DIGIT-ARC read-only archive · snapshot: July 23, 2026

windows freezes

37 posts · originally from https://geek.digit.in/community/threads/windows-freezes.103065/

entrana
entrana Original post #1
Nov 27, 2008 at 5:14 PM
after using my pc for a while, its been randomly locking up just freezing. theres no fixed timeframe but it just happens. every hard drive activity stops, no mouse moving no audio or anything there just an image of the desktop on the screen. i have to restart all the time.happens like once in 5hours or so. it can range on to about 15hours of use. any ideas guys?
ravi_9793
Nov 27, 2008 at 5:30 PM
There can be many causes like:
1. Virus
2. Overheating
3. Bad driver
4. Corrupted windows files.. etc
P
paroh #3
Nov 27, 2008 at 5:53 PM
I think problem with the drivers so download the latest drives of ur sound card, video card etc. And also check what the exact error in event log. u can vew log right click on my computer->manage->event viewer check in system and application about the error
entrana
entrana #4
Nov 27, 2008 at 6:56 PM
nothing shows in event viewer
M
Nov 27, 2008 at 6:58 PM
Clean your System RAM
B
bandrew #6
Nov 28, 2008 at 1:26 AM
Have been going through the various sections and I am so impressed to see how helpful you are to each other. Have already accumulated knowledge towards various aspects that were not known to me and I decided I would also try and help others if I can.
In your case my friend what the others have said might surely be one of the reasons for your computer to freeze additionally check the CPU fan which might have accumulated dust and the heat sink beneath it. This happened to me once and upon cleaning it solved the issue, think its worth a try. Some of the color laser jet printers have made me curious.
entrana
entrana #7
Nov 28, 2008 at 2:42 PM
just cleaned a few days ago, also cleaned ram
M
Nov 28, 2008 at 2:45 PM
you must call some technicians
satyamy
satyamy #9
Nov 28, 2008 at 3:18 PM
Which Windows you are Using ?
Anorion
Anorion #10
Nov 28, 2008 at 3:28 PM
-try to bring up msconfig. If it does not show up, its a worm or a trojan. If it does show up, clear up all non-essential items from the startup.
-does the comp freeze when you use particular programs? does it happen at a particular level of CPU use? This could be an overheating problem. Open up your cabinet and check if the fan has collected dust.
-Some processes run automatically at certain times. ISP providers launch ads at intervals on IE, for example. Check if the browser launching is causing the freeze. Also check autoupdate features in any AV/OS that you use. If this is the problem, disable auto-update and IE.
-Open your cabinet, and check for loose contacts. If your RAM has slipped, your comp won't start at all, but check the hard disk connections, and the drive connections. See if there is anything loose.
-Also check if any of the wiring is interfering with the fan.
-If none of these help, it is almost certainly a problem with the operating system files. Drivers should not freeze, unless the system is detecting a new hardware, and taking a long time over that. If you have recently connected a new Hard Drive, web cam, printer, scanner - etc, then disconnect this and check.
-Bring up the task manager, and have a look at the processes. Check out suspicious processes on this site.. This will help you identify and trojans/spyware/viruses/worms that might be hogging your resources.
-Run a boot time scan. If you don't have an antivirus that does this, use Avast from the Nov DVD.
entrana
entrana #11
Nov 28, 2008 at 4:10 PM
ill try that. btw it just happened so ill let u guys know soon enough how it turns out
tkin
tkin #12
Nov 28, 2008 at 11:30 PM
after using my pc for a while, its been randomly locking up just freezing. theres no fixed timeframe but it just happens. every hard drive activity stops, no mouse moving no audio or anything there just an image of the desktop on the screen. i have to restart all the time.happens like once in 5hours or so. it can range on to about 15hours of use. any ideas guys?
Try to scan your Hard Drive for errors using this software, bad sectors can cause these problems a lot.
*www.hdtune.com/

Get the free version and do the scan. Also check if there are any S.M.A.R.T value exceed issues.
entrana
entrana #13
Nov 29, 2008 at 9:47 AM
its a rather slow scan will post back here when scan is finished

all seems to be ok with the scan

i noticed one more thing
when it freezes, the hdd led stops blinking and usually happens after 2-3 hours after waking up from hibernation.
S
sakumar79 #14
Nov 29, 2008 at 11:33 AM
Try to install Linux on your system or run it through Live DVDs... If you can run it for a long time without freezing, you are dealing with a software problem... Otherwise, if you get system freeze with Linux also, you are most likely dealing with a hardware problem which may be caused by one of many components such as PSU, motherboard, RAM, RAM slot in the motherboard, harddisk, etc...

