Question PC becomes unresponsive after 2 to 30 minutes exclusively on Windows 10 (Safe Mode and Standard).
Question PC becomes unresponsive after 2 to 30 minutes exclusively on Windows 10 (Safe Mode and Standard).
Hi All,
I ran into this computer issue kind of out of nowhere, and wanted to ask a question on next steps.
On Tuesday this week, I woke up, turned on my monitor and out of nowhere the PC was frozen on the desktop (Windows 10 PRO). A few browsers were open in Chrome (minimized) but that's it. All lights on, fans spinning, but Windows completely frozen. To my knowledge nothing unusual happened overnight (no loss of power, didn't move PC, etc. - same ol) I hard powered off, powered on, and about 10 minutes later, same thing. Over the course of the next couple days freezes would occur generally between 2-30 minutes. Since Monday (and even the last month) there have been NO hardware changes, and only software changes was rolling back Windows 11 (in November) - but see more on that. Other than that, memory, GPU, SSDs, USB peripherals, etc. ALL the same.
Worth noting, once every so often I'd notice (even when watching a video) I'd get some mouse slow down and it's like the system slowed down for about 5 seconds. Mouse lags, even audio slows down, etc. It's very brief, almost like the system 'lags' briefly. I don't recall seeing this in games but it's possible I just didn't notice. Again it'd last about 5 seconds and maybe happen once every day or something? Prob. been going on for over a year though.. certainly not something new.
ANYWAY:
Since then I've done the following testing and despite all changes it STILL freezes once in Windows whether safe mode or not (NOT freezing on BIOS/pre Windows tests, or installing Windows - see step 10/11):
1) Swapped out GPU (swapped out 3090 with a old MSI 1080) - same freeze, although the 1080 seemed to last longer before a freeze, but could be coincidence).
2) Checked temps - freezing when GPU was around 50C - no load) and CPU was anywhere from 40-50C. Memory/SSD within 30-40C.
3) Did chkdsk /f /r, scf /scannow, and DSIM prompts (came back successful, no issue)
4) Checked Crystal Drive - health on 980 PRO at 91%, health on 970 100%, temps reasonable (in 30s)
5) Booted into safe mode (still froze)
6) Ran Memtest x86 and Windows Memory Test. Windows Test was clean and
Memtest ran uninterrupted for the full 5 hours ALL 4 tests, no errors.
7) Tried one stick of RAM only - froze. Swapped out for a different stick, no luck.
8) Updated firmware on SSD, updated drivers (GPU)
9) Updated BIOS using EZ Flash (restarted and no display, used back USB port on mobo instead) and booted up - BIOS shows latest version (previously was 2021)
9a) Also reseated CMOS battery.
10) Reinstalled Windows 10 on 980 PRO (removed all previous partitions, etc.)
11) Took out 980 PRO, only used 970 and installed Windows 10 on that (removed all previous partitions, etc.)
12) Have a PSU tester so tried checking voltages, all came back within range (but this is with computer off) and tester showed no errors/voltages off.
CURRENT: Just got a new PSU (1000w Corsair) from Amazon today, double checking return policy (since step 12 showed the idle PSU as okay) but I'm going to swap out the old one (even though it tested well for voltages) to see if perhaps the PSU is having incorrect spikes, etc. once the full system is running. Other thought process is using CMOS reset and defaulting mobo back to default settings. When I previously bought the board it'd only boot with 1 stick of RAM until I did an upgrade... but at least I could see if resetting to factory would get me running in Windows with 1 stick of RAM. If it does it's a mobo issue clearly.
My next step if PSU doesn't work but thought I'd get some advice before going there is swap out a motherboard or CPU... that seems like it's the last step lol. Obviously reinstalling a motherboard is a pain. Given memtest ran for 5 hours (no interruptions) I have a hard time believing it's a CPU or PSU issue, but who knows.
Anyway - I think that's all. I know it's a long post but I wanted to be very detailed as I know that's required to get any help/advice. Appreciate any help/advice on things I haven't thought of before ripping more HW out lol. Hope everyone is having a nice New Year!
System specs
(built/first time booted in 2021, no issues since until now): CPU/Memory have never been OC'd... any OC'ing on GPU was shipped that way from EVGA.
