Question Windows 11 PC freezes up suddenly ?

[apalace]

PC Specs:
MB: Asus Rog Strix B550-E Gaming
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5900X
Cooler: Noctua NH-D15S
PSU: Corsair RM850 (2021), RM Series, 850 Watt 80 Plus
RAM: Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 3200MHz (CMW16GX4M2C3200C16W) /
GPU: ASUS TUF GeForce RTX 3070 TI
SSD1: Crucial P5 Plus CT1000P5PSSD8 1TB (PCIe 4.0, M.2)
SSD2: Fanxiang S500PRO 2TB NVMe SSD (PCIe 3.0 M.2)
OS: Windows 11 Pro Ver. 23H2


I encounter freezing, it happens without any warning, on desktop, in browser, in a game, while my monitor is on sleep, it doesn't matter where, it just happens, with no error messages. I then can't move or open anything, everything is frozen. Even the LED colors on my PC-Case stop looping. I can't use it till I turn it off by pressing the power button (reset button is replaced with LED option-modes).

It sometimes happens after leaving my PC on sleep-mode for 2 or 3 days, then when I start using it, it freezes maybe few hours later. And sometimes it freezes just in the same day (after few hours).
I don't remember exactly when this happened, possibly few months ago, I can't remember when and what did change to cause this problem, because it wasn't there before (I built my PC 2 years ago). But the second 3.0 M.2 SSD drive was installed later, could it cause this issue?

I would appreciate any tip/help. What could cause this issue?

 

[SkyNetRising]

The only option left, is to remove the second M.2 hard disk that I installed 1 year after building my PC, it maybe the reason? Perhaps my MoBo has technical issues when installing the second M.2 HDD that affect the DDR slots?

If you suspect second SSD causing the issue, try removing it and see, if freezes still happen.

 

[helper800]

I have come across a lot of issues using Sleep mode in general. Often times it has to do with BIOS options related to power and power savings. Sometimes in your BIOS there will be settings related to sleep states. If your motherboard does not support or has problems with sleep states then Sleep mode for windows will not work properly...

 

[apalace]

If you suspect second SSD causing the issue, try removing it and see, if freezes still happen.

I will, as I see this the last try, if the issue happens after removing this M.2 stick, then I guess I have to change the whole motherboard.

I have come across a lot of issues using Sleep mode in general. Often times it has to do with BIOS options related to power and power savings. Sometimes in your BIOS there will be settings related to sleep states. If your motherboard does not support or has problems with sleep states then Sleep mode for windows will not work properly...

Do you mean I should look for such option in the BIOS and if there is such, I should disable it? Or what exactly do I have to try here?

 

[helper800]

I will, as I see this the last try, if the issue happens after removing this M.2 stick, then I guess I have to change the whole motherboard.


Do you mean I should look for such option in the BIOS and if there is such, I should disable it? Or what exactly do I have to try here?

Here is some more information on the subject.

 

[apalace]

Here is some more information on the subject.

Thank you!
I followed the powercfg /a command and got this message

https://imgur.com/a/mTHZEHY

View: https://imgur.com/a/mTHZEHY


Which - as I understand - Sleep State 3 is available in my PC.

In the site you gave me, the S3 is:

-------------------------------------​

System Power State S3​

System power state S3 is a sleeping state with the following characteristics:

Power consumption

• Less consumption than in state S2. Processor is off and some chips on the motherboard also might be off.

Software resumption

• After the wake-up event, control starts from the processor's reset vector.

Hardware latency

• Almost indistinguishable from S2.

System hardware context

• Only system memory is retained. CPU context, cache contents, and chipset context are lost.

--------------------------------------------------
Now what exactly do you suggest? To disable S3 or something else?

 

[helper800]

Thank you!
I followed the powercfg /a command and got this message

https://imgur.com/a/mTHZEHY

View: https://imgur.com/a/mTHZEHY


Which - as I understand - Sleep State 3 is available in my PC.

In the site you gave me, the S3 is:

-------------------------------------​

System Power State S3​

System power state S3 is a sleeping state with the following characteristics:

Power consumption

• Less consumption than in state S2. Processor is off and some chips on the motherboard also might be off.