Arun
entrana
entrana #15
Nov 29, 2008 at 12:01 PM
sorry im unwilling to try linux
Anorion
Anorion #16
Nov 29, 2008 at 12:07 PM
Ah check the hard disk connections to the motherboard.
S
sakumar79 #17
Nov 29, 2008 at 2:41 PM
@entrana, even if you dont want to try linux, just get a Live DVD and run it... You dont have to install anything on your hard disk... Try to keep it running for a while... Play a game, browse the web, write some documents, etc... Just to see if this problem relates to software issues or hardware issues...
entrana
entrana #18
Nov 29, 2008 at 7:38 PM
if hdd connection was loose the hdd wudnt have worked at all
tkin
tkin #19
Nov 29, 2008 at 11:24 PM
if hdd connection was loose the hdd wudnt have worked at all
Not loose connection but errors like corrupt firmware module, S.M.A.R.T errors or bad sectors.
entrana
entrana #20
Nov 30, 2008 at 8:36 AM
i checked for bad sectors how to check for smart errors?

not hibernating "SEEMS" to solve the problem. will just stop hibernating i guess..
entrana
entrana #21
Dec 1, 2008 at 2:29 PM
the problem is not hibernating but using the computer for more than 10 hours i think. i just have to keep restarting
tkin
tkin #22
Dec 1, 2008 at 10:23 PM
i checked for bad sectors how to check for smart errors?

not hibernating "SEEMS" to solve the problem. will just stop hibernating i guess..
Use this tool and perform the S.M.A.R.T test, short DST and short Generic test.

Since the HDD is from Seagate, be carefull, my 500GB Seagate just died on me after 1.5 months of moderate use, make sure to back-up important datas regularly, don't trust Seagate.

Heres the tool;
*www.seagate.com/www/en-us/support/downloads/seatools

Also my PC started to hang up just before my HDD went kaput, read my post;
*www.thinkdigit.com/forum/showthread.php?t=102521
entrana
entrana #23
Dec 5, 2008 at 9:41 AM
yeah i backed up all my data. the sad part is my external is a seagate too :(( i heard the seagate externals were fine though. thanks for the advice :)
thelordrrulzzz
Dec 5, 2008 at 7:17 PM
hi digitians,
My friend has a 4 year old configuration which has started giving him some hardware problem. The configuration is as follows-
1] Celeron 2Ghz processor
2] Intel 845G chipset
3] 40Gb HDD
4] Lite-ON DVD writer
5] 512Mb DDR1 RAM

The computer was working fine till thursday but it abruptly got shut down and then it just won't start up. When he tried to power up his machine then da LED on the mobo didn't glow. So i thought it might be a problem due to a faulty SMPS so i replaced it with a spare i had.

After replacing the SMPS the LED on the motherboard glows, the DVD writer LED blinks, the keyboard's NumLock also blinks and the optical mouse is also powered up But the LED for HDD doesn't glow at all indicating absolutely no activity. All the other peripherals are absolutely fine according to him so

what do u think could be the problem???

P.S.- I thought of posting this query in this thread to avoid making extra threads and wasting BW here...No offences intended to entrana:)
Regards.
tkin
tkin #25
Dec 5, 2008 at 8:31 PM
hi digitians,
My friend has a 4 year old configuration which has started giving him some hardware problem. The configuration is as follows-
1] Celeron 2Ghz processor
2] Intel 845G chipset
3] 40Gb HDD
4] Lite-ON DVD writer
5] 512Mb DDR1 RAM

The computer was working fine till thursday but it abruptly got shut down and then it just won't start up. When he tried to power up his machine then da LED on the mobo didn't glow. So i thought it might be a problem due to a faulty SMPS so i replaced it with a spare i had.

After replacing the SMPS the LED on the motherboard glows, the DVD writer LED blinks, the keyboard's NumLock also blinks and the optical mouse is also powered up But the LED for HDD doesn't glow at all indicating absolutely no activity. All the other peripherals are absolutely fine according to him so

what do u think could be the problem???

P.S.- I thought of posting this query in this thread to avoid making extra threads and wasting BW here...No offences intended to entrana:)
Regards.
The SATA power connector is unable to provide power to the HDD(if the HDD is IDE then the IDE power connector is faulty).

