User Interface Freezes | Extremely strange system freezing issue.

[CProetti]

MY COMPUTER IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. I NEED IT 100% WORKING.

Im a full time manager of a computer shop so I work 9am to 5pm monday to friday. Im also building my own online business which I work on every day from 6pm to 1am and sundays 9am to 10pm. Also because I'm 19yo I'm still getting an education so im currently doing an audio mastering course on saturdays and any other spare time I get.

Also note I just dropped $25,000 on my home load so dont have too much money to spend on a new computer at the moment.

 

MY ISSUE

All interface devices freeze; this includes display, keyboard, mouse, and speakers/headset switch.

Normally i'd assume this was a simply computer freezing but I'm still able to do the following:

• My music is still playing

• I'm still able to access my webserver using another computer and browse the site im currently building.

• I can still play music and videos over the network.

• My phones bluetooth can still connect and stream music through my PC’s speakers.

So as you can see the computer isn't frozen because I can still use it through other devices. its seems like its just the interface locking up.

 

This issue started about a month ago and has happened about 5 or 6 times now.

 

Ive got my Astro A50 wireless headset set as default audio device so when I switch the MIXAMP off my computer will automatically default to my Audioengine A5+ speakers. This allows me to easily switch between headset and speakers by simply turning on and off the headsets MIXAMP. This method doesn't require any 3rd party software.

When the freezing issue occurs the system will not switch to headset if i turn the MIXAMP on (windows inst changing audio device).

 

Another issue I regularly have which may or may not be related is windows file explorer stops responding and crashes while attempting to cut and paste files. This happens on average once every 2 days (I probably cut and past hundreds of files in a 2 day period).

 

My system is always running many programs, my CPU never drops below 95%, RAM never below 10GB, HDD occasionally below 100% but rarely less than 10%. My CPU handles sits between 90,000 and 200,000. I restart my computer once about every 3 months. A list of software I have open most of the time or always is listed below and all software listed towards the end of the list is at least opened once between restarts:

• Sorenson Squeeze: usually 4 to 6 instances of this application encoding videos. Squeeze is always running, its never off, and after a restart its the first application I opened.

• Brackets: a text editor software that I mostly use for making websites. I also use this softwares live preview feature which is dependent on a 3rd party web service (I use WAMP). Brackets is always open, I don't close this program even if i'm not planning on editing the site for a few days.

• WAMP: wamp server is a website development environment for Apache, MySQL, and PHP. WAMP is a startup item on my system, it also runs 24/7.

• Google Chrome: I generally have hundreds of tabs open and 3 instances of chrome running (Normal, Account, and Incognito). Im a bit supported of google apps, so many of my tabs open are in google app’s. About 30-50 tabs open will be google docs/sheets, I always have google drive, google music, and google mail open. NOTE: google music continues to play while my issue occurs (interface freezes).

• WinRAR: this program runs properly half the time the computer is on. I use WinRAR to compress completed project folders which I then transfer to my NAS for archiving. (I keep all data, never know if you're going to need it again)

• FileZilla: usually 5 instances open constantly.

• Adobe Photoshop: use constantly, its opened and closed about 30 times a night.

• uTorrent: use constantly

• Adobe Audition: this software is mostly open as I don't close the application until I completely finish a project. I only spend large chunks of time using this software on Saturdays, most of the time its minimized.

• Adobe Illustrator: use daily

• Adobe Acrobat Pro: use daily

• MKVmerge: use daily

• VLC: use daily

• Adobe Lightroom: use occasionally

• Adobe Premier: used occasionally

• Adobe AfterEffects: used occasionally

• Sony Vegas Pro 13: used occasionally

 

I'm very careful what software is installed to my system, I try to only use popular well known software. I mostly have professional applications, and have not installed any 3rd party codecs.

 

MY SYSTEM SPECS - yes i know this hardware isn't suitable for what i'm using it for.

• AMD A10-7800

• AsRock A88M-HD+ rev.1 (BIOS ver: 2.70)

• 16GB Kit of 2133Mhz AMD RAM (Kit of 2)

• 500GB Samsung EVO 850 SSD

• 3TB WD RED HDD

• Noctua low profile CPU cooler

• LG BluRay Burner

• Qualcomm Atheros Ar938x Wireless Network Adapter

• Corsair 550w PSU (yes i know its more than double the wattage I require)

• NO DEDICATED GRAPHICS

• Antec NSK-3100 Case

• WINDOWS 8.1 PRO

• Windows Defender (no other anti-virus software or on demand scanners.)

