screen is distorting and system freezes

TechGuyAlabama · Apr 17, 2013

My computer seems to want to freeze every couple of hours. I can reboot it and it works fine for a bit. This has been happening for over a week. I cannot remember doing anything to the computer to cause this.

Running Avast Free and Malwarebytes. MAlwarebytes scans daily. Nothing found on either.

I have updated the video driver two days ago.

I ran the microsoft memory check and it found no errors.

I have opened up the computer and I do not see anything conspicuous. The air intake is not clogged and it doesn't appear to be running hot.

I forgot to add, sometimes when I reboot it after a freeze, it says that it cannot find the OS. If I shut it down and bring it up completely instead of rebooting, it works. That is, until it freezes again.

Was wondering if anyone had any input.

My system:

Windows 7 64bit - up to date

I have updated my video card drivers two days ago with the latest version.

My hardware:

Processor: [= Six Core =] AMD Phenom™ II X6 1100T Black Edition Six-Core CPU
Processor Cooling: Liquid CPU Cooling System [AMD] - ARC Dual Silent High Performance Fan Upgrade (Push-Pull Airflow
Memory: 2x8 GB [4 GB X2] DDR3-1600 Memory Module - Corsair or Major Brand
Video Card: AMD Radeon HD 6950 - 2GB - Single Card - Video Card Brand (Major Brand Powered by ATI or NVIDIA)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-870A-UD3
Power Supply: 800 Watt
Primary Drive: SSD Agility4

Am I missing anything?

Thanks!

lookerup · Apr 17, 2013

i wouldn't suggest this but have you updated the bios?

TechGuyAlabama · Apr 17, 2013

lookerup :

Ah, yes. I did when I started having issues. I forgot that part.

Thanks for the input.

JackNaylorPE · Apr 17, 2013

Are you doing just manual scans ? Ya def dont want two programs actively scanning each file as you open it.

lookerup · Apr 17, 2013

clear CMOS, delete suspicious files or programs, memtest http://www.memtest.org/ , defrag,

TechGuyAlabama · Apr 17, 2013

lookerup :

elaborate on the "clear cmos" please.

I did a defrag last night, it was at 11%. I had a freeze this morning so I don't think that solved it.

Is memtest better than microsoft's memory test?

TechGuyAlabama · Apr 17, 2013

JackNaylorPE :

No, they were both active. I just removed Malewarebytes. I'll see how that works for me.

bigpinkdragon286 · Apr 17, 2013

How long have you run the current hardware configuration without modification, before experiencing issues?

I know you opened the case and looked, seeing nothing amiss, but have you actually monitored any of the temperatures your components are running at?

Freezing and a subsequent inability to locate your OS makes me question your boot device. I have seen older SATA cables fatigue and fail at the plug, requiring replacement of the SATA cable, and SSD drives often have firmware updates.

The current firmware version for the Agility 4 series appears to be v1.5.2 and was released Aug 14, 2012.

Be very aware that depending on the version of firmware you are currently running on the drive, OCZ states a firmware update may result in the complete loss of data on the drive.

You should be able to locate the firmware for your particular SSD if you choose to go that route here:

http://ocz.com/consumer/download/firmware

Note: Do not defragment an SSD, if that's what's being recommended and done. It is unnecessary and will reduce it's useful lifespan.

lookerup · Apr 17, 2013

TechGuyAlabama :

clearing cmos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9RnIj-EcdQ

as memtest: i dont trust microsofts programs and i hear many people recommending this one.

TechGuyAlabama · Apr 17, 2013

bigpinkdragon286 :

Thanks for your input.

The computer is about a year old. The drive is about a month old. I just bought it when I was having lag issues on my sata drive in games.

I have not monitored the temperatures, I will find a utility and start monitoring it more.

Two questions for you though:

1. Is there a program that will test my SSD for issues? I couldn't find one on OCZ's site.
2. How do I find out the firmware version of my SSD?

Thanks!

lookerup · Apr 17, 2013

I also advice you to make a recovery cd, just in case if it could be the ssd or hdd's fault.

bigpinkdragon286 · Apr 17, 2013

Good, free program for monitoring the stats of your machine:

http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/hwmonitor.html

Good, free program for investigating your hard disks:

http://hddscan.com/

TechGuyAlabama · Apr 17, 2013

lookerup :

I watched the video. I forgot that could be done with the motherboard. It has been a while since I've had to work with one. Mr.Phung said that if you can get the the bios, that setting the bios back to default does the same thing. If this is the case, I put them back to optimized settings. I am not overclocking anything.

I will try out the memory program you suggested.

Thank you!

warezme · Apr 17, 2013

If it says it can't find the OS on reboot then it is likely your HD is failing or disconnecting. It could be as simple as the SATA cable being loose and dropping connection. Once the HD disconnects the computer will continue to run from memory until it has to access some information from the HD then eventually it will just crash. Usually a reboot will reconnect the HD and it will run normally until it disconnects again, sometimes it can't reconnect and you get the no OS found. Replace the Sata cable on your boot drive and plug it into another Sata port to rule out the port and the cable being bad. It if continues, try another drive to rule out the drive itself.

TechGuyAlabama · Apr 17, 2013

bigpinkdragon286 :

Nice programs! The hddscan also tells me the firmware version. I will check it out to see if I need to update.

Thanks!

TechGuyAlabama · Apr 17, 2013

Am I reading this right:

Model: OCZ-AGILITY4
Firmware: 1.5.2

That I'm almost 3 versions below the current bios version!?

Awwww man, I don't want to reformat my drive!!!

bigpinkdragon286 · Apr 17, 2013

Note: Microsoft's Memory Diagnostic Tool works perfectly fine and I believe it supported memory sets above 4 GB before Memtest did. If you don't trust Microsoft to test your computer's memory, why would you trust them to manage it with their operating system, which is a far more complicated task?

bigpinkdragon286 · Apr 17, 2013

v1.5.2 is the current firmware version for the OCZ Agility 4 SSD.

TechGuyAlabama · Apr 17, 2013

bigpinkdragon286 :

Yeah I read the wrong version. Thank God.

bigpinkdragon286 · Apr 17, 2013

No worries, we all have our moments.

TechGuyAlabama · Apr 18, 2013

Ok, this is what I've done up to this point since the last update:

- Ran a video test called 3DMark - did a nice test and had no issues
- Haven't found a program that will test the hard drive for issues, everything I've found said the health was ok but it didn't scan it. I believe they were using the SMART information.

I received this message several times when booting my machine yesterday:

(yes my monitor is dirty) :ouch:

Finally got it to boot to Windows. Decided I had better do as it suggests so I put in the Windows dvd and did a repair.

It said that it could not repair windows and gave a generic message with no details.

At this point, I believe it is either the Windows install or the hard drive unless someone has a better idea.

If that is the case, how do I test my ssd so I don't have to reinstall Windows to find out it is the drive. I don't want to waste the time if it is.

screen is distorting and system freezes

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