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Computer Freezing, requires a hard reset

R

ReCoN1989

n00b
Joined
Feb 11, 2013
Messages
13
For some time my computer has frozen at random times and at some predictable times. I have never been able to identify the issue. When sending a large file (over 2 or 3 gb) over LAN the computer will freeze up completely and require a hard reset. I recently encountered the same problem when trying to sync my ipod to an 80gb library.Transferring smaller files over LAN or USBseems to be fine. Occasionally the computer will also freeze whilst gaming. I have taken the following steps to try and isolate/solve the problem.

Re-installed windows, and again on a different hard drive, and again with a different version of windows. Both versions have worked flawlessly with other computers.

Checked all drivers have been updated.

Run Memtest for ~25 passes with zero faults, and then tested with alternative memory in different slots for good measure.

Replaced the video card to one that worked perfectly in another system.

Changed the case the system is installed in, I also used a different power supply.

Ran Intel burn test on the CPU, again with zero errors.

Concluding that the issue was the motherboard the evga rep agreed once I detailed the problem, I RMA'd the motherboard. I received back a brand new board, up until this the random freezing had been more frequent often happening within an hour of the previous lock up. Since I got a replacement board the random freezes are rare, but the system still has a 100% failure rate when transferring large files over LAN. Over the past year I have tried to Google extensively for solutions but have never come up with anything. I have listed my system spec below. Thank you in advanced for any assistance.


Intel core i5 750
Evga p55 SLI
2*2gb Corsair Dominator ram
Seasonic x-760 PSU
AMD 5750 1GB
 
did u manually install the network chipset drivers from the motherboards website or did u just let windows do it? i would recommend that u uninstall the network chipset drivers and install the ones made for your mobo, if u havent.
 
I did both, I initially assumed it to be a software issue and tried various drivers.
 
Did you test each stick of RAM seperately?
Did you try testing the system outside of the case? I.e the mobo on top of the motherboard box and jump starting it with the screwdriver method?
Is there any other hardware in that system that you have not mentioned? I.e a USB card, TV tuner, hard drives, USB drives, headphones etc
Have you tried a different CPU? Yes there's a chance that the CPU could be defective. IBT doesn't always detect defective CPUs
Have you tried an entirely different motherboard? i.e not one made by eVGA?
 
I didn't test each stick as such, I ran memtest on the pair then tried a single stick of ram from another computer in each socket, when this made no difference I presumed that the ram was not to blame.
When the new motherboard arrived I tested it outside of the case, and then when swapped hardware around before installing it in a different case. I did have a PCI sound card and hard drive controller card but these were promptly removed during diagnosis. I did test the system with the boot drive attached to the HD controller and off the mobo. Whilst testing I was only using the boot drive, all others were completely disconnected.

I haven't tried a different CPU or Mobo as I don't have one. I wouldn't call myself an expect by i am a competent computer user and have always been able to diagnose problems and solve them, this has completely stumped me. As far as I know the LAN controller and USB controllers are completely independent of the CPU. IBT and Prime95(ran for 24 hours) showed nothing. When I have read about defective CPU's the freezing has been immediate or there have been problems even posting.
 
Sheesh you are unlucky. ;)

You have isolated it to a single event that causes a 100% failure rate: large file transfers over LAN. Just for kicks, you could try using a dedicated NIC. Maybe there is some issue with the EVGA motherboard network chip not playing nicely with your particular router...or something like that. It's got to be something unusual. It sounds to me like you have exhausted all of the normal probable issues.

I am going to pay attention to this, because these are the kinds of issues that you learn something interesting from. Hang in there, and good luck. :)
 
I was actually looking at a very reasonable second hand Intel NIC card but then I recalled the failure when transferring over USB. I don't know enough about the motherboard/CPU architecture to know if a common element could be responsible. Regarding the router, I forget to mention that I have tried just using a switch, just a router, just a different router and just a different switch (all by different brands) I think that a fault like that would have been well documented, but I couldn't really find anything NIC issues with the motherboard on the internet. I could easily by a new motherboard and cpu and further isolate the problem but I could end up spending a lot of money to solve a problem on an already dated system. My next system will be based on a motherboard with an Intel NIC however.
 
I'm going to assume none of the devices hard drives are formatted with FAT32, but with NTFS. That would be the only logical thing after having done everything else that it could be as far as the Network transfer part since you mentioned 2-3GB that would be close to the 4GB limit. Then again that shouldn't cause locking up with your iPod transfers unless some files are really big.
 
They were all formatted to NTFS. I can send files under 2 or 3GB if I try and send a 50GB bluray it might manage 1GB or 45GB but it always fails I.e. the system freezes. The files I was transferring would be no larger than 10Mb
 
I forgot to mention something which really confused me, I had a Blu-ray T.V documentary stored in folder structure on a local disk, I then Transcoded this to H.264 in a MKV container and set the output in handbreak to the TV folder on my Server. I 'transfered' 200GB+ over the network in this way without the system freezing once, I can also download data from the server without issue. So it appears to be a upstream only fault when copying and not writing new data. I wonder if this presents a solution to someone.
 
Try a different motherboard.

Or try your parts in another PC. Especially the HDD.
 
Unfortunately I don't have access to another motherboard, rather than buy a 1156 board I'd much rather buy a new one and new CPU too. But only if there's no way I can fix this.
 
I don't have one to hand, but as the same problem occurred with a USB transfer I am somewhat befuddled.
 
I'd pick up an Intel nic (amazon, newegg, wherever) and give it a shot. The other thing is maybe you have a HD issue (with the writing to the platter) as Danny Boi referenced.
 
I'd be very surprised if it was a HD issue, I have installed different versions of windows over 4 different hard drives, and tried running them off the mobo and a separate hd controller. None of which solved the issue, I am against getting a PCI NIC for two reasons, firstly when I upgrade my system I will go for a mobo with an Intel NIC, ergo I'd rather put the ~£50 towards that. Secondly the same problem also occurred when transferring 80GB worth of music onto an iPod via USB. I get the same impression the same fault is responsible for both. Any ideas what could be responsible for both LAN and USB transfers (upstream only, downstream is fine) ?
 
Is there any other PC in your home where you can test the non-CPU and mobo parts in to completely rule out those other parts?

My gut is saying it's either the CPU and mobo. However it's very hard to diagnose which one is the issue without another CPU or mobo.
 
Apologies for bumping an old topic, The same computer will transfer files to another computer on my network, just not to my unRAID server. There are two other computers and two laptops also on the network and they all copy to the unRAID server flawlessly. I really am completely baffled by this still.
 
Well....have you tried testing the CPU and mobo yet?

Also, every time you did an OS reinstall on this PC, did you install any sort of 3rd party firewall, anti-virus, or anti-malware programs?
 
Well the motherboard has been replaced and the CPU has had every stress test I know of run on it all with 0 errors. Unfortunately I just don't have another processor available, and the cost of buying a new one is higher than an equivalent Haswell part. Regarding the second part no, I have tried with a completely clean install, I have also tried using the hard drive in another computer where it transferred files to the server fine.
 
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