Random lock up that eventually leads to reboot nightmare.

Hi all,

 

Ok this is the situation. Every now and then, and becoming more frequent, I will have an error where when I try to close a Windows Explorer window (downloads, documents, Drives, etc.) the window won't close. Clicking the X wont work and the window greys out. I got to Task manager to close it, but it doesn't work. Then sometimes the Task Manager window won't close. Then other weird stuff starts to happen like the Taskbar disappears, and other windows won't open, programs wont close. It just escalates. So I try to do a reboot, but instead or rebooting I just get the spinning wheel of eternity (I have left this overnight to see if anything happened - nothing did.) So I press the soft reset button. This is when things really go sideways. 

 

The PC reboots to the ROG BIOS screen and can go one of three ways. 1. It will just hang there with the wheel of eternity spinning away. 2. It will load Windows, I can log in, the screen goes blank. I cannot do anything, but I can CTL, ALT DEL to reboot - and we go around again with the reboot and the spinning wheel of eternity until I reset again. 3. ROG starts a diagnostic mode that kicks me into the Windows options for a reinstall. 

 

The only thing that seems to work is to fully shut down the PC with a hard reset (hold power for 10 seconds) then wait about 5 mins and then restart the PC. 7 out of 10 it will boot into Windows normally. 

 

This is what I have done already. 

 

1. All Windows Updates 

2. All Driver Updates (DriverEasy) 

3. Full Windows reinstall (this pushes me more towards the hardware side been the issue)

4. Uninstalled all memory sticks and tried them 1 at a time. Same situation happens. 

5. Run full diagnostics and stress tests on all components (memtest86, P95-CPU test, FurMark, SuperPosition Benchmark, etc. etc.) All passed. 

 

ok back and here are the details of my build. 
 

Edited by Lincolnshire, 24 June 2024 - 08:02 PM.

Hi, Welcome to BC.

 

Pull the battery out when it is unplugged for 5mins.  Press Power Button to bleed off PSU stored electricity.

 

Turn off in BIOS ASUS Fast Boot.

Turn off MS Fast Start : https://www.elevenforum.com/t/turn-on-or-off-fast-startup-in-windows-11.1212/

 

You should not use any drivers other than your Motherboard Support Page :

https://rog.asus.com/ca-en/motherboards/rog-maximus/rog-maximus-z790-dark-hero/helpdesk_download/

IMHO you ruined your install with DriverEasy.

 

Keep the logs if it finds anything : https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/

 

From a DOS Command Prompt from START | type cmd.exe into the start search box | RIGHT-click on cmd.exe | select "Run as Administrator" then Copy/Paste --> :
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth command then Enter    if it finds problems then reboot. (Completed Successfully : means reboot)
then
After : please Open another Admin Command Prompt and please run Copy/Paste --> SFC /SCANNOW into the Dos window or Powershell and Enter.  Reboot after.

 

Please Post a "link" of Speccy Report.  A URL not a attachment.
Please install Speccy Free : https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/speccy/
Use Custom Install
  At the Top Left Corner of Speccy --> Click File and then Click Publish Snapshot Report, a window will popup and Click YES. --> Another popup will appear and then Click "Copy To Clipboard" then Paste that "link" to your next reply in your thread.

 

Download Minitoolbox from the below link :
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/minitoolbox/
  Run the tool and only select the following tick boxes. Paste.
    -List last 10 Event viewer errors
    -List installed programs
    -List devices
    -List users, partition and memory size
Now click "Go" and Copy/Paste and post the output text in your next reply

Driver for your : ASUS XG49V Monitor : https://rog.asus.com/ca-en/monitors/above-34-inches/rog-strix-xg49vq-model/helpdesk_download/

If are stable and not running : ROG MAXIMUS Z790 DARK HERO BIOS Version 1302  Released : 2024/05/30   DO SO !!!

https://rog.asus.com/ca-en/motherboards/rog-maximus/rog-maximus-z790-dark-hero/helpdesk_bios/

1. Introduce the ""Performance Preferences"" with options for Intel Default Settings (Performance/Extreme) and ASUS Advanced OC Profile.
2. Redefine the factory defaults based on Intel’s new ""Intel Default Settings"" for various CPU SKUs.
3. Change F5 from ""Load Optimized Defaults"" to ""Reset to Defaults"".
4. Add warnings when users switch from the defaults to other settings.

Updating this BIOS will simultaneously update the corresponding intel ME to version 16.1.30.2307. Please note after you update this BIOS, the ME version remains the updated one even if you roll back to an older BIOS later.
 

Before running the USB BIOS Flashback tool, please rename the BIOS file (A5469.CAP) using BIOSRenamer."
=============================================================================================

EDIT : READ Manual, possible Update BIOS with no power on. = just the PSU on and Bios into Dedicated rear I/O Port (if there is one).

 

EDIT : If have Thunderbolt Devices but...only when ready to : As well : Thunderbolt Downgrade NVM31 Solution for Thunderbolt 2 devices   Version 1.4   232.48 KB 2024/04/25

Edited by Pkshadow, 24 June 2024 - 09:27 PM.

http://speccy.piriform.com/results/iaBoKhPrmW7VJxvSUNkb1sh

 

 

Hi, so did you do anything in Post # 2 besides Speccy and MiniToolBox Report ???

Fast Boot, ???

MS Fast Start ???

 

Just checking is there a UEFI Partition on this ??  Your 2nd Partition on C: (and any other drive in the future) needs 15% or more free at all times.

 

Your 128gigs of ram Corsair CMT64GX5M2B6400C32 ( 2 sets of 32gig ) are not on the Motherboards QVL :

https://rog.asus.com/ca-en/motherboards/rog-maximus/rog-maximus-z790-dark-hero/helpdesk_qvl_memory/

 

It would seem the speed 6400MT/s are being Throttled to 4800MT/s so they will be Compatible to the Chip Max Speed of : Up to DDR5 5600 MT/s when use XMP.

