Question Brand new Asus laptop is freezing & rebooting without any BSODs ?

[liberty610]

Hey everyone,

I just got an Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (2025) laptop today. Model G835LW-XS97.
I had it on for 3 to 4 hours without any issues. I installed all my apps, and have been getting all it all setup. I have ran a couple 3D Mark bench tests without any issues. But recently there was a couple full Windows freezes and then the system reboots itself. No BSOD or anything. Just hangs there, and then shuts off, and reboots.

I have updated the BIOS and drivers to the latest versions, and I am running Windows 11 Pro with all the latest available updates for the 24H2 version.

These freezes have happened randomly. Four times it happened when I was not doing anything heavy at all. The first time it happened, it was attempting to switch from the Intel on chip GPU to the dedicated NVIDIA gpu. It froze and I was forced to hold down the power button and restart.

The next time it happened, it was just sitting on the desktop idle. The third and fourth time it happened, I was simply going through some of the power plan settings.

Everything would just freeze up. No mouse movement, no keyboard responses, no blue screen of death. And then it would shut itself all the way off, and then reboot.

I originally had the latest NVIDIA studio driver installed (I do more production work than gaming). I thought that may have caused these freeze blips. I am now am running the latest game ready drivers. No issues yet, but it's only been a few minutes. I know Nvidia has had some 50 series driver issues, but what else can I do to monitor this and see what is causing it? I only have a 2 week return window on it and this is the second one of these laptops I have attempted. The first had issues with the keyboard.

How would I go about getting proper windows log files to share and what not?

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[Lutfij]

I just got an Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (2025) laptop today. Model G835LW-XS97.

Your laptop;
https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E168342...wx59TL051bzEDgW-k7wiClofs9GBhpaA2T2XzottrrkxF
has an RTX5080 on it, I'm now wondering if you can install a first release driver for your discrete GPU. Perhaps the botched driver releases by Nvidia are the cause of the issue.

Use DDU to remove all GPU drivers in Safe Mode(intel, AMD and Nvidia) then manually install the latest found of this link;

Driver Details | NVIDIA

Download the <dd~LanguageName> <dd~Name> for <dd~OSName> systems. Released <dd~ReleaseDateTime>

www.nvidia.com

2 weeks might be a lot of time or too little time. If you have the time and energy, I'd start with a clean install of the OS(recreating your bootable USB installer for the OS), installing the OS in offline mode. Manually install all drivers meant for your laptop in an elevated command, then install each app you installed(mentioned prior) and then see if taxing the laptop triggers the lock ups.

 

[liberty610]

I just got an Asus ROG Strix 18 laptop today. Model G835LW-XS97.
Your laptop;
https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E168342...wx59TL051bzEDgW-k7wiClofs9GBhpaA2T2XzottrrkxF
has an RTX5080 on it, I'm now wondering if you can install a first release driver for your discrete GPU. Perhaps the botched driver releases by Nvidia are the cause of the issue.

Use DDU to remove all GPU drivers in Safe Mode(intel, AMD and Nvidia) then manually install the latest found of this link;

Driver Details | NVIDIA

Download the <dd~LanguageName> <dd~Name> for <dd~OSName> systems. Released <dd~ReleaseDateTime>

www.nvidia.com

2 weeks might be a lot of time or too little time. If you have the time and energy, I'd start with a clean install of the OS(recreating your bootable USB installer for the OS), installing the OS in offline mode. Manually install all drivers meant for your laptop in an elevated command, then install each app you installed(mentioned prior) and then see if taxing the laptop triggers the lock ups.

I definitely do NOT have the time to do all that. As I was trying to respond to you on said laptop, it froze up and crashed again.

This was right after I ran a 3D Mark stress test for about 10 minutes. Shortly after it shut down, Unopened my email client and saw the alert for your reply. Opened the link, started typing me response to you, and it froze up again.

 

[liberty610]

UPDATE: I contacted Asus Support and they recommended doing a fresh install of Windows. So I attempted that. When windows 11 install shows the drives that are available, it did not list the SSD at all. So after I poked around online to find out why, it was recommended to disable the VMD controller in the BIOS. Once I did that, it found the drive.

