Freezing problem with new build

[Angelus]

Hi everyone, I recently built a PC for my dad a couple weeks ago, and the computer freezes once Windows is loading the programs on startup (after the login screen, when windows loads all the programs). It's weird because it will freeze the first time it boots up and enters Windows, then if I restart and try it again, its fine. My computer specs:

CPU - e6600
MB - P5B-E with latest Bios
RAM - 2 x 1 GB Corsair XMS 2 DDR2 800
GPU - SAPPHIRE Radeon X1950PRO 256MB

I've tried manually setting the RAM timings and frequency and that hasn't helped at all. I've updated the latest BIOS and that still doesn't help. I re-formatted about a week ago and it did seem to help for a couple days, but then the freezing re-occured. So I don't know if it's hardware or software related, it's just kind of frustrating not knowing how to fix it. I've also ran Memtest and the Windows Memory diagnostic and those both came back fine. The PC isn't overclocked at all, either. Any ideas?

Thanks!

[blue60007]

What about the power supply? Is it plenty powerful and a solid brand?

Try running the hard drive diagnostics as well (from their website).

[newbuilder14]

Freezing that late is usually caused by the drives, so take Blue's advice there. However, sometimes RAM could cause freezing, although this typically occurs earlier in bootup. Try reverting your BIOS settings to default if you have not yet. Make sure both RAM sticks are recognized.

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by Angelus Hi everyone, I recently built a PC for my dad a couple weeks ago, and the computer freezes once Windows is loading the programs on startup (after the login screen, when windows loads all the programs). It's weird because it will freeze the first time it boots up and enters Windows, then if I restart and try it again, its fine. My computer specs: CPU - e6600 MB - P5B-E with latest Bios RAM - 2 x 1 GB Corsair XMS 2 DDR2 800 GPU - SAPPHIRE Radeon X1950PRO 256MB I've tried manually setting the RAM timings and frequency and that hasn't helped at all. I've updated the latest BIOS and that still doesn't help. I re-formatted about a week ago and it did seem to help for a couple days, but then the freezing re-occured. So I don't know if it's hardware or software related, it's just kind of frustrating not knowing how to fix it. I've also ran Memtest and the Windows Memory diagnostic and those both came back fine. The PC isn't overclocked at all, either. Any ideas?

What happens if you boot into Safe Mode during the initial boot up?

Have you run scans for viruses, spyware, trojans and hijackers?

What kind of background programs are loading up at startup?

Are the device drivers WHQL or BETA?

When the freeze occurs do you notice the floppy light coming on?

Cricket

[Angelus]

Originally Posted by blue60007 What about the power supply? Is it plenty powerful and a solid brand? Try running the hard drive diagnostics as well (from their website).

The powersupply is an Antec 480 Watt TruePower 2.0 power supply, so I think that should be adequate for my system. I'll try running the hard drive diagnostics once I get home, thanks for the idea.


@newbuilder14

I have tried a wide vareity of settings in the BIOS regarding the ram, from leaving them on auto, to manually setting the voltage, timings, and frequency. None have really seemed to help at all.

@Cricket

I'm pretty sure safe mode boots up no problem, with no freezing or any other problems. I don't think a virus or spyware are the problem because we installed an antivirus first thing after installing the OS, and the freezing also occured a couple days after a fresh install as well. All drivers are stable drivers to the best of my knowledge, including the video card drivers. I'll have to get back to you on the programs running at startup (my dad has some VPN programs that startup) and if the floppy light comes on. Thanks everyone for the input, I'll try the HD diagnostics first.

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by Angelus I'm pretty sure safe mode boots up no problem, with no freezing or any other problems.

Don't assume it'll boot into Safe Mode without problems...you have to try it to see what happens. If it does boot into Safe Mode without freezing then you probably have a software/driver issue instead of a hardware issue.

Originally Posted by Angelus I don't think a virus or spyware are the problem because we installed an antivirus first thing after installing the OS, and the freezing also occured a couple days after a fresh install as well.

Does the A-V update itself automatically and how often do you run full system scans?

Originally Posted by Angelus All drivers are stable drivers to the best of my knowledge, including the video card drivers.

This is something that you just can't make assumptions about...you have to do the proper troubleshooting steps to confirm that the current drivers aren't causing the problems.