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/230496/intel-core-i913900k-processor-36m-cache-up-to-5-80-ghz/specifications.html

 

Installation Date: 6/24/2024

------------------------------------

A perfect clean install of Windows 11 is to install it.   install for 10/11 https://pureinfotech.com/clean-install-windows-11/
Then Activate it From Settings-->System-->Activate

Disconnect from the Internet.

From saved Motherboard Drivers : https://rog.asus.com/ca-en/motherboards/rog-maximus/rog-maximus-z790-dark-hero/helpdesk_download/  Install Chipset then SATA Drivers and lots of reboots for all.

Turn off ASUS Fast Boot in BIOS for the same reasons as below :
Turn off MS Fast Start :

Turn off MS Driver Updates as best can for Win Home : https://www.windowscentral.com/how-disable-automatic-driver-updates-windows-10
If a Driver sneaks in : https://www.windowscentral.com/how-roll-back-device-driver-windows-10

Connect back to the internet.

========================

 

ERROR  Exception code: 0xc0000005 / 0xc0000374  is something not starting software/hardware.     Can be associated to the Ram.   Fix is : Dism and SFC

 

REMOVE : Driver Easy (use M/B Support Page)

 

I would think you need some .net and C++ installed for things to work.

 

Ok, so you have to FIX THIS : Description: License Activation (slui.exe) failed.    Once you have got it Activated we can help you.  Forum Rules state can not help until activated.

 

Since this through off Dump Files please do this after you are activated :

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/t/576314/blue-screen-of-death-bsod-posting-instructions-windows-vista-through-to-11/ but only after activated/.

 

EDIT : Do not start a new topic, I will get this moved once have complied to Forum Rules.

Edited by Pkshadow, 25 June 2024 - 03:28 AM.

Hi,

 

Yes I did all of the steps listed above. in posts 2 through 4. I will do a clean install of Windows this morning per your links. I will get back to you once this is completed and post again the Speccy and minitoolbox reports. 

 

Thanks for all the help, it is much appreciated. 

 

Cheers

ok here is what I have done. 

 

1. Clean Install of Windows 11 and Activated.

2. Disabled Fast Start and Fast Boot

3. Blocked Driver updates via Group Policy Editor

4. Only installed ASUS Support page drivers.

5. Run Speccy again

 

http://speccy.piriform.com/results/eutAtVJSLKHtvvJLAONO2zI

 

6. Run MiniToolbox - see attached Text file

7. Ran SysnativeFileCollectionApp - see attached zip file 

 

 

Again, many thanks for the help!

Here is your likely issue:

2. All Driver Updates (DriverEasy)

Following up on this thread. 

 

So it looks like the locking up problem has been resolved. It has been a couple of days and I have not run into that issue. However I do still have some missing drivers and I am not sure how to go about installing them. Under System Info the Problem Devices area shows 

 

Hi, Glad to hear.

 

So you installed all the Drivers off this page : https://rog.asus.com/ca-en/motherboards/rog-maximus/rog-maximus-z790-dark-hero/helpdesk_download/     is that correct ??

 

IS THE Chipset from above page installed ??? 

 

And BIOS is now : Version 1302  ??

 

And you did this  : Thunderbolt Downgrade NVM31 Solution for Thunderbolt 2 devices   ???

 

1st is an Intel Driver. : ACPI\INTC1085\2&DABA3FF&0   Suggest : https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/detect.html Intel Driver & Support Assistant.   

 

Not going to go further at this point as all your drivers should be there.   

If you have applied Block Drivers you need to reverse it but download your drivers 1st then Go offline then reverse the driver block then reboot  offline and stick in the Chipset and other drivers then reboot then then you apply the block and reboot again.

When there are drivers from ASUS download them, remove the block, reboot, offline and install the drivers and reboot offline then redo the block.

 

You can try Right Click the Driver and run as Administrator and see if the driver goes in.

 

SO your list was wrong.

1. Clean Install of Windows 11 and Activated.    Go Offline off the internet

2. Disabled Fast Start and Fast Boot

4. Only installed ASUS Support page drivers.  

then do :

3. Blocked Driver updates via Group Policy Editor

Yes, I installed every driver from that page including Chipset. When I install it, a couple of windows flash up but other than that nothing changes. My BIOS was already at the latest version, 1302

 

I didn't do the Thunderbolt downgrade because I don't have any Thunderbolt devices. 

 

I will download the Intel app and remove the Driver block.

 

Many thanks for your help

Did you have BSOD's ??? if no Do not need the Sysnative Report.

 

As well if missing those drivers then the MTB Report will be off. 

 

Delete the 2.          Can iff big issues redo the MTB Report after you reverse the block then get the drivers put in.   If it runs fine then do not bother. Or you know how to read it now.

 

Or it is just errors from Event Viewer off the Start Menu in System Tools some where.....    Or type in Start Search Event Viewer and will get it.  Only worry about the Critical Red and can see what the yellows are and try to fix by the Error  (ID)#

https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/windows-11/how-to-get-started-with-event-viewer-on-windows-11

Note : Not all errors are fixable nor should some be tried unless understand what you are doing and how to reverse it by having a DISK IMAGE.

Not understanding instructions if you phrase it like that.    See your list in my post and where # 4 is and where # 3 is.  

 

NOTE : in the past after 5 yrs ASUS would take down all the drivers.  So regardless of not having Thunderbolt you should have the tools.  As well if there is a threat and possible Malware issue getting in and that way should have the tools and the instructions.

Just to add here OP has stated has done the Thunderbolt downgrade as per another post.