Windows 7 64 bit Freezes randomly

[monikgandhi]

I have got HP Pavilion Notebook with Windows 7 64 bit OS. Below are the configurations of my laptop:-

dv7t 3300 quad edition
• Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
• Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-720QM Quad Core processor (1.6GHz, 6MB L3 Cache) with Turbo Boost up to 2.8 GHz
• 4GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
• 500GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
• 1GB Nvidia GeForce GT 320M - For i7-720QM Processors

Now, the problem is that my system freezes (completely deadlock) randomly. Previously, I contacted HP support and tried to fix this issue. I have run all the hard disk and system memory diagnostic test and they have passed. I have even formatted the system but still the problem prevails. My drivers are also upto date.

Kindly, help me out to fix this issue.

 

[Digerati]

If still under warranty - or if you first contacted HP while under warranty, I would be contacting HP again and get on record you are still having this problem. What are your temperatures? Note that notebooks are not designed so normal users can open the case for proper cleaning but you can remove all cavity covers, open all bays, and remove the battery to gain some access to blast with a can of compressed dusting gas.

You don't say what you use this notebook for but note in spite of what notebook marketing departments would have us believe, NO notebook makes a good gaming machine. Notebooks by their very nature are lightweight compact portable devices designed for the road-warrior needing to do email and conduct Power Point presentations while traveling. Their compact design does not allow for adequate cooling (a challenge even for full tower PCs) and as noted here, they do not allow for proper user cleaning. Assuming your fans are working properly, you may just be running into the limits of the notebook.

You might consider a Notebook Cooling Pad w/ext. power supply.

 

[monikgandhi]

Thanx for your reply. I do use my laptop sometimes, for playing big games like Warcraft and along with that i'll keep skype on, talking to my gaming partners, and that's the time, when my laptop freezes. Even sometimes, i'll keep my laptop on for more than 24 hours. So heating up might be the cause of this problem. So I'll check this out....

 

[odin the terrible]

Greetings,

Whilst this may not be directly relevant, I too was suffering random lockups but on my desktop pc.

The machine was supplied by eMachines (Acer) with the operating system pre-installed and a small section of the HDD partitioned off as a 'store' for the operating sytem (Windows 7 64-bit) installation files and 'rescue' stuff etc etc.

Having exhausted all search options and procedures to locate the issue, in conjunction with my local PC shop owner, we decided to reformat the HDD and do a 'clean install' after getting rid of the factory partition where the installation stuff was ... this of course meant getting hold of a DVD based copy of Windows 7 which isn't too much of a problem if you have a 'bona fide' key ... which of course I had; stuck to the case.

Anyway ... having done this clean install after first deleting all operating system related partitions (don't worry, Windows 7 automatically creates the partition again from the unallocated space on the HDD during the install process ... OK ... after this everything works just fine now !

Not sure why the preinstalled operating system was at fault ... but the proof is that I now have a trouble free PC !!

If you need a walk through on the install process then you can have a look at this ...

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/operatingsystems/ss/windows-7-clean-install-part-1.htm
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/operatingsystems/ss/windows-7-clean-install-part-2.htm
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/operatingsystems/ss/windows-7-clean-install-part-3.htm

I hope this helps

O T T

 

[monikgandhi]

As you had suggested, I bought a cooling pad for keeping my laptop cool, but still that problem persists.

Please suggest any other causes of such problem.

 

[Digerati]

As I said above, you need to contact HP and tell them you are still having this problems. And a thorough cleaning may still be in order.

 

[wingthor]

I have got HP Pavilion Notebook with Windows 7 64 bit OS. Below are the configurations of my laptop:-

dv7t 3300 quad edition
• Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
• Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-720QM Quad Core processor (1.6GHz, 6MB L3 Cache) with Turbo Boost up to 2.8 GHz
• 4GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
• 500GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
• 1GB Nvidia GeForce GT 320M - For i7-720QM Processors

Now, the problem is that my system freezes (completely deadlock) randomly. Previously, I contacted HP support and tried to fix this issue. I have run all the hard disk and system memory diagnostic test and they have passed. I have even formatted the system but still the problem prevails. My drivers are also upto date.

Kindly, help me out to fix this issue.

Try to do a CPU test as well http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

 

[michelsmith]

Hi,

Try to boot in safe mode and verify if the computer works fine without freezing. To boot to the desktop in safe mode keep tapping F8 key during restart. Once you see the option to boot in safe mode select it and press enter.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Start-your-computer-in-safe-mode


If the computer works fine in safe mode, you try to put the computer in clean boot state to make sure that third party applications are not causing this issue with computer performance.


To perform a clean boot, follow the steps below:
1. Click Start, type msconfig in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.
If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Continue.
2. On the General tab, click Selective Startup.
3. Under Selective Startup, click to clear the Load Startup Items check box.
4. Click the Services tab, click to select the Hide All Microsoft Services check box, and then click Disable All.
5. Click OK.
6. When you are prompted, click Restart.
7. After the computer starts, check if it works normally.

