laptop freezing

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arcon

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Topic # 150827 4-Aug-2014 19:50

hi all - i have a problem where my laptop freezes several times a day, for about 10 seconds. this happens at random when no specific programs are open. while frozen keyboard & mouse don't respond.

dell M6600 laptop about 3 yrs old, win7 64-bit. run ram test and full surface scan on hdd, both good.

i checked Event Viewer for errors, only thing i can see below, not sure if its relevant:

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"The description for Event ID 5005 from source NETwNs64 cannot be found. Either the component that raises this event is not installed on your local computer or the installation is corrupted. You can install or repair the component on the local computer.

If the event originated on another computer, the display information had to be saved with the event.

The following information was included with the event:

\Device\NDMP8
Intel(R) Centrino(R) Ultimate-N 6300 AGN

The specified resource type cannot be found in the image file"
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any tips much apprec :)

Dynamic

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Reply # 1102021 4-Aug-2014 19:57

Update drivers? Check CPU temperature?

"4 wheels move the body. 2 wheels move the soul."

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richms

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Reply # 1102033 4-Aug-2014 20:07

I have had this on a laptop in the past when the motherbaord was on its way out. Other symptoms were the ethernet would die when it happened and sometimes the sound device would just keep looping if it was playing at the time the freeze happened. after a while it was doing it every 4-5 mins and then started to actually not always boot.

Richard rich.ms

DravidDavid

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Reply # 1102534 5-Aug-2014 12:13

I'd say try a fresh install of Windows if you can't find an issue with hardware.

Sometimes what you don't get is a blessing in disguise!

drgshah

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Reply # 1102597 5-Aug-2014 13:18

Keep you task manager open when you expect this behavior to occur. See which process takes up maximum CPU when your PC freezes. Might give you an idea as to what's causing the problem :)

arcon

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Reply # 1103852 7-Aug-2014 10:52

drgshah: Keep you task manager open when you expect this behavior to occur. See which process takes up maximum CPU when your PC freezes.

there is zero CPU activity during a freeze, a process is not causing it.
based on the Event Viewer log Dell have sugested uninstalling and re-installing the wireless driver... will see how it goes but i have a hunch its a slowly dying mobo. apparently it can't be hardware according to Dell because their "online diagnostic tool" couldn't find hardware problems, lmao.

Dratsab

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Reply # 1103860 7-Aug-2014 11:00

I've had a problem in the past where a computer (W7 64bit) would freeze and would sometimes recover, sometimes require a hard boot. Turned out to be an incompatibility between Microsoft Office (2007 I think) and VLC. Uninstalled VLC - problem went away. Upgraded Office, reinstalled VLC - no further problems.

zaptor

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Reply # 1104021 7-Aug-2014 13:08

DravidDavid: I'd say try a fresh install of Windows if you can't find an issue with hardware.

arcon

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Reply # 1104645 8-Aug-2014 10:13

zaptor:
DravidDavid: I'd say try a fresh install of Windows if you can't find an issue with hardware.

+1

well the wireless driver upgrade didn't work... argh what a bastard lol. in fact it may be accelerating, happens 4 or 5 times an hour now.

hmm should i try a repair install first or backup & go full format..?

Dynamic

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Reply # 1104655 8-Aug-2014 10:22

Perhaps run a Linux Live CD on the machine and give it a good workout. If it misbehaves, that's a pretty good confirmation that the issue is hardware. And you've not ha to mess with your files.

"4 wheels move the body. 2 wheels move the soul."

“Don't believe anything you read on the net. Except this. Well, including this, I suppose.” Douglas Adams

arcon

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Reply # 1104666 8-Aug-2014 10:36

Dynamic: Perhaps run a Linux Live CD on the machine and give it a good workout. If it misbehaves, that's a pretty good confirmation that the issue is hardware.

hi thanks for your reply - i don't have experience with linux so i had to google linux live cd lol. i can't find a clear link to an install or iso that would be for a test cd... although it would be great to be able to test the mobo somehow...

this laptop is under 3 yr ProSupport contract till the end of this month, might extend that lol. i guess if dell replace the mobo i'll have to re-install windows anyway :/

Dynamic

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Reply # 1104673 8-Aug-2014 10:42

arcon: hi thanks for your reply - i don't have experience with linux so i had to google linux live cd lol. i can't find a clear link to an install or iso that would be for a test cd... although it would be great to be able to test the mobo somehow...

Ubuntu is a nice friendly distribution to try.
Have a look here http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop/try-ubuntu-before-you-install and here http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows and here http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop/thank-you?country=NZ&version=14.04.1&architecture=amd64 (you would need a blank DVD to burn to or a blank USB stick)

"4 wheels move the body. 2 wheels move the soul."

“Don't believe anything you read on the net. Except this. Well, including this, I suppose.” Douglas Adams

zaptor

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Reply # 1104739 8-Aug-2014 11:26

arcon:
zaptor:
DravidDavid: I'd say try a fresh install of Windows if you can't find an issue with hardware.

+1

well the wireless driver upgrade didn't work... argh what a bastard lol. in fact it may be accelerating, happens 4 or 5 times an hour now.

hmm should i try a repair install first or backup & go full format..?

As you're still under warranty, I would recommend your best option is a full re-install (after backup of course).

The Dell accredited service centre will basically do the same thing before proceeding further anyway.

If you can't reproduce the issue after a full re-install, then it's highly unlikely a service tech will either.

They key is reproducing the problem after a full restore.
If the tech can reproduce it then they'll attempt to fix it (results of which can vary wildly).

If you can reproduce fairly regularly, then I'd recommend filming the process a couple of times (ideally starting from a power off state). Even putting the video(s) on the desktop for the service tech.

Note: Those videos may come in very handy should you need to take things further (if they ever get that far)

manly100

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Reply # 1105974 10-Aug-2014 17:46

Pull its fans and clean them and the coils.

zaptor

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Reply # 1105983 10-Aug-2014 18:01

Performing any 'maintenance' yourself runs the risk of voiding the warranty (of you which you are still under).

If the tech thinks you've tinkered with it before hand (and a fan clean will definitely imply that), then you run risk of risk of them saying you were responsible for the fault.

It may well just be heating issue, and cleaning the dust might well resolve the issue.

However, if it doesn't, and it's more serious (i.e. motherboard fault), then you may have a battle on your hands convincing them you weren't responsible for any issues.

Your dice.