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PC Freezes or restarts while downloading files

BLJohnFreeman
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I'll attempt to do a system restore when I can, and if I can't get anything to work, I'll try to install linux. I have no clue how to work linux, so that's the worst case scenario.

If it's a software issue, nothing short of a clean install is likely to work - in fact, it might make it worse.

and as for Linux, you don't have to install anything.  Just try an Ubuntu live USB - you can boot from that, use it, and when you're done pull it out and it leaves your machine untouched.

So I made a topic about a month ago describing how my pc would randomly restart or freeze up, requiring a restart. Since then I've RMAd my motherboard, yet it will still freeze while downloading files (I have yet to try to leave it running all night to test if it's just downloading.) It does this on both wifi and wired internet. Before I RMAd my motherboard, I restored my pc to factory settings, downgraded to Windows 7 and then upgraded back to windows 10, installed a new network card, and tried different ethernet cables. I'm not sure what to do.

Specs:

CPU: AMD FX-6300

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 120 EVO

Mobo: Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P

RAM: Kingston HyperX Fury White 8GB (1 x 8GB)

HHD: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB

GPU: MSI GeForce GTX 960 2GB

PSU: Corsair Builder 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX

OS: Windows 10 64-Bit

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That sure sounds like a bad motherboard so I'm glad that's ruled out... makes things difficult :)

My next guess would be RAM possibly?  Have you tested it?

Or perhaps some very strange disk IO issue...

It could even be something entirely software related.  I hate to recommend fresh installs since the effort required is a pain but I wonder...

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As I've said, I've tried a system restore and that didn't help. I did do a ram check and there were no errors ate 37 or so hours (although I ended it before it finished because it went on for so long with little result)

Update: Opened steam in safe mode, pc froze.

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As I've said, I've tried a system restore and that didn't help. I did do a ram check and there were no errors ate 37 or so hours (although I ended it before it finished because it went on for so long with little result)

A system restore is not a clean install. Run tests on the hard drives.

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A system restore is not a clean install. Run tests on the hard drives.

What's the best way to run a test on my hard drive?
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What's the best way to run a test on my hard drive?

Windows checkdisk (or linux equivalent) would test the partitions.  You could go lower level and also try and get SMART data to indicate the physical condition

 

As I've said, I've tried a system restore and that didn't help. I did do a ram check and there were no errors ate 37 or so hours (although I ended it before it finished because it went on for so long with little result)

Update: Opened steam in safe mode, pc froze.

The more I hear the more feel like a mobo failure is staring me in the face and I won't accept it.   There are 4 lights, there are 4 lights... :)

 

update: actually that gives me an idea.  Can you try booting a live linux cd? (well, USB these days but I'm set in my ways :))  Run that for a while and let us know how it goes.  If you have zero problems, then your hardware* is fine and it's a new install you need! (*not counting HDD)

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Really hope it's not the motherboard, seeing as that would mean that both motherbosrds failed (and in the same way)

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Really hope it's not the motherboard, seeing as that would mean that both motherbosrds failed (and in the same way)

So many of these events sound like they sync up exactly with a specific action like opening properties or running steam... if it's not the HDD, I bet it's a software issue (and that's looking like the most likely right now).  Trying a different OS temporarily would rule out that theory if you still have problems, but if you don't, it could be the OS or the HDD

Solve your own audio issues  |  First Steps with RPi 3  |  Humidity & Condensation  |  Sleep & Hibernation  |  Overclocking RAM  |  Making Backups  |  Displays  |  4K / 8K / 16K / etc.  |  Do I need 80+ Platinum?

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So many of these events sound like they sync up exactly with a specific action like opening properties or running steam... if it's not the HDD, I bet it's a software issue (and that's looking like the most likely right now). Trying a different OS temporarily would rule out that theory if you still have problems, but if you don't, it could be the OS or the HDD

I've managed open steam and properties multiple times, they both only happened to freeze me once.

Check that your cpu isn't running too hot

My temps are fine, its not overheating
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I've managed open steam and properties multiple times, they both only happened to freeze me once.