I deleted all the partitions where the drive was unallocated, and then created a new partition for windows 11 installer to do it's thing. It installs Windows 11, and prompts me to connect an ethernet cable to continue the install. I do so. It downloads all the updates, and then reboots.

When it reboots, it pops up the Asus ROG splash screen, and then the spinning circle that shows it's loading windows up starts to spin briefly, then the circle freezes and it just sits there in the splash screen for a moment, and then the laptop reboots. When it reboots, the windows loading circle on the splash screen starts briefly, then freezes again and just sits there. It will NOT reboot or shit itself down at all. I have to do a hard reset every single time.

I then format the drive again, and re-install windows using the same exact steps I just mentioned. Like clock work, the loading circle freezes the same way, at the same time and reboots. Then when it reboots, it loads the splash screen, and the circle starts spinning briefly and then it freezes again. I let it sit there for a good 4 to 5 minutes, and it does nothing.

I assume it could be the SSD at this point. So I swap it out for another SSD, and do all the same steps as I mentioned above.

Like clockwork, the second SSD I tried with it it freezes the same exact way when it tries to boot up.

What could be causing this? Is it ram related?

 

[liberty610]

I returned the Asus laptop in exchange for another one. This one was a different model in the same ROG Strix family. Similar issue. Windows 11 pro, all updated, latest bios, latest drivers. Random freezes and the power LED flashes constantly forcing a hard reset.

Idk what is going on with these Asus machines. but they are a mess and are NOT ready for release.

 

[Arcuel]

I feel you OP. Same thing happening to me since day 1 of using my laptop. I've got ASUS ROF STRIX SCAR 18 with 5090, 64gb ram and 2tb SSD. Model: G835LX-SA015.
Having random freezes (hangs) for no apparent reason.
It's not even a week old and it's so frustrating having to deal with this.

 

[liberty610]

I feel you OP. Same thing happening to me since day 1 of using my laptop. I've got ASUS ROF STRIX SCAR 18 with 5090, 64gb ram and 2tb SSD. Model: G835LX-SA015.
Having random freezes (hangs) for no apparent reason.
It's not even a week old and it's so frustrating having to deal with this.

My first one I received this past Friday started freezing within the first 7 hours of use. The second one started doing it the next day after I got it exchanged. I called Asus tech support and they said they have been getting calls about issues, but mine issue wasn't the one that was 'wide spread' so far, yet I am seeing more and more forums and reedits online about it.

On this most recent model I got (the G8151W). I did a complete fresh install of Windows. As in, I made a Windows 11 USB boot drive using the Microsoft creation tool, booted the laptop from that, and used the Windows 11 installer to totally wiped the drive. Deleted all the partitions to where the entire drive was unallocated, then created a single partition for the entire drive, and told Windows installer to use it. It then creates the other smaller partitions for recovery and whatnot. I then even Bypassed the reequipments to be online to complete the install so I had NOTHING but the base OS on it. Then I installed all the drivers for it from the My Asus apo and their website, grabbed all the Windows updates, and all the NVidia updates. It ran solid for about 1 day, and then started freezing. Every time it froze, it was doing different simple tasks. I wasn't even pushing it. It was simple web browsing, e-mail client, ect. When it would freeze, then power LED would just rapidly blink white and I would have to do a hard reset by holding the power button down.

I think you should call them and let then know. More and more reports are coming in that these are not working correctly. The annoying thing about it for me is, the closest Best Buy is an hour and a half away, and I have to keep doing these returns in person. I only get 14 days to test it before the return window closes. So it is either I tough it out and hope it's software related and not hardware related and wait for updates and risk that it may not need an RMA, or I just talked it back to the retailer and get my refund and be done with it.

When I went to this BestBuy this past weekend, they opened the laptop I was returning and half grilled me about it as if I didn't know what I was doing and tried to get me pay extra for their geek squad people to look at it. I shut that attempt down real quick.

