Random freeze requiring reboot, win 8.1

Cronnix

New Member
Messages
11
Hi,

I've started recently having issues with my Asus laptop (model x550c). It all began with couple of BSOD, that were referring to hardware error, but as they occurred when I witched WIFI I figured it was driver related, re-installed driver, and they went away.

Fast forward a few days, now computer just randomly (what I can see) freezes, with image and everything left, and nothing happens till I reboot by taking battery out (I can't move mouse, or do anything at all). I've also had issues starting PC up from the win8 hybrid shutdown, with nothing but black screen greeting me leading to same battery reboot.

Memtest seemingly came back okay (although I'll let it turn bit longer once I'm home), drivers seems up to date, no new software been installed recently, antivirus scan came back clean. Nothing seems abnormal with GPU/CPU load or temp. Chkdsk fixed some minor issues after first bsod, but freezes continued.

I am attaching the last minidump file, that seems to be pointing at hal.dll as cause, as well as the SF info. However, I can't save event viewer logs however, as it gives "The specified channel could not be found" error, so I had to manually export all critical and errors events in three separate files you can find in the events archive.

Any tips on how I should approach troubleshooting this, or what may be the cause are greatly appreciated.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win 8.1
Hi,

0x124 hardware stops. As you already know, that means hal.

Uninstall Avast, reboot, then use their removal tool to remove remnants. Set Windows Firewall and Windows Defender to Automatic and start them too.


Make sure there is no overclocking. Monitor temps to ensure within spec, clean fans if necessary. Update bios to newest. Use CPU-Z to compare Memory tab to SPD tab, to see if memory is set well.

Update these if possible:

Code:
AiCharger AiCharger.sys Thu Sep 22 22:04:40 2011 (4E7BE938)
atkwmiacpi64 atkwmiacpi64.sys Tue Sep 06 21:44:52 2011 (4E66CC94)
ASMMAP64 ASMMAP64.sys Thu Jul 02 05:13:26 2009 (4A4C7A36)

from laptop maker's site, most likely in Downloads/Utilities section, even if you must look to Windows 7


iaStorA iaStorA.sys Sat Sep 01 21:01:24 2012 (5042AFE4)

Intel storage, from Intel.com

and

kbfiltr kbfiltr.sys Wed Aug 01 23:22:22 2012 (5019F26E)

Driver Reference Table - kbfiltr.sys




 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7601.18247.x86fre.win7sp1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-built Intel based
    CPU
    Pentium D 925 3.0 GHz socket 775, Presler @ ~ 3.2 GHz
    Motherboard
    Intel DQ965MT
    Memory
    Hyundai 2 GB DDR2 @ 333 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS DirectCU II HD7790-DC2OC-2GD5 Radeon HD 7790 2GB 128-Bit GDDR5
    Sound Card
    MOTU Traveler firewire interface
    Hard Drives
    1 Seagate Barracuda SATA II system/boot drive 80 GB, 2 Western Digital hdds - 1 is SATA II Caviar Black 1 TB attached to card (assorted media, page, temp), other is SATA I 420 GB (games, media, downloads)
    PSU
    Thermaltake 450W
    Cooling
    stock Gateway cooling, extra large fan in rear of case
    Keyboard
    Alienware/Microsoft Internet kb
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
    Internet Speed
    Optimum Online, fast for US
    Browser
    Pale Moon
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky integrated into ZoneAlarm+Antivirus
Hi MasterChief,

Thanks for the suggestions, will do all that. May I ask, what is so particular with Avast that you recommend uninstalling it?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win 8.1
0x124 is a drastic hardware-based stop error.

All efforts in every direction must be taken with software to ensure a system as close to perfect as possible, to either alleviate errors, or to be left in an excellent state should hardware need to be scrutinized next.

Basically, any 3rd party antivirus can and often does cause crashes - and to proceed in a well manner, it is most highly advisable to rid of any in these kinds of scenarios.

Once testing is done and the machine is back to 100% stability, then you're welcome to re-install it - when you will know exactly about what caused crashes if/when it happens.

