Windows 8.1 freezes on new custom PC

[TaylorNotThatSwift]

I just built a new computer and installed Windows 8.1 on it and the OS started freezing up. My cursor would freeze and I would click the Windows button on my keyboard and it just wouldn't do anything. I wasn't doing anything demanding and it would happen almost immediately after startup. My CPU temp never went above 30 degrees Celsius. I reinstalled Windows and it's still doing it.

PC Specs:
AMD FX-8320
Gigabyte GA970A-UD3P
Kingston HyperX 8GB 1866MHz
Phanteks cooler
Seagate Barracuda 2TB HDD
Cooler Master Elite 430
Sapphire Dual-X Radeon HD 7850 1GB OC

Thanks for your help.

 

[i7Baby]

Disconnect the OS drive, connect an internal speaker and see what post/beep code it comes up with (if it doesn't load bios) per http://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm

 

[TaylorNotThatSwift]

My computer loads the BIOS fine. Just when I installed Windows does it freeze up. I'm starting to think it's a graphics card problem because I'm noticing some artifacts when it does freeze up. I've tried Windows 8 and Windows 7 and now I can barely turn on my computer and log in to Windows without it freezing. There are no beeps when Windows freezes up on the internal speaker.

 

[TaylorNotThatSwift]

Then again, I think it might be my hard drive, because, at one point, the Chkdsk command automatically started up and it took ages to boot into Windows (which subsequently froze). I'll switch out my hard drive and come back with details.

 

[i7Baby]

If it posts OK, then your problem is with the OS drive - the OS and/or the drive.

 

[TaylorNotThatSwift]

Yeah, the computer does turn on and it beeps as it should, but even after I switched out the hard drive with another, my cursor and my OS still freeze while in Windows. Is there any way I can check for sure which component is causing this?

 

[i7Baby]

What do you mean 'switched out'? Did you re-install Windows on a new hard drive and install up to date drivers?

 

[TaylorNotThatSwift]

To test whether the hard drive was my issue or not, I switched it out for another one I had and put Windows 8 on it. Before I could install any drivers, my computer and OS freezes. This isn't just a Windows 8 thing, though, the same thing happens when I install Windows 7.

 

[i7Baby]

Check whether you get a post/beep code error from the internal speaker when you boot the PC without the OS drive connected.

 

[TaylorNotThatSwift]

Just like beforehand, I get a single beep. However, it tells me that no bootable device was found and it asks me to press a key to go to the BIOS setup utility.

 

[i7Baby]

That's because you've disconnected the OS drive. Is it AMI or IBM type bios?

 

[TaylorNotThatSwift]

My BIOS type is AMI.

 

[i7Baby]

http://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm - AMI - 1 beep is ram failure.

Check that its sitting in the right slots (per mobo manual) properly. If OK then check it with memtest.

 

[TaylorNotThatSwift]

What if my BIOS detects that my 8GB kit is working fine and at its designed clockspeed? My BIOS detects the RAM and I only have a 1x8GB stick so I'm not running in dual channel.

I have installed my single stick in the DDR3_1 slot. My motherboard's Channel A is DDR3_2 and DDR3_4 and Channel B is DDR3_1 and DDR3_3.

 

[i7Baby]

Its a dual channel motherboard. A 2 stick kit would be better.

Try it in a different slot each time and see if the beep will go away.

 

[TaylorNotThatSwift]

I've tried all four slots and the beep doesn't go away. Also, on each attempt, with the RAM stick in a different slot, I booted into Windows to see if it would freeze on me and it did, all four times.

 

[i7Baby]

Is it ram listed on the memory support list? http://www.gigabyte.com.au/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4717#memory%20support%20list

 

[TaylorNotThatSwift]

No, it is not, but my specific RAM is unbuffered non-ECC 1866MHz, which is fully within support, in general, for my motherboard. Right?

 

[i7Baby]

http://www.gigabyte.com.au/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4717#sp says
"4 x 1.5V DDR3 DIMM sockets supporting up to 32 GB of system memory (Note 1)
Dual channel memory architecture
Support for DDR3 2000(O.C.)/1866/1600/1333/1066 MHz memory modules (Note 2)
(Please refer "Memory Support List" for more information.)"

For dual channel, I'd expect you to have 2 or 4 modules. Are singles listed on the Memory Support list?

 

[TaylorNotThatSwift]

Thanks i7Baby for your time, but I think I figured it out!

My computer would freeze because my mouse and keyboard were connected through the back USB ports, and using the back USB ports caused the computer to freeze. If I put all my USB ports in the front of my case, the freezing issue mysteriously goes away. Unfortunately, Ethernet doesn't work either when I hook it up into the back of the computer (it freezes), even though I installed all the drivers I could find. I'll have to find a solution to this problem elsewhere, but thank you for your help!

 

[i7Baby]

Post a thread on it. Check your usb devices in device manager.

 

[TaylorNotThatSwift]

Already have. Thanks!