Random Computer Freeze...Any Help GREATLY Appreciated!!

clippersfan · Feb 18, 2016

Computer freezes randomly (screen freeze). Can occur in Windows, sometimes happening in in BIOS right after BIOS loads and Window beings to load (while the circle is spinning). Freeze seems to be completely random, can't find a trigger - i've tried running CPU/Ram stress tests.

-No BSoD
-I've resinked RAM in multiple slots on mobo, ran MemTest boths times, 4 cycles each. RAM seems ok
-Set RAM BIOS setting to Manual instead of AUTO (heard that sometimes cause problems)
-Tried loading UBUNTU off USB and it still froze
-Tried using intergrated GPU instead to isolate Vid Card, still froze
-Updated BIOS to latest version
-Have reformatted HDD with brand new version of Windows and still it froze
-Checked the health of SSD's using software and everything looks healthy
-Temp seems ok as I ran OpenHardware and when it froze my CPU was running 28-32C while Vid Card was running 35-40C
-To rule out my PSU not being powerful enough I unplugged all my peripheral HDDs and CD Drives and had it powering only the main OS HD...still froze
-Have had a friend run my SSD with OS on his setup for multiple hours, no freeze
-The ONLY time I've observed no freeze was when i put the computer on Safe Mode. Used it on Safe Mode w/ Networking for a full day with no issues. Restarted in normal mode and 5 minutes in...freeze.

I really have no idea what the hell is causing the freeze, this is soooo incredibly frustrating. ANY help or feedback would really be greatly appreciated.

Most of my build is fairly new I would said parts are about 1 year old.
Mobo - Gigabyte Z97X-UD3H
CPU - 4690K
CPU Cooler - EVO212
GPU - 560Ti
PSU - Thermaltake Smart 750W
RAM - Patriot 1x8GB DDR3 PC3-12800 1600MHZ

Mobo, CPU, and CPU Cooler were purchased couple months ago. Oldest hardware in here is probably the PSU (2-4 years), GPU, and my Cooler Master case (front ports are fried/not working).

Darkbreeze · Feb 18, 2016

Well, if it sometimes happens before windows begins loading, then it's a hardware or firmware issue, not software, so the OS is not the problem. BIOS is up to date, so it's unlikely that it's related to that unless there's a bad BIOS ROM. Thermaltake Smart series power supplies are fairly low quality, so I'd probably suggest that as being the most likely cause.

Download and install HWinfo: http://www.hwinfo.com/download.php

Run HWinfo and choose "sensors only".

And post screenshots of the system voltages at both idle and under either a Furmark or Prime95 load. 3v, 5v and 12v values are what we're looking for.

Might also disconnect all drives and see if it still freezes in the bios. A bad drive can definitely cause freezes in any or no environment. Might also want to run Memtest86 to rule out the memory. Memory needs to be tested one module at a time. So remove all but one module, test that module for four to seven passes, then remove it and test the next module.

Testing the memory will take many hours unless it errors fairly quickly, so be ready for that.

clippersfan · Feb 18, 2016

Darkbreeze :

-If it's PSU how come running the OS on Safe Mode doesn't freeze?
-I've tried running only 1 HDD (OS only) and it still froze
-I only have 1 stick of 8 gig ram and I've resinked it on 2 diff slots and ran MemTest86 both times (4 cycles each time) and everything came back good.
-IDLE

-Prime95

Darkbreeze · Feb 18, 2016

Safe mode has nothing whatsoever to do with the problem if you are seeing freezes in the bios. Windows and the motherboard firmware have no relationship to each other aside from the firmware needing to be there to tell windows about what hardware is installed and how to configure it.

Safe mode is a Windows feature, and as such, is unrelated to anything that happens prior to windows beginning it's boot strap.

Darkbreeze · Feb 18, 2016

Voltages all look good there, which is good, but doesn't absolutely mean nothing related to the PSU is to blame. There could still be an issue with it but being "weak" on one of the rails is unlikely with those readings. Still, other issues could exist aside from a weak or faulty rail. Protections could be kicking in due to an intermittent short or failing component inside the PSU. Lots of things that "could" be, but for now I'd say the preliminary check of the PSU looks ok.