My current laptop is an Asus ROG. Going on 5 and a half years without any issues, but obviously, it's starting to show it's age being that old. I am going to be looking at other brands on this next purchase. 3 duds in 2 months with more reports of issues coming in is enough evidence for me that these ones are not ready.

 

[Arcuel]

My first one I received this past Friday started freezing within the first 7 hours of use. The second one started doing it the next day after I got it exchanged. I called Asus tech support and they said they have been getting calls about issues, but mine issue wasn't the one that was 'wide spread' so far, yet I am seeing more and more forums and reedits online about it.

On this most recent model I got (the G8151W). I did a complete fresh install of Windows. As in, I made a Windows 11 USB boot drive using the Microsoft creation tool, booted the laptop from that, and used the Windows 11 installer to totally wiped the drive. Deleted all the partitions to where the entire drive was unallocated, then created a single partition for the entire drive, and told Windows installer to use it. It then creates the other smaller partitions for recovery and whatnot. I then even Bypassed the reequipments to be online to complete the install so I had NOTHING but the base OS on it. Then I installed all the drivers for it from the My Asus apo and their website, grabbed all the Windows updates, and all the NVidia updates. It ran solid for about 1 day, and then started freezing. Every time it froze, it was doing different simple tasks. I wasn't even pushing it. It was simple web browsing, e-mail client, ect. When it would freeze, then power LED would just rapidly blink white and I would have to do a hard reset by holding the power button down.

I think you should call them and let then know. More and more reports are coming in that these are not working correctly. The annoying thing about it for me is, the closest Best Buy is an hour and a half away, and I have to keep doing these returns in person. I only get 14 days to test it before the return window closes. So it is either I tough it out and hope it's software related and not hardware related and wait for updates and risk that it may not need an RMA, or I just talked it back to the retailer and get my refund and be done with it.

When I went to this BestBuy this past weekend, they opened the laptop I was returning and half grilled me about it as if I didn't know what I was doing and tried to get me pay extra for their geek squad people to look at it. I shut that attempt down real quick.

My current laptop is an Asus ROG. Going on 5 and a half years without any issues, but obviously, it's starting to show it's age being that old. I am going to be looking at other brands on this next purchase. 3 duds in 2 months with more reports of issues coming in is enough evidence for me that these ones are not ready.

Yeah this really sucks, I also have a 14 day return window, and the same dilemma as yours: return and be done with it or sit and hope they roll out some update or something to fix this shit.

But, as one person on another forum said - this is the price of being among the first who own a new model of whatever piece of tech or software or a game in early release
Can't say I'm super excited about that, because seriously I wasn't expecting any of this from a machine worth $5k.

Anyways, today I think I might have figured out the culprit of my freezes. Turns out to be a HwMonitor software that I was running all the time to look at temperatures and voltages that was messing around with sensors and freezing for no apparent reason.
So what did I do: reinstalled windows from scratch, installed all drivers from my Asus and windows update. Ditched the freaking Armoury Crate and installed GHelper instead, because people were complaining about Armoury Crate being unstable and creating all sorts of troubles from freezing to stuttering to occasional BSODs.
Didn't expect GHelper would work like a charm. Too early to celebrate perhaps as I have been testing the laptop for 6 hours only but hopefully it won't freeze anymore.
I'll update if it does.

 

[liberty610]

Yeah this really sucks, I also have a 14 day return window, and the same dilemma as yours: return and be done with it or sit and hope they roll out some update or something to fix this shit.

But, as one person on another forum said - this is the price of being among the first who own a new model of whatever piece of tech or software or a game in early release
Can't say I'm super excited about that, because seriously I wasn't expecting any of this from a machine worth $5k.

Anyways, today I think I might have figured out the culprit of my freezes. Turns out to be a HwMonitor software that I was running all the time to look at temperatures and voltages that was messing around with sensors and freezing for no apparent reason.
So what did I do: reinstalled windows from scratch, installed all drivers from my Asus and windows update. Ditched the freaking Armoury Crate and installed GHelper instead, because people were complaining about Armoury Crate being unstable and creating all sorts of troubles from freezing to stuttering to occasional BSODs.
Didn't expect GHelper would work like a charm. Too early to celebrate perhaps as I have been testing the laptop for 6 hours only but hopefully it won't freeze anymore.
I'll update if it does.

