Windows 7 Computer Freezing Up - C Drive Suddenly Full

[sapphirescales]

I have a really weird problem in the shop right now. I have an older HP computer with a fresh install of Windows 7. All of a sudden, the computer will randomly freeze up and you can't click on anything. I noticed however that when it freezes all of a sudden, the hard drive's storage will be 100% full when it freezes, then it will flash and the storage will go back to it's original capacity (about 5% of the drive's total storage). Remember - this is a fresh install of Windows 7. WTF is going on here?

 

[GreyWolf]

First I would let the thing crash then use a boot usb key with parted magic for example to go see what kind of files the system is creating.

Platter HDD or SSD? I'm betting on the swap file is dynamic and the ram has issues but without booting with another os to see what temp files are created your definitely on Russian roulette.

Also the drive was N & P? