LeonGarfield
asked on
software to monitor what is causing computer to freeze
I have a Dell Windows 7 computer and it totally freezes about once a week. It doesn't crash, it freezes, so there is no minidump file.
I have run all built in diagnostics and it didn't find any hardware problems.
I have the latest drivers installed
I am guessing the problem is from some software. Is there any software I can install to monitor what is causing the computer to freeze.
I have run all built in diagnostics and it didn't find any hardware problems.
I have the latest drivers installed
I am guessing the problem is from some software. Is there any software I can install to monitor what is causing the computer to freeze.
Last Comment
Mal Osborne
Freezing up is almost always a hardware problem. You could try temporarily dropping in another hard drive, installing a base OS and see if t still does it. In most cases, and old 2.5" SATA HDD will work.
try to uninstall the software to check it it is really problem with it
run in command prompt (as Administrator) sfc /scannow
is your Windows up to date?
try to update BIOS as well
maybe use some HDD testing tool like Sentinel to check if HDD is OK
run in command prompt (as Administrator) sfc /scannow
is your Windows up to date?
try to update BIOS as well
maybe use some HDD testing tool like Sentinel to check if HDD is OK
No, there is no software allowing to show why your pc freezes.
A know of certain video drivers causing a freeze, in particular nVidia drivers of 2015.
You can try if you can see something alarming in the event log.
A know of certain video drivers causing a freeze, in particular nVidia drivers of 2015.
You can try if you can see something alarming in the event log.
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LeonGarfield--
Try Process Explorer to see what is running.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653
Try Process Explorer to see what is running.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653
jcimarron, that's not feasible while the machine freezes - there is nothing to see at that moment anymore ;-).
Qlemo--
I think Leon Garfield is knowledgeable enough to run Process Monitor when the PC is running.
I think Leon Garfield is knowledgeable enough to run Process Monitor when the PC is running.
Leon Garfield--
Did you look for errors in Event Viewer?
Did you look for errors in Event Viewer?
jcimarron, was trying to say that ProcMon cannot help post-mortem (which would be very helpful). And to see which processes run at any arbitrary moment Task Manager works too, as long as you do not need additinal info regarding file handles, DLLs or the like.
Can you elaborate on what to look for with the running processes? That's the most important part with your suggestion to use ProcMon.
Can you elaborate on what to look for with the running processes? That's the most important part with your suggestion to use ProcMon.
ASKER
I ran the built in diagnostics and there were no problems.
I have the latest drivers.
I have a solid state hard drive
Qlemo is correct, Process Monitor will not help once the computer freezes.
Kimputer, I forgot about the PSU. The Dell diagnostics doesn't test the PSU. I will see about getting a replacement PSU.
Helpfinder, It will be very difficult to uninstall software one at a time to diagnose the problem since it doesn't happen for a few days. The software is needed.
I have the latest drivers.
I have a solid state hard drive
Qlemo is correct, Process Monitor will not help once the computer freezes.
Kimputer, I forgot about the PSU. The Dell diagnostics doesn't test the PSU. I will see about getting a replacement PSU.
Helpfinder, It will be very difficult to uninstall software one at a time to diagnose the problem since it doesn't happen for a few days. The software is needed.
LeonGarfield--
But I suggested Process Explorer in my first post, not Process Monitor (an error in my second post). Run it from time to time when the PC is running and then after a freeze to see if another app, not running after the freeze is fixed could be the problem.
And Event Viewer?
But I suggested Process Explorer in my first post, not Process Monitor (an error in my second post). Run it from time to time when the PC is running and then after a freeze to see if another app, not running after the freeze is fixed could be the problem.
And Event Viewer?
All mentions of ProcMon should be ProcExp, of course, even in my posts above. I'm often mixing up those myself.
Having said that, ProcMon could indeed help, if you log all process starts to file, and then analyze the log after a freeze for processes started shortly before.
Having said that, ProcMon could indeed help, if you log all process starts to file, and then analyze the log after a freeze for processes started shortly before.
ASKER
It turned out to be the power supply.
How do I end this discussion?
How do I end this discussion?
LeonGarfield--
https://www.experts-exchange.com/help/viewHelpPage.jsp?helpPageID=24
You can accept your own last comment for 0 points.
https://www.experts-exchange.com/help/viewHelpPage.jsp?helpPageID=24
You can accept your own last comment for 0 points.
ASKER
I've requested that this question be closed as follows:
Accepted answer: 0 points for LeonGarfield's comment #a41552465
for the following reason:
no one suggested replacing the power supply
Accepted answer: 0 points for LeonGarfield's comment #a41552465
for the following reason:
no one suggested replacing the power supply
Leon--
Just remember you told us "I have run all built in diagnostics and it didn't find any hardware problems." in your first post.
Just remember you told us "I have run all built in diagnostics and it didn't find any hardware problems." in your first post.
If you read carefully, you would know I already mentioned it at my first post:
"Most full freezes (wait 10 minutes to be sure it is) are indeed hardware related. Sometimes a faulty PSU, most of the time it's motherboard."
You even mentioned you forgot about the PSU because of my comment. I don't understand how that computes to "no one mentioned the PSU"?
"Most full freezes (wait 10 minutes to be sure it is) are indeed hardware related. Sometimes a faulty PSU, most of the time it's motherboard."
You even mentioned you forgot about the PSU because of my comment. I don't understand how that computes to "no one mentioned the PSU"?
ASKER
sorry, how do I correct this.
ASKER
It turned out that the power supply was the problem.
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