I literally just did the same thing 45 mins ago, Reinstalled Windows from scratch again. I bypassed the online install ordeal so it would give me just the base OS without going online and making me sign into a MS account. I ready Armory Crate could be csuing the freezing issue, so I too, also didn't install that. I downloaded all the manual drivers and installed them, did Windows updates. I got a freeze just a second ago.

However, something you said in your reply just now got me wondering.... I was running HW Monitor app from CPUID to check temps while running a gpu stress tester. I can't remember if I was using it when other freezes happened or not. What was the name of the app you where using to monitor temps?

 

[Arcuel]

I literally just did the same thing 45 mins ago, Reinstalled Windows from scratch again. I bypassed the online install ordeal so it would give me just the base OS without going online and making me sign into a MS account. I ready Armory Crate could be csuing the freezing issue, so I too, also didn't install that. I downloaded all the manual drivers and installed them, did Windows updates. I got a freeze just a second ago.

However, something you said in your reply just now got me wondering.... I was running HW Monitor app from CPUID to check temps while running a gpu stress tester. I can't remember if I was using it when other freezes happened or not. What was the name of the app you where using to monitor temps?

The thing is I was only using this HwMonitor from the get go. And got occasional freezes every 1-3 hours or so. Not anymore since I opted out of installing it on the latest windows reinstallation.
So far so good.
I'am currently not using anything to monitor the temps apart from what's built-in GHelper but that's sufficient, at least for now.

 

[liberty610]

The thing is I was only using this HwMonitor from the get go. And got occasional freezes every 1-3 hours or so. Not anymore since I opted out of installing it on the latest windows reinstallation.
So far so good.
I'am currently not using anything to monitor the temps apart from what's built-in GHelper but that's sufficient, at least for now.

I have Revo uninstaller. I'm going to remove HWMonitor with it and continue to do testing.

Does HMMonitor have to open/running in order for it to be causing the issue? I don't run it all the time. So I'm just curious if that's what is indeed causing it.

 

[Zerk2012]

I have Revo uninstaller. I'm going to remove HWMonitor with it and continue to do testing.

Does HMMonitor have to open/running in order for it to be causing the issue? I don't run it all the time. So I'm just curious if that's what is indeed causing it.

I would return it for a refund and buy a different brand.

Buy a new product and have to start working on it, no way it's their problem.

 

[Arcuel]

I have Revo uninstaller. I'm going to remove HWMonitor with it and continue to do testing.

Does HMMonitor have to open/running in order for it to be causing the issue? I don't run it all the time. So I'm just curious if that's what is indeed causing it.

Don't quite remember, probably it was running all the time, but one thing for sure - the latest time the machine froze was seconds after opening it. That's what got me thinking

 

[liberty610]

Don't quite remember, probably it was running all the time, but one thing for sure - the latest time the machine froze was seconds after opening it. That's what got me thinking

Have you tried running a memory tester on yours? That's my next step. Because this is the second laptop in this series of 2025 Rog 18 models that this has happened with.

I'm wondering if there could have been a bad batch of RAM modules they got.

The geek inside of me cannot let this thing rest until I figure out what's causing it. I still have a return window to send it back to the place I bought it from, but I really want to figure out what's causing it.

 

[Arcuel]

I would return it for a refund and buy a different brand.

Buy a new product and have to start working on it, no way it's their problem.

I thought about that too, but what's the alternative? Most of the latest high-end laptops run on the 5000 series, which is still new and a bit buggy—so there's no guarantee the same issue won’t happen with other brands either. I guess it’s either roll with the punches or wait another six months until things settle down.

 

[Arcuel]

Have you tried running a memory tester on yours? That's my next step. Because this is the second laptop in this series of 2025 Rog 18 models that this has happened with.

I'm wondering if there could have been a bad batch of RAM modules they got.