 

Other Equipment

• Astro A50 wireless headset

• Audioengine D1 DAC

• Audioengine A5+ Speakers

• Logitech K290 keyboard

• Logitech M950 mouse

• LG  34” Ultrawide display (34UM95)

 

So far what i've done to fix this issue is give my old screen a love tap in which I broke it and my wrist  

Ive also tried RAM test, HDD test, checkdisk, removing unnecessary hardware (bluetooth dongle, external hard drives, and front panel audio.)

Ive also tried updating all drivers.

 

TEST:

• 2 passes using memtest normal settings, and 3rd pass using multi-threaded mode.

• HDD test using WD lifeguard.

[G33k 4 L1F3]

Whoahh info!

Possible virus?

[CProetti]

Whoahh info!

Possible virus?

No mate, I ran two on-demand scanner just to be sure but as usually no problems found. (SpyHunter / Malwarebytes)

 

Note: these applications are not installed, I update and run them off a USB every time.

[G33k 4 L1F3]

Alright, then could it be possible that your CPU might becoming unstable? I know I had freezing with my PC last night to be specific, but it was due to an unstable OC, and too many startup applications.

You probably haven't overclocked your CPU, but running loads at that magnitude, for that long, could cause the CPU to slowly start to die. EDIT Im not gonna act like I know whats happening to your PC. Im as confused as you.... and the possibility of a 1 year old CPU dying already, is slim.

[CProetti]

Yes,the APU is less than a year old and no overclock. I dont think its a hardware failure since the computer continues to run, its only the human interfaces devices that freeze (inc display).

Forgot to mention in initial post: i know keyboard is frozen because numlock light doesnt change when press the numlock key.

I also forgot to mention the CPU fan continues to adjust speed and hdd activity light continues to flash.

[dragoon20005]

sounds like memory problems

 

have you done a MemTest?

[CProetti]

@dragoon20005 I have already done MemTest as stated in my original post. Please read before replying

[dragoon20005]

@dragoon20005 I have already done MemTest as stated in my original post. Please read before replying

ok have you tried different ports for the keyboard and mouse?

 

have you got any other spare keyboard?

[CProetti]

@dragoon20005 Face-palm; your post is so illogical I have no idea how to respond. What makes you think its a keyboard fault?

[dragoon20005]

@dragoon20005 Face-palm; your post is so illogical I have no idea how to respond. What makes you think its a keyboard fault?

well the idea of Troubleshooting is shooting down the possible cause of your stutter or just hanging

 

since you have check RAM,HDD and you have scanned for virus

 

@TDP_Equinox

 

what is you take on this?

[TDP_Equinox]

well the idea of Troubleshooting is shooting down the possible cause of your stutter or just hanging

 

since you have check RAM,HDD and you have scanned for virus

 

@TDP_Equinox

 

what is you take on this?

His post was entirely logical. Try another keyboard. 

While you're at it, try updating your BIOS.

In all honesty, you need X99; There is no two ways about it.

But what you can do, is tell me if your keyboard is plugged in to a USB 3 port.

 

Another thing you can do is remove that POS Spyhunter; I consider it malware. After that scan with ADWCleaner and Combofix; WITHOUT ANYTHING RUNNING AT THE TIME OF SCANNING.

 

Your 500GB Evo should not be pinned at 100% all the time; That is a classic sign of malware. Now it's remotely possible that you're actually using the drive that much, but I find it hard to believe. 

[CProetti]

His post was entirely logical. Try another keyboard. 

While you're at it, try updating your BIOS.

In all honesty, you need X99; There is no two ways about it.

But what you can do, is tell me if your keyboard is plugged in to a USB 3 port.

 

Another thing you can do is remove that POS Spyhunter; I consider it malware. After that scan with ADWCleaner and Combofix; WITHOUT ANYTHING RUNNING AT THE TIME OF SCANNING.

 

Your 500GB Evo should not be pinned at 100% all the time; That is a classic sign of malware. Now it's remotely possible that you're actually using the drive that much, but I find it hard to believe. 

 

 

You clearly have clearly not read and/or understood my initial post:

1. I have already updated my BIOS, and all other drivers!
2. I never said my Evo SSD was pinned at 100%; What I said is my HDD (Hard Disk Drive) is occasionally less than 100% usage. If you read my computer specs you'll see I have a 500GB SSD and a 3TB HDD (WD RED). Its not uncommon to see scratch disks sit at 100%, hard drives are terrible at random read and write which causes it to sit at 100% while serving & saving data to multiple tasks. It also gets smashed with uncompressed video. (Its never been defragged and is only a few months old. My old WD Black failed within a year.)
3. Yes I know my computer is not suitable for what I'm doing, but I have too much work on at the moment to spend two full days building and setting up a workstation PC. And as I stated I just put $25,000 onto my home load so don't want to chew into my saving anymore for at least a month as I like to leave my self a few thousand for emergencies, and I don't consider this an emergency (its an inconvenience to have to restart my work after a freeze but its not happening constantly). If I was going to build a workstation id spend about $5,000 maybe more. 