Get more information to fix windows 7 freezes randomly error :

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...randomly/8a87cf09-4f3d-4b8e-8abd-e1d28c28dfdf

http://supportformicrosoft.iyogi.com/windows-7/windows-7-freezes-randomly.html

Hope this information helps you.

 

[jefft104]

windows 7 freezing

I have windows 7 64 bit. and it freezes after being on for in exxcess of an hour. I have seen a lot of posts here about the same or similar issue so logic suggests it is a windows 7 issue. I am thinking of reverting back to xp as my other machine running XP continues to work well.

Does anyone have any idea what the issue is with Windows 7. Reading the posts it is both 32 bit and 64 bit that freeze.

cheers
J

 

[Digerati]

You are responding to a dormant thread but nevertheless, Windows 7 is BY FAR the best and most trouble free version of Windows yet. Going back to XP, an OS designed over 10 years ago to support hardware and software from 10 years before that, and designed with security as an afterthought would be a big mistake.

 

[jefft104]

Yes but I have always used zone alarm and norton corporate and have had great experience with XP.

 

[jefft104]

ps: Also finding out now that a few of my colleagues are experiencing freezing issues with Win 7.

 

[Nibiru2012]

I have windows 7 64 bit. and it freezes after being on for in exxcess of an hour. I have seen a lot of posts here about the same or similar issue so logic suggests it is a windows 7 issue. I am thinking of reverting back to xp as my other machine running XP continues to work well.

Does anyone have any idea what the issue is with Windows 7. Reading the posts it is both 32 bit and 64 bit that freeze.

cheers
J

IF you did an "upgrade" install over Vista then that may be your problem. It is highly recommended to do a "clean install" with Windows 7. Many users have experienced issues when going the "upgrade" route. You can do a clean install with Windows 7 using a Windows 7 Upgrade version disc. Paul Thurrott's SuperSite For Windows has a good tutorial on how to do it.

 

[kngfbng]

I know this is an old thread, but I think I might be of help.

I have this exact same notebook from HP (Pavilion DV7-3300) and used to go crazy with the constant random freezes. I figured it was something related to the video card (GeForce 320M) because it would freeze more often when video was running. Of course I updated all the drivers and whatnot, but then I realized that was precisely the problem.

One day, I had to format the notebook and didn't apply the Windows Update patches. Surprise, surprise, the freezing was completely gone! The latest nVidia driver was running, but something in Win7's underbelly was causing whatever conflict. Proof of that came when I did run Windows Update and, presto, I was freezing again more than Colorado in the winter.

I finally got a new notebook and planned on selling the old one, so I did a clean install of Windows 7. I ended up never selling it and have been using it as a spare (like keeping Skype open while I play on the new PC). Problem is, a few days ago I finally ran Windows Update and now can't keep it on for more than a few minutes even with no software running before it locks up. I had completely forgotten about this issue, so I can't remember which particular patch causes the freezing (I had figured it out before, but didn't write it down).

I'm posting this as a cautionary tale: If you have this notebook, DO NOT RUN WINDOWS UPDATE or it will keep freezing on you. Sure, people will gladly tell you it's not safe to have your PC without the latest updates, but I guess it's better to be able to use it at all while running some good anti-virus software.

I'll troubleshoot the crap out of that machine to find the problematic patch and then post it here in case I do work it out again.

 

[TrainableMan]

kngfbng, everyone should install the windows critical updates.

The problem you mention is when drivers are installed. Well drivers are never "critical" updates, they are just "recommended". The problem is that by default W7 is set to treat recommended updates the same as critical updates. You would be much better off leaving Windows Updates ON but disabling "treat recommended the same as critical"...

This way you get the important updates that risk your security, without getting drivers and Silverlight and the Bing Bar and items like that.

 

[kngfbng]

kngfbng, everyone should install the windows critical updates.

The problem you mention is when drivers are installed. Well drivers are never "critical" updates, they are just "recommended". The problem is that by default W7 is set to treat recommended updates the same as critical updates. You would be much better off leaving Windows Updates ON but disabling "treat recommended the same as critical"...
View attachment 5673
This way you get the important updates that risk your security, without getting drivers and Silverlight and the Bing Bar and items like that.

Aaaaaaaaaaand... you're wrong.

I did not, repeat, DID NOT, install the recommended updates. No Silverlight, no Bing, no drivers. Just the critical updates, repeat, JUST CRITICAL.

To make it (even) clearer: THE FREEZING STARTS WHEN CRITICAL WIN7 UPDATES ARE APPLIED, EVEN IF THE DRIVERS, VIDEO OR WHAT HAVE YOU, ARE EONS OLD! Actually, the video driver can be updated at will, that's not what causes the freezing.