Windows is a mysterious and temperamental beast.  One day it's fine and the next your same actions can set it off.  Particularly true if something is a little messed up.  Could also be the early stages of HDD failure - sometimes a read works and sometimes not.  Like I said it's too early to know anything for sure yet.

 

Check that your cpu isn't running too hot 

 
I hadn't thought of that - great suggestion too.

Solve your own audio issues  |  First Steps with RPi 3  |  Humidity & Condensation  |  Sleep & Hibernation  |  Overclocking RAM  |  Making Backups  |  Displays  |  4K / 8K / 16K / etc.  |  Do I need 80+ Platinum?

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I'll attempt to do a system restore when I can, and if I can't get anything to work, I'll try to install linux. I have no clue how to work linux, so that's the worst case scenario.

Update: Disk checking didn't help.

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I'll attempt to do a system restore when I can, and if I can't get anything to work, I'll try to install linux. I have no clue how to work linux, so that's the worst case scenario.

If it's a software issue, nothing short of a clean install is likely to work - in fact, it might make it worse.

and as for Linux, you don't have to install anything.  Just try an Ubuntu live USB - you can boot from that, use it, and when you're done pull it out and it leaves your machine untouched.

Solve your own audio issues  |  First Steps with RPi 3  |  Humidity & Condensation  |  Sleep & Hibernation  |  Overclocking RAM  |  Making Backups  |  Displays  |  4K / 8K / 16K / etc.  |  Do I need 80+ Platinum?

If you can read this you're using the wrong theme.  You can change it at the bottom.

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If it's a software issue, nothing short of a clean install is likely to work - in fact, it might make it worse.

and as for Linux, you don't have to install anything.  Just try an Ubuntu live USB - you can boot from that, use it, and when you're done pull it out and it leaves your machine untouched.

Oh, didn't know you could do that. I'll try that.
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...Update: Disk checking didn't help.

 

It didn't help, but what were the results?  Any errors found?

Solve your own audio issues  |  First Steps with RPi 3  |  Humidity & Condensation  |  Sleep & Hibernation  |  Overclocking RAM  |  Making Backups  |  Displays  |  4K / 8K / 16K / etc.  |  Do I need 80+ Platinum?

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It didn't help, but what were the results?  Any errors found?

If I remember correctly it said that there were errors solved.
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I was able to run ubuntu from a USB and run it (currently posting from it.) I was also able to install steam and a game without my pc freezing (although the game was much smaller than previous games I've tried downloading)

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I was able to run ubuntu from a USB and run it (currently posting from it.) I was also able to install steam and a game without my pc freezing (although the game was much smaller than previous games I've tried downloading)

When you say you tried steam, are we back in Windows now I assume?

 

If so, that sounds promising for two reasons:

  1. It proves I was right, that there was some disk issue.  This is good not because I get to be like "I'm right", but because we've (maybe) found and solved the problem :)
  2. It sounds like it's been successfully fixed.  Keep testing and let us know what you find.

If I read that wrong and you are doing that on the live USB, 2 different points:

  1. Careful - everything is saved to RAM (unless you created it with persistence) so that it can run without touching your existing disks or installs, so try not to fill up your RAM with installed games :)  Also (unless you created it with persistence) because of this, everything is cleared when you shut down - even the things you do in Linux - it will be a fresh boot every time, so you can't really use that as a main OS in the interim.
  2. This is also good - if this is working, it suggests we've narrowed the issue down to the HDD or the Windows install with far greater certainty than before

If we're dealing with the second scenario here, the next step is to (sorry) do a fresh Windows install.  If there are still problems, your HDD has issues and you would have had to reinstall at some point anyway (perhaps after data loss).  If the problems are gone at that point, it means the install was messed up and your hardware is actually all fine.  Either way, you will solve the problem and shouldn't really "waste" any time.

Solve your own audio issues  |  First Steps with RPi 3  |  Humidity & Condensation  |  Sleep & Hibernation  |  Overclocking RAM  |  Making Backups  |  Displays  |  4K / 8K / 16K / etc.  |  Do I need 80+ Platinum?

If you can read this you're using the wrong theme.  You can change it at the bottom.

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