Does the system actually freeze up IN the BIOS or in any pre-windows environment?

Have you tried disconnecting ALL attached internal drives, including the OS and optical drives, and booting from USB media?

I'd also try using only one stick of RAM or the other, to see if maybe one of those is the problem.

Darkbreeze · Feb 18, 2016

Also, please don't create duplicate threads in the future. This just gums up the forum and makes our SEO look bad when Google crawls the site. And, please watch the language when you post. This is a family friendly forum so expletives are not appropriate. I edited your initial post to remove the f bomb and deleted your duplicate posts, so we're good now, but be aware of it going forward.

clippersfan · Feb 18, 2016

Darkbreeze :

Just to be clear the freeze (sometimes) is usually post BIOS load, when the Window OS is begins to load (while the circle is spinning below the Windows Sign), I've never actually had a freeze in BIOS. I only mention Safe Mode because so far that's the only time I've experienced no freeze. All other instances my computer never lasts over a day (even just idling) without freezing.

I'm definitely suspecting hardware but I just don't know which hardware, ugh! I also purchased another mobo so I might do a mobo swap this weekend to see if that solves it. If that doesn't solve it then I really have no idea what the problem could be. Could it be CPU?

and I'll definitely watch my language in future posts/replies, thank you.

clippersfan · Feb 18, 2016

Darkbreeze :

Yea, I've tried connecting only the OS HDD with no other peripheral drives and it still froze.

Also tried booting UBUNTU off USB...froze like 5 min after it started =\

Darkbreeze · Feb 18, 2016

Ok, if it doesn't happen before windows attempts to load, that's a whole different story.

How old is your OS installation, what version of windows are you running and when if ever was the last time you did a clean install of the OS or graphics card drivers?

I'd highly recommend you try this first:

http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-2767677/clean-graphics-driver-install-windows.html

And let me know what OS you're running and little information about it's condition.

clippersfan · Feb 18, 2016

Darkbreeze :

Currently running Windows 8.1, did a clean wipe on the HDD and OS install is probably 2.5 months old at most.

I'll try the clean GPU driver install. I'll try anything. -.-""
I don't think it's the GPU tho cause I've tried unplugging my GPU and running the display off the integrated GPU off the mobo and it still froze.

Darkbreeze · Feb 18, 2016

When you installed windows, did you delete all the existing partitions, not just format them, and were all the other drives disconnected from the system at the time of the install? If not, there could very well be a conflict between boot partitions if any of those other drives ever had Windows installed on them and those old boot partitions are still present. Boot partitions don't show up as a lettered drive in Windows explorer.

Also, if you installed from a recovery partition, it may be that the recovery partition is corrupted. I'd install from fresh media, and I'd delete all the existing partitions on the target OS drive then install to the UNALLOCATED space without creating any partitions. Windows will create the necessary partitions and perform any needed formatting automatically. You can delete the existing partitions during the Windows installation when you get to the point where it asks what kind of installation you want to perform. Choose the "custom" option, then on the screen where it asks WHERE you want to install windows, simply delete all the partitions on the drive used for the OS and then point to that drive for the installation destination.

Exactly as is outlined here:

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2299-clean-install-windows-8-a.html

You can create fresh installation media here:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media

And make sure you know the product key, just in case. If you don't know the actual product key from a disk or sticker on your case, you can retrieve your current key by using Magic Jellybean:

https://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

Alternatively, you might even want to take this time to upgrade to Windows 10 by doing a clean install of 10 using your Windows 8 product key. If you want to try that, you can create installation media for 10 here. Don't click on "Upgrade", scroll down and click on "Download tool":

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Darkbreeze · Feb 18, 2016

Did you have this freezing issue before you last installed windows, and did it start happening shortly after installing, or is this problem more recent? Any other hardware changes recently?

I'd try testing the memory first, and then try a clean OS installation after that if no problems exist with the memory.