And it's possible the VPN software could be causing the freezing. Try disabling it from starting up with Windows (if it is starting up with Windows) and see what happens.

Cricket

[Angelus]

Sorry about all of the assumptions I posted before, I was in class and couldn't exactly verify if they were the case . I was able to run the disk diagnostics on both of the hard drives, and the scans for the drives themselves came back OK, but it gave an error about folder/directory structure errors, so I basically ran checkdisk on both drives but that didn't seem to help the freezing at all.

One thing that is weird is that I manually set the RAM frequency and timings, and every once and a while it comes up with an "overclocking failed" before Windows loads. Both the voltage and the timings were set to the SPD settings, so I think this is a little weird.

Does the A-V update itself automatically and how often do you run full system scans?

On the first install when we first built the computer, we had McAfee installed and still had the freezing problems. This time we have Nod32 installed with auto updates and it still freezes. I think Nod32 is set up to scan in the background automatically, so I don't see the need to do a full system scan (and the OS install is only about a week old).

Anyways the first thing I will do is boot into safe mode and see if the freezing occurs.

[Angelus]

Just an update: safe mode works fine without any freezing or any other problems.

[Angelus]

I'm still having the freezing problems with my new PC, and the freezing seems to be fairly standard every day when I cold boot the PC. Usually what happens is that it boots fine and the Windows login/welcome screen appears, then when you login it will either freeze or restart automatically. Then usually after this, it boots up fine and doesn't seem to freeze anymore. One thing I tried was booting up with only 1 stick of ram, and that seemed to boot up fine. I put 2 sticks in again, and experienced the same freezing problem. Perhaps it is a dual-channel problem?

The ram isn't overclocked at all, and we had it set to run 1:1 with the FSB (266Mhz).

[Cricket]

Is your Corsair RAM the one with the CAS of 4 or 5? I hear the C2D motherboards don't like the CAS 4 RAM.

Since your computer seems to run fine in Safe Mode you may have a driver or background program issue of some sort.

Cricket

[Angelus]

The ram I have is actually with the CAS of 5, as seen here:

http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16820145590

Is there an easy way to disable programs/drivers one by one and see if any are the culprit? What's funny (don't know if I mentioned this before) but after we did a fresh install of Windows, for about 3 days afterwards there wasn't any freezing issues whatsoever. Maybe looking at system restore around that 3rd day to see what was installed might be the best bet?

[Angelus]

As it turns out, I ran Memtest on each stick of RAM seperately, and the first stick came back with two errors within 50 minutes. But the bad news is that after booting up the system this morning with the 1 good stick of RAM, it still froze. I think I'm going to install 32-bit Vista on a seperate partition and see if I get any freezing when booting to Vista...this should let me know if its a hardware or software problem.

[Angelus]

Another update, sorry to keep bumping this thread but I am literally starting to pull my hair out over this build. I installed Windows Vista on the second HD I have on the computer and I am experiencing the same freezing problem when booting Vista as I am when booting XP. To make sure it wasn't a driver/software problem, right after I installed Vista I didn't install ANY drivers or anything else (video card, network adapter, onboard sound etc) and I shutdown the computer for about 30-40 minutes. Upon booting up and selection to load Vista, it hung on the screen with the loading bar for loading Vista...much like how it would freeze when booting XP, only a little bit earlier. This morning again after booting up, the PC froze yet again.

Wouldn't this suggest that the problem was hardware and not software related? The Vista install was basically a fresh install with no drivers loaded or anything, and it still had the freezing problem. What's the best way to troubleshoot different components? I was also thinking that it could be a faulty power supply, mainly because it seems that every other component is working OK. If you could help out I would be so grateful! Thanks

[Angelus]

Update #2: Ok, I've made some progress in eliminating and focusing in on the problem. I tried a new video card, it still froze, today I tried a new power supply and it still froze. Here is the important fact, though:

when the PC is off for about an hour, booting normally into Windows, OR booting into safe mode with networking, the PC will freeze at the login screen, after I type in my password and press enter. I just tried this minutes ago, and it does indeed freeze even in safe mode, so most likely it ISNT a software problem. So I've gone through the video card, the PS, and I'm going to RMA both sticks of RAM this week...could my motherboard be defective? I'm running out of component that could be the problem