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Question

pc freezes randomly

Apr 30, 2019 8:58AM PDT

Every so often my dads pc freezes sometimes when logging on then more erratic when online freezes around 3 to 10 seconds every 10 to 20 mins so reformatted and installed windows 10 pro it did freeze before reinstalling windows 10 with new Kinston 500gb SSD and nvidia 1030
Tried changing power options /done ram test/checked heat/installed SSD toolbox//updated drivers/done system scan/task manager shows no abnormal high usage but freezes as well reset bios to default.
Running windows 10 pro 64 4gb ddr3
Intel Core i3 4160 @ 3.60GHz 41 °C
Haswell 22nm Technology
4.00GB Single-Channel DDR3 @ 798MHz (11-11-11-2Cool
Hewlett-Packard 18E9 (SOCKET 0)
2047MB NVIDIA GeForce GT 1030 (ASUStek Computer Inc) 37 °C
447GB KINGSTON SA400S37480G (SATA-2 (SSD)) 29 °C
465GB TOSHIBA DT01ACA050 (SATA )
hp DVD RAM UJ8E0
any advice would be much appreciated thanks mark

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Actually with just 4GB RAM
Apr 30, 2019 11:22AM PDT

I see Chrome on a similar laptop and SSD to occasionally pause (freeze) and a second or two later come back. At worst it would seemingly lock up for 30 or more seconds. That is sadly normal today with folk that open 40 tabs on Chrome on low RAM machines.

If the lock up requires a reboot it's often hardware if the factory OS was restored. There can be poor choices on drivers (automatic can be bad) so there's always a check done on that. Nothing has changed in 2 decades about drivers so I'll skip that here.

It seems a nice enough PC but light on RAM and since it would freeze before my bet is a hardware issue.

What HP is this? You left clues but didn't reveal which one.

Try to share a Web Speccy about this: Read https://www.piriform.com/docs/speccy/using-speccy/publishing-a-speccy-profile-to-the-web

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Should be ok specilly at start
Apr 30, 2019 12:49PM PDT

Its a hp prodesk 400 gi sff Microsoft say 2gb for 64 but nowadays windows 10 has evolved so much 4gb should be enough but your right bit light on ram.
Start up is on min apps on boot no extra firewall at present so should be ok on ram i never have to reboot on start or ever just wait till it goes again.
Installed intel engine driver to no avail changed sata cable been stripping computers since the Amiga days never had this problem but with pc its there typical nature.
i never had intel myself always kept amd.
Thanks for helping mark

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May be hardware.
Apr 30, 2019 1:18PM PDT

The more I look into this it sounds like one of the HP gaffes.

Example: https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktop-Operating-Systems-and-Recovery/ProDesk-600-G2-keeps-freezing-daily-at-random-times/m-p/5623342/highlight/true#M125526

You didn't supply the Speccy but the more I look into this model the worse it gets. DO NOT INVEST A DIME ON THIS ONE.

-> Can you tell me if it used the INSYDE BIOS? I known that one as HP walked on a warranty issue on another model with that. Everyone knew the issue but HP claims they have no fix.

Be sure to not plug in any USB device that didn't come with the PC.
Be sure to check HP's site for this model for an INTEL FIRMWARE UPDATE.

Yes, if you get the idea I don't hold much hope for this one, you're right.

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And no, should not be OK at start.
Apr 30, 2019 1:19PM PDT

If it's the issues I know about, it usually locks up on start.

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Answer
Freeze
May 1, 2019 12:12AM PDT

I doubt that w10 or that gt 1030 are native to this machine.

When did this freeze start happening?

Based on the age of that machine might be time for a good cleaning and some thermal paste refresh.

Remove the gpu and run off the igp....test.

Boot to safe mode with networking....test.

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New pc looks like
May 1, 2019 2:27AM PDT

I Think it might be motherboard as if i remember correctly i only see me dad once a year as in different country and i installed the nvidia 1030 as built in graphics went not using INSYDE BIOS tried safe mode to no avail have checked hp site all up to date think ill just have to build him another one.