random crashes/freezing

mcdragon2 · May 11, 2011, 04:39 AM

ok guys I built my new computer this January and ever since I have been having random crashes/freezing and the only way I have found to get out of them is to hold the power button until it drops power. upon looking at my events nothing is showing up before the kernel power error.
Any ideas?

Takaharu · May 11, 2011, 07:58 AM

A friend of mine had a similar problem. It turned out that a hard drive was on its way out. Try a HDD health check or two.

caqde · May 11, 2011, 10:57 AM

Along with testing the harddrive I would also recommend running a program like Memtest86 to test for bad memory.

Random crashes and Freezes are caused by some form of bad data being sent to the system that locks the computer in a chuck of code with no exit (programming side of things). An example of this would be dividing by zero (Impossible for computers to do).

Anyways this can be caused by almost any piece of hardware that is running normally, if this is happening when "idle" at the Desktop then the causes could be the CPU, Memory, Harddrive (windows indexing service), Videocard (Win Vista/7 Aero, although you would likely see artifacts), Motherboard, and the Powersupply. Only thing you can really do is try and find out what is happening and how the system is behaving when the system freezes to help you find out what is causing to lockup and hopefully from there replace said part with one that functions correctly.

Oh and just out of curiosity the reset button doesn't work when it is locked up? And if so does it work when it isn't?

OldBuzzard · May 11, 2011, 04:56 PM

I'm assuming (I know, that can get one into trouble), that your system specs are current, and that you are using a Phenom X2 560 unlocked to an X4?

If so, I'd highly suspect that one, or both, of the unlocked cores is/are unstable.

I'd try running the system at stock for a while to see if that cures the problem.

mcdragon2 · May 11, 2011, 06:48 PM

ok thanks guys and recomendation for a HDD test?
and my cpu isn't unlocked actually I forgot that was in there but it had been OC from 3.3GHz to 3.8Ghz. I am going to try to run at stock cpu settings and see if that helps any

caqde · May 12, 2011, 12:51 AM

Two tools I can think of one is HDtune another depends on your HD manufacturer Western Digital has a windows based tool (Data Lifeguard which is also for DOS from a CD too) that can run a certification test on the Hard Drive and Seagates SeaTools.

From my point of view SeaTools and Data Lifeguard runs a very strict test on the drive and is likely to provide more accurate data about the life of the drive although it will take a long time to complete the test.

mcdragon2 · May 17, 2011, 04:08 AM

Well tonight I got a memory mangement error and BSOD. so bad ram i'm guessing

Tyrsonswood · May 17, 2011, 04:36 AM

Memtest+

caqde · May 17, 2011, 05:18 AM

When testing your memory I would usually test all of your sticks at once then test individual sticks to find the actual culprit or culprits. It can also tell you if the problem lies elsewhere. (cases where Dual or Triple DDR causes the issue not the sticks themselves).

You can use either of these to test your memory.
Memtest86+ - Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool
Memtest86 - Memtest86.com - Memory Diagnostic

gk8aq · May 17, 2011, 06:44 AM

Do not overclock your ram / cpu. Sometimes mobo's say that support overclocking but until REAL test not all of them have success at what manufactures say!!! If you are not overclocking at all check your ram your hdd and also check your power supply.

May 11, 2011, 04:39 AM	#1
mcdragon2 HardwareHeaven Addict Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: West, OH Posts: 252 Rep Power: 17 System Specs	random crashes/freezing ok guys I built my new computer this January and ever since I have been having random crashes/freezing and the only way I have found to get out of them is to hold the power button until it drops power. upon looking at my events nothing is showing up before the kernel power error. Any ideas?

May 11, 2011, 07:58 AM	#2
Takaharu I can fart in 7 languages Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: England, UK Posts: 1,850 Rep Power: 113 System Specs	Re: random crashes/freezing A friend of mine had a similar problem. It turned out that a hard drive was on its way out. Try a HDD health check or two. __________________ I don't get paid to know the answer, therefore I'm far more likely to give you a straight and honest answer. Mods Rig, Box Mods Rig, Folding details

May 11, 2011, 10:57 AM	#3
caqde HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: US, IL Posts: 505 Rep Power: 66 System Specs	Re: random crashes/freezing Along with testing the harddrive I would also recommend running a program like Memtest86 to test for bad memory. Random crashes and Freezes are caused by some form of bad data being sent to the system that locks the computer in a chuck of code with no exit (programming side of things). An example of this would be dividing by zero (Impossible for computers to do). Anyways this can be caused by almost any piece of hardware that is running normally, if this is happening when "idle" at the Desktop then the causes could be the CPU, Memory, Harddrive (windows indexing service), Videocard (Win Vista/7 Aero, although you would likely see artifacts), Motherboard, and the Powersupply. Only thing you can really do is try and find out what is happening and how the system is behaving when the system freezes to help you find out what is causing to lockup and hopefully from there replace said part with one that functions correctly. Oh and just out of curiosity the reset button doesn't work when it is locked up? And if so does it work when it isn't? __________________ AMD Phenom II X4 925 AM3/ Giga-byte MA790XT-UD4P XFX HD5770 1GB / 2x8GB of Geil DDR3 12800 10-10-10-28 Samsung SH-S182D DVD-RW drive / Sony Optiarc BD-5300S BD-RW drive Western Digital WD1501FASS(Primary)/Western Digital 15EADS(Secondary)/Western Digital 7500AACS(Secondary)/Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320gb(Secondary) Antec TP-550 / CoolerMaster CMStacker Sound Blaster X-FI Titanium Fatal1ty Professional / Creative Inspire 6600 6.1 speakers Samsugn T200HD 20" LCD Monitor / Logitech Internet 350 Black Keyboard Logitech MX510 Mouse

