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Question

Windows keeps freezing, not permanent but annoying

Dec 20, 2013 10:48PM PST

I need help....

my computer is a ASUS cm6730 desktop PC, 64 bit windows 8.1. I run it to my tv like this:

pc ---HDMI---> xbox one ---HDMI---> lg audio system ---HDMI---> tv

i have my desktop tucked away so i use a wireless keyboard and mouse to control the pc. My problem is 99% of the time while the computer is not being used (fully on but no input) it will completely freeze. The other 1% of the time it will happen while im typing or doing something.
the simple fix i have found is to unplug-replug the wireless keyboard/mouse and boom, instant fix! the problem i have is that the whole point of me having my setup is so i dont have to be right next to the desktop. i thought maybe the problem was the wireless keyboard and mouse but after buying a new one today with built in windows 8 functions, the problem hasnt changed.

one weird thing i noticed is while the computer is frozen if i press ctrl-alt-dlt nothing will happen (surprise surprise its frozen) but the second i do my "quick fix" with the wireless dongle it magically turns back on and the task manager will pop up (so the computer is still getting the keyboard inputs while frozen?)

all drivers are up to date... xbox one is not frozen (i can switch between pc-apps-games no problem, pc stays frozen)... anti virus runs clean... no major system changes sense this started happening a couple days ago.

sigh, help please?? (it froze on me twice writing this message)

Discussion is locked

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Answer
edit
Dec 20, 2013 10:52PM PST

and i the paragraph where i was talking about the fix, what i meant to say is:

fix i have found is to unplug-replug the wireless keyboard/mouse USB DONGLE from the pc

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Answer
My guess is the wireless keyboard has "locked up."
Dec 21, 2013 1:46AM PST

Have you tried another wireless keyboard/mouse system?

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dont think its locked...
Dec 21, 2013 2:04AM PST

i previously had a wireless keyboard mouse that worked great for over 4 years. This started happening so i went and bought a new one last night which didnt fix the problem.

like I said above any inputs i put into the keyboard while frozen does go through (i did the task manager buttons while frozen, nothing happens. without touching the keyboard i unplug-replug in the usb dongle and instantly unfrozen and the task manager pops up with no extra input on the keyboard.

another test i did was i ran the cpu performance chart and when the computer freezes the chart does not move, showing that its the whole system.

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That's a good clue.
Dec 21, 2013 2:07AM PST

Is the machine a year or so old? If so maybe it's time to do the usual deep clean and replace all heat sink compound. I'm going to pre-emptively answer that measuring temps is only for new techs to learn we don't do that except as a quick check. When the symptoms are there and we change the keyboard/mouse and it has no effect, we start doing the work.
Bob

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Answer
More about why the GPU test is a good find.
Dec 21, 2013 2:10AM PST

I'm going to write very little about this here but you can do more research. As you know the mouse cursor is performed in a bit of hardware on the video card. It's been there for years and the clues so far point me to the GPU may need it's deep cleaning and heat sink compound changed.

Yes you could try another USB port but you have a clue and to avoid changing the video card I always "do the work."
Bob