked up or Frozen, simply Not Responding, which I get a Great Deal.
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Anonymous

2012-01-16T03:28:22+00:00

Hi to the creator,

    This comment is from an amateur who's been following this thread for months; maybe my recent experience is relevant.

    My symptom is that at random times, my desktop icons freeze up, but my mouse does keep moving. Several times I've read here that anti-virus programs may be involved - so in early December when my Kaspersky AV expired, I did not renew it in order to see what would happen.   By the way, Best Buy had bundled Kaspersky with Windows 7 64-bit on my new HP Pavilion PC.

    Since early December, I have not had a single desktop freeze - which has never been the case since I purchased this PC a year ago. Maybe the Kaspersky AV took over the CPU, as you were explaining?

    Thank you to everyone for all the great comments, and I'll check back with a progress report in mid-February!
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Anonymous

2012-01-16T06:24:24+00:00
This is something I posted back a few pages on memory.. ..

I am as exasperated as you all and desperate to find the answer.

I'm no geek so I will need some of you who are to tell me if this is an issue or not? When I kick firefox (Firefox.exe *32) off and go into the task manager it shows:
1. Memory (private working set) about 135mb
2. Peak Working set (Memory) about 180mb
After accessing my mail and surfing etc in Task Manager I notice this difference where Firefox seems to just go up and up with memeory usage:
1. Memory (private working set) +600mb
2. Peak Working set (Memory) +700mb
Is there a problem with memory leakage or the like or is this normal? I have tried Chrome but its just the same.

HP Pavilion Dv7 2014TX, Intel Core2 Duo, T9550, 2.66GHz, 4GB, W7 Ultimate 64Bit.

Dual 500GB disks.
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