The geek inside of me cannot let this thing rest until I figure out what's causing it. I still have a return window to send it back to the place I bought it from, but I really want to figure out what's causing it.

Yeah I did run a hard disk check and RAM check. No issues were found

 

[liberty610]

I thought about that too, but what's the alternative? Most of the latest high-end laptops run on the 5000 series, which is still new and a bit buggy—so there's no guarantee the same issue won’t happen with other brands either. I guess it’s either roll with the punches or wait another six months until things settle down.

This is true. I guess I'll keep testing things with it until it's closer to my return window.

I would return it for a refund and buy a different brand.

Buy a new product and have to start working on it, no way it's their problem.

I agree with this as well. I'm still in my return window, so I'll be exercising that if need be.

 

[Zerk2012]

I thought about that too, but what's the alternative? Most of the latest high-end laptops run on the 5000 series, which is still new and a bit buggy—so there's no guarantee the same issue won’t happen with other brands either. I guess it’s either roll with the punches or wait another six months until things settle down.

If you get 2 and neither work and their trying to get you to fix it, is that enough to say forget about Asus.
It should be recived in working order not a headache.

 

[Zerk2012]

This is true. I guess I'll keep testing things with it until it's closer to my return window.


I agree with this as well. I'm still in my return window, so I'll be exercising that if need be.

You already got 2 that have problems. Did you buy it to work on or to just use?

 

[Arcuel]

If you get 2 and neither work and their trying to get you to fix it, is that enough to say forget about Asus.
It should be recived in working order not a headache.

Can't argue with that. But like OP said the geek inside me can't just let it go, there's got to be something we are missing. Hopefully the issue is as simple as a faulty HwMonitor software that don't support the brand new processors and GPUs and that's somehow causing the issue.
Ill give an update tomorrow after stress testing the machine for the whole day.

 

[liberty610]

Can't argue with that. But like OP said the geek inside me can't just let it go, there's got to be something we are missing. Hopefully the issue is as simple as a faulty HwMonitor software that don't support the brand new processors and GPUs and that's somehow causing the issue.
Ill give an update tomorrow after stress testing the machine for the whole day.

I'll do the same!

 

[liberty610]

If you get 2 and neither work and their trying to get you to fix it, is that enough to say forget about Asus.
It should be recived in working order not a headache.

Yeah, you're preaching to the choir here bud. I'm extremely frustrated with this situation. But I'm also. A tech geek a heart, and when I learn the most about these things is when situations like this arise. So until I have to return it back to the store I bought it from (closest one is over an hour away) I will learn what's causing it and add it to my situation toolbelt for future scenerios.

 

[liberty610]

Been running this thing non stop the last 42 hours. No freezing issue. Everything has been solid.

I have been editing videos, running a couple games, using a DAW and running some WAV file mixes in it. No issues.

The only other thing I have noticed is, the power button doesn't work every single time I press it if it is not connected to the power brick. The battery isn't dead, its just the power button is unresponsive sometimes. Once I plug it in, it works fine and then the battery is still sitting at like 80%.

Apparently this is a common issue on newer units that gets fixed with BIOS updates.

Other than that, I have been rock solid up to this point.

 

[Arcuel]

Just wanted to share a quick update too for anyone following this issue.

I've been running the machine for over 12 hours straight, mixing in some light gaming and a variety of non-demanding tasks. So far, performance has been solid—no freezes, crashes, or instability. Didn't install buggy Armoury Crate that was responsible for system instability and HWmonitor that turned to be the likely cause of freezes.

For everyone who's been experiencing the same issue with freezes here's steps I'd take to make things work smoothly:

1) I'd reinstall windows

2) Install chipset, Nvidia drivers, sound

3) Get My Asus and install drivers that it suggests.

4) Install remaining windows drivers after

5) Go to device manager, there will be couple of exclamation marks for undetected devices, I'd copy/paste their IDs into chatgpt and ask it to identify. Then I'd download drivers for those manually from Asus.

6) I'd install GHelper and remove my Asus. And make sure no other Asus processes are running (there's an option to do so in GHelper.

