Suddenly system freezes and I'm out of ideas. Please, please help.

seezur_07 · Feb 7, 2015

To start:
I took my old i7-3770K, my old ram (4x 4GB of G. Skill Ripjaws X), and my old sound card (ASUS Xonar DX), 2x WD Black 1TB HDDs, and a 256GB ADATA SSD.

I took these components and added them to a Enthoo Luxe case, powered them with a EVGA SuperNOVA 1000W P2 PSU, added an EVGA GTX 980 SC and put all the pieces in an ASRock Z77 Extreme6 mobo. Also for a CPU cooler I have a Noctua NH-D15. I flashed the BIOS weeks ago and reset the CMOS.

The system has been running well (though the CPU seems to run a little hot but perfectly within operating temperatures) for over a month now. I am using Windows 7 Ultimate on my SSD. I also have a copy of Ubuntu (12.04 I think?) LTS on one of the WD Blacks that has always run even when Windows has failed in the past.

Today, I did a few things. I updated Battle.net application. Surfed the web. Played a bit of WoW, and opened League of Legends. Yesterday I reinstalled OpenVPN and said adapter (fresh install of Windows by the way). The day before I think i updated some Windows 7 files.

I came in about 3 hours after opening League of Legends with the music I was listening to stuttering and the computer locked up. I forced a shutoff and left for 5 hours.

Now, I have tried to boot up Windows. For the first 6-7 attempts, I would type in my password at the login screen and then it would freeze before I was even at the desktop. I also could not boot into safe mode. Eventually I was able to do a system restore, which allowed me to get into Windows 7 but not under my user profile. Windows would then hang within 1-5 minutes, before everything had even loaded.

I eventually got into safe mode, where it also would hang. I did, one time, get it to run for about 15 minutes.

This is what I have done:
1.) System restore.
2.) Memory check via Windows 7 restore disc.
3.) Removed GTX 980 and replaced with old 670.
4.) Removed stick one and three of RAM.
5.) Unplugged WD MyBook.
6.) Unplugged ethernet.
7.) Unplugged all HDD except for my SSD.
8.) Reset BIOS to default settings (no more OC'd CPU)

9.) Attempted to boot Ubuntu in case the problem was OS related. Ubuntu gets to the boot loader, I select Ubuntu, and then the screen goes black (not sure if it doesn't have native support for the 980 or it's just hanging).

Does anyone have any idea what could be wrong? It seems like all the hardware works (there are still two RAM modules I haven't tried to unplug.

I suppose there is a chance I have a pirated copy of Windows 7 (buddy installed for me), but how would that affect Ubuntu that's located on a different HDD?

Could it be the mobo shit the bed or maybe the CPU? I feel like this mobo has always been kind of subpar compared to my old GA-Z77-UD3H, and the CPU is about 3 years old.

I keep my PC completely stationary and off limits from any pets/people, so it's not like it gets knocked around. I can't imagine any connections came lose. All I can think of is that this is some hardware problem as this desktop has been smooth sailing for the past month and then all of the sudden today, it hangs every 5 minutes. At this point it is completely inoperable. Please, any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

bambiboom · Feb 7, 2015

seezur_07,

Sorry your having the troubles. The components are good quality and you seem to have been methodical in looking for the problem and have eliminated a lot of the common causes.

A couple of ideas:

1. If you suspect the Windows is pirated- dump it. This seems to me to be the most likely cause of the trouble. That or the installation and dual boot have set up some conflict.The low price is not worth hours of problems.

But, it worth isolating the Windows as the problem first. As you don't have complete knowledge about the source and installation of Windows, you might consider a kind of control installation. Download an ISO from MS of the same version of the OS and install on whatever spare disk is around or install to a flash drive and set the BIOS to boot from it. If you don't have a product key for the Windows you can't activate but at least you see if the Windows is the trouble. I redid the disk on a Dell Precision T5500 like this. I reinstalled on a new HD from the original Dell reinstallation disk, but it started having error messages that the system reserve partition (24MB) was full . I installed the ISO from MS which had an 800MB reserve partition, I used the COA product key on the case to activate and all was well. This will also eliminate any possible problems related to the Linux.

It's possible with careful shopping on Ebahhh to get Windows reasonably. About three years ago I bought an unused full version copy of Win 7 Ultimate for $65 and used it without problems ever since.