Mobo: ASUS Rog Strix 570 E Gaming
CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900x
GPU: EVGA GeForce 3090 FTW3 (also tested MSI 1080RTX)
SSD1: Samsung 980 PRO (OS Primary)M2
SSD2: Samsung 970 EVO (storage) M2
PSU: EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 G6, 80 Plus Gold 1000W (ECO mode is OFF while testing - generally always off)
Memory: G.SKILL Trident Z RGB Series DDR4 RAM (XMP) 16GB (2x8GB) 3600MT/s CL17-18-18-38 1.35V (2x sets for 32gb total) - default at 2133 for now, but have booted at 3K+, was not a full set, bought 2 sets separately.
CPU Cooler: EVGA watercooler - RGB fans on front of Thermaltake full tower. No other major RGB lighting outside of RAM/GPU.
Case: Big Thermaltake with 2 big case fans, case has a TON of room in it, HIGHLY doubt anything is overheating and per above GPU/CPU temps seemed fine, memory temps fine (according to memtest), SSD temps fine according to CrystalDrive.
During the next successful boot in Reliability History/Monitor and Event Viewer, review error codes, warnings, or informational events logged just before or during freezes. Reliability History/Monitor offers a more user-friendly interface; the timeline format can help identify trends. Event Viewer demands more time and effort to navigate—take your time and concentrate on one aspect at a time. For assistance: Both tools allow clicking entries for additional details, though their usefulness may vary. Also verify the Update History for any failed or problematic updates.
Ralston, I plan to restart tomorrow (running out tonight) and review the reliability logs/monitor. During the freezes, I didn't really see any BSODs or dump files.
That being said, I looked in Event Viewer (usually my first step) and after running several tests I encountered one BSOD/hard reset (believed to be after a reformat) and found two IDs that caught my attention. Given I completely reformatted the OS, I suspect the issue wasn't related to OS software—sometimes it freezes before drivers can even be downloaded, which isn’t normal.
ID 18 seems unusual (possibly uninterrupted power), while ID 41 might have several causes (though I’m not sure). I don’t recall seeing anything like this before, so I think it could be linked to a BIOS update. Since I left everything at default during the BIOS update, I’m considering checking the CPU/memory voltages in the BIOS.
Any other specific BIOS settings you should verify?
Otherwise, the freezes that required a hard power-off or reset didn’t appear in Event Viewer.
No BIOS changes were made (no updates or settings altered) when these freezes began. There were also no hardware modifications—likely just a Windows 10 definition update. The machine didn’t restart even when I went to the hello/pin screen; it froze after turning off the monitor and going to bed. The Event Viewer showed nothing after around 1 AM, and I woke up about 8 AM. Probably a couple of hours after bedtime? I rarely turn it off (last time was on vacation in December), so it stayed on for about a week until the freezing started. Before then, I’d leave it on for months.
Update history: if you’re referring to Windows updates, there’s nothing—just a note saying ‘no longer supported.’ I still prefer Windows 10 and am open to testing Windows 11 just to be sure. Overall, everything looks reformatted across the OS.
I discovered this discussion too:
Question - CMOS failure - I need to reset the BIOS constantly to defaults, otherwise the PC freezes during startup?
Motherboard: Biostar A320MH BIOS: 5.14 Processor: AMD Ryzen 3 3200G with Radeon Vega Graphics RAM: 16 GB DDR4 DirectX Version: DirectX 12 SSD: WDC WDS240G2G0A-00JH30 Problem: The PC freezes upon booting. I changed the CMOS battery, but it still freezes. It indicates a CMOS failure in the American...
So I replaced the power supply unit and everything seemed to function properly, but then I experienced another freeze (which came unexpectedly after Windows updates) and restarted several times. I checked the event viewer and discovered some new errors. One error was a processor core issue with two event IDs 18s and WHEA-logger.
1) Error Type: Bus/Interconnect Error, Processor APIC ID:0
2) Error Type: Cache Hierarchy Error, APIC ID: 1.
In the reliability monitor, I saw unexpected power shutdowns (which were likely due to restarts or manual power-off). Resource monitor showed my CPU max frequency consistently at 127-128% and CPU6 at 100% most of the time. Could this indicate a CPU problem? My overall temperatures look normal.