Again very important thing is to NOT USE HWmonitor

That's what I did after the last freeze, and so far it's working fine. I still have about a week left to test it before the return window closes. Hope everything will be as smooth as it was so far!

 

[liberty610]

Just wanted to share a quick update too for anyone following this issue.

I've been running the machine for over 12 hours straight, mixing in some light gaming and a variety of non-demanding tasks. So far, performance has been solid—no freezes, crashes, or instability. Didn't install buggy Armoury Crate that was responsible for system instability and HWmonitor that turned to be the likely cause of freezes.

For everyone who's been experiencing the same issue with freezes here's steps I'd take to make things work smoothly:

1) I'd reinstall windows

2) Install chipset, Nvidia drivers, sound

3) Get My Asus and install drivers that it suggests.

4) Install remaining windows drivers after

5) Go to device manager, there will be couple of exclamation marks for undetected devices, I'd copy/paste their IDs into chatgpt and ask it to identify. Then I'd download drivers for those manually from Asus.

6) I'd install GHelper and remove my Asus. And make sure no other Asus processes are running (there's an option to do so in GHelper.

Again very important thing is to NOT USE HWmonitor

That's what I did after the last freeze, and so far it's working fine. I still have about a week left to test it before the return window closes. Hope everything will be as smooth as it was so far!

My situation is very similar to this user situation where I still have time to return mine. But as he stated, mine has also been running very well and I've been using it for just about everything the last 48 hours. Video editing, gaming, DAW audio work with VST plug-ins, and other tasks.

I pretty much did the same steps that he did, the only difference was, when I installed Windows, I did a full reinstall where I used Windows 11s installer tool to completely delete all the partitions on the SSD drive to make it unallocated, and then made a new partition to install Windows on. The windows installer will then maje it's own multiple smaller partitions that are needed for recovery options and whatnot.

I must add though, there is an option in the bios that you have to turn off in order for the windows installer to see your SSD doing this install method. You have to go to the advance option in BIOS and disable the VMD option. Then when you restart the system, the Windows 11s installer will see your SSD so you can select it so install the OS. This has something to do with the Intel rapid storage raid ordeal. Turning off vmd mode bypasses the need for the Intel IRST driver fishing the install process to wear Windows 11 installer will see your SSD as usable.

This method of deleting all the partitions and making a brand new one from scratch completely wipes out any possible scenarios of armory crate or any other buggy software to be left behind from the factory.

The other thing that I was able to do during the install process was completely bypass Window's requirement to sign into a Microsoft account and get online for updates right away (hit up YouTube and search for 'bypassnro' to see how to do this). So I was able to install just the very basic bare bones OS And then manually installed all the drivers from the Asus website and the myasis app and whatnot after that. I then grabbed all the windows updates.

This is useful because Windows installer will check the ID of the computer and automatically download a certain update package that is specifically designed for these models of laptops, and could very often add armory crate and other things automatically that you don't need that could potentially cause issues down the road until they finally update these things to make them workable.

My freezing issues started after I did all this. Much like this user above, it very well could have been because I was also using the the HW monitor app. He ended up completely reinstalling Windows AFTER he installed that app to get his freezing issue resolved.

I had just freshly installed Windows and put the app on afterwards and the freezing started for me. So in order to make sure that I got rid of the app and all traces of it, I used an app called Revo Uninstaller Pro, which is a fantastic app for uninstalling software you don't want on your machine. If you're interested in using it, you can get a cheap license for the portable version and just run it on an external SSD or flash drive and use it on multiple machines.

After Reavo uninstalls any app or programs, it goes further than the basic uninstaller in Windows does by going into the registry and cleaning up all the garbage files and folders left behind. Windows then treats it as if the app was never ever installed on your machine.

I'm grateful for the people on this forum that have helped me over the years in situations like this. These scenarios can be huge headaches, especially when you use these machines for the sake of running your own small business like I am.

I hope other users down the road who may have come into this issue will get help from this threat as well. I have been in talks with members of aces tech support and I will be passing this information along to them as well.