Windows 8.1 PC Continually Freezes

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solkeher

solkeher

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Update 09/05/14: MSI Live update and Killer Network Drivers seem to be the culprit here. Will keep on updating thread.


Hello all, about two months ago I built my PC and everything was great and no problems whatsoever until about a month ago.

In short, my PC freezes when I'm just browing the web. It doesn't happen when I'm decoding a video, or when I'm playing a game, or running an emulator. It always happens when I'm browsing, in Chrome. All of a sudden there's a slowdown, and the right mouse click menu takes a while to appear. When the right click menu appears it's kind of transparant/greyish and then it fully appears but none of the options work. For example I right click on the desktop and click task manager, but it never appears. I can minimize/maximize windows but cannot close or open new ones. Then it's completely frozen, I can't do anything other than move the mouse around.

Yet Metro UI still works, somewhat until it slows down and completely freezes again. I cannot restart or shut down PC, I have to do it manually by holding down power button or pressing the reset button.

I get no error messages... I used to have malware antibytes installed but removed it following advice from a similar thread in here. I have all the drivers up to date (motherboard, sound, graphics card, intel, and windows updates of course).

Deleted graphics drivers and installed latest ones and the problem still persists.

These are my specs:

Intel i7 4790k
R9 290
8GB RAM 1600 Mhz
1 TB HDD
Windows 8.1
EVGA Nova G2 750 Watt PSU
MSI Z97 gaming 5 motherboard
Corair Hydro h100i

I have dual monitors set up, one at 1920x1080 and another one at 1600 x900 on DVI from graphics card.

Any advice? I have looked ay microsoft support forums and there's a lot of people with similar issues but no official word from a Microsoft tech person or solution.


Thanks in advance!
 
Solution
Chicano
Another user had the MSI Killer NIC problem a few months ago... Don't recall the exact solution but I believe he uninstalled the software and applied this fix for the NIC to be recognized as a regular Qualcomm Athero NIC and that solved his problem.

Guide: Turn your Killer E2200 NIC into Qualcomm Athero AR8161
http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/guide-turn-your-killer-e2200-nic-into-qualcomm-athero-ar8161.198899/
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Chicano

Chicano

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Aug 29, 2011
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It may be related to script errors... it was common earlier on Firefox... and apparently now increasingly on other browsers.

Script error messages don't always show up and if you shutdown manually, you probably miss them... if they were to show up at all. Check the article on How to Fix Unresponsive Script Error in Firefox, Chrome and Internet Explorer... if it doesn't help, it won't hurt either.
http://allaboutregistry.blogspot.mx/search/label/and%20Chrome%20Hangs

More on the subject
https://www.google.com/?hl=en&gws_rd=ssl#hl=en&q=script+issues+on+google+chrome
 
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Chicano

Chicano

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It does on mine occasionally... grayish tranparency and all. If the web browser takes up the CPU, that´s to be expected... If it doesn't work, check if the Hosts file is the default and scan with the antivirus and a antimalware... If this problem started when you removed Malwarebytes, it may indicate an infection if you had malwarebytes with real time protection activated(?)
 
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solkeher

solkeher

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I just did as you advised. I have antivirus protection. No infection whatsoever. Google Chrome is updated and I did the script error thing. It also happens when I'm using Internet Explorer or just when I leave my computer in idle.

I think it's either the CPU or the Hard Drive.

It's now happening frequently, after about 15 minutes. I'm so tired of this thing I just want to kick it and throw this PC in the dumpster. My 2006 Compaq laptop is more stable and faster than this thing... lol
 
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Chicano

Chicano

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Does it happen when browing in Safe Mode with Networking?.. If it happens, it's hardware, if it doesn't, it's software. Uninstall the Network Adapter, and reinstall it with a different driver... Wired Network Adapters can run with other drivers, so try installing another one from the list in: Computer right click / Manage / Device Manager / Network Adapter / right click / Update driver software / Browse My computer for drivers software / Let me Pick from a list of device drivers on my computer / from the left under Manufacturer, select the brand and from the right select a driver that closest resembles the previous driver model name, and press Next.

