Random freezing problem with no known cause

Paleoman12

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May 4, 2015
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Hello, I have been having an issue with my computer for a while now and I have run out of ideas.

The system:
MOBO: Biostar TA990FXE
CPU: AMD FX 8350
RAM: 8Gb G.skill Sniper Series DDR3 1600
SSD: Samsung 840 EVO 120 Gb
HDD: 2Tb WD black 7200RPM
Graphics: GTX 560

I have windows 10 on the SSD (upgraded from windows 8.1), and most of my data stored on the HDD.

The problem: My computer freezes randomly, necessitating a hard reboot when this occurs. Sometimes it will be stable for long periods of time (it went without issue last week and I thought I had solved the problem, but it has reemerged), other times it will freeze so frequently that I can't even log on.

I have done quite a bit of research on this, and so far nothing has helped. I have run diagnostic tools on my RAM and hard drives and found no issue, I have checked registries and even reinstalled windows. I have tried to find records of what happens during the events, but because it isn't crashing, just freezing, there are no records (save from the power loss in the hard reboot).

I have tried swapping the SATA ports that the drives are connected to (to see if they were faulty), which did result in the aforementioned week of stability. This has not helped. My gut tells me that this is either a problem with the SSD or the MOBO, but I cannot figure out which one. I tried to test this by installing windows on a spare drive that I have lying around and using it to boot, but this did not work. The new windows ran agonizingly slowly (beyond the point of simply inconvenient), however I am not sure if this is a problem with the rest of the system, or that drive in particular (because I remembered that the reason I stopped using that drive was because it had bad sectors).

Any help would be appreciated.
 
Solution
little late, but for future attempts, that´s why I always write:
don´t flash in windows, only in BIOS itself, especially, if windows has freezing issues

Did you extract the newest BIOS file to the root directory of an empty USB stick fat16/fat32 formatted and plugged it into an USB2.0 port at the back of the motherboard?
Wait at least 10minutes

get into contact with BIOSTAR
Have you upgraded to latest Bios.? This can help with stability.
Have you OCed the system at all.? You may require some Bios Tweaks.
Have you stress tested to see if the system crashes under load and checked your PSU for voltage inconsistency.? list the PSU Manufacturer, Wattage and Pier.
 

Paleoman12

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May 4, 2015
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To answer:
No, I have not OC'd it., ad I just tried to updated the BIOS, and while doing so I ran into an issue that I thought pertinent. This hasn't happened before, but while I was in the BIOS the system froze.
The PSU is an Enermax Liberty 620 W, and I am not sure what Pier is to be honest.

However I ran into a bigger problem. The machine froze while running the bios update utility, and now it will not boot, and the motherboard won't post.
 
Hmm, Its not a good thing for your system to crash during a Bios update, I don't have your particular EUFI Bios so not sure of it's capability.
If your Bios was flashed from within Windows then there is another way. You have the ability to use a USB stick to update Bios without entering the OS. Your MB manual indicates this but the info resides on your Installation CD as to how. This information may be on the MB support site.
Do you have any Bios beeps during POST.? or a Qcode LED (in your case called Rapid Debug3) to determine errors.?

Your PSU is rated reasonably well at jonnyguru and has 80+ certification.
 

Paleoman12

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May 4, 2015
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No unfortunately, I don't have any beeps or codes at all. Would it be worthwhile to clear the CMOS with the jumper?
 


Well its worth a try clearing CMOS, However if you corrupted your Bios during Bios update from within Windows, then the USB method should work.
You do have an LED for error codes on the MB. Are you saying that there are no read outs at all.?
This would indicate a lack of power to the MB as it should read something during Post if there is.
 

Paleoman12

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May 4, 2015
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I tried clearing CMOS, but as I suspected it would, it did nothing. There is nothing on the readout. When it powers on, the readout flashes a bit and then goes dark. The last code flashed varies from time to time when I turn it on.
 


Well there is something wrong with the CMOS battery or a lack of power from the PSU.
Do you have a new CR2032 battery to try.
 

Paleoman12

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May 4, 2015
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I'll go pick one up, and report back when it is replaced.

Update: Replaced the battery, and while the display is brighter, it still flashes a few times before turning off.
 
little late, but for future attempts, that´s why I always write:
don´t flash in windows, only in BIOS itself, especially, if windows has freezing issues

Did you extract the newest BIOS file to the root directory of an empty USB stick fat16/fat32 formatted and plugged it into an USB2.0 port at the back of the motherboard?
Wait at least 10minutes

get into contact with BIOSTAR
 
Solution

Paleoman12

Reputable
May 4, 2015
12
0
4,510


I hadn't tried that, but doing so didn't result in any changes. Though I am not certain that I did it correctly. I formatted the USB to fat32 and downloaded the .BST file from biostar and moved it into the USB. I'm going to try to call Biostar tomorrow to see what can be done.