Also, if you're using a power strip, try removing it from the equation and plugging your computer directly into the wall socket.

clippersfan · Feb 18, 2016

Darkbreeze :

Freezing was happening ever since the hardware upgrades (mobo + cpu). At the time of upgrade it had happened i thought it was bad mobo, swapped it for another one and things seems to be fine. Then couple days later freezing starts again intermittently now gotten to the point where it can't stay on for longer than couple hours without freezing. The only time it doesnt freeze is when it's on "safe mode".

clippersfan · Feb 18, 2016

btw ever since i uninstalled the GPU driver now it wont let me install the new driver. I keep trying and it returns "installation failed". I'd tried to run it as admin and I've tried re-downloading the driver off nvidia. I'll prob be trying to do a window install soon but im worried it'll freeze mid install

clippersfan · Feb 18, 2016

unable to install Windows 10 cause it keeps freezing during the process. Again, it's probably not my OS or my HDD since when I lent my HDD with OS on it to my friend for a couple of days he ran it fine with no freezes. Also, the freezing also occurred when I loaded UBUNTU off my USB, my HDD issues or OS issues wouldnt/shouldnt cause freeze in UBUNTU.

Darkbreeze · Feb 18, 2016

I'm guessing you meant you have a 4690k, not a 5690k, right?

When you "swapped" the motherboard, do you mean to say you took it back and exchanged it for a new one, or that you sent it for an RMA and got a new one in an unopened box in return. Or did they send you a replacement unit in a box that was clearly not factory packaging?

Darkbreeze · Feb 18, 2016

What kind of memory is installed, and was it from a much older build?

clippersfan · Feb 18, 2016

4690K correct.

I took it back to the store and they exchanged it for me, a new board from diff manufacturer. Went from MSI to Gigabyte, both brand new.
Using Patriot Viper Extreme DDR3 1x8GB PC3-12800 1600MHZ Ram. Ram was brand new, purchased same time as mobo/cpu

Driver issues resolved - had to manually update driver through device manager and then point to the folder location of the driver.

Darkbreeze · Feb 19, 2016

Did you run the Display Driver Uninstaller and choose the Nvidia option before you installed the new drivers?

Ok, so I'd run Memtest86 and test the RAM for at least 4 full passes. You'll need to download the ISO and then follow the instructions on the website to create bootable USB media.

Memtest86+ ISO: http://www.memtest.org/#downiso

Standard Memtest86 ISO: http://www.memtest86.com/

clippersfan · Feb 19, 2016

MemTest came back clean.

Darkbreeze · Feb 19, 2016

Well, I guess I'd put my money on it being the PSU then. Considering the model of the PSU, it's not only likely but probable. Certainly it doesn't rule out the possibility of a minutely bent pin on the motherboard socket array for the CPU, a faulty cable somewhere or something related to the front USB ports that are fried.

You don't have those ports connected to the motherboard at this time, right?

Was the current motherboard connected to those ports at ANY time? How did they get fried? Are you absolutely certain the motherboard you got from the store as a replacement was not one that had been returned to them previously? Was it shrink wrap sealed when you got it? I'd really think this was likely to be a motherboard issue if I didn't know you had the same problem with a previous board. I'd try a different PSU if you have or can borrow one. It needs to be a decent quality unit that is "known working" in another system.

Might even try your PSU in another system to see if it starts having issues. Then again, might not want to do that in case it is the PSU so you don't damage anybody else's hardware. Maybe in a secondary system that isn't as critical. Probably better to swap a good unit in there instead.

Maybe try different SATA cables to the drives or different SATA headers.

clippersfan · Feb 24, 2016

bought new PSU and installed it, didn't seem to fix it. Ran MemTest once more...still came back clean. Finally decided to do the mobo swap today (picked one up from Fry's). It's currently been running for about 12 hours now, no freeze yet.

Darkbreeze · Feb 24, 2016

So I'm guessing the "new" board they swapped out probably wasn't new. It was probably one that had been previously returned with a problem. That is not uncommon. I see people all the time that get board's that somebody has either messed up or had a factory defect that they just put right back on the shelf. That could be the case, or you might just have been terribly unlucky.

Random Computer Freeze...Any Help GREATLY Appreciated!!

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