This unusual issue involves a random PC freezing during non-gaming sessions and problems with the Windows boot process.
This unusual issue involves a random PC freezing during non-gaming sessions and problems with the Windows boot process.
Hello. I’m facing an unusual issue with my computer and would really appreciate your assistance.
Here are the details of my system:
Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 5900X at 3.7 GHz
Graphics Card: Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3080 VISION OC 10GB GDDR6X
Motherboard: Gigabyte B550 Aorus Elite
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4 3200 MHz C16
Storage: Western Digital NVMe SSD M2 1TB (Windows 11)
Hard Drive: Seagate BarraCuda 4TB 3.5" 5400 rpm
Power Supply: Corsair RM850X V2 850W 80 Plus Gold Modular
The problem began after upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11. Prior to that, everything functioned smoothly. After the switch, my PC would suddenly freeze unexpectedly. It would become completely unresponsive, making it impossible to move the cursor or interact with the system. Even the clock would stop at the exact moment of freezing.
I attempted a full format and reinstalled Windows 11 from scratch, but the issues continued. I reinstalled Windows again by formatting, yet the problems persisted.
I explored various fixes: updated graphics drivers after uninstalling with DDU, checked hard drive health, ran RAM tests using a USB stick, updated BIOS to the latest version. Still, nothing resolved the issue.
Eventually, I noticed that while playing games, freezes (and sometimes restarts) only occurred during intense gaming sessions. Games like The Binding of Isaac would freeze occasionally, but not with less demanding 3D titles. YouTube videos seemed unaffected, though I’m not certain.
I left games running in the background for days without further freezing. The PC remained stable for several days.
The most concerning event happened after a Windows 11 update: restarting the computer froze during the loading of the Windows logo. I restarted multiple times, but it would freeze again. After several attempts, it failed to boot into Windows. Even when the PC went black after loading, it would restart automatically.
Believing the Windows installation was corrupted, I used a USB drive with the Windows 11 setup to repair it. I booted from the USB during the loading process and encountered another freeze. I tried multiple USB connections, reset the motherboard to factory settings, but nothing worked.
I also tried using the graphics card from another PC (GTX 970) and other RAM sticks individually—none functioned properly. Without any connection, it froze on the loading screen. I reset everything back to normal hardware and kept restarting. Eventually, I reached the Windows PIN screen, but it froze just before I could log in. After a few attempts, I managed to enter the login again and played a game to avoid freezing.
I’m unsure what to do next and am worried about restarting the computer, as I fear it might not boot at all or become unresponsive.
In short:
Since switching to Windows 11, my PC randomly freezes when no 3D game is running. Loading Windows also causes freezing, even when using a different OS or hard drive. I’m unsure what’s happening and feel quite desperate.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.
Welcome to the forums, newcomer!
The journey began when I moved from Windows 10 to Windows 11.
If you upgraded from Windows 10 to Windows 11, would you need to rebuild your bootable USB installer for Windows 11? Ensure your BIOS is up to date, reinstall the OS in offline mode, and install the latest drivers manually via an elevated command—right-click the installer and select Run as Administrator.
Regarding your SSD: Western Digital NVMe SSD M2 1TB (Windows 11)
WD offers several SSD options in their lineup. Which model are you using?
You might find it helpful to capture a screenshot of your Disk Management view.
What is the age of your power supply unit in this system?
Thank you for your friendly greeting and quick reply. To be clear, I carried out a fresh installation of Windows 11 from the beginning instead of upgrading from Windows 10. Concerning recreating the bootable USB for Windows 11, I tried but faced difficulties. The freezing problem remains even when using a USB drive, which complicates reinstalling or switching back to Windows 10. Regarding the SSD, I must admit I cannot risk turning off my PC to verify the exact model at this stage. For the power supply unit, it was bought in January 2021, so it’s fairly recent. I’ve included a screenshot of Disk Management for your reference. Thank you for your help and any advice you can offer on solving this confusing issue.