Also disable startup programs from: Start / type MSCONFIG and press Enter / and from the Startup tab, uncheck everything except the Antivirus checkbox.

You can also scan with a Anti-Rootkit, with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, and you can disable all Internet Browser Addons... some of them can cause such issues.

In a search result for ¨computer freeze during web browsing¨ one solution I found was to remove Spybot Search and Destroy... my guess is it was infected... so, if you have antimalwares apps installed, see if they can scan normally and uninstall any if it has issues.. and even if they don't. Malwarebytes can replace all other antimalwares.

Computer freezes while using Internet.
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/t/497635/computer-freezes-while-using-internet/

 
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solkeher

solkeher

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I will run my computer when running in safe mode with networking to finally find whether or not its hardware related. Thanks so much for your help!!

I will update this hopefully tomorrow, I've read in Microsoft forums about similar issues but with no real solution. I hope it's software related though.

 
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Chicano

Chicano

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The hard drive is easy to test:
a) you can install Hard Disk Sentinel and see what results it gives on the hard drive.
b) you can disconnect the hard drive and test the computer with a Linux distro browsing with it in live mode.

Check the edition on my last response.
 
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solkeher

solkeher

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I did everything as you told me. It didn't work. I checked my hardware and everything seems fine... Yet I updated MSI Live Update 6 to the newest version as well as the utility software (MSI Fast Boot, Command Center, etc...) and noticed that my sudden freezes disppeared and instead I was getting BSOD very often. As often as the sudden freezes.

I searched online and found this thread: http://www.eightforums.com/bsod-crashes-debugging/50726-new-pc-build-win-8-install-bsod-due-wlan-device.html

And followed blueelvis's advice:

Please perform the below steps :-
1. It appears you have got the Killer Network Ethernet, your driver is a bit old and has BSOD issues with Windows. Please follow this **GUIDE** and make sure you do exactly it says and see if the problem still appears or not.

2. Please remove MSI Afterburner (Or MSI Live Update 5) as this driver is also known for causing BSOD with Windows Systems.

3. Remove CoreTemp as it includes the WinRing libraries which are known to cause BSOD's.

4. Please update the rest of the drivers.

5. In case you are overclocking, please reset back to STOCK settings.

I am targeting the Network drivers because it seems most of the BSOD's occured during Network Activity. Btw, you got so many BSOD known drivers
Click to expand...

So the big thing here is the Killer Network Driver which according to Intel Event Log there was an error. It all makes sense now considering most of the slowdown and freezing occurred while just browsing.

Basically, this person had the same problem as me, as we both have MSI mobos. It seems that MSI Live Update and drivers are messed up and will cause BSOD. I also installed new LAN drivers because those seems faulty as well.

Anyways the solution was to remove all of MSI software and disable Killer Network Manager... those were the things that were causing the sudden freezes and BSOD's.

I will update this thread as I just done this, and see if BSOD's and Freezes disappear once and for all.

Bottom line is that MSI software is faulty, now I know.
 
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Chicano

Chicano

Judicious
Aug 29, 2011
5,071
29
35,490
Another user had the MSI Killer NIC problem a few months ago... Don't recall the exact solution but I believe he uninstalled the software and applied this fix for the NIC to be recognized as a regular Qualcomm Athero NIC and that solved his problem.

Guide: Turn your Killer E2200 NIC into Qualcomm Athero AR8161
http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/guide-turn-your-killer-e2200-nic-into-qualcomm-athero-ar8161.198899/
 
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Solution
solkeher

solkeher

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Jul 8, 2014
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I just did this.

I had uninstalled the NIC Killer drivers and re-installed/updated them and noticed that the BSOD's and Freezes became less common, but still an issue.

I'm hoping that this fixes the problem once and for all. Will test new Qualcom drivers by just browsing nonstop lol.

Will update on progress, thanks so much for the help Chicano!!
 
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