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

2012-01-29T15:16:28+00:00
Hi Guys,

There are couple of things that seemed to work for people here :
1. Changing anti-virus from AVG to MS Security Essentials.
2. Applying hot-fix http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2265716/en-us. FYI this is a part of later service pack 1.
3. Tune-Up to control the memory management.
4. BIOS settings change back to default in case you have fiddled with it.
Other than 4 have tried all the 3 and it is much better that the random freeze in every login is gone. The freeze still happens but may be once in 3-4 days which is still OK with me. Just to make sure my freeze is not BOSD but usually mouse and keyboard not responding which is fixed only after hard reset.

I am not sure whether I want to try to change my BIOS settings as it could be risky but will wait and watch this thread in case some BIOS expert can pin-point the actual issue.
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Anonymous

2012-01-29T23:34:58+00:00

I never had any problem with windows 7 64x in my Vaio Fw41E. Last week I made a format and reinstalled the same windows version, also 64 bit version, Professional Edition (MSDNAA) and now it freezes all the time! I am a computer technician myself and have tried every trick up my slieve and i haven't found the root of this! What I notice is that it freezes when the computer is stressed out, but my computer isn't exactly weak for windows, it scores 5.5, fairly reasonable score. I have MS Security Essentials, and SP1...I have all of my drivers up-to-date! I have no Ideia what so ever of what is causing this freezes!

MS, solve this!
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Anonymous

2012-01-30T01:26:34+00:00
Well guys,
- AVG gone replaced by MS Essentials
- Hotfix applied
- The PC tools app previously recommended, downloaded and has been run several times.
- All MS updates applied
- HD set to never go down
Things seemed to be working better with only the occassional freeze. Then last night a DOS looking window flashed very briefly and I did not get a chance to read it.

Basically I seem to have lost my O/S (Win 7 / 64) and cannot boot up my laptop. I fiddled with it for hours and in the end managed to get a DOS window and could get onto my HD C: and see everything. But still could not boot it because it said I had no O/S.

I wonder if security essentials has let a virus through? I never ever had any virus issues before with AVG.

Any advice??
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Anonymous

2012-01-30T02:04:54+00:00

+1 Sanaz,

I too am stumped what the problem is, having tried all the tricks I know as well. I believe it is a problem with windows itself, (support for latest chipsets), as before I had downloaded some windows updates my daughter's PC had a "Windows Experience " score of 7.4.

After the updates and subsequent freezing problems, it can't even "evaluate" itself to even give a score without freezing up. So you are correct, it appears to happen when you put ANY stress on your system, no matter how adequate it is at running windows 7. Now thanks to Windows Updates, (or rather backdates) I now have a 386 PC that used to score @ 7.4.

Since the PC was running fine for 9 months before the "updates", it doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out what caused the problem.....hello....MICROSOFT....are you listening to all of us!?
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