vista freezes

[dinger2121]

Hello,
I am running vista ultimate on a dell precision laptop.
Whenever I start up in the morning, vista will freeze about 3 or 4 times and I have to reboot. Everything stops responding, and then after a few more seconds, the screens just go black and I have to reboot by holding in the power buttons.
This was initially only happening once in a while, but it has since been happening practically every day.
anyone have any idea what may be happeining?

Thanks for any thoughts.

 

[linney]

This type of question might require the posting of your machine specifications. In the meanwhile have a look at these type of threads and see if they offer you some troubleshooting clues?

xp freeze troubleshooting
thread779-935320

xp freeze troubleshooting
thread779-935320

PC Freezing - Hard to explain (see details)
thread779-1398265

PC Freezing - Hard to explain (see details)
thread779-1398265

I'd start by doing the Memory Testing recommended in most of those threads.

 

[Ante0]

Look in your Event Viewer (Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Event Viewer) and see if there's any Error messages before it freezes.
It could also be CPU/GPU overheating, download Speed Fan and see if it registers any high temps.
How much RAM do you have?
I'm not sure if lack of RAM (2gb min for vista ultimate) can cause freezing, but it would still be good to know.

 

[dinger2121]

Ante0 - I did try to look at the logs in event viewer, but it says "Event viewer cannot open the log or custom view. Verify that Event Log service is running. The data is invalid (13)."

I also have 4gb ram, so I doubt that is the problem.
I will try speed fan, but I can't imagine it being a problem with overheating since it always happens as soon as I boot up, and after windows stabalizes (after 2-4 reboots), it will run fine for the rest of the day.

linney - I will go through those links and try the memory tests to see if it says anything.

Thanks

 

[firewolfrl]

sounds as though this is a pure hardware issue. I have fixed this issue sometimes by reseating the CPU. this does not always work.
I am more suspecting that you are having a Motherboard issue and it is related to a power circuit within the MB that supplies power to the CPU. cold boot takes more power and strains the computer more. in a nutshell your motherboard will soon be toast.
ram can do this too but I don't think that is your issue

just to note it will get worse

you should backup all your data and RMA the computer so you can be operational again. some of the laptop manufacturers have only a one week turn around

 

[dinger2121]

It turned out that it was overheating. I downloaded a fix from dell which basically slows the processor and that seems to have taken care of it.

Thnks

 

[firewolfrl]

software fixes are bandaides you need to get a better CPU fan

 

[BadBigBen]

you need to get a better CPU fan

or clean the laptop out...


Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[firewolfrl]

Thanks Ben was not paying attention to the post that says Laptop

What you might need to do is have a good laptop cooler.
also as Ben says clean it out.
With laptops there can also be an issue of when the fan comes on to cool the CPU.
Try CoreTemp to monitor the CPU temps

http://www.alcpu.com/CoreTemp/

there is a temp diode that sometimes fails that regulates the fan as to when it comes on and the temps that it will run the fan. If the diode has failed you should contact Dell to RMA or repair the computer to fix the overheat issue

 

[nchuman]

I have been trawling the internet looking for a solution to this problem, but so far without any luck.
I have this same problem with Vista Ultimate on a PC with 4GB RAM and it freezes without warning at least once a day.

I dual boot the PC with Windows XP, which runs very happily week in week out. Even if it is a hardware issue, it is one which Microsoft need to address.

 

[spick]

I had the same problem and it proved to be a RAM problem. I used memtest and it located a problem - cant recall what. Sent it back and got it replaced, no problmes since.