Windows 7 freezes

The first thing you should check is the Event Viewer for any entries before a freeze, shutdown or reboot.

You can also run the following from the command line:

sfc /scannow

Select allOpen in new window

This will scan the integrity of all protected system files and repair the system files if needed.

I'd check for dust in the vents underneath at the rear inside anywhere first
dust is can cause all sorts of problems kinda like your laptop cant breath and has a stroke lockups freezes.

Get your vacuum cleaner put that extra nozzle on that has a round brush and suck it out.
Then check the power adapter charger is not failing, put the laptop on AC only take the power adapter off.
Boot into windows and see if those two resolve it, buy a new charger.

Ragha--
Is there any correlation with the problem and whether you have the CD/DVD drive running?

install speedfan, to monitor the cpu , disk and vga temperatures - it cn be an overheating problem :
http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php

Thanks for all suggestions.
sfc /scannow and chkdsk report no problems
I checked Event viewer, but do not really know which part in there to look for.

I have tried Speedfan - it just gave me the blue screen every time I ran it. Found a lot of dust when lifting a small cover, but to no help when removing. However, since the computer can run for 15-30 min. after an immediate restart, overheating does not seem to be the main problem.

CD-tray is not in the bay.

Have tried different chargers. However, seems problem is less frequent when on battery.

It is a Crucial M4 SATA SSD. I couldn't find any program to check the disk on their page, but the firmware needs updating. There was mentioning in the forums about freezing after some time of use. So I will backup and update the firmware.

SSD drives are normally ON or OFF. There is normally little in between. Firmware sounds like a good idea, but if you have the same issue after the firmware upgrade, scan for viruses and malware.

... Thinkpads_User

>>  I have tried Speedfan - it just gave me the blue screen every time I ran it.   <<  post the minidump here for more info
you find it in windows\minidumps

Couldn't upgrade firmware withour wiping the disk. How do I read the minidumps?

You don't. At least not without some serious training.
You just attach 'em here and those than can read them will be able to tell you what caused the bluescreen.

Ragha--
"I checked Event viewer, but do not really know which part in there to look for."
This short tutorial should help.
http://www.7tutorials.com/basics-about-working-event-viewer-windows

Look for Errors timestamped when the problems occurred (like the start of a freeze).  You can copy all data by using the Copy link in the right panel.

However, it might be quickest and most effective to run a Repair Install
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

It should not affect personal data or installed programs, but a backup first is always a good idea.

You can also use Bluescreenview, from Nirsoft: http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/blue_screen_view.html

It will tell you what caused the blue screens.

If it will make sense, that's another story...

Nothing in the Event Viewer at the time of the freeze. Latest Minidump attached from Dec 8 (lots of freezes since then...).
120813-13821-01.dmp

The dump implicates iaStor.sys and ntkrnlpa.exe which I think confirms the drive is having problems.

Probably at this point you need to recover what you can and either:

(a) format to see if the errors go away, or,
(b) replace the drive.

... Thinkpads_User

the dmp happened when running speedfan, and says :  IMAGE_NAME:  iaStor.sys
this is part of the Intel Matrix  storage software, so i would uninstall it, or update it to the latest
if you post the laptop model, and the OS, i can point you to it

Fujitsu E8310, W7

Try this little tool  Ragha
BlueScreenView v1.52
BlueScreenView doesn't require any installation process or additional dll files.
In order to start using it, simply run the executable file - BlueScreenView.exe
 After running BlueScreenView, it automatically scans your MiniDump folder and display all crash details in the upper pane
BlueScreenView scans all your minidump files created during 'blue screen of death' crashes, and displays the information about all crashes in one table. For each crash, BlueScreenView displays the minidump file name, the date/time of the crash, the basic crash information displayed in the blue screen (Bug Check Code and 4 parameters), and the details of the driver or module that possibly caused the crash (filename, product name, file description, and file version).
 For each crash displayed in the upper pane, you can view the details of the device drivers loaded during the crash in the lower pane. BlueScreenView also mark the drivers that their addresses found in the crash stack, so you can easily locate the suspected drivers that possibly caused the crash.

•BlueScreenView works with Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8, as long as Windows is configured to save minidump files during BSOD crashes.
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/blue_screen_view.html

On the Nirsoft page there is also several other free tools you could download

•WinCrashReport - Displays a report about crashed Windows application.
•WhatIsHang - Get information about Windows software that stopped responding (hang)
•AppCrashView - View application crash information on Windows 7/Vista.
•WhatInStartup - Enable/Disable/Delete the programs that run at Windows Startup.

