Question:

How to troubleshoot a PC that freezes randomly and shows various bluescreen errors?

I have recently assembled a new PC with the following specifications: Asus B760-f gaming wifi, I7 14700-kf, RTX 4070, 32 GB vengeance RGB Pro, 2 TB Samsung evo 990 Pro. The PC was working fine for two weeks, but then it started to freeze at different stages: during login, after login, or during boot. Sometimes I can use the PC for a couple of hours without any issue, and sometimes it freezes right away. I also encountered several bluescreen errors, such as clock watchdog timeout, driver_irql_not_less_or_equal, kernel security check failure, page fault in nonpaged area, etc.

I have tried reinstalling Windows 10, but the problem persisted. I also ran Memcheck and it showed no errors. I updated all the drivers and checked the connections of the hardware components. The PC performance seemed normal when it was not freezing.

I am not sure what is causing this problem. Is it possible that the motherboard or the CPU is defective? How can I diagnose and fix this issue?

I would appreciate any advice from experts. Thank you.

Answer:

If you have recently built a new PC and it starts to freeze or crash unexpectedly, you might be wondering what is wrong with it. There are many possible causes for this problem, such as faulty hardware, incompatible drivers, corrupted system files, overheating, malware, etc. In this article, we will try to help you diagnose and fix some of the common issues that can lead to PC freezing and bluescreen errors.

What are bluescreen errors and what do they mean?

A bluescreen error, also known as a stop error or a bug check, is a serious system failure that occurs when Windows encounters a critical error that it cannot recover from. The error message usually displays a code and a name that indicate the type of error, such as `DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL` or `PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA`. Sometimes, the error message also provides a file name or a driver name that is related to the error, such as `ntoskrnl.exe` or `nvlddmkm.sys`.

Bluescreen errors can be caused by various factors, such as faulty or incompatible hardware, outdated or corrupted drivers, damaged or missing system files, registry errors, memory errors, power supply issues, etc. Some of the common bluescreen errors and their possible causes are:

• `CLOCK_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT`: This error indicates that the processor did not receive a response from another processor within a specified time. This can be caused by overclocking, overheating, or a defective CPU.
• `DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL`: This error indicates that a driver tried to access a memory address that was not authorized. This can be caused by outdated, corrupted, or incompatible drivers, or by malware or viruses.
• `KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE`: This error indicates that the kernel detected a corruption or a mismatch in the system data or the code. This can be caused by corrupted or missing system files, faulty or incompatible hardware, or malware or viruses.
• `PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA`: This error indicates that the system tried to access a page of memory that was not present or that was not mapped to the physical memory. This can be caused by faulty or incompatible hardware, corrupted or outdated drivers, or memory errors.

How to troubleshoot PC freezing and bluescreen errors?

The first step to troubleshoot PC freezing and bluescreen errors is to identify the source of the problem. You can do this by checking the following:

• Event Viewer: This is a tool that records the system events, such as errors, warnings, or information messages. You can access it by typing `eventvwr` in the search box or the Run dialog box. You can then look for the events that occurred around the time of the freeze or the crash, and see if there is any useful information or error codes that can help you narrow down the problem.
• Reliability Monitor: This is a tool that tracks the system stability and performance over time. You can access it by typing `perfmon /rel` in the search box or the Run dialog box. You can then view the reliability history and see if there are any patterns or trends that can indicate the cause of the problem. For example, you can see if the problem started after installing a new software or hardware, or after updating a driver or a system file.
• Memory Diagnostic Tool: This is a tool that tests the RAM for errors. You can access it by typing `mdsched` in the search box or the Run dialog box. You can then choose to restart the PC and run the tool, or schedule it for the next restart. The tool will perform a series of tests and report any errors or failures that it finds.
• Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter: This is a tool that scans the PC for any hardware or device issues and tries to fix them automatically. You can access it by typing `msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic` in the search box or the Run dialog box. You can then follow the instructions and see if the tool can resolve the problem.

If none of the above tools can help you identify or fix the problem, you can try some of the following methods:

• Update the drivers: Drivers are the software that allow the hardware and the system to communicate and function properly. Sometimes, outdated, corrupted, or incompatible drivers can cause PC freezing and bluescreen errors. To update the drivers, you can use the Device Manager, which is a tool that lists all the devices and drivers on your PC. You can access it by typing `devmgmt.msc` in the search box or the Run dialog box. You can then right-click on the device that you want to update, and choose `Update driver`. You can then choose to search automatically for updated driver software, or browse your computer for driver software. Alternatively, you can also visit the manufacturer’s website and download the latest drivers for your device.
• Uninstall the problematic software or hardware: Sometimes, installing a new software or hardware can cause PC freezing and bluescreen errors, especially if they are not compatible with your system or with other software or hardware. To uninstall the problematic software or hardware, you can use the Control Panel, which is a tool that allows you to manage the programs and features on your PC. You can access it by typing `control` in the search box or the Run dialog box. You can then choose `Programs and Features`, and select the software that you want to uninstall. You can then follow the instructions and confirm the uninstallation. To uninstall the problematic hardware, you can use the Device Manager, as explained above. You can then right-click on the device that you want to uninstall, and choose `Uninstall device`. You can then follow the instructions and confirm the uninstallation.
• Restore the system to a previous state: Sometimes, PC freezing and bluescreen errors can be caused by changes or modifications to the system files or settings, such as updates, patches, or registry edits. To restore the system to a previous state, you can use the System Restore, which is a tool that allows you to revert the system to a point in time when it was working properly. You can access it by typing `rstrui` in the search box or the Run dialog box. You can then choose a restore point from the list, or select `Show more restore points` to see more options. You can then follow the instructions and confirm the restoration. Note that this will not affect your personal files, but it might uninstall some of the software or hardware that you installed after the restore point.
• Reinstall Windows 10: If none of the above methods can fix the problem, you might need to reinstall Windows 10, which is the process of erasing everything on your PC and installing a fresh copy of the operating system. This can solve many of the PC freezing and bluescreen errors, but it will also delete all your personal files, programs, and settings. Therefore, you should backup your important data before proceeding. To reinstall Windows 10, you can use the Reset this PC, which is a tool that allows you to reset your PC to its factory settings. You can access it by typing `reset` in the search box or the Run dialog box. You can then choose `Get started` under `Reset this PC`. You can then choose to keep your files or remove everything, and follow the instructions and confirm the reset.

Conclusion

PC

freezing and bluescreen errors can be frustrating and annoying, but they can also be fixed with some troubleshooting and patience. In this article, we have explained some of the common causes and solutions for this problem, such as checking the Event Viewer, updating the drivers, uninstalling the problematic software or hardware, restoring the system to a previous state, or reinstalling Windows 10. However, this is not an exhaustive list, and there might be other factors or methods that can help you resolve the issue. Therefore, we recommend that you always consult an expert before making any changes to your PC, and that you backup your important data regularly. We hope that this article was helpful and informative, and that you can enjoy your PC without any freezing or crashing. Thank you for reading.