Software resumption

• After the wake-up event, control starts from the processor's reset vector.

Hardware latency

• Almost indistinguishable from S2.

System hardware context

• Only system memory is retained. CPU context, cache contents, and chipset context are lost.

--------------------------------------------------
Now what exactly do you suggest? To disable S3 or something else?

Disabling S3 would mean Sleep mode would become unavailable to your PC. My original point was the you may have some BIOS setting that messes with sleep states which is no bueno when your PC enters sleep mode. Have you tried clearing CMOS since you updated BIOS? You should not be freezing in BIOS ever...

 

[apalace]

Disabling S3 would mean Sleep mode would become unavailable to your PC. My original point was the you may have some BIOS setting that messes with sleep states which is no bueno when your PC enters sleep mode. Have you tried clearing CMOS since you updated BIOS? You should not be freezing in BIOS ever...

No, I still didn't clear my CMOS. Should I do it?

EDIT: OK I did reset the BIOS to the default, restarted the PC then entered the BIOS to change the Ram frequency and voltage.

 

[apalace]

Sadly, it got frozen again just now, even after I cleared the CMOS last night.
The option left is removing the second M.2 stick and see if it is the cause, or I am just imagining that.

Weird is that it gets frozen mostly and shortly after I leave the PC for a short time, I stand up go drink, come back BOOM frozen. Sometimes it happens while I am working with it, but most of the time when I leave it for a short time.

Could it be a virus that hit my BIOS and is hiding there? Because I have seen a YT video of a technician who was talking about a new virus that can even hit the BIOS, and when it happens, it can't be removed, just throw the whole MoBo away and change it.
I know it sounds impossible, but I have watched such warning.

View: https://youtu.be/2QFJLszvDwg?si=hrz6R1aO_qnHnRJU

or

View: https://youtu.be/smnYAy71-4A?si=_gX4H8G4Ku3cUEGH

 

[noriskofrain]

The freezing is back, 2 days after leaving my PC ON/Sleep mode, and only while I was browsing some YT shorts, suddenly frozen.
It drives me crazy, I just want to know what exactly causes this to repair it
Am I the only person on earth who has this issue?

Im having this same problem!!! Either it freezes and then blue screens then restarts, OR my monitors go dark and a “no signal” message pops up and my computer goes into sleep mode before restarting. It’s one or the other.
I used to have a problem with overheating and I thought that was the culprit, so I invested in a new cooler and more case fans, but its still doing it.

 

[apalace]

Im having this same problem!!! Either it freezes and then blue screens then restarts, OR my monitors go dark and a “no signal” message pops up and my computer goes into sleep mode before restarting. It’s one or the other.
I used to have a problem with overheating and I thought that was the culprit, so I invested in a new cooler and more case fans, but its still doing it.

Although your problem may sound similar to mine, but it is totally different.
The PC freezes with no single error message or Blue screen, the screen just freezes and no way to restart it using CTRL+ALT+DEL, nothing responses, the screen doesn't go off or loose signal, it shows the last picture that the pc froze it on. I have to press and hold the power button to shut it down.
This happened on desktop, browser, game, Bios, and even when I wanted to turn it off once, it got frozen while the windows circle was moving to shut down, the screen froze on the circle and stopped moving, it was frozen no life, only the fans of the pc continue and the LEDs light cycle.

It is turning me crazy.

 

[noriskofrain]

Although your problem may sound similar to mine, but it is totally different.
The PC freezes with no single error message or Blue screen, the screen just freezes and no way to restart it using CTRL+ALT+DEL, nothing responses, the screen doesn't go off or loose signal, it shows the last picture that the pc froze it on. I have to press and hold the power button to shut it down.
This happened on desktop, browser, game, Bios, and even when I wanted to turn it off once, it got frozen while the windows circle was moving to shut down, the screen froze on the circle and stopped moving, it was frozen no life, only the fans of the pc continue and the LEDs light cycle.

It is turning me crazy.

