Question Random freeze, cannot boot, help!

merondaronda

Junior Member
Mar 24, 2020
6
0
6
Intel Core i7 2600K
Gigabyte Z68X-UD3P-B3
2 x Kingston 8GB DDR3 PC3-14200
NVidia GeForce GTX 1070

Getting random freezes and system will not boot up. I can see the HDD led on but no signal to monitor.

The fix is always removing RAM from slot and putting it back in. This works for a few days then the problem comes back.

Any ideas? My processor and motherboard are around 9 years old, everything else is relatively newer. I'm suspecting faulty components on my motherboard or power supply, but I changed power supply only a few years ago.
 

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
56,572
10,208
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When you say, "I can see the HDD led on", do you mean your case's front-panel HDD LED? It's full-on? Sometimes, that can indicate a problem with the mobo, if it's like that from power-on. If it is initially off, but comes on solid during POST or upon (attempting) to boot Windows, then it could also indicate a HDD or SSD failure, if it's a SATA HDD or SSD.

You didn't list what you have for storage/OS drive in your specs, nor did you list the PSU make/model/age. Those would be helpful.

I agree that overall, it sounds like some component is dying, but if you're using an older, aged, HDD, it may be failing.

Do you hear the HDD spin-up? Any scratching or clunking noises, that might seem out of place? (Might need to take case side off to hear.) That's if you even still have an HDD.

One way to diagnose, could be to remove the HDD, and plug in an SSD, and install a fresh copy of the OS, and run it like that for a few days, and see if the problem re-occurs.
 
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merondaronda

Junior Member
Mar 24, 2020
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When you say, "I can see the HDD led on", do you mean your case's front-panel HDD LED? It's full-on? Sometimes, that can indicate a problem with the mobo, if it's like that from power-on. If it is initially off, but comes on solid during POST or upon (attempting) to boot Windows, then it could also indicate a HDD or SSD failure, if it's a SATA HDD or SSD.

You didn't list what you have for storage/OS drive in your specs, nor did you list the PSU make/model/age. Those would be helpful.

I agree that overall, it sounds like some component is dying, but if you're using an older, aged, HDD, it may be failing.

Do you hear the HDD spin-up? Any scratching or clunking noises, that might seem out of place? (Might need to take case side off to hear.) That's if you even still have an HDD.

One way to diagnose, could be to remove the HDD, and plug in an SSD, and install a fresh copy of the OS, and run it like that for a few days, and see if the problem re-occurs.

Hi and thanks for your response. Sorry to leave some information out. I have a SDD boot drive that blinks on the case front panel, suggesting that it is working (?). I will check if it's any of the scenarios you mentioned but my SSD is under 2 years old so I think it is still working ok.

I run a 256GB SSD primary drive with Win10 and a 2TB HDD secondary drive. The power supply is a CoolerMaster but sorry I can't read the specs and have forgotten (maybe 650W or 800W) but it's also under 2 years old and was calculated to work by the technician who assembled it, so also think it's unlikely to be the issue (but I would put it down to the power supply if not the old mobo). The system was running stable for 1+ years until recently.

Basically every component in my rig is under 3 years old except of the processor and mobo which are around 9 years old.
 

merondaronda

Junior Member
Mar 24, 2020
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0
6
Thanks I'll try that the next time it happens. Now whenever I remove and reinsert my RAM it fixes the issue for a few days.
 

merondaronda

Junior Member
Mar 24, 2020
6
0
6
Did you try running memtest on your ram? It could be that one of your sticks is bad.


I just ran MemTest86 and did not get any error, then upon rebooting the issue happened again. All LED lights come on (power, SDD, keyboard, mouse) and CPU fan is spinning as per normal, but no signal to monitor.

This time instead of remove/insert RAM, I removed/inserted the DisplayPort cable on my graphics card and it worked on next boot up.
 

