Computer Keeps Freezing

[Squid_uk]

Hey guys!

My computer keeps freezing when im using it only problem is I can't define when it does it, ie when i load certain programs, could this be a problem with the hard disk? Is there anything i could do to try and test it?

[jagabo]

To test the drive run Windows' disk diagnostic with a full surface scan. Right click on drive -> Properties -> Tools -> Error Checking -> Check Now -> Enable both options. A reboot is required if it's your boot drive. It will take a while; possibly a few hours depending on the size of the drive.

Other possible problems are overheating, failing PSU, bad memory, loose cables, software problems, etc.

[jman98]

Overheating might the problem. My PC will sometimes freeze if I am encoding with Cinema Craft Encoder. There's nothing I can do except reboot and start again, but I usually let the PC cool off first. I have become convinced that it's probably an overheating thing. CCE uses almost 100% of the CPU and I think it's just causing my PC to overheat at times and that locks it up. I almost never have this issue if I do my encodes over night, hence my suspicion that it's overheating. Unfortunately, my experience is that AMD CPUs are much more prone to this freezing than Intel CPUs. I like AMD, but I rarely see this kind of problem from Intel CPU owners.

[Squid_uk]

One thing i have noticed it that it does it after being on stand by the log screen appears then the main desktop then it crashes sometime after that, the wierd thing is, when the PC freezes if i press the reset button on the tower then windows will not boot properly, however if i turn it off, leave it for a few seconds then turn it on again it works fine.

[jman98]

I do NOT trust "stand by" mode and deliberately turn it off on my PCs. I suggest you try that and see if things get better. If not, you can always put it back on and it won't make things worse to try this.

[Squid_uk]

The reason I use is because I am impatient! But i have also been told it is better to keep a computer running rather than turning it on and off all the time, is this true?

[jagabo]

I find a lot of hardware doesn't work properly with the various power options in Windows. They have to be left on all the time or completely powered down. It's easy enough for you to test if standby is causing your problems.

[sikoone]

One thing i have noticed it that it does it after being on stand by the log screen appears then the main desktop then it crashes sometime after that, the wierd thing is, when the PC freezes if i press the reset button on the tower then windows will not boot properly, however if i turn it off, leave it for a few seconds then turn it on again it works fine.

I was recently having the same problem. I noticed i was having trouble with my dvd drives being in PIO mode mode so i un-installed the primary IDE channel in device manager. After rebooting Windows couldn't reinstall the necessary drivers as i was getting a 'hdc' reference in the error message. My drives still showed up in Device Manger but there was a yellow exclamation point indicting trouble. I tried putting in my Windows cd to see if i could install the drivers and it was a no go. Since it was a cpu i built myself, i went to the motherboard manufacturers website to do a driver search and the only thing i found was the Via 4 in 1 chipset drivers. I installed the latest ones just to see if it would work and so far my cpu hasn't froze anymore. I know it was a long explanation but if you are having any of the same issues maybe you might want to try what i did. I also noticed i had a floppy disk in the drive and i removed that too.

[Squid_uk]

Hey guys tried window diognotics but still suffering from the same problem even when i use the correct shut down mode

[Dv8ted2]

Overheating might the problem. My PC will sometimes freeze if I am encoding with Cinema Craft Encoder. There's nothing I can do except reboot and start again, but I usually let the PC cool off first. I have become convinced that it's probably an overheating thing. CCE uses almost 100% of the CPU and I think it's just causing my PC to overheat at times and that locks it up. I almost never have this issue if I do my encodes over night, hence my suspicion that it's overheating. Unfortunately, my experience is that AMD CPUs are much more prone to this freezing than Intel CPUs. I like AMD, but I rarely see this kind of problem from Intel CPU owners.

This could be fixed by using a bigger heat sink and cooling fan.

[Dv8ted2]

Hey guys tried window diognotics but still suffering from the same problem even when i use the correct shut down mode

It could be several things. You could look for an updated video driver. The video driver could be causing the lockup. It could be the power supply that is causing the lockup. You could test this theory by unplugging everything bust the essentials and slowly plug one thing in at a time until it locks up again. If it locks up using this approach, you have caught the culprit.

[Squid_uk]

I have been on the NVIDIA website and am told that the Graphics Card has the most up-to-date drivers

[hudsonf]

If you haven't cleaned the inside of the computer it could be full of dust. I would also check that all fans are working.

[Bjs]

The problem is hard to diagnose with so little information given

A: Make sure you clean the system out ... dust problems are not covered under warranty.

B: Replace the main cable to the drive, sometimes they just go bad, or the pins have oxidized over time and need a quick cleanup, cured by simply unplugging cable and reinserting should do

C: The ultimate boot cd comes with a utility for benchmarking the hd's performance which you can compare to the original equipments manufacturer data specs. There's one setting that when triggered, makes the hd sound as though its about to take off, raw read thorough put I think.

As far as utilities which run under operating systems go, and xp defaults, you shouldn't trust them. Even the manufacturer's tool's can report all's fine, when it's not.

HD Workbench was released not long ago as free, you can check specific parameters of the drive with it, just when you get to the main page for this program, look up and to the left for the serial required to install it.

Which ever way you go, you should include which of the majority of applications may cause this fault.

1: Video / audio
2: Web
3: Other
4: Mouse and keyboard in use?, ps2 / usb / wireless, ms / logitech?

Thought Id throw that last one in on the grounds it has appeared in the past that problems evolved with input devices.

There's more

Conflicts caused by certain ms updates
What antivirus product is installed
Has this problem evolved after a product install?

It's a pretty long list, so work from dust bunnies, cable, input devices, software and you might finally get somewhere.

... of course it could be corruption within the registry caused by bloatware applications, and resolving those may simply mean reloading the os.

===

Hit ctrl + alt + del, click the process tab, and watch it carefully when you run certain applications ... if you see it clock 100% for sometime, and the app appears frozen, then you have atleast tracked down one application which needs attention.

Also, tell us how many process's are concurrently running at system startup ... some do not need to be running at system startup, which might alleviate the problem

[fritzi93]

It could be the power supply that is causing the lockup.

Or a dodgy molex. I've actually run across this twice, and the first time it was highly frustrating to diagnose. Thought I'd ruled everything out but the power supply and was going to replace it. As a final check I swapped the suspect connector to a couple of case fans and wiggled the wires gently with the computer on. Yep, intermittent/low power. (Re-soldered the wires to the female pins and all was well).

A long shot, but it wouldn't hurt to swap the power connector. :wink: