W10 laptop randomly freezing

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martyyn

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#271832 28-May-2020 15:37

I have a relatively new Dell laptop which keeps freezing. It might be 5 seconds after logging in, it might be 30 minutes, which is adding to the frustration of trying to work this out !

I've checked all the device drivers are current, I've run the OS updates, I've checked for malware and viruses, I've checked the memory, I've checked the ssd, I've checked the reliability history (which just shows recovered from a shutdown), I've used the W10 driver verifier (which doesn't create any logs at all when it dies), I've checked pretty much everything I can think of.

So now all I'm left with the "10 things to fix your PC freezing" search results which are just depressing.

On reboot I sometimes get "Startup repair cant be done" but then it boots normally.

Being relatively new, it only has Office and two pieces of proprietary software on it. Neither have caused problems on previous laptops.

Is there anything else I can check before I reinstall Windows ?

muppet

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#2493782 28-May-2020 16:30

Yes, install a USB with memtest+ on it and run it for 48 hours.

It does sound like faulty hardware though (are the fans running hard?)

Rickles

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#2493798 28-May-2020 16:55

"Relatively new" sounds like an ideal candidate for Warranty plus CGA return.

Copy all/any personal data or apps off it, grab the purchase receipt and hand over together with a copy of your Message above.

Gurezaemon

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#2493811 28-May-2020 17:09

If still under warranty, CGA.

If not, definitely I'd download Speccy or similar and see what the temperatures of the CPU and graphics are like. It could be as simple as needing to redo thermal paste.

sqishy

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#2493841 28-May-2020 18:16

Lots to check...which model it this...

Could be components m.2, Ram, wifi card etc need remove-put back/re-seating

Boot up in Bios and wait if it freezes then could be CPU overheat

Do a Windows fresh install then just see if any thin goes wrong

After awhile add Dell drivers could be their device drivers causing issue

fearandloathing

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#2493843 28-May-2020 18:19

Try clearing quick access, inaccessible files or shares can cause explorer to freeze\Timeout.

Rikkitic

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#2493902 28-May-2020 20:23

I went through something like this a few years ago with my Acer. Although new, it would freeze at completely random intervals. Warranty return overseas was a hassle. After a lot of hair-tearing, I eventually found some info on the problem from other users. It turned out to be a poorly-implemented earth strap on the chassis, which was only connected with conductive adhesive. As soon as I redid the connection with a properly-soldered wire, the problem disappeared. Not saying this is your issue, but it provides an example of the kind of thing that can happen.

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Batman

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#2493907 28-May-2020 20:45

hard drive failure?

Rikkitic

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#2493916 28-May-2020 21:05

Rikkitic:

I went through something like this a few years ago with my Acer. Although new, it would freeze at completely random intervals. Warranty return overseas was a hassle. After a lot of hair-tearing, I eventually found some info on the problem from other users. It turned out to be a poorly-implemented earth strap on the chassis, which was only connected with conductive adhesive. As soon as I redid the connection with a properly-soldered wire, the problem disappeared. Not saying this is your issue, but it provides an example of the kind of thing that can happen.

I should have added, it is worth doing searches on your problem and model of computer. That is how I found the answer. I also found a lot of false trails and misinformation, but with patience you might turn up an answer. If it has happened to you, there is a reasonable chance it has happened to someone else.

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martyyn

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#2494211 29-May-2020 10:29

I'm just going to CGA it.

The temps are ok, there are no fans going (out of the ordinary anyway), I've cleaned out all the unnecessary files and software, I've searched for this particular model and found nothing more than I've already done.

I just didn't want to take the CGA route if I could help it but it's not worth spending any more time on it.

Thanks for the suggestions.

1024kb

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#2494367 29-May-2020 14:19

Dell warranty rocks. No mucking around, here's your replacement. I'll buy Dell again specifically for this reason.

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Apsattv

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#2494497 29-May-2020 17:39

Has it just started doing it?

see this?

https://www.techradar.com/news/this-windows-10-update-fail-is-the-most-serious-yet-heres-what-you-need-to-do

A: remove the update, see if it improves

B: use sfc and DISM to force a repair

https://support.microsoft.com/en-nz/help/929833/use-the-system-file-checker-tool-to-repair-missing-or-corrupted-system

C: if issue persists, You could Restore it back to factory default image? or do a FORCED install of the new Windows 10 2004 released yesterday

D: return it to Dell to sort out..

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ratsun81

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#2494586 29-May-2020 19:14

The first thing i recommend anyone does when getting a new machine with a pre-install of windows on it is to wipe and reinstall fresh windows.

CGA it but if what you are experiencing is a fault with one of the stock images Dell uses you might just get the same thing again.

Windows 10 install from scratch is very quick these days.

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K8Toledo

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#2494984 30-May-2020 12:10

What model Dell?

martyyn

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#2497256 3-Jun-2020 10:03

It's a Vostro 3590.

It started happening after a whole load of updates and then the update cycle got it's knickers in a twist. I removed various updates, ran sfc and dism, ran everything I could think of but just when I thought it was good and it ran for hours, it would do it the following day.

It's booked in with Dell to sort out now.