PC freezing since Windows 10 upgrade in 2015

mrhornsby

Member
I've been battling issues with my PC Specialist PC (on my own) for the last four years, after I upgraded to Windows 10 in September 2015. Since then, my PC freezes repeatedly - often during start up, sometimes during the first 10 minutes after start-up (usually ok after 10 minutes). Screen freezes, and then the PC is unresponsive until I force power-down.

I've tried a whole load of things to fix this, including manual driver updates using drivers from the Asus website, the Verifier tool, Windows 10 repair upgrade, Systems File Check. Previous attempts have seemed to stabilise the PC somewhat, but problems always re-occur - seemingly triggered by the next major Windows update that comes along.

Right now, I've just done (several) clean installs of Windows, not keeping any files. I've tried doing installs from a USB with and without a network connection. Clean install with a network connection seems to work best. But, when everything is installed and running ok, and I allow a Windows update to run, then the freezing just starts in earnest.

My PC is just about unusable now. I would really appreciate some advice on where to go from here. I'm starting from a clean Windows install, with Windows updates put on hold.

Spec, from my order is:

Showing Order Reference 732048
CaseSTYLISH PIANO BLACK ENIGMA CASE + 2 FRONT USB
Processor (CPU)Intel® Core™i5 Quad Core Processor i5-4690K (3.5GHz) 6MB Cache
MotherboardASUS® Z97M-PLUS: m-ATX, USB3.0, SATA 6.0, XFIRE
Memory (RAM)8GB KINGSTON DUAL-DDR3 1600MHz (1 x 8GB)
Graphics Card1GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 750 - DVI, mHDMI, VGA - 3D Vision Ready
2nd Graphics CardNONE
3rd Graphics CardNONE
1st Storage Drive1TB 3.5" SATA-III 6GB/s HDD 7200RPM 32MB CACHE
2nd Storage DriveNONE
1st M.2 SSD DriveNONE
RAIDNONE
DVD/BLU-RAY Drive24x DUAL LAYER DVD WRITER ±R/±RW/RAM
2nd DVD/BLU-RAY DriveNONE
External Hard DriveNONE
Memory Card ReaderNONE
Power SupplyCORSAIR 350W VS SERIES™ VS-350 POWER SUPPLY
Power Cable1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor CoolingSuper Quiet 22dBA Triple Copper Heatpipe Intel CPU Cooler
Fan ControllerNONE
Sound CardONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Wireless/Wired NetworkingWIRELESS 802.11N 300Mbps PCI CARD
Wireless Router/HomePlugsNONE
USB/Thunderbolt OptionsMIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 4 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS
4G ModuleNONE
FirewireNONE
TV CardNONE
Operating SystemGenuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit w/SP1 - inc DVD & Licence
Windows Recovery MediaWindows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) DVD with paper sleeve
Office SoftwareFREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft® Office® 365
Anti-VirusBULLGUARD INTERNET SECURITY - FREE 90 DAY TRIAL
MonitorNONE
2nd MonitorNONE
Monitor CablesNONE
Eyefinity AdapterNONE
Keyboard & MouseLOGITECH® MK270 WIRELESS KEYBOARD & MOUSE COMBO
MouseNONE
HeadsetsNONE
Gaming Mouse PadNONE
NVIDIA SHIELD™ TabletNONE
SpeakersNONE
WebcamNONE
Surge ProtectionNONE
Cable ManagementNONE
PrinterNONE
Warranty3 Year Standard Warranty (1 Month Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Home InstallationNONE
Data RecoveryNONE
DeliverySTANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build TimeStandard Build - Approximately 7 to 9 working days
MiscellaneousCreated Using Jargon Free Configurator
 

ubuysa

The BSOD Doctor
When you do the clean install delete all existing system partitions. You must also run Windows Update after the Windows 10 install to install all necessary drivers. Keep running Windows Update until mo more updates are found.

After that check in Device Manager for any devices missing drivers - they will have a yellow triangle with an exclamation mark in it next to them. These you'll have to research yourself to find Windows 10 drivers and you may be unlucky with an old build. You might see whether there are any Windows 8.1 or Windows 8 drivers available, if you're lucky they might work.

Sent using Tapatalk
 

mrhornsby

Member
Thanks Ubuysa,

I've again done a clean install of Windows 10 whilst connected to my network. I was able to run all the Windows updates this time, with the PC only freezing up once during the updates. I managed to get the Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1909 on install too - this has proved to be a real sticking point with previous installs.

However, with all the updates done, and device manager showing no missing drivers, I tried a PC restart (this often resulted in freezing on previous attempts). The restart, unfortunately, resulted in the PC freezing several times, meaning that I was unable to start it in normal mode.

I left it for an hour, than started the PC again, and got it running ok. Got a notification that Nvidia Control Panel was missing (had ignored that message previously) and opted to install that. That's where I'm at now.

I'm not convinced that the freezing issues are solved. I'll continue to monitor, and will check that I've got the correct drivers for the Asus Z97M plus. I'll let you know how it goes, whichever way.
 

paul1224

Well-known member
I had a few issues with an old build a while back with W10 and it was due to 'fast start-up'.