 

Its extremely unlikely to be a keyboard. Id say its the most remote possibility.

Why not keyboard software: seriously, what are you thinking; imagine what a disaster computing would be if keyboard drivers hadn't developed to a point its 100% reliable. (I AM NOT USING Logitec's SetPoint software.)

Why not keyboard hardware: its unlikely to be a shorting error with my keyboard, if it was id see the issue with only the keyboard and not the rest of my system; modern computers have USB short protection build into them (too a degree), and also have a number of error & fault protections build in.

Why not this specific keyboard model: If it was a fault with my Logitech K290 keyboard that id see other people having the same issue when I searched on Google. 

 

 

My keyboard is plugged into a USB 2 port, I only use 3.0 if a device specifically requires it or will receive a major performance benefit.

 

 

Please don't tell me its some-kind of virus issue. I've never had a virus before (Ironically I've had problems caused by anti-virus software, but never a virus.) Occasionally I'll run maintenance on my computer and also run on-demand scanners for the sake of it but they have never found anything. And about your comment on Spyhunter: I don't use that software every-time, I cycle through different on-demand scanners, as i said in my initial post "I am the manager of a computer store" so we use a variety of different scanners, SpyHunter is what I just happened to have a copy of.

 

And finally I do know how to properly run scanners. If I thought it was a virus issue than I would have ran some additional scanners, but I had finished the general maintenance I do each time I get the chance so I didn't want to wait for additional scanners to run.

[TDP_Equinox]

Its extremely unlikely to be a keyboard. Id say its the most remote possibility.

Why not keyboard software: seriously, what are you thinking; imagine what a disaster computing would be if keyboard drivers hadn't developed to a point its 100% reliable. (I AM NOT USING Logitec's SetPoint software.)

Why not keyboard hardware: its unlikely to be a shorting error with my keyboard, if it was id see the issue with only the keyboard and not the rest of my system; modern computers have USB short protection build into them (too a degree), and also have a number of error & fault protections build in.

Why not this specific keyboard model: If it was a fault with my Logitech K290 keyboard that id see other people having the same issue when I searched on Google. 

 

 

My keyboard is plugged into a USB 2 port, I only use 3.0 if a device specifically requires it or will receive a major performance benefit.

 

 

Please don't tell me its some-kind of virus issue. I've never had a virus before (Ironically I've had problems caused by anti-virus software, but never a virus.) Occasionally I'll run maintenance on my computer and also run on-demand scanners for the sake of it but they have never found anything. And about your comment on Spyhunter: I don't use that software every-time, I cycle through different on-demand scanners, as i said in my initial post "I am the manager of a computer store" so we use a variety of different scanners, SpyHunter is what I just happened to have a copy of.

 

And finally I do know how to properly run scanners. If I thought it was a virus issue than I would have ran some additional scanners, but I had finished the general maintenance I do each time I get the chance so I didn't want to wait for additional scanners to run.

Sure, It's unlikely Great, do it anyways. If this problem was obvious we wouldn't be here would we?

Spyhunter is malware in my books; Doesn't do shit, spams you with "Do you wanna buy mah shits" messages all the time, and is damn near impossible to remove in some cases; Even Revo has trouble some times. 

Again, SURE. It's UNLIKELY that it is malware. Do the scans for the sake of troubleshooting. If you're not going to cooperate with the people trying to help you, you can just leave now.

 

Try a different keyboard, run the scans, and report back.

And stop being a dick head to the people helplng you.

[TimHenry]

@CProetti, I was having the EXACT same issue you are having. I use a Logitech G710+ gaming keyboard and a Logitech 402 Hyperion Fury Gaming mouse. What I have discovered my problem was that the Logitech Gaming software for my keyboard and mouse kept freezing which caused my keyboard and mouse to freeze. Since you don't actually need the software for the keyboard and mouse to function properly; I deleted it, and it seemed to have taken care of the issue. It isn't the actual computer, nor is it the keyboard or mouse I have so far discovered. So try removing the Logitech keyboard and mouse software and see what happens. Hope this could help you.

Thanks,

     Tim

 

EDIT: I thought the problem was fixed until I was playing a round of Depth, then bam, my PC froze. I will continue to investigate the situation and I will provide you with any solution that I find.