Ah okay, I see. I must have misunderstood at some point. I wish I had some advice for your problem but I’m just as lost toward mine and was looking for some tips through forums. Best of luck

 

[beyondlogic]

Sadly it froze even with 3000mhz and in manual, with 1,35v.
I even tried and removed one ram bar, and worked with only 1 16gb bar, and froze.
I don't know what else I can check or do to examine the issue.
The only option left, is to remove the second M.2 hard disk that I installed 1 year after building my PC, it maybe the reason? Perhaps my MoBo has technical issues when installing the second M.2 HDD that affect the DDR slots?
What do you think? Or is there other option or test that I can perform?

reset the bios to default and save see if this changes it

this will remove any overclocks or weird settings.

when you installed the second nvme did you use a nvme stand off.?

 

[apalace]

reset the bios to default and save see if this changes it

this will remove any overclocks or weird settings.

when you installed the second nvme did you use a nvme stand off.?

I cleared CMOS last night, and got frozen today, so reseting the bios to its default didn't help. BTW I didn't do any overclocking, just everything on AUTO and let it decide the MHz of the RAMs (3200).

But I didn't understand what you mean with "nvme stand off" ?
I removed the second nvme right now, which I installed a year later after I built my PC. it is PCIe 3.0 , but the windows is installed on the first nvme one which is PCIe 4.0

I will see if after I removed this second nvme stick will stop this freeze.

Ah okay, I see. I must have misunderstood at some point. I wish I had some advice for your problem but I’m just as lost toward mine and was looking for some tips through forums. Best of luck

Thanks man, I also wish you the best of luck.

 

[beyondlogic]

I cleared CMOS last night, and got frozen today, so reseting the bios to its default didn't help. BTW I didn't do any overclocking, just everything on AUTO and let it decide the MHz of the RAMs (3200).

But I didn't understand what you mean with "nvme stand off" ?
I removed the second nvme right now, which I installed a year later after I built my PC. it is PCIe 3.0 , but the windows is installed on the first nvme one which is PCIe 4.0

I will see if after I removed this second nvme stick will stop this freeze.


Thanks man, I also wish you the best of luck.

all motherboards have a nvme stand off that has to be installed first. before you can install the nvme this board seems to have them preinstalled which is fine but it does have extra steps for certain nvme

Fanxiang S500PRO 2TB considering my anti virus kicked in on there website wouldnt trust this brand seen alot of reports about failing drives etc.

 

[apalace]

all motherboards have a nvme stand off that has to be installed first. before you can install the nvme this board seems to have them preinstalled which is fine but it does have extra steps for certain nvme

Fanxiang S500PRO 2TB considering my anti virus kicked in on there website wouldnt trust this brand seen alot of reports about failing drives etc.

Interesting. Since I removed it till now, I didn't encounter any freeze, but it is still too early to come to this conclusion.
I will wait a little more, like 2 or 3 days, and see.
So you mean that the brand is causing this trouble and not a failure of MoBo ? So when I install a second nvme from a good brand, this might not cause this issue?

 

[beyondlogic]

Interesting. Since I removed it till now, I didn't encounter any freeze, but it is still too early to come to this conclusion.
I will wait a little more, like 2 or 3 days, and see.
So you mean that the brand is causing this trouble and not a failure of MoBo ? So when I install a second nvme from a good brand, this might not cause this issue?

I believe the nvme has become faulty fanxiang is known to use bargain basement components

also in the box there's small rubber pads with motherboard if there's only chips on one side you need to use these to prop up the nvme.

Nvme come in 2 flavours double sided with chips on both sides and single sided.

Pretty sure it's a faulty nvme.

I recommend

Crucial
Pny
Lexar
Kingston

( check manuals for nvme install )

ROG STRIX B550-E GAMING | Motherboards | ROG Global

rog.asus.com

 

[apalace]

I believe the nvme has become faulty fanxiang is known to use bargain basement components

also in the box there's small rubber pads with motherboard if there's only chips on one side you need to use these to prop up the nvme.

Nvme come in 2 flavours double sided with chips on both sides and single sided.

Pretty sure it's a faulty nvme.

