Windows 8.1/10 freezing with no BSOD randomly

[tracerit]

EDIT: problem solved. Turns out it is due to my 4 year old crucial m4 ssd.


Lately I've been having a freezing issue with my desktop. It would just freeze and for the first few seconds I can press the hardware reset button but after those seconds the hardware reset button no longer works. I have to long press the power button to turn the computer off. THe freezing is random. On multiple occassions it freezes when I bring it out of idle (not sleep mode). Last night it froze three times whjile watching a movie. It's frozen when I'm also just browsing the web. I haven't been able to reproduce the issue on command.

I've had the c omptuer running flawlessly 24/7 the past year with run times of 3-4 weeks so this problem showed up out of nowhere. I'm beginning to believe this to be a hardware issue. The following below lists what I've done so far (with no success):

1. CHecked recent installed programs, nothing new installed or updated
2. UPdated drivers through Windows update
3. Clean installed Windows 10 onto the same drive (Crucial M4 SSD)
4. Switched to another power supply
5. Removed ASUS GPU and used onboard GPU
6. Tested both sticks of RAM
7. Switched RAM slots
8. CLeaned and blew off dust from all parts
9. Ran HeavyLoad stress test with no problems.


Right now I'm going to install a new Windows partition on another one of my hard drives to rule out my Crucial M4 SSD (which I've had for almost four years now). If this isn't going to solve the issue, would it make sense that the culprit will be my motherboard? I've checked the capacitors and there are no blown ones from what I've seen.

 

[UsandThem]

I'd start my focus on the power supply. How old are your parts (motherboard and power supply) and what brand are they?

Any extra parts lying around to begin troubleshooting with? Does S.M.A.R.T. show any potential issues with your hard drive (Crucial should have a program that shows the hard drive health)?

Edit: I just saw you switched power supplies and ram, so my focus would be on motherboard if you are still getting the same problem after doing a fresh install of Windows.

 

[tracerit]

Aside from borrowing a PSU, no other parts around that I can swap. I do have four hard drives laying around and i'm currently trying to figure out how to install Ubuntu onto one of them lol.

But good call on the SMART tool, Just ran CrystalDiskInfo and my Crucial M4 is at 10% condition although primarily due to the life usage. Attached is a screenshot: http://imgur.com/5sXYRu2

Everything else seems good too right?

Back to install Ubuntu onto another drive and disconnecting the Crucial to rule that out.

 

[tracerit]

Beginning to think it's more likely the Crucial SSD now. Ran Gsmartcontrol and it reports the Erase Count as failing. Not too knowledgeable about that aspect but will look into it now. http://imgur.com/NFN9iXQ

 

[UsandThem]

Yeah, that yellow 10% would concern me. Looks like its time is coming to end soon. Could be the source of the random problems right there. Usually, if it was the motherboard, the problem would be a lot more consistent.

How old is the motherboard and what model is it?

Also, try this and see if it detects anything different than Crystal:

[l]http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/support-storage-executive[/l]

 

[tracerit]

It's an Asrock Z77 Extreme4 ATX motherboard purchased new exactly three years ago.

I guess it's time to look for a new 500GB SSD now haha. Leaning towards the Samsung 850 Pro or Sandisk Extreme Pro for their 10-year warranties.

 

[tracerit]

oh, I also tried Crucial's Sotrage Executive but it showed everything in good health.

 

[UsandThem]

Yeah, I would try a new drive first, and if that isn't it, could be the motherboard.

Weird thing is, I have that same motherboard and it started giving me weird problems about a year ago after working fine for about the same amount of time as yours did.

It started taking forever restarting and logging out. It would just do the circle working thing up to 10 minutes, and sometimes I would have to push the power button to get it to shut off.

I put in a new hard drive when I did a clean Windows 10 install from Windows 7.

Ended up doing the exact same thing, so I'm just waiting for the mobo to go out completely.

 

[Burpo]

oh, I also tried Crucial's Sotrage Executive but it showed everything in good health.

No surprise there.. Said the same thing on a Crucial 480Gb drive here & the drive was junk (wouldn't take a partition).

 

[tracerit]

I gave up on trying to install Ubuntu. Definitely not an easy install for a noob. Having said that, I went ahead and imaged my OS from the Crucial M4 SSD and restored it to one of my storage drives (but had to change it to an MBR drive first, this part puzzled me). Now I've been running the system off my storage drive for the last four hours with no freezes at all. The true test will be if my computer is still working correctly when I wake up in a few hours haha.

I've placed an order for a Samsung 850 Pro 500GB in the mean time

EDIT: Can't believe how slow it is using a HDD instead of an SSD haha

 

[UsandThem]

Yeah, the whole MBR or GPT format throws a lot of people off the first time they encounter it. The different options and settings on hard drives are crazy nowadays.

Hopefully you will be good to go now. The Samsung cloning software should make it easy to clone it, and the Magician program is good for making sure all the proper SSD settings are configured properly and you can set the over-provisioning in it as well.

 

[tracerit]

Over provisioning... Sounds like something new and exciting to read about since I basically set it and forget it with my m4 four years ago

One last update, the computer is still on! Thanks for thr help Usandthem!

 

[CorsairDemon]

Anyone try replacing the cable? I've had a few random bad sata cables recently. Some of them get so crap as time goes on.

 

[tracerit]

Anyone try replacing the cable? I've had a few random bad sata cables recently. Some of them get so crap as time goes on.

Good idea, it actually crossed my mind "what if it was just the cable or SATA port?" when I was instealling the 850 Pro, but i just checked and I'm using the same cable and port for the 850 Pro now and it's okay.