[CProetti]

@CProetti, I was having the EXACT same issue you are having. I use a Logitech G710+ gaming keyboard and a Logitech 402 Hyperion Fury Gaming mouse. What I have discovered my problem was that the Logitech Gaming software for my keyboard and mouse kept freezing which caused my keyboard and mouse to freeze. Since you don't actually need the software for the keyboard and mouse to function properly; I deleted it, and it seemed to have taken care of the issue. It isn't the actual computer, nor is it the keyboard or mouse I have so far discovered. So try removing the Logitech keyboard and mouse software and see what happens. Hope this could help you.

Thanks,

     Tim

 

EDIT: I thought the problem was fixed until I was playing a round of Depth, then bam, my PC froze. I will continue to investigate the situation and I will provide you with any solution that I find.

 

Please read before posting! I have already said that I do not have the Logitech software installed. 

[TDP_Equinox]

Please read before posting! I have already said that I do not have the Logitech software installed. 

Did you try the things I suggested? Or are you too stubborn for that. 

Again, rather than getting mad at someone for not reading a novel and trying to help, THANK THEM FOR TRYING.

Try another keyboard; Preferably another brand.

[rhyseyness]

You clearly have clearly not read and/or understood my initial post:

1. I have already updated my BIOS, and all other drivers!
2. I never said my Evo SSD was pinned at 100%; What I said is my HDD (Hard Disk Drive) is occasionally less than 100% usage. If you read my computer specs you'll see I have a 500GB SSD and a 3TB HDD (WD RED). Its not uncommon to see scratch disks sit at 100%, hard drives are terrible at random read and write which causes it to sit at 100% while serving & saving data to multiple tasks. It also gets smashed with uncompressed video. (Its never been defragged and is only a few months old. My old WD Black failed within a year.)
3. Yes I know my computer is not suitable for what I'm doing, but I have too much work on at the moment to spend two full days building and setting up a workstation PC. And as I stated I just put $25,000 onto my home load so don't want to chew into my saving anymore for at least a month as I like to leave my self a few thousand for emergencies, and I don't consider this an emergency (its an inconvenience to have to restart my work after a freeze but its not happening constantly). If I was going to build a workstation id spend about $5,000 maybe more. 

 

Its extremely unlikely to be a keyboard. Id say its the most remote possibility.

Why not keyboard software: seriously, what are you thinking; imagine what a disaster computing would be if keyboard drivers hadn't developed to a point its 100% reliable. (I AM NOT USING Logitec's SetPoint software.)

Why not keyboard hardware: its unlikely to be a shorting error with my keyboard, if it was id see the issue with only the keyboard and not the rest of my system; modern computers have USB short protection build into them (too a degree), and also have a number of error & fault protections build in.

Why not this specific keyboard model: If it was a fault with my Logitech K290 keyboard that id see other people having the same issue when I searched on Google. 

 

 

My keyboard is plugged into a USB 2 port, I only use 3.0 if a device specifically requires it or will receive a major performance benefit.

 

 

Please don't tell me its some-kind of virus issue. I've never had a virus before (Ironically I've had problems caused by anti-virus software, but never a virus.) Occasionally I'll run maintenance on my computer and also run on-demand scanners for the sake of it but they have never found anything. And about your comment on Spyhunter: I don't use that software every-time, I cycle through different on-demand scanners, as i said in my initial post "I am the manager of a computer store" so we use a variety of different scanners, SpyHunter is what I just happened to have a copy of.

 

And finally I do know how to properly run scanners. If I thought it was a virus issue than I would have ran some additional scanners, but I had finished the general maintenance I do each time I get the chance so I didn't want to wait for additional scanners to run.

If you're not going to try any of the suggestions for solving the problem, then what's the point of asking.

People are trying to help you, and tbh, I commend them, because so far, you've been a total arse.

If your PC and your time was as important as you're making out, you'd be trying anything to fix it.

If you want help, listen to what people are saying, and try their suggestions.

If you're just going to try and pretend you know everything and that we're all idiots, then you've come to the wrong place.

I hope no one ever has to work for you at this "new business" you're starting up.

You really ought to think a bit about your attitude towards people before you go on through life.

Trust me, the way you're acting won't get you far.

 

People are trying to help you. Help them by paying attention and actually trying what they suggest.

If you so desperately need your PC up and running RIGHT NOW, then go buy a new one; troubleshooting takes time.

Tbh I think you need to buy a new one anyway.

If your workload is as heavy as you say it is (which is completely irrelevant btw), you should really be on workstation grade hardware.