I recommend

Crucial
Pny
Lexar
Kingston

( check manuals for nvme install )

ROG STRIX B550-E GAMING | Motherboards | ROG Global

rog.asus.com

Yes man, I have big feeling that my whole problem was caused by this nvme by fanxiang, I have even mentioned it in my first post, but I wasn't sure, and I was skeptic about it, how an ssd can cause such a problem, which most likely RAMs or PSU issue??
But I will wait till tomorrow and see, if no freeze happens then finally the issue is this little stick.

I know how to install nvme, I installed the first one, which is Crucial P5 Plus PCIe 4.0, and the windows is on it. It is easy just stick it inside the place, the small screw in the hole, the MoBo heat sink over it, done. The fanxiang was working normally I guess in the first 6 months, no issue at all. As I remember, the freezing started to happen like 6 months ago, and it was getting worst throughout the time.

 

[beyondlogic]

Yes man, I have big feeling that my whole problem was caused by this nvme by fanxiang, I have even mentioned it in my first post, but I wasn't sure, and I was skeptic about it, how an ssd can cause such a problem, which most likely RAMs or PSU issue??
But I will wait till tomorrow and see, if no freeze happens then finally the issue is this little stick.

I know how to install nvme, I installed the first one, which is Crucial P5 Plus PCIe 4.0, and the windows is on it. It is easy just stick it inside the place, the small screw in the hole, the MoBo heat sink over it, done. The fanxiang was working normally I guess in the first 6 months, no issue at all. As I remember, the freezing started to happen like 6 months ago, and it was getting worst throughout the time.

6 months is roughly what these nvme have been known to last some less. The pins on a nvme can cause the board to kind of short out if pins on a nvme are wired incorrectly on PCB that can also happen again sounds like you got a lemon

 

[apalace]

6 months is roughly what these nvme have been known to last some less. The pins on a nvme can cause the board to kind of short out if pins on a nvme are wired incorrectly on PCB that can also happen again sounds like you got a lemon

Yes, the problem was this Fanxiang NVMe SSD (PCIe 3.0 M.2). After removing it, the issue disappeared.
I bought NVMe enclosure to USB-C, to back up the files and save them in another SSD.
And to be sure that it was the fanxiang causing this issue and not the place on the MoBo itself, I inserted a SanDisk NVMe PCIe 3.0 with 1 TB which I had in an older PC, and no issue.

Therefore, I thank everyone, who added some information to the thread, and tried to help me find out the cause of this issue.

 

[beyondlogic]

Yes, the problem was this Fanxiang NVMe SSD (PCIe 3.0 M.2). After removing it, the issue disappeared.
I bought NVMe enclosure to USB-C, to back up the files and save them in another SSD.
And to be sure that it was the fanxiang causing this issue and not the place on the MoBo itself, I inserted a SanDisk NVMe PCIe 3.0 with 1 TB which I had in an older PC, and no issue.

Therefore, I thank everyone, who added some information to the thread, and tried to help me find out the cause of this issue.

some of said files may be corrupted or have files missing if its games so if there not working you may have to redownload them.

glad this problem is fixed

 

[apalace]

The freezing just came back, it turned out, there is nothing to do with the m.2 ssd, I tried and changed it, and I tried without it, the freezing still occur.
I am out of ideas, I suppose I tried everything I could think of to be the reason for this issue.

Any idea please?

 

[JayGau]

The freezing just came back, it turned out, there is nothing to do with the m.2 ssd, I tried and changed it, and I tried without it, the freezing still occur.
I am out of ideas, I suppose I tried everything I could think of to be the reason for this issue.

Any idea please?

Your last post before this one was in May 2024. So the computer has been fine for almost a year (after you removed the cheap drive) and now the problem is back?

 

[apalace]

Your last post before this one was in May 2024. So the computer has been fine for almost a year (after you removed the cheap drive) and now the problem is back?

It was fine for about 4 months. I didn't post here immediately.

