Laptop random freezing

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Rikkitic

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#261966 26-Dec-2019 12:21

Does anyone recognise this problem: My notebook sometimes freezes without any warning. When it stops, everything stops. No kind of response at all to any keyboard or other input. As a test I have set my clock to display seconds and that also stops. The screen continues to display whatever was on it at the moment of freeze, but nothing I do creates any kind of response whatsoever. To get the computer back, I have to press and hold the power button. After it shuts down I can restart it normally and it works fine until the next freeze.

This doesn’t seem to be heat-related. The freezes also appear to be completely random. They don’t happen too frequently, maybe once every couple of days or so. I don’t have any error messages afterwards. OS is Win 10 with the latest updates. The notebook is an Acer.

Does anyone know what might cause everything to just stop like this? It is like the computer is having a heart attack but it is fine after restarting.

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#2381453 26-Dec-2019 12:33

Anything showing in the system or application logs in Event Viewer at the times it freezes?

Dratsab

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#2381461 26-Dec-2019 13:59

I experienced the exact same problem with my HP IQ816 touchscreen desktop when I updated from Win7 to Win10. Reverting back fixed 'the problem' but I didn't want to stay on Win7. The machine's 11 years old, so it's had a good run and when it isn't suddenly freezing, Win10 is quite snappy on it.

Nearest I can figure is that there's something going on the graphics card it doesn't like, even though I have the latest drivers installed which are, supposedly Win10 compatible.

Nothing has ever shown up in the logs so I've never been able to work out a definitive answer. Uncle Google is perplexed too so the machine just doesn't get used anymore.

I recognise your problem, but am of no help whatsoever outside of checking your graphics drivers as a potential source of the issue :-)

mdav056

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#2381462 26-Dec-2019 14:00

I had a problem like this at one time, and it was caused by the SSD not being properly aligned. Solved by using an EASUS aligner.

gml

tehgerbil

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#2381467 26-Dec-2019 14:38

Re-seat components -especially RAM.

gehenna

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#2381477 26-Dec-2019 15:34

Check the event logs first. Same thing I tell my engineers. Look at the simple things first, then work your way up in complexity.

Rikkitic

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#2381478 26-Dec-2019 15:42

I have checked the log and I do have a 'kernel-power' event that may or may not be related. I have seen this before but all it is saying is that the system has not been shut down cleanly. That would be because I had to force it by holding the power button in, but it doesn't explain why the system froze. I don't see anything else obviously related and am not sure what to look for.

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lNomNoml

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#2381481 26-Dec-2019 15:48

Run memtest on your RAM

SATTV

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#2381484 26-Dec-2019 16:00

lNomNoml:

Run memtest on your RAM

That is what I was going to say.

I know enough to be dangerous

Rikkitic

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#2381507 26-Dec-2019 17:38

Okay I just ran Memtest for a few hours. I stopped it at 106% with no errors.

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nunz

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#2381866 27-Dec-2019 16:33

if the freeze is regular try this:

set up a background program to log the time. Every 1 - 2 seconds have it put the time into a text file. It would be simple to do with PS or similar.
When the screen freezes, check the time on the screen, but don't shut it down for a minute or so.
Reboot - check to see if the log file shows a time greater than the freeze time. This will eradicate the issue of if the freeze is just the screen / graphics or an actual complete freeze of the entire system.

Also have you let it freeze for about 30 minutes (e.g. left it alone for 30 - 60 mins after it freezes ) If it recovers the log file will have better info for you.

Thirdly - try the machine with another OS. Boot it off a Linux live disk or similar and get it running programs, use it as per normal for browsing etc. See if it freezes that way. if it doesn't its software most likely. If it does then a test suite like Passmark to test the hardware: https://www.passmark.com/products/performancetest/

Rikkitic

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#2381907 27-Dec-2019 17:42

nunz:

if the freeze is regular try this:

set up a background program to log the time. Every 1 - 2 seconds have it put the time into a text file. It would be simple to do with PS or similar.

When the screen freezes, check the time on the screen, but don't shut it down for a minute or so.

Reboot - check to see if the log file shows a time greater than the freeze time. This will eradicate the issue of if the freeze is just the screen / graphics or an actual complete freeze of the entire system.

Also have you let it freeze for about 30 minutes (e.g. left it alone for 30 - 60 mins after it freezes ) If it recovers the log file will have better info for you.

Thirdly - try the machine with another OS. Boot it off a Linux live disk or similar and get it running programs, use it as per normal for browsing etc. See if it freezes that way. if it doesn't its software most likely. If it does then a test suite like Passmark to test the hardware: https://www.passmark.com/products/performancetest/

I'm pretty sure it is hardware. Absolutely everything stops. Like I said, I have the clock set to show seconds in the taskbar and that also stops. I am pretty sure it is not just the screen that is frozen. No LEDs on the keyboard respond. The drive is mechanical and I can usually hear if it does anything. Nothing I do causes any kind of reaction except holding the power button in.

I have tried letting it sit for awhile, though maybe not a half-hour. I have never been able to find anything in the logs related to the freezing. I guess that makes sense if it is an abrupt hardware issue.

There are lots of custom things on my browser that I depend on. The last thing I want to do is stuff around with a generic Linux distro. I might consider that if it gets really bad, but right now it only happens a couple of times a week at most, often less. I might take a look at Passmark anyway, though. I have used it in the past. Thanks for the suggestion.

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gehenna

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#2381916 27-Dec-2019 18:02

The suggestion to use a Linux live boot disk is to just test whether the issue happens in that OS as well as Windows. That way you eliminate Windows or it's drivers as being the cause. You don't have to install Linux, you just run it off a bootable USB stick.

Rikkitic

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#2381919 27-Dec-2019 18:11

I get that but then I would have to use the Linux 'disk' until the computer freezes again, and that might take a week or more. It doesn't always happen that often. If it starts freezing several times a day, I would consider it.

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Finch

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#2381933 27-Dec-2019 18:42

Cant offer any assistance (And not hijacking, just letting you know you aren't alone OP!) but just want to say I have near identical problem to OP. Can be doing anything from watching a movie, browsing the net, typing something up on word and bam! everything is frozen. However in my case it seems to come right after a couple of minutes, there was once or twice where I let it sit for 20-30 minutes and had to hold power button down.

robjg63

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#2381991 27-Dec-2019 21:08

tehgerbil:
Re-seat components -especially RAM.

Definitely take the memory stick(s) out and put them back in again.
Google how to clean the contacts - that's worth a shot.
Also, if it has 2 memory sticks, try removing one and see if it runs without freezing. If it freezes swap the sticks and try the second one.
If it doesn't have much memory though, it's not going to run well with only half installed.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

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