Vista Ultimate Keeps Freezing - Help!

Power Junkie · Mar 9, 2010

Hey folks.

I'm hoping someone on here can save me from taking a hammer to my PC.

I have an XPS 720 H2C that up until 2 nights ago, was running fine.
Then all of a sudden, my OS (Vista Ultimate) started freezing after about 10 minutes.
I am unable to do anything when this happens apart from press the power off button.

I haven't installed anything new.
I haven't updated anything.
I haven't done anything unusual.
I have Norton Antivirus running in the background etc

The system is a Quad Core 2.93ghz, 4g ram (although Vista only allows 3...bah) and it's a 32 bit OS.
I have a Zotac 1gb GTX 285 Amp GFX card, a Blu-Ray drive and a Liteon DVD DL RW and a SoundBlaster X-Fi card.

So no changes. Nothing. The system has crapped out on me.

I have rolled back to 2 previous save points (first one made no difference) and I have also installed the latest updates to try and fix it. Nada. Still crashing.

I now throw myself at your mercy and hope you don't tell me to get a Mac/Linux - tell me my OS is lame, that Dell is overpriced crap (I got my second hand dirt cheap).

...now if only I can hit the send button before it dies.

niemiro · Mar 9, 2010

Hi,

Can you go into Safe Mode and tell us if the problem remains? Then download and install Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Then scan for infections. Is there anything showing up in the Event Logs or Reliability and Performance Monitor?

Richard

Power Junkie · Mar 28, 2010

Hey Richard.

Malwarebytes didn't pick up anything and the problem remained.

Just to give you an update, I backed up my C drive, formatted it and did a fresh installation of Vista Ultimate.
It still froze after I had it up and running.

I then swapped the 750gb Seagate HD that I had intalled the OS on to a 250gb Seagate HD.
Once again, fresh install and again still freezing after random times.

Sometimes it will lock up if I play a DVD whilst other times when I am listening to music. Sometimes, it just locks up when it's idle.

One thing I have noticed, is that sometimes when I delete the trash, there is no sound of trash being recyled. Within seconds, it freezes after that.

I opened the 720 H2C up and made sure there were no loose connections and that the fans were all working. Check.

I'm at a complete loss here and for once I feel beaten by a PC.

Any help really would be appreciated folks!

richc46 · Mar 28, 2010

Did this begin just about a few weeks ago with the update for IE compatiblity. If so remove it.. Others have had this problem.

Power Junkie · Mar 28, 2010

But I did a complete HD format and reinstallation last night and didn't download any updates.

It still froze so I guess it rules out IE compatibility problems.

richc46 · Mar 28, 2010

You are 100% correct, I did not read your last post carefully.

Try this

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

And try to type memory diagnostics into search and give that test a try.

Power Junkie · Mar 28, 2010

Thanks a lot Richard, I'll give that a go and get back to you.

Thanks again.

richc46 · Mar 28, 2010

You are very welcome. The real thanks will be you coming back and telling me that the problem is solved.

Power Junkie · Apr 1, 2010

Okay, back again.
I tried thatmethod - still froze.

Logic says that this must be some sort of hardware fault as opposed to hardware failure.
Could it be that a chip or cable is slightly loose?
Would that cause it to freeze randomly?

I've noticed it freezes more when I get it to do more than one thing or even attempt to play a DVD. If the DVD plays, it locks soon after.

Any suggestions, advice or brainstorming would be welcomed.

By the way, I installed Windows 7 and it froze again within seconds, even though it is more than capable of running the OS.

richc46 · Apr 1, 2010

You could check and reseat your cards etc, but I do not think that is the problem.

About one week ago,I began having my first problem with Windows 7; freezing problem. I checked the event viewer and each time the froze occur a similar error appeard. I Googled and it was a driver. Just so happens that ATI -CCC has issued a new driver as of 3/1. I downloaded and I am working better than ever. It shows in device manager as Display Adaptor. Give that a try.

Power Junkie · Apr 1, 2010

Hey Richard.
It was freezing under Vista and now W7.
The problem is, it's freezing before I even install the drivers.
Sometimes it will let me install an OS and a couple of drivers and then freeze whereas other times, it freezes straight after or during the installation of the OS.

Another thing worth mentioning, is that I am currently using it as an offline machine so it's blissfully unaware that it needs an update.

I'm about to go through the cards and reseat them all.

If all else fails, I have a sledgehammer in the shed.

richc46 · Apr 1, 2010

I found this list of common reasons for computer freezing. Hopefully one will apply.

COMPUTER FREEZES

Power Junkie · Apr 1, 2010

Thanks Rich. That was one of the first sites I found when searching for a solution.

Okay, I've reseated the cards, avoided the water cooler, checked the ram modules are snug and have blown whatever dust out.

Currently re-installing W7.

If it freezes, I'm SOL

richc46 · Apr 1, 2010

One thing that I do not understand. No mention of 7 until recently. Your opening post and specs mention only Vista.

Power Junkie · Apr 1, 2010

Yep. I started off with Vista and ended up re-installing it - each time, everything still froze.
A friend gave me his W7 for offline testing just to see if it installed correctly.

I also tried to go back to XP (hey I like it) but no joy there either.

Ideally I want to go back to Vista but I'm trying everything I can at the moment just to get this working again.

richc46 · Apr 1, 2010

OK the story about Vista, XP and Seven is an important link. We can rule out the OS, read this, now I am leaning toward drivers or cards.

Memory is a big cause of freezes. Take the memory diagnostic test over night.

How To Fix Windows Freeze Up Problems at Instant Registry Fixes

Power Junkie · Apr 1, 2010

Richard, thankyou so much for taking the time to help me outt here.
You're a star.

I'll finish off the re-install and then run a memory test overnight.

If I run into any problems, I hope you won't mind if I pick your brains for an answer.

richc46 · Apr 1, 2010

I will be here for you until I run out of ideas. The more difficult the problem the more satisfaction I feel when we succeed.

Power Junkie · Apr 2, 2010

Ok. Checked the regitry, deleted the errors...PC still froze.

I'm back on Vista now by the way.

Now I think I may be on to something.
For a few weeks, the monitor (Sharp TV used via DVI -> HDMI) has beeen flickering when I first start the PC and only when the Vista splashscreen comes on.

Now this might sound really stupid and perhaps obvious, but could a bad DVI cable or one that's way too long for such a short distance, be the cause of the problem?

I'm probably clutching at loose straws here but desperate measures etc

richc46 · Apr 2, 2010

Hi

I really do think that a bad cable could cause the problem, but have serious doubt about the length. These things come in standard lengths.

With this possiblity lets not stop there can it be a defective component, socket, or plug on the Video card.

The OS is more or less eliminated, since you had the same problem on several systems.

If you have a willing friend or even an unwilling younger Brother or Sister can you borrow a cable?

Vista Ultimate Keeps Freezing - Help!

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