Custom built PC keeps freezing (OS is Windows 10 Pro)

Hi,

Thank you for posting your query on Microsoft Community.

I would suggest you to try these steps and check if it helps.

Disconnect all the external devices (printers, scanner, USB (universal serial bus) drives, etc...) except mouse and the keyboard and then boot into safe mode.

Refer to the section

Enable safe mode

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/windows-startup-settings-safe-mode

Check if you face the same issue in safe mode. If the issue doesn’t persists in safe mode, the place the computer in clean boot and check.

You may boot the computer in a clean boot state and check if the issue persists. When you start Microsoft Windows, typically there are several programs that start automatically and run in the background that may interfere with the system. These programs may include antivirus and system utility programs. When you perform a clean startup procedure, you prevent these programs from starting automatically.

How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows: (Applies to Windows 10) http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

Disclaimer: After you have finished troubleshooting, follow steps under “How to reset the computer to start as usual after troubleshooting with clean boot” in the article to boot to normal startup.

For reference:

Windows hangs and freezes

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2681286

Hope this information helps you. Please do let us know if you need further assistance.

Hi,

Thank you for posting your query on Microsoft Community.

I would suggest you to try these steps and check if it helps.

Disconnect all the external devices (printers, scanner, USB (universal serial bus) drives, etc...) except mouse and the keyboard and then boot into safe mode.

Refer to the section

Enable safe mode

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/windows-startup-settings-safe-mode

Check if you face the same issue in safe mode. If the issue doesn’t persists in safe mode, the place the computer in clean boot and check.

You may boot the computer in a clean boot state and check if the issue persists. When you start Microsoft Windows, typically there are several programs that start automatically and run in the background that may interfere with the system. These programs may include antivirus and system utility programs. When you perform a clean startup procedure, you prevent these programs from starting automatically.

How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows: (Applies to Windows 10) http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

Disclaimer: After you have finished troubleshooting, follow steps under “How to reset the computer to start as usual after troubleshooting with clean boot” in the article to boot to normal startup.

For reference:

Windows hangs and freezes

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2681286

Hope this information helps you. Please do let us know if you need further assistance.

Just as a bit of an update, I've done a safe mode run through and the freezing doesn't happen there.

At the moment I'm clean boot troubleshooting, but I think it's more than one service that's causing the freezing. I found that when only "Intel(R) Dynamic Application Loader Host Interface Service" was ticked the computer was freezing, but when I ticked everything back to normal (apart from the Intel(R) Dynamic Application Loader Host Interface Service), the computer was still freezing. Anyway, I'm still troubleshooting along... :)

Hi,

Thank you for posting your query on Microsoft Community.

I would suggest you to try these steps and check if it helps.

Disconnect all the external devices (printers, scanner, USB (universal serial bus) drives, etc...) except mouse and the keyboard and then boot into safe mode.

Refer to the section

Enable safe mode

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/windows-startup-settings-safe-mode

Check if you face the same issue in safe mode. If the issue doesn’t persists in safe mode, the place the computer in clean boot and check.

You may boot the computer in a clean boot state and check if the issue persists. When you start Microsoft Windows, typically there are several programs that start automatically and run in the background that may interfere with the system. These programs may include antivirus and system utility programs. When you perform a clean startup procedure, you prevent these programs from starting automatically.

How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows: (Applies to Windows 10) http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

Disclaimer: After you have finished troubleshooting, follow steps under “How to reset the computer to start as usual after troubleshooting with clean boot” in the article to boot to normal startup.

For reference:

Windows hangs and freezes

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2681286

Hope this information helps you. Please do let us know if you need further assistance.

Hi,

Thank you for posting your query on Microsoft Community.

I would suggest you to try these steps and check if it helps.

Disconnect all the external devices (printers, scanner, USB (universal serial bus) drives, etc...) except mouse and the keyboard and then boot into safe mode.

Refer to the section

Enable safe mode

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/windows-startup-settings-safe-mode

Check if you face the same issue in safe mode. If the issue doesn’t persists in safe mode, the place the computer in clean boot and check.

You may boot the computer in a clean boot state and check if the issue persists. When you start Microsoft Windows, typically there are several programs that start automatically and run in the background that may interfere with the system. These programs may include antivirus and system utility programs. When you perform a clean startup procedure, you prevent these programs from starting automatically.

How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows: (Applies to Windows 10) http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

Disclaimer: After you have finished troubleshooting, follow steps under “How to reset the computer to start as usual after troubleshooting with clean boot” in the article to boot to normal startup.