 

Finally, a lot of your initial post is not important at all.

Forgive me if i'm wrong, but you come across as showing off about all the work you do, and all the money you have.

IMHO, you shouldn't be getting pissy at people for not reading a 940 word essay, of which 200 words (at a push) are actually relevant.

[Leonius]

Have you cleaned the regestry with something like ccleaner yet? Sometimes there is just stuff in there that should not be.

Also please dont judge me, but are you sure TRIM is configuered correctly on your SSD? I had an issue where the os was not enabling it correctly and i got hickups...

But really with all the stuff you are running it could be anything  :unsure:

 

Edit: I agree though it is most definetely not the keyboard...

[dragoon20005]

If you're not going to try any of the suggestions for solving the problem, then what's the point of asking.

People are trying to help you, and tbh, I commend them, because so far, you've been a total arse.

If your PC and your time was as important as you're making out, you'd be trying anything to fix it.

If you want help, listen to what people are saying, and try their suggestions.

If you're just going to try and pretend you know everything and that we're all idiots, then you've come to the wrong place.

I hope no one ever has to work for you at this "new business" you're starting up.

You really ought to think a bit about your attitude towards people before you go on through life.

Trust me, the way you're acting won't get you far.

 

People are trying to help you. Help them by paying attention and actually trying what they suggest.

If you so desperately need your PC up and running RIGHT NOW, then go buy a new one; troubleshooting takes time.

Tbh I think you need to buy a new one anyway.

If your workload is as heavy as you say it is (which is completely irrelevant btw), you should really be on workstation grade hardware.

 

Finally, a lot of your initial post is not important at all.

Forgive me if i'm wrong, but you come across as showing off about all the work you do, and all the money you have.

IMHO, you shouldn't be getting pissy at people for not reading a 940 word essay, of which 200 words (at a push) are actually relevant.

well said

 

ppl here are taking the time off from work to help ppl

 

and this user is just like an old man who is pissed at every solutions that dont fit his definition of solution

 

 

Have you cleaned the regestry with something like ccleaner yet? Sometimes there is just stuff in there that should not be.

Also please dont judge me, but are you sure TRIM is configuered correctly on your SSD? I had an issue where the os was not enabling it correctly and i got hickups...

But really with all the stuff you are running it could be anything  :unsure:

 

Edit: I agree though it is most definetely not the keyboard...

right now he just plain wont listen to any solution we gave him

 

we need to rule out the possible causes

 

registry will slow the PC a bit but def not to be serious

[Leonius]

well said

 

ppl here are taking the time off from work to help ppl

 

and this user is just like an old man who is pissed at every solutions that dont fit his definition of solution

 

 

right now he just plain wont listen to any solution we gave him

 

we need to rule out the possible causes

 

registry will slow the PC a bit but def not to be serious

yah but a regestry error could cause something like that... not very likely that is true...

[TDP_Equinox]

yah but a regestry error could cause something like that... not very likely that is true...

Yeah but good luck getting OP to even use CCleaner as part of the troubleshooting process. 

He won't even take ten seconds to plug in a new keyboard, do you think he's going to actually open a web browser and look for ccleaner? 

[TDP_Equinox]

If you're not going to try any of the suggestions for solving the problem, then what's the point of asking.

People are trying to help you, and tbh, I commend them, because so far, you've been a total arse.

If your PC and your time was as important as you're making out, you'd be trying anything to fix it.

If you want help, listen to what people are saying, and try their suggestions.

If you're just going to try and pretend you know everything and that we're all idiots, then you've come to the wrong place.

I hope no one ever has to work for you at this "new business" you're starting up.

You really ought to think a bit about your attitude towards people before you go on through life.

Trust me, the way you're acting won't get you far.

 

People are trying to help you. Help them by paying attention and actually trying what they suggest.

If you so desperately need your PC up and running RIGHT NOW, then go buy a new one; troubleshooting takes time.

Tbh I think you need to buy a new one anyway.

If your workload is as heavy as you say it is (which is completely irrelevant btw), you should really be on workstation grade hardware.

 

Finally, a lot of your initial post is not important at all.

Forgive me if i'm wrong, but you come across as showing off about all the work you do, and all the money you have.

IMHO, you shouldn't be getting pissy at people for not reading a 940 word essay, of which 200 words (at a push) are actually relevant.

Well put.

[TimHenry]

Please read before posting! I have already said that I do not have the Logitech software installed. 

Look, you don't need to be smart with me or any of the other users, we're all just here to try and help, you should be happy were even putting our time into helping you. BTW, if you want more people to "read before posting," try and compact the info a bit.