This seems to be happening mainly on the Windows desktop with no applications running and after a fresh install. I tried a new PSU, and even the previous one displayed correct voltages.
Also, I’ve noticed frequent TPM errors in the event viewer, and even after my computer froze once more in Windows, the Q Code was 9E – which seems connected to TPM. Could something have been compromised with Windows and TPM? After reformatting everything, I saw various TPM entries appear. When I updated the BIOS, it mentioned some TPM adjustments… perhaps it’s better to reset the BIOS back to its original settings by clearing the CMOS and restoring defaults before any changes. Who knows, maybe the BIOS update caused a problem that was already present. Switching to discrete TPM might be similar to turning it off—maybe I should try that first. I don’t understand why it would malfunction so suddenly given how often my computer freezes.
With a PSU change and no issues afterward (the old PSU still works), I’m running out of options. I’m focusing on the motherboard/CPU now. It’s possible the recent max frequency and errors indicate my CPU failed, though that’s rare.
EDIT – Disabling TPM didn’t help much. We’re already reformatting, so the next step is a factory reset on the motherboard and possibly replacing the motherboard or CPU soon. Who cares?
EDIT 2 – Removing TPM had no effect. It was a last resort, but I’m considering it. I’d rather clear CMOS and reset the motherboard than try anything else. I wish I had a spare AM4 board to test if the issue is with the CPU or the motherboard. I really don’t know what else could be wrong.
Ensure you adhere to the instructions in the Motherboard's User Guide/Manual. Also start with a brand-new, fresh CMOS battery. Just to rule out any possibilities.
I seldom (full disclosure) modify TPM or BIOS, so I’ll let others handle it and share their suggestions if needed.
Yah given it was a fresh Windows I was like WTH with TPM - although I know you need it enabled on Win 11 and I guarantee you'll need it enabled on Win 12. It was more to see if some last minute Windows 10 Update screwed with it, but not the case lol.
Yah the CMOS/factory reset mobo and reseating the cooler is last resort. I'm comfortable with that - just haven't gone there yet because the computer froze out of nowhere. Possible if the battery failed SOMETHING could glitch out, but I doubt the motherboard was just sitting idly at night and was like, "Heheh, let's F with some settings to piss of Shark today!"
MicroCenter has a AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D, 32 GB DDR 6K RAM, and ASUS TUF mobo set aside to pick up once it's ready as part of a pretty good bundle deal (basically makes the RAM free). Wish I had a CPU/Mobo to swap out that I know worked, but alas. I know they do but I doubt they'll do it for free lol.
I am glad the 3090 didn't crap out because a 5070 TI is not THAT big of an upgrade. Going to a 9800x3D over a 5900x is a big upgrade (and it is nice I'll have integrated graphics if I ever run into a future GPU issue - haven't had one in over 10 years so I'm due! haha), and then I'm on an AM5 chipset for down the road.
I had some issues at MicroCenter today. I haven’t finished resetting BIOS/CMOS or checking the CPU cooler yet, but I’ll give it another shot tomorrow.
The techs checked everything and were pretty accurate with my concerns. They suggested testing the CPU on a working system and the motherboard with known-compatible parts. They admitted they wouldn’t have been as optimistic about BIOS/CMOS and cooling, but encouraged me to try.
I’m considering spending $80 to let them test it thoroughly, though I’m not sure if it’s worth it beyond just figuring things out. Either way, I’ll still go ahead with the upgrade since the AM5, 9800x3d, and 32 GB of DDR6000 memory cost $680.
Maybe I’ll look for someone nearby who has an extra AM4 motherboard lying around.
Going around again... focusing on a fresh setup with a 9800x3d, 32 CRUCIAL PRO 6000, and an ASUS TUF B650E-E motherboard... This situation seemed tied to either the failing CPU or the motherboard. After the new system started (the board arrived faulty out of box, DOA - audio hardware issues were discussed in a thread here: https://forums. I plan to try a budget AM4 board and check if the CPU was the culprit. As mentioned, the core 6 was nearly always at full speed and the CPU optimization reached 128%... I’ll test using a different motherboard to see if that resolves the problem. I hadn’t verified my BIOS settings to confirm any overclocking during flashing... I’m really hoping to get my machine back now.