For reference:

Windows hangs and freezes

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2681286

Hope this information helps you. Please do let us know if you need further assistance.

OK, so I had a feeling that it might be more than one service causing the freezing, and I've found that a lot of services (11 so far!!!) have caused the computer to freeze when only those services are ticked / enabled. The services that I have found so far (so not even done troubleshooting yet) that seem to be causing the freezing are (with start-up services that are found in task manager in italics (in both lists)):

• NVIDIA Streamer Service
• NVIDIA Display Driver Service
• NVIDIA Stereoscopic 3D Driver Service
• Intel(R) Capability Licensing Service TCP IP Interface
• Intel(R) PROSet Monitoring Service
• Intel(R) Security Assist Helper
• Intel(R) Dynamic Application Loader Host Interface Service
• Intel(R) Management and Security Application Local Management Service
• Realtek HD Audio Manager
• NVIDIA Capture Server Proxy
• CyberLink MediaLibray Service

I find it hard to believe that every single one of these services make the computer freeze when only those services are ticked / enabled. Also, even when those services are unticked / disabled, the computer STILL freezes. There are still some services that I need to check if they're causing an freezing on their own, but there are so many that I have unticked, it makes it seem unplausable that a start up service is the problem. The services that I haven't caught on their own when the computer freezes are:

• Cyberlink Product - 2015/08/19 20:02:18
• NVIDIA GeForce Experience Service
• Google Update Service (gupdate)
• Google Update Service (gupdatem)
• Intel(R) Security Assist
• NVIDIA Network Service
• NVIDIA Backend
• Microsoft OneDrive
• brs
• PowerDVD RC Service

Is there anything else that might be causing the problem, or do all of these services all happen to cause the same freezing problem when only that service is selected to start up in clean boot troubleshooting?

Jamie Hello:

1st - use proper safety procedures, and be careful.

The most common problem when building a box is bad hardware. Sometimes that manifests in non-op (does nothing) or mis-fire (smokes and pops) when applying current. When you don't have obvious defects the symptoms of electrical problems manifest as software errors. I had a look at the rated power consumption of your parts - and it seems your build (assuming your monitor has a separate power cord) is within range with the 550 watt. The graphics card spikes between 160w and 170w - not sure if that's under load or not 'Tom's Hardware.' The core I-7 is 140w. The two HD's at ~50w, and I figured the rest of your parts at 5w ea. So you should be good with the 550. I totaled 420 for parts.

Have a close look at your hardware circuit parts for bulging cans, burned transistors or resistors, discoloration, dripped coatings, or bad soldering. Unfortunately, only a small percentage of defects are detectable without testing devices.

Check your wiring (external and internal; really you should do that first) for hot spots or other damage. Know that if there's a problem with shorts - the electricity will usually run up the circuits and damage other parts as well. My practice has been to replace the next component in the circuit along with the damaged part, and hope that gets it. That's why fuses are good.

Next, check your bios at the manufacturer website to make sure it is up to date. Then check your settings, and make sure you are operating at recommended settings. While you're in there check your temps.

The next big problem these days seems to be with streaming services, signal interference from other devices, and Windows Services switches that are either off and need to be on - or are on and need to be off. If you are familiar with Computer Management the Event Viewer should be your first software troubleshooting tool.

I hesitate to mention this because you may want to keep your event logs for tech support - but for future maintenance the clearevents.cmd is in the windows directory - run it as administrator. It cleans up win logs. Be prepared to wait for Windows to re-write a ton of them. That will slow the machine for a few minutes on your next startup. Then check for new errors in the Event Viewer. Another cool tool is Autoruns.exe from sysinternals (captured by Microsoft). Read the help file.

Hope you don't need to do any of this, because I know how frustrating it is when a build doesn't work exactly to spec. Good luck Jamie.

Hi Den1950,

I'm glad you replied to my question. Unfortunately, I won't be able to test any of this until about December because I'm going to be away from home until about then. When I get back, I'm going to try some other helpful tips from https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2681286 first, and then I will try to use your suggestions. I haven't really done very much to my computer since my last reply to Mohammed Yaseer because I wanted a break from the thing before going away to be honest. I'll be sure to take your advice on board when I come back.

Thank you

Hi Den1950,

I'm glad you replied to my question. Unfortunately, I won't be able to test any of this until about December because I'm going to be away from home until about then. When I get back, I'm going to try some other helpful tips from https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2681286 first, and then I will try to use your suggestions. I haven't really done very much to my computer since my last reply to Mohammed Yaseer because I wanted a break from the thing before going away to be honest. I'll be sure to take your advice on board when I come back.

Thank you