Windows 7, freezing after having been asleep, occasional blue screen with text.

soulweeper

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Trying to help my wife resolve an issue with her laptop. ASUS laptop, Windows 7 Home, few years old.

It has this issue where it freezes every once in a while, and when it does, it's always after she's walked away, and it's gone to sleep. It doesn't freeze every time, after it's been asleep, but when it does, it's definitely after it's been asleep.

That said, she said it's kind of done this since it was new, but she kind of blew it off as some weird "windows thing", but it's getting more annoying to her.

Usually she'll do a hard shutdown, as she doesn't have any other choice, and when she restarts it, it will behave.

Once in a while, but not every time, she will get a blue screen, and it happened last night....and it says "windows has been shut down to prevent further damage to your computer".....or something like that. Can't remember if it said an error was detected, or what else it said. Wish I had taken a picture, but hopefully I've furnished enough info to get some help/advice.

Thanks in advance!

Computer type: Laptop
System Manufacturer/Model Number: ASUS
OS Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
CPU Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-2670QM CPU @ 2.20GHz
Motherboard: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. N53SV
Memory: 6.00 GB
Graphics Card: (1) Intel(R) HD Graphics 3000 (2) NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M
Sound Card: (1) Bluetooth Audio Device (2) Realtek High Definition Aud
Screen Resolution 0 x 0 x 0 bits (0 colors) @ 0 Hz
 
Solution



Install the SSD and see how it performs, if still problematic then update bios.

zer0c00l587

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Its recommended to update all drivers and bios, be careful when updating bios, dont update via window.

Its also possible any peripherals connected to the laptop when it goes to sleep is powering up correctly thus causing freezing issues try disconnecting them and see if it stabilizes.

Also possible link state power management in windows power options can cause some issues with some motherboards. Go to control panel, hardware and sound, then click on power options, next go to "change plan settings", next is go to "change advanced power settings" then proceed to "PCI express" and set link state power management to off.

Granted a laptop should set to conserve power but only when no hardware conflicts.

NB: Before updating your bios check asus website for proper instructions or do not attempt if you unsure of yourself.

Also check device manager usb configurations if anything is set too "allow windows turn off to save power" this may also have some affect.
 

soulweeper

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Hello,
Sorry for just now coming back to this. Someone at the Windows 7 forum had us do a crash dump report, and he thought it was the driver for the webcam, and we disabled it, and it seemed to help, but the BSOD and/or freezing is not completely gone, and very random.
My wife just wanted to tolerate it for a while, and not really mess with the laptop, for fear of causing more problems. I didn't feel that way, but it's not my laptop. :)
I have an SSD on the way, not that it will necessarily solve the problem, but it could, and is an excellent upgrade regardless, I'm curious on how to do the BIOS update, as I've never done it on that laptop.

Thanks!
 

zer0c00l587

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Its usually F2 to get into bios, on some laptops it may be the "esc" key like some toshiba laptops. Once you enter the bios look around for the function to enable bios updates which in turn will enable a "f" key eg. F7.

download the bios file from the manufacturer and drop onto your flash drive, then reboot, you should see on the splash screen the option to update the bios, press the said key and it will automatically locate usb flash drive or you may just need choose it from the prompt screen and it will do the rest. However do this as a last resort.
 

soulweeper

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Ok thanks! In your opinion....since I'm swapping the HDD for an SSD, should I wait and see what happens with the new install on the SSD? Whatever is causing the BSOD/freezing, could possibly something that will "go away" with the HDD...correct? Or is it still a good idea to have the latest BIOS?
 

zer0c00l587

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Install the SSD and see how it performs, if still problematic then update bios.

 
Solution