Though unlikely, you're invited to come down here so I can show you the notebook freezing ONLY with critical updates applied to it. Oh, while we're at it, I might also show you how I run a PC without ANY update whatsoever -- critical or otherwise -- without ever being infected relying on just free Avast and sheer good sense when browsing/handling files. And, amidst torrent and porn, I do surf some pretty dodgy sites.

Seriously, this whole "you got to update or the Syrian army will take over your PC to attack servers at the Vatican, Turkish scammers will wipe your bank account clean, and Russian hackers will steal your identity so badly you won't know whether your name is Tom or Jerry" thing is way overrated. It's important to apply patches, no doubt about it, but it's a shame all this FUD is thrown around about it. It's just like a doctor 10 years ago said I had throat syphilis to make me scared [MOD EDIT: removed 4 words] -- which I was for a good three years -- when all I had was a regular tonsil infection. Good thing another doc set the record straight and told me that, yes, it's possible, but way unlikely.

The regular Joe will certainly be better off applying whatever update Microsoft deems critical and even recommended. However, this issue is a one-off oddball that took me years of frustration and a handful of luck and keen observation to work out. No matter how distraught it makes you, it's a very simple reason: ONE SINGLE CRITICAL WIN7 UPDATE MAKES THE HP PAVILION DV7-3300 (and perhaps others) WITH GEFORCE 320M VIDEO CARD FREEZE. So, until I figure out again whichever the hell that update is and post it here, owners of that particular model had better leave their machines with a plain, non-updated (SP1 is fine) Win7 install if they want to use it without random lockups.

But feel free to say I'm wrong. I'm just throwing facts out there, really sorry if they go against the flow of the usual advice.

 

[kngfbng]

And there we have it: After painstakingly uninstalling update by update, rebooting the notebook, and running a Bitcoin miner as a stress test on the video card (which had trouble going beyond one minute before locking up), KB280331 seems to be the culprit.

Microsoft labels it "Application compatibility update for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2: May 2013" and traces it back to replacing hotfixes KB2791765, KB2762895, and KB2592386, the latter dated April 2011. After uninstalling it, the notebook never again froze. Not for the past two hours at least, that is.

Now, the curious bit. I started using that notebook in mid-2010 and the freezing issue arose around the same time since I diligently ran Windows Update on it when I first got it. So, something tells me that an even older update was causing the issue before. Perhaps something that fussed with similar stuff.

What's more curious: To make sure KB280331 was indeed the problem, I reinstalled it to see if it the PC would freeze again. Not only did it freeze, it actually didn't even let me finish rebooting to properly apply the patch. The log-off screen froze for over 20 minutes and forced a hard reboot. After that, I have uninstalled and reinstalled the update a couple of times, but the notebook just won't freeze anymore. Either the freezing midway rebooting caused the patch to become corrupt and not properly install or that somehow fixed the whole thing for good.

Finally, some correction where it's due: This update is not a security one, hence it's not critical. It does figures in the Important section of Windows Update, but becomes optional when the "Give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates" box is cleared in the settings. So, TrainableMan's suggestion actually would have avoided the problem, although Microsoft's wording is certainly confusing in that regard. The distinction between recommended, important, and critical is not all that clear. For instance, as of now there are three vague "Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems" listings in the Important section with the option disabled, but also "Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 7 x64-based Systems" is in there. Really, a newer version of IE is hardly critical other than MS trying to shove its browser down my throat -- which I'd promptly regurgitate if needed anyway. But no Silverlight or Bing show up.

Nevertheless, I think that solves the problem for whoever owns this notebook model. In any case, I'll keep an eye out for further lock-ups. If they actually return and I narrow the issue down to another patch, I'll post the info in here.

 

[TrainableMan]

First, please keep your posts PG; I edited your one post above.

The reason for critical updates is to close known security issues. IE10 also increases security over IE9 and probably is their reasoning that it is critical. Of course you may never run into that exploit on the internet but it's an "in case you would".

It does sound like you have it nailed down pretty well as to which updates cause problems for that machine so thanks for posting that info.

 

[OmegaWin7user]

Sorry to revive an old thread. I have this same problem on my Asus K50id. After a fresh install of win7 ult 64 I can use the machine like crazy without problems. But eventually (I assume due to updates as previously mentioned) it freezes. The only time it freezes for me is during media playback/streaming.
I do not have the KB280331 update installed on this machine, though.
What I'd like to know is, is there another nearly identical update with a different name for my hardware?

I am about to do what kngfbng has done and start uninstalling updates one by one, but if someone with more expertise than me knows what I should look for, it would save me loads of time.

Cheers.

 

[TrainableMan]

Omega, by default Windows Updates include the option to treat recommended updates the same as critical updates. Well drivers can often show up as "recommended" and it is more likely you were effected by such a driver update than it is that a critical update is slowing your computer. A bad driver can slow your machine and even cause it to bluescreen (BSOD), so start by looking at those updates.