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Question

PC Freezes at random times, can't isolate cause

Aug 25, 2018 5:22PM PDT

Discussion is locked

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Answer
The first clue I see is Slimdrivers.
Aug 25, 2018 6:28PM PDT

I use the old fashioned drivers from the maker install. Noted by https://www.howtogeek.com/233115/the-only-way-to-safely-update-your-hardware-drivers-on-windows/ as well.

1. Get the drivers the right way.

2. Spybot writes about the malware at https://www.safer-networking.org/manual-removal-guide-for-pu-iobit-advancedsystemcare-2/

That's two reasons for troubles.

3. The BIOS is very outdated.
https://us.msi.com/Motherboard/support/Z170A-SLI

4. The drive ST500DM002-1BD142 on values 01 and 07 should have the machine pausing and hanging.

5. The SSD is showing signs of trouble but not nearly as bad as the ST500DM002-1BD142 so I'd get the ST500DM002-1BD142 out and run only on the SSD.

6, Unplug the Seagate Expansion SCSI Disk Device during testing.

The out of date BIOS may be interferring with the Speccy report. CPU temp and RAM details are missing.

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Boot Device
Aug 25, 2018 8:16PM PDT

Thanks for the help. I've completed all of those tasks except removing ST500DM002-1BD142 because it appears to the boot device for my PC.

How do I change the SSD to the Boot device so i can unplug ST500DM002-1BD142?

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HDD
Aug 25, 2018 8:27PM PDT

I did also format ST500DM002-1BD142 if that would help to remove any of the issues it raised?

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500GB seagate
Aug 26, 2018 2:31AM PDT

Unplug it.

Enter the bios and set the boot order to the C drive first......ssd.

Does the machine boot?

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500GB
Aug 26, 2018 5:07AM PDT

No, it doesn't boot.

I unplugged the 500GB Seagate drive last night and tried to boot from SSD and all I got was the "Reboot and select proper Boot Device" message.

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Speccy
Aug 26, 2018 5:26AM PDT

Now that you have the bios updated run another speccy and post the link.

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Speccy Link
Aug 26, 2018 6:01AM PDT
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I see a drive with high errors.
Aug 26, 2018 10:05AM PDT

1. Look at the ST500DM002 Smart values 01 and 07. The numbers are way out of whack and when you see that the owner is complaining of pauses, lockups and BSODs.

Looking at more values I usually stop at 01 and 07 but it appears you are not in agreement this drive has begun to fail. Read value C3 and you see another sign it's going out.

2. I see the memory is now reporting in so that's good to see.
The Memory is in Dual channel mode and a matched pair. The BIOS seems to help in those areas and more.

3. The CPU Core Voltage looks low. I'd add 0.1V to this. You can research nominal values if you wish.

-> As long as a cranky HDD is in such a system it should experience seemingly random pauses, hangs and BSODs.

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CPU Core Voltage
Aug 26, 2018 10:18AM PDT

I've never said I wasn't in agreement with the HDD failing.

I tried to remove the HDD but my PC wouldn't boot without it installed so unless I know how to change the SSD to the boot device, I can't do anything.

Also, how do I increase CPU Voltage by 0,1V?

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That voltage change
Aug 26, 2018 10:37AM PDT

May or may not be possible. It would be in the BIOS but is there a document for me to check?

That aside, the failing HDD is the most common source of the woes you describe. You may have to clone that drive to a good drive to get it swapped out.

-> Why? I find most folk can't repair a Windows install or switch boot drives.

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Won't boot
Aug 26, 2018 11:14AM PDT

Somehow you have managed to get this twisted so that the hdd is needed to boot the machine.

Here's what I would do.
Copy out any important stuff to some external media.
Remove that junk hdd.
Connect my w10 usb stick and install the OS to the ssd.
Verify it boots.

If it does then you can start rebuilding.

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Ahead of you
Aug 26, 2018 11:36AM PDT

I'm already ahead of you.

I've just re-installed the OS to the SSD after removing the failing HDD.

Everything works fine.