To sum it up - a very positive and necessary step for 0x124 stops. That being said, I expect the ASUS drivers being updated to be the fix here - as well as checking any software from them to ensure there is no overclocking being set.

I advise all of the above, and that's why it's all there. :) You're welcome.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7601.18247.x86fre.win7sp1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-built Intel based
    CPU
    Pentium D 925 3.0 GHz socket 775, Presler @ ~ 3.2 GHz
    Motherboard
    Intel DQ965MT
    Memory
    Hyundai 2 GB DDR2 @ 333 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS DirectCU II HD7790-DC2OC-2GD5 Radeon HD 7790 2GB 128-Bit GDDR5
    Sound Card
    MOTU Traveler firewire interface
    Hard Drives
    1 Seagate Barracuda SATA II system/boot drive 80 GB, 2 Western Digital hdds - 1 is SATA II Caviar Black 1 TB attached to card (assorted media, page, temp), other is SATA I 420 GB (games, media, downloads)
    PSU
    Thermaltake 450W
    Cooling
    stock Gateway cooling, extra large fan in rear of case
    Keyboard
    Alienware/Microsoft Internet kb
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
    Internet Speed
    Optimum Online, fast for US
    Browser
    Pale Moon
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky integrated into ZoneAlarm+Antivirus
Sorry for late reply, and thank you for clarifications! I went through that list of drivers, and most were already at the latest versions (those from 2011), while others could not be found. I have uninstalled Avast. Bios is updated to latest, there's no overclocking, fans and temperatures are at normal.

The freeze still occur, and sometimes I can't wake up laptop from sleep with lid down, I assume it froze, making me re-seat the battery. Are there any other steps I could take to try troubleshooting this?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win 8.1

Update these if possible:

Code:
AiCharger AiCharger.sys Thu Sep 22 22:04:40 2011 (4E7BE938)
atkwmiacpi64 atkwmiacpi64.sys Tue Sep 06 21:44:52 2011 (4E66CC94)
ASMMAP64 ASMMAP64.sys Thu Jul 02 05:13:26 2009 (4A4C7A36)

from laptop maker's site, most likely in Downloads/Utilities section, even if you must look to Windows 7


Sorry for late reply, and thank you for clarifications! I went through that list of drivers, and most were already at the latest versions (those from 2011), while others could not be found.

You're welcome.

Check again:

ATKACPI driver and hotkey-related utilities
ASUS USB Charger Plus
Keyboard Device Filter Utility

In "Others" section also: Intel Rapid Storage Technology driver
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7601.18247.x86fre.win7sp1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-built Intel based
    CPU
    Pentium D 925 3.0 GHz socket 775, Presler @ ~ 3.2 GHz
    Motherboard
    Intel DQ965MT
    Memory
    Hyundai 2 GB DDR2 @ 333 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS DirectCU II HD7790-DC2OC-2GD5 Radeon HD 7790 2GB 128-Bit GDDR5
    Sound Card
    MOTU Traveler firewire interface
    Hard Drives
    1 Seagate Barracuda SATA II system/boot drive 80 GB, 2 Western Digital hdds - 1 is SATA II Caviar Black 1 TB attached to card (assorted media, page, temp), other is SATA I 420 GB (games, media, downloads)
    PSU
    Thermaltake 450W
    Cooling
    stock Gateway cooling, extra large fan in rear of case
    Keyboard
    Alienware/Microsoft Internet kb
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
    Internet Speed
    Optimum Online, fast for US
    Browser
    Pale Moon
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky integrated into ZoneAlarm+Antivirus
Also, no need to disconnect battery ever. Simply hold down the power button for 5 seconds and the machine turns off (if frozen or if not frozen.)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7601.18247.x86fre.win7sp1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-built Intel based
    CPU
    Pentium D 925 3.0 GHz socket 775, Presler @ ~ 3.2 GHz
    Motherboard
    Intel DQ965MT
    Memory
    Hyundai 2 GB DDR2 @ 333 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS DirectCU II HD7790-DC2OC-2GD5 Radeon HD 7790 2GB 128-Bit GDDR5
    Sound Card
    MOTU Traveler firewire interface
    Hard Drives
    1 Seagate Barracuda SATA II system/boot drive 80 GB, 2 Western Digital hdds - 1 is SATA II Caviar Black 1 TB attached to card (assorted media, page, temp), other is SATA I 420 GB (games, media, downloads)
    PSU
    Thermaltake 450W
    Cooling
    stock Gateway cooling, extra large fan in rear of case
    Keyboard
    Alienware/Microsoft Internet kb
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
    Internet Speed
    Optimum Online, fast for US
    Browser
    Pale Moon
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky integrated into ZoneAlarm+Antivirus
Thank you for insisting, dunno how I missed them the first time. Updated the above drivers, bios, and couple of other drivers for win8.1. Will report in a couple of days if that helped the freezing!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win 8.1
The crashes seems to be gone, so I'm gonna cautiously mark this as solved. Thanks a lot for your help, Master thief. If anyone stumbles onto this thread in future, be careful installing the USB charger driver, as it nuked my USB ports on win8, you can simply uninstall it through the control panel.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win 8.1
I'm having this same problem as well.. I have an HP laptop (only 4 months old) and ever since I've installed Windows 8.1 my laptop just randomly freezes (usually while I'm in a browser window, but sometimes while i'm watching a movie) and even Ctrl, Alt, Del doesn't do anything.. I have to turn the power button off and restart.