May 11, 2011, 04:56 PM	#4
OldBuzzard DH's oldest Geek Join Date: May 2003 Location: Oberlin, OH Posts: 2,783 Rep Power: 145 System Specs	Re: random crashes/freezing I'm assuming (I know, that can get one into trouble), that your system specs are current, and that you are using a Phenom X2 560 unlocked to an X4? If so, I'd highly suspect that one, or both, of the unlocked cores is/are unstable. I'd try running the system at stock for a while to see if that cures the problem. __________________ When looking for a reason as to why things go wrong, never rule out sheer STUPIDITY

May 11, 2011, 06:48 PM	Thread Starter #5
mcdragon2 HardwareHeaven Addict Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: West, OH Posts: 252 Rep Power: 17 System Specs	Re: random crashes/freezing ok thanks guys and recomendation for a HDD test? and my cpu isn't unlocked actually I forgot that was in there but it had been OC from 3.3GHz to 3.8Ghz. I am going to try to run at stock cpu settings and see if that helps any

May 12, 2011, 12:51 AM	#6
caqde HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: US, IL Posts: 505 Rep Power: 66 System Specs	Re: random crashes/freezing Two tools I can think of one is HDtune another depends on your HD manufacturer Western Digital has a windows based tool (Data Lifeguard which is also for DOS from a CD too) that can run a certification test on the Hard Drive and Seagates SeaTools. From my point of view SeaTools and Data Lifeguard runs a very strict test on the drive and is likely to provide more accurate data about the life of the drive although it will take a long time to complete the test. __________________ AMD Phenom II X4 925 AM3/ Giga-byte MA790XT-UD4P XFX HD5770 1GB / 2x8GB of Geil DDR3 12800 10-10-10-28 Samsung SH-S182D DVD-RW drive / Sony Optiarc BD-5300S BD-RW drive Western Digital WD1501FASS(Primary)/Western Digital 15EADS(Secondary)/Western Digital 7500AACS(Secondary)/Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320gb(Secondary) Antec TP-550 / CoolerMaster CMStacker Sound Blaster X-FI Titanium Fatal1ty Professional / Creative Inspire 6600 6.1 speakers Samsugn T200HD 20" LCD Monitor / Logitech Internet 350 Black Keyboard Logitech MX510 Mouse

May 17, 2011, 04:08 AM	Thread Starter #7
mcdragon2 HardwareHeaven Addict Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: West, OH Posts: 252 Rep Power: 17 System Specs	Re: random crashes/freezing Well tonight I got a memory mangement error and BSOD. so bad ram i'm guessing

May 17, 2011, 05:18 AM	#9
caqde HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: US, IL Posts: 505 Rep Power: 66 System Specs	Re: random crashes/freezing When testing your memory I would usually test all of your sticks at once then test individual sticks to find the actual culprit or culprits. It can also tell you if the problem lies elsewhere. (cases where Dual or Triple DDR causes the issue not the sticks themselves). You can use either of these to test your memory. Memtest86+ - Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool Memtest86 - Memtest86.com - Memory Diagnostic __________________ AMD Phenom II X4 925 AM3/ Giga-byte MA790XT-UD4P XFX HD5770 1GB / 2x8GB of Geil DDR3 12800 10-10-10-28 Samsung SH-S182D DVD-RW drive / Sony Optiarc BD-5300S BD-RW drive Western Digital WD1501FASS(Primary)/Western Digital 15EADS(Secondary)/Western Digital 7500AACS(Secondary)/Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320gb(Secondary) Antec TP-550 / CoolerMaster CMStacker Sound Blaster X-FI Titanium Fatal1ty Professional / Creative Inspire 6600 6.1 speakers Samsugn T200HD 20" LCD Monitor / Logitech Internet 350 Black Keyboard Logitech MX510 Mouse

May 17, 2011, 06:44 AM	#10
gk8aq HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 75 Rep Power: 43 System Specs	Re: random crashes/freezing Do not overclock your ram / cpu. Sometimes mobo's say that support overclocking but until REAL test not all of them have success at what manufactures say!!! If you are not overclocking at all check your ram your hdd and also check your power supply.