I think your issues sound different to mine but as it is a quick thing to do I would personally turn it off as per here just in case it helps.
 

ubuysa

The BSOD Doctor
Thanks Ubuysa,

I've again done a clean install of Windows 10 whilst connected to my network. I was able to run all the Windows updates this time, with the PC only freezing up once during the updates. I managed to get the Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1909 on install too - this has proved to be a real sticking point with previous installs.

However, with all the updates done, and device manager showing no missing drivers, I tried a PC restart (this often resulted in freezing on previous attempts). The restart, unfortunately, resulted in the PC freezing several times, meaning that I was unable to start it in normal mode.

I left it for an hour, than started the PC again, and got it running ok. Got a notification that Nvidia Control Panel was missing (had ignored that message previously) and opted to install that. That's where I'm at now.

I'm not convinced that the freezing issues are solved. I'll continue to monitor, and will check that I've got the correct drivers for the Asus Z97M plus. I'll let you know how it goes, whichever way.
With a fully clean install of Windows and all drivers, and as long as you haven't installed any additional software (which could be the cause of the problem), then your freezing issue is almost certainly hardware.

One way to confirm that would be to try a Linux distro and since you don't have a working Windows system yet I'd advise doing a Linux install (rather than run it from the USB stick). If it freezes at all with Linux as well then it's 100% hardware.
 

mrhornsby

Member
Thanks Paul1223 and Ubuysa for your advice.

Paul1223: I tried your solution, but it didn't work. My PC hits problems frequently when restarting, and I think fast start-up has no effect on this.

Ubuysa: I'm going to try a Linux install, and see how that goes. I am assuming that means running a Linux distro in WIndows 10, as detailed in this article: https://winaero.com/blog/run-wsl-linux-distro-windows-10/.

As it happens, my PC has been running smoothly today after I started it up several hours ago. I haven't tried a restart though, and suspect that I'll still hit some freezing issues were I to try that.

Thanks again, will report back soon.
 

ubuysa

The BSOD Doctor
Ubuysa: I'm going to try a Linux install, and see how that goes. I am assuming that means running a Linux distro in WIndows 10, as detailed in this article: https://winaero.com/blog/run-wsl-linux-distro-windows-10/.
No. That won't prove anything because Windows will still be running! Download a Linux distro, boot the media and install it over the top of your Windows system so that Linux is the only system installed. If native Linux freezes it's 100% a hardware problem, if it doesn't then it's a Windows, driver, app problem - or possibly a hardware device that Windows 10 doesn't fully support.

Whilst this will wipe out your Windows system you've only recently done a clean install so doing another to remove Linux and put Windows back shouldn't be that hard.

BTW. Before you do any of that, disconnect all external devices (except monitor, mouse and keyboard) to be sure it's not one of those.... :)
 

mrhornsby

Member
Thanks again.

I've installed an Ubuntu OS on the PC, installation went ok.

On the first restart after installation, the PC froze on the initial Asus/BIOS screen, suggesting that I'm going to have further freezing issues ahead. I'm going to give it a day or so of running this OS to monitor.

(I've been running without any external devices attached for a few months now, whilst I get to the bottom of this issue).

If this does turn out to be a hardware problem, what are my next steps? I've read about replacing things like the graphics card to try and pinpoint the problem hardware - but I don't have any hardware that I could swap in.
 

ubuysa

The BSOD Doctor
That first freeze is a worry. If it freezes again I would phone PCS for help. TBH I'm surprised you've not been in touch with them earlier if you've been fighting this for four years!
 

Oussebon

Multiverse Poster
I think I had Ubuntu freeze on the first restart after a clean install on an otherwise working system, possibly due to Nvidia drivers

See if it happens again I guess

've read about replacing things like the graphics card to try and pinpoint the problem hardware - but I don't have any hardware that I could swap in.
The CPU has integrated graphics so if you do get continued problems with a clean Linux install you could always remove the GPU and run off the CPU graphics.
 

mrhornsby

Member
That first freeze is a worry. If it freezes again I would phone PCS for help. TBH I'm surprised you've not been in touch with them earlier if you've been fighting this for four years!

I emailed PCS when the issues first started occurring 4 years ago, but got no response. Guess I should've called. I thought that as I was outside the 1 year warranty for parts, that they probably wouldn't help anyway. Also, there were long-ish periods during the 4 years when the freezing wasn't too bad - only once every few weeks.

As things stand, Ubuntu has been running smoothly with no further freezes - even after repeated restarts (which were an almost guaranteed way to get the PC to freeze with Windows 10). So that points back to a driver or unsupported hardware issue now. I'm going to run Ubuntu til Sunday, and if ok, then think about re-installing Windows 10. (Will admit that I am considering whether I could stick with Ubuntu permanently though).
 

mrhornsby

Member
Final note on this, to let you know how things turned out.

The PC started freezing again on Monday, whilst still running Ubuntu. Might be a coincidence, but this first happened after I plugged in desktop speakers to the rear audio port. I unplugged the speakers for a while, and the freezes continued to occur.

I've contacted PCS (by phone) who've asked me to re-install Windows so that they can run some tests. But it does look like a hardware error.
After 4 years of this, I am determined to get this sorted, one way or another.

Thanks to all who have helped and advised here, most especially Ubuysa.
 
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