HELP!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
I'm having this same problem as well.. I have an HP laptop (only 4 months old) and ever since I've installed Windows 8.1 my laptop just randomly freezes (usually while I'm in a browser window, but sometimes while i'm watching a movie) and even Ctrl, Alt, Del doesn't do anything.. I have to turn the power button off and restart.

HELP!

Have you followed same steps as me above?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win 8.1
I'm having this same problem as well.. I have an HP laptop (only 4 months old) and ever since I've installed Windows 8.1 my laptop just randomly freezes (usually while I'm in a browser window, but sometimes while i'm watching a movie) and even Ctrl, Alt, Del doesn't do anything.. I have to turn the power button off and restart.

HELP!


Have you followed same steps as me above?

I'm not even sure what those steps were... :(
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
I'm having this same problem as well.. I have an HP laptop (only 4 months old) and ever since I've installed Windows 8.1 my laptop just randomly freezes (usually while I'm in a browser window, but sometimes while i'm watching a movie) and even Ctrl, Alt, Del doesn't do anything.. I have to turn the power button off and restart.

HELP!


Have you followed same steps as me above?

I'm not even sure what those steps were... :(

The steps discussed in previous posts in this thread :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win 8.1
I don't have AVAST.. or at least.. it doesn't show up in my program list. Not sure what overclocking is. I have done a bunch of updates... so I think I'm on the most recent bios
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7601.18247.x86fre.win7sp1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-built Intel based
    CPU
    Pentium D 925 3.0 GHz socket 775, Presler @ ~ 3.2 GHz
    Motherboard
    Intel DQ965MT
    Memory
    Hyundai 2 GB DDR2 @ 333 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS DirectCU II HD7790-DC2OC-2GD5 Radeon HD 7790 2GB 128-Bit GDDR5
    Sound Card
    MOTU Traveler firewire interface
    Hard Drives
    1 Seagate Barracuda SATA II system/boot drive 80 GB, 2 Western Digital hdds - 1 is SATA II Caviar Black 1 TB attached to card (assorted media, page, temp), other is SATA I 420 GB (games, media, downloads)
    PSU
    Thermaltake 450W
    Cooling
    stock Gateway cooling, extra large fan in rear of case
    Keyboard
    Alienware/Microsoft Internet kb
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
    Internet Speed
    Optimum Online, fast for US
    Browser
    Pale Moon
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky integrated into ZoneAlarm+Antivirus

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win 8.1
Hi,

The random freeze is sadly back, so I'm gonna bump this thread in case anyone has any more ideas to try out and troubleshoot this before I install win7. All drivers are up to date now.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win 8.1
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