If you're sure the PSU's O.K then the last PSU took the HDD along with it when it died(maybe a power surge killed both the PSU and HDD)
damngoodman999
Dec 5, 2008 at 8:33 PM
My Window is never freezing even if i open my window and keeping , is there any possibilities freezing windows in TAMIL NADU ,???:confused:
tkin
tkin #27
Dec 5, 2008 at 8:50 PM
My Window is never freezing even if i open my window and keeping , is there any possibilities freezing windows in TAMIL NADU ,???:confused:
What do you mean?
satyamy
satyamy #29
Dec 5, 2008 at 9:07 PM
hi digitians,
My friend has a 4 year old configuration which has started giving him some hardware problem. The configuration ................
even if your HDD gone bad you will get display

r u getting display ?
do you hear a Single Beep when you power on the PC ?
Pls specify what problem you r getting ?

if their is no display
Remove Unnecessary Component like TV Tuner Card, LAN Card if any ...
try to remove than clean than reinsert your RAM
if you have 2 RAM test both 1 by 1

i think what "tkin" said abt power is what happen with your PSU & HDD
thelordrrulzzz
Dec 5, 2008 at 10:08 PM
@satyamy
The monitor's LED is blinking but there is absolutely no video signal on the CRT.
This implies that there is absolutely nothing coming on the CRT screen. Due to this he is not even able to log into his bios. We are thinking that the worst case scenario can be that his processor has been blown off :(

@tkin
Even if the HDD was killed by the PSU's power surge then it should be possible for him to enter the bios settings on boot up. So the main thing is that he just can't even enter the bios..

What do you guys think can be da problem then???

If it is the case of the processor being screwed up is there a method to verify this. I mean to check if the processor is really dead....
satyamy
satyamy #31
Dec 5, 2008 at 10:33 PM
recheck have u made proper Power Connection
i.e 2x2 Power Pin for Display (if the mobo need that)

may be u can try resetting (Recover) your BIOS setting using BIOS on board Jumper
*www.intel.com/design/motherbd/lc/lc_confg.htm


I dont think your Processor is gone bcoz Green Light is still blinking
May be your Mobo's Display is gone (this happen in most of my & my frnds PC's bcoz of power problem)
tkin
tkin #32
Dec 5, 2008 at 11:51 PM
@satyamy
The monitor's LED is blinking but there is absolutely no video signal on the CRT.
This implies that there is absolutely nothing coming on the CRT screen. Due to this he is not even able to log into his bios. We are thinking that the worst case scenario can be that his processor has been blown off :(

@tkin
Even if the HDD was killed by the PSU's power surge then it should be possible for him to enter the bios settings on boot up. So the main thing is that he just can't even enter the bios..

What do you guys think can be da problem then???

If it is the case of the processor being screwed up is there a method to verify this. I mean to check if the processor is really dead....
There is an issue with old Intel mobos that when they are connected to faulty HDDs they go into a type of infinite loop that prevents them from launching the bios, you can't enter bios unless you remove the faulty HDD, you can't even boot from Discs also, to confirm remove the HDD and see what happens.

P.S-I've had the same experiance with Intel D102GGC2 mobo a couple of years back, think this case may be same.
entrana
entrana #33
Dec 6, 2008 at 1:51 PM
usually when displays not up there are two reasons from my experience
1) motherboards gone kaboom(actually just a part got broken from mine)
2)try reattaching all connections including ram, processor , graphics card after cleaning them first of course. dust is the worst enemy my friend
entrana
entrana #34
Dec 8, 2008 at 5:15 PM
i noticed another thing i remeber it vaguely though. today my computer hung at 5:03 sharp(seeing the computer time). yesterday too it hung at 5:03 if i remember correctly. is this some kinda new virus?
tkin
tkin #35
Dec 8, 2008 at 9:03 PM
i noticed another thing i remeber it vaguely though. today my computer hung at 5:03 sharp(seeing the computer time). yesterday too it hung at 5:03 if i remember correctly. is this some kinda new virus?
May be a program is causing this, some programs are designed to automatically check for updates at certain times.

Also it may just be coincidence.
entrana
entrana #36
Dec 9, 2008 at 7:07 PM
nothing with 5:03 anymore. i guess its just my bad luck

just did a virus scan, found 2 trojans. deleted em no hangs yet as of today. :)

noticed another thing in my boot menu. there was a smart monitoring thingee turned off. turned it on lets see how that goes now
entrana
entrana #37
Dec 11, 2008 at 9:54 PM
theres no point in this thread anymore :( ... mods kindly close this thread