 

[apalace]

I found someone from other forum, who has exactly the same freezing issue as mine, and he has the same specs as mine (CPU, MoBo, GFX Card), I will quote his post:

My computer freezes. It locks up completely. It can sometimes happen like 5-10 times a day for weeks, and then not happen at all for 3-4 days. It typically happens if I don’t lock the computer, don’t put it to sleep, but just get up from my desk and leave it be for 2-10 minutes. If I put it to sleep and use it actively as long as I’m in front of it, it does not happen very often. Sometimes I can also see that the time froze as I came back and sat down at my desk.. so basically it froze the second I moved the mouse after the PC idling for some minutes.

- Also having issues with USB. I have had some buzzing sounds in my USB headset a couple of times. Lasts for 2-4 seconds.
- If I have a SD or USB stick inserted, transfer some files, then eject the device, I cannot mount the device, or any other storage SD or USB sticks again. I must restart or unplug/reconnect a USB C hub I have. Strangely, It’s the same fix if I have the USB stick connected straight to the USB on the motherboard as well. (I have tested to run without the USB C hub connected, no difference in the freezing issue)
- I’ve got a Logitech Pro X Superlight and a G915 TKL. The mouse will sometimes act up and won’t accept input for more than a second at a time, then it goes dead for like 2-5 seconds. This cycle will continue until I unplug my keyboard a couple of times, and I hear a HW connected sound (windows sound) 2 times. Normally the sound only plays 1 time when connecting a USB device, but the mouse only starts working when I get the sound played 2 times… yeah… .. …

So the freezing is of course the biggest issue… The computer completely locks up, accepts no input. Screen is frozen. I’ve had it freeze while playing music from YouYube, but the sounds stops as soon as the PC freezes. The continuous animations in the menu of PUBG also freezes. Keyboard and mouse gets disconnected from their respective USB dongles. I've had TeamViewer set up of remote access, but the PC show up as offline.The only input accepted is the reset button..

I have turned of C states in my BIOS, and after doing that I had a marvellous period of 5 days with no freezes what so ever, then on the 6th day it was back to freezing 4 times in just a couple of hours.. I do have a feeling (but please don’t be blinded by my suspicions, I’m clearly not an expert) that it could be related to power states of the CPU, C states and stuff like that..
-The issue with the mouse occurs most often if I alt+tab out of a game.
-The freezing occurs exclusively when the computer is idling, or when I try to start using it after it’s been idling for some minutes.
-I’m also having issues with getting the computer to sleep and the monitor to turn off after x minutes. I do get it working but it only lasts for some days or some weeks and it is not always work withing that period either... And if I put it to sleep manually, it will often wake up again after 1-2 minutes even if there is no input.

What I’ve done so far:
- Several tests on the memory using memtest86.
- Clean windows install.
- Disabled C state
- Updated windows, BIOS, drivers, and firmware for all my devices.
- Checked the event logs, nothing sticking out that I could see at least.
- Tried to reset powerplans from cmd.
- Disabled all non-microsoft services from System Configuration>Services
- Disabled all non-microsoft applications from starting up in TaskManager>Startup apps.
- Pulling my hair
- Calling Microsoft, more or less the most disappointed I’ve been my whole life, not calling back there..
- Cleaned out GPU drivers with DDU from Guru3D.com
- And a lot more that I’ve already forgotten..

Specs:

GPU : ASUS GeForce RTX 3070 Ti ROG STRIX OC - 8GB GDDR6X

OS Name Microsoft Windows 11 Pro
Version 10.0.22621 Build 22621
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Manufacturer ASUS
System Model System Product Name
System Type x64-based PC
System SKU SKU
Processor AMD Ryzen 9 5900X 12-Core Processor, 3701 Mhz, 12 Core(s), 24 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date American Megatrends Inc. 3002, 23/02/2023
SMBIOS Version 3.3
Embedded Controller Version 255.255
BIOS Mode UEFI
BaseBoard Manufacturer ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.
BaseBoard Product ROG STRIX B550-E GAMING
BaseBoard Version Rev X.0x
Platform Role Desktop
Secure Boot State Off
PCR7 Configuration Binding Not Possible
Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 64.0 GB
Page File Space 4.00 GB

Does this mean maybe the MoBo is faulty or has problems with the CPU/GFX Card ??
Should I change the MoBo to another manufactury ??
Any idea to try before I change the MoBo ?