DAPUNISHER

Super Moderator CPU Forum Mod and Elite Member
Super Moderator
Aug 22, 2001
31,737
31,674
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I just ran MemTest86 and did not get any error, then upon rebooting the issue happened again. All LED lights come on (power, SDD, keyboard, mouse) and CPU fan is spinning as per normal, but no signal to monitor.

This time instead of remove/insert RAM, I removed/inserted the DisplayPort cable on my graphics card and it worked on next boot up.
Next time it happens, try turning the monitor off and back on again. Maybe the system is booting but the monitor is experiencing a signaling issue. You can try a different DP cable and the same cable in another DP port too. I have seen some inexplicable issue like that the last couple of years.
 
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mag1520

Junior Member
Mar 29, 2020
5
1
6
check your CMOS battery first (better replace with a new one)
if that didn't work , plug out power cable then take out CMOS battery and reset bios (short +,- battery for 10 sec)
 
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merondaronda

Junior Member
Mar 24, 2020
6
0
6
Next time it happens, try turning the monitor off and back on again. Maybe the system is booting but the monitor is experiencing a signaling issue. You can try a different DP cable and the same cable in another DP port too. I have seen some inexplicable issue like that the last couple of years.
check your CMOS battery first (better replace with a new one)
if that didn't work , plug out power cable then take out CMOS battery and reset bios (short +,- battery for 10 sec)

Thanks much for the ideas!

I'm wondering if there's any chance it's a power supply issue. I remember getting a 650W 2 years ago as an upgrade, the technician said that should be enough although an 800W would have more headroom but it was out of stock. My PC was stable until a month ago. What do you reckon for this setup:

Intel Core i7 2600K (not OC-ed)
Gigabyte Z68X-UD3P-B3
2 x Kingston 8GB DDR3 PC3-14200
NVidia GeForce GTX 1070
1xSSD, 1xHDD
 

DAPUNISHER

Super Moderator CPU Forum Mod and Elite Member
Super Moderator
Aug 22, 2001
31,737
31,674
146
If you can get another PSU to use that is always an early troubleshooting step to try. If that PSU is a decent one (we would have to look up the exact model to find out which manufacturer CM sourced it from) but even an average quality 650W is plenty for that setup. I have run almost identical setup, 4770k and MSI 45 gaming and overclocking being the difference, on a Seasonic 430w bronze and had no issues even with heavy gaming.
 
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Steltek

Diamond Member
Mar 29, 2001
3,311
1,052
136
Are you running a higher refresh gaming monitor on Displayport by chance? If so, try to unplug and then re-power your monitor. This came up with someone I was helping yesterday who was having the exact same issue - turned out to be a Displayport signaling problem that was only corrected by unplugging and not just power cycling the monitor.
 
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merondaronda

Junior Member
Mar 24, 2020
6
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If you can get another PSU to use that is always an early troubleshooting step to try. If that PSU is a decent one (we would have to look up the exact model to find out which manufacturer CM sourced it from) but even an average quality 650W is plenty for that setup. I have run almost identical setup, 4770k and MSI 45 gaming and overclocking being the difference, on a Seasonic 430w bronze and had no issues even with heavy gaming.

Thanks for that, so it looks like I do have enough power, I'll look into testing on another power supply once lockdown is lifted. I can't do any servicing right now.

Are you running a higher refresh gaming monitor on Displayport by chance? If so, try to unplug and then re-power your monitor. This came up with someone I was helping yesterday who was having the exact same issue - turned out to be a Displayport signaling problem that was only corrected by unplugging and not just power cycling the monitor.

I'm running an Acer Nitro 27" 144Hz monitor on DP. There was no signalling at boot up and it would happen around once a week, unplug/replug DP port (without power cycling) did fix it once. Thanks I will keep your tip in mind the next time it happens.

Apart from no signal at boot I do get the occasional freeze while the PC is on, just web browsing. Is there any way to isolate motherboard components to know if parts of the board are failing? I just have this nagging suspicion as it's a 9 year old board.