With anything this serious I'd take the laptop to a computer expert asap.

find your drivers here :  http://support.fujitsupc.com/CS/Portal/supportsearch.do?srch=DOWNLOADS&Series=E%20Series&Model=E8310&ProductType=Notebook%20PC

start by updating the chipset

They are listed as Vista drivers. Does it make a difference that I have upgrade to W7?

It depends on the drivers. Some Vista drivers will work in Windows 7. Some need to be replaced. Contact Fujitsu Support to see if they have newer drivers.

If the machine does not and will not support Windows 7, you may have to turn back to Vista.

.... Thinkpads_User

most will work, if they are bothe 32, or 64 bit
in anyway, if they do NOT work - they will not install, and warn you

I reinstalled the chipset and SATA drivers, but it didn´t help (Fujitsu only had the original versions on this page). BlueScreenView shows repeatedly iaStor.sys and ntkrnlpa.exe at the top. How do I update these? I would prefer not to reformat the disk, as reinstallation of all programs will be rather cumbersome.

iastore can be part of different drivers or software :
- Intel Matrix Storage Manager driver (version ia32, x64)
-or Intel Application Accelerator driver
- or Intel AHCI Controller belongs to software Intel Matrix Storage Manager driver
- or Intel RAID Controller or Intel AHCI Controller or Intel Integrated RAID

 look for this software on your PC and tell us which one you have, or update it
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/SearchResult.aspx?lang=eng&ProductFamily=Software+Products&ProductLine=Chipset+Software&ProductProduct=Intel%c2%ae+Rapid+Storage+Technology+(Intel%c2%ae+RST)

I have HBM SATA AHCI version 7.0.0.1020. When I try to update the driver via Device Manager, it says that it is the correct version that I already have installed.

do you have ANY of the above installed?

The Intel 82801 HEM/HBM SATA AHCI controller uses iaStor.sys version 7.0.0.1020, if that is what you mean

i want you to look into the iinstalled programs for these :
iastore can be part of different drivers or software :
- Intel Matrix Storage Manager driver (version ia32, x64)
-or Intel Application Accelerator driver
- or Intel AHCI Controller belongs to software Intel Matrix Storage Manager driver
- or Intel RAID Controller or Intel AHCI Controller or Intel Integrated RAID

Under installed programs I only have Intel Graphics Media Accelerator Driver and the Intel TV Wizard

>>  Intel Graphics Media Accelerator   <<  thats what i posted above - uninstall it for testing

I did so, but still freezes. Shall I resinstall now or later? Where do I find it?

don't reinstall till the problem is fixed
http://www.intel.com/products/chipsets/gma950/

best install W7 on another disk + install all drivers to test; it starts to look like a disk controller problem

Just before the holidays the disk froze for the last time - now I just get the error message "no operative system found", and it will not reconnect as a secondary disk through USB. So the SSD was the problem all along - if you experience the same symptoms be sure to backup everything you have. Have not yet had time to contact Crucial support to see if they have any ideas how to reconnect with the disk.

So the SSD was the problem all along

Problem with the drive was suggested very early on in this thread.


... Thinkpads_User

it can be that the SSD is the problem - only 1 way to know for sure is replacing it

True, but then it was said: "SSD drives are normally ON or OFF. There is normally little in between. " No one really warned me that the disk could shut off completely. I have swapped it with the HDD that I used > 1 year ago and that runs fine, but the SSD also ran without problems with that configuration.

you never can predict what can happen - and i will never tell you that" SSD drives are normally ON or OFF"  - also note the word 'normally'
all disks die eventually - that's why you have to take backups (i have 3)

I am sending the disk in for a replacement. End of story.  In hindsight a lot of symptoms are pointing in that direction, and I could wish someone had pointed out that more clearly instead of various possible software solutions.

>>   and I could wish someone had pointed out that more clearly instead of various possible software solutions.    <<  yeah, all people like to know beforehand; but like all you can only tell after, testing, trying etc....

I pointed to a defective hard drive in my first post right near the beginning.

See http://#a39720365 

There is no way to be certain from a distance and I think you also wanted to imagine other possibilities. But I was very clear.


... Thinkpads_User

I suggested in my post ID: 39720372 if you had another hard drive you could install to rule out a bad hard drive.

I've requested that this question be deleted for the following reason:

Not enough information to confirm an answer.

@Ragha - Thanks for following up.

... Thinkpads_User