2. You've done a lot on the hardware side but it's possible as a systems from collected parts that the fuss might arise from some kind of assembly / configuration problems. You've reset BIOS and CMOS and reversed the O/C but you might consider starting from a real zero point in assembly / configuration and check every connection in placement and good connection, jumper settings, and drivers. Look for the latest chipset driver and any residual O/C settings that might be causing instability, for example if the RAM was O/C as well as a the CPU. In effect, back it off to as stock as possible. In Control Panel, set the power options to "Balanced" but without power saving shut offs.

3. If you haven't install temperature monitors and CPU RAM / Disk ID /monitors to check the speeds and run chkdsk and memtest. Run the system and have the temperature monitors in sight all the time.

4. If you have another GPU, give that a try.

5. If you have another PSU, try that.

OK, give it a go and let us know what happens.

Cheers,

BambiBoom

HP z420 (2.6.2015) > Xeon E5-1660 v2 six core @ 3.7 /4.0GHz > 16GB DDR3 ECC 1866 RAM > Quadro K2200 (4GB) > Intel 730 480GB > Western Digital Black WD1003FZEX 1TB> M-Audio 192 sound card > Linksys AE3000 USB WiFi > 2X Dell Ultrasharp U2715H 2560 X 1440 > Windows 7 Professional 64 >
[ Passmark Rating = 4918 > CPU= 13941 / 2D= 823 / 3D=3464 / Mem= 2669 / Disk= 4764]

Dell Precision T5500 (2011) > Xeon X5680 six -core @ 3.33 / 3.6GHz, 24GB DDR3 ECC 1333 > Quadro 4000 (2GB ) > Samsung 840 250GB /WD RE4 Enterprise 1TB > M-Audio 192 sound card > Linksys WMP600N PCI WiFi > Windows 7 Professional 64> HP 2711x (1920 X 1440)
[ Passmark system rating = 3339 / CPU = 9347 / 2D= 684 / 3D= 2030 / Mem= 1871 / Disk= 2234]

seezur_07 · Feb 7, 2015

bambiboom :

There's a good chance that the Windows copy is pirated. I would like to get a legitimate copy or at least call up MS and ask. The only thing that strikes me as odd is I can get into the Grub dual boot menu, as I was able to do before I rebuilt the computer as well. In the past, whenever I had trouble with Windows (i.e. it needed to be reformatted), I was always able to backup my files by accessing my Windows installation through Ubuntu. I just don't know why all of the sudden Ubuntu wouldn't work either, especially since I keep the two OS's on different drives for that reason (in case one fails).

I could try a Windows USB drive or even an Ubuntu USB and if those work then I guess it'd have to be OS related.

As far as RAM and CPU OCing go, both are back at stock. I could take the whole rig apart, but after meticulous hours of cable management I'd almost (after trying Ubuntu Live or Windows USB) just buy a new motherboard and processor. I mean it could be any of the components, but knowing EVGA's reputation for quality I just highly doubt it is the PSU or GPU. The CPU is "old" I guess, and the mobo is suspect in my opinion, but there weren't a lot of options for Z77 boards. Before I start dropping a ton of money I will definitely make sure it isn't OS related first.

I've been running temp software since I put the computer together. CPU temps max at 60*C at 4.2K OC (makes me think the CPU IHS paste is wearing out; use to have an OC at 4.6K with a CM Hyper 212 that ran cooler than that). GPU temps are really low like in the 30*C range at idle, 55*C max.

I tried my GTX 670, no luck there. I do have an old, non modular Corsair 750 TX but man I would hate to rip this thing apart.

As far as running memtest (unless that's the program built into the Windows 7 disc (I ran that, no problems)) and changing power settings and all that, the problem is that Windows hangs so fast I can't even get to control panel half the time.

I think I'm going to try to boot from a live Ubuntu or Windows 7 USB. If it hangs then, I feel like it's safe to say that the problem has to be hardware related. If that's the case I'm going to grab either an i7-4790K or perhaps the cheaper i5 (I really don't need the processing power of the i7) and an ASUS mobo. If I put all that together and it still hangs, then all of the new components I purchases are under warranty, so I can return them (maybe even return the ASRock mobo as well or get a new one; I have an empty computer that I could fill with the i7, assuming the mobo is the problem). First thing's first, going to try to boot from USB and see what happens. Will report back.

Thanks for the advice by the way.

PS: After doing a system start up repair (for the second time) everything seemed fine and dandy, I opened Firefox, couple of programs, and got a good 5 minutes out of it before it froze up again. I just can't shake the feeling that something's broken.

bambiboom · Feb 7, 2015

seezur_07,

Stranger and stranger.

The thing that's the oddest is that the failures don't seem to relate to any particular action or time factor. It's probably not thermal, the Extreme6 is specified to run even 2nd generation i7's, and the RAM compatibililty list is filled with
G.Skill. The user responses I read don't seem to list a a lot of M/B failures, but of course it's possible. It's too bad that there isn't any kind of error message.

The sudden onset of Ubuntu sickness though may be M/B related or at any rate, it is some kind of accumulated error, driver conflict, or BIOS setting . I wish understood the subtleties of UEFI as trouble in that region BIOS, CMOS, and controllers is- for me at least- difficult to pin down. Perhaps, before going to that trouble though, you might take the Ubuntu completely out of the picture, and reset to a direct Windows boot and then try running on Ubuntu only.

As you've gone through the usual suspects, it seems more an more useful to try an alternate installation of Windows. As mentioned, I had good luck downloading the MS ISO for a total of $0 and I think MS has a free utility to mount the ISO on a USB drive, and then you reset the boot order.

Interesting,..

Cheers,

BambiBoom

seezur_07 · Feb 7, 2015

I did forget to mention that I installed a fan controller (NZXT something) from my old computer about a week ago, though I don't know why that would break anything.

Also, I did at one point get into event viewer, and there were tons of events for each of the categories for 2/7/15. Probably about 25 per category, mostly "Information" some "Warnings" and a few "Critical" or however they list it.

I ran memtest83 overnight, no problem there.

I also made a bootable Ubuntu USB, like the kind you use to try it out before you install it etc. I only played around with it for 5-10 minutes but I think it works; at first it wouldn't boot or at least show up with the GTX 980, so I put the older GTX 670 in (assumed it would have built in drivers for an older GPU) and it worked.

I'm going to do some more extensive testing in a little bit, because if this Ubuntu USB works flawlessly for 30 minutes or so then that brings me to two schools of thought:

1.) Somehow Windows 7 AND Grub got completely screwed up out of nowhere or with some minor driver change or who knows. If that's the case I'll buy Windows 7 (I'll go buy a copy so I know it's legit) and that way I can just recover all my files from my SSD by going through Ubuntu USB file browser and moving them to one of the WD Blacks or burn them onto BluRays.

2.) Or, there is something wrong with some component of the hardware. If this is the case, what, if any, components would a Live Ubuntu USB use and what components would it not use? It uses the mobo, CPU, PSU, the GPU, RAM. I mean if I can stably run Ubuntu from this USB is the assumption that all the hardware is fine?

*Side note, several weeks ago I flashed the BIOS to its most current form, and later cleared the CMOS via the jumper pins. It went off without a hitch so I don't see how that could be a problem but maybe I should flash down to the factory BIOS?

bambiboom · Feb 7, 2015

seezur_07 :

seezur_07,

In this example even though I'm not knowledgeable, I trust the Ubuntu more than the Windows, since Linux in all it's flavors is as open and adaptable as possible and not enough is known about the versions of version of Windows- it may have been out drinking late the night before it was installed.

This still doesn't feel like hardware. You're probably right that if you can isolate Ubuntu and the system from Windows and it works, a hardware problem is less likely.

I'm still getting a sense that something is not settled in the CMOS and BIOS departments also, possibly in the realm of dual booting. My problem is that I'm not a dual-booter. A fellow I know in IT works for a large AE firm and he's doing everything on the server as nested VM's since you can pile them on and each one can crash and burn independently without affecting the others- it's apparently much easier to spot the trouble-makers in multiple Os systems when they're isolated.

One thing you could consider trying without spending anything is to do a clean install of both Windows from an ISO download and then you'd have days to play with it before it has to be activated- into a VM and also reinstall Ubuntu similarly. Do it on a spare HD in a partition a little smaller than the final C:\ partition. My understanding is that with VM's you can put everything in one partition- they're nicely isolated. Then you can take some time and craft both OS's in isolation and see which is causing conflict. If it all worked, you could buy your copy of Win and use the product code to activate without reinstalling, optimize it all, and then migrate to the SSD. Again, I've never done this, but keep hearing what great problem solvers VMs are when there are competing OS's.

All right- it look as though you're narrowing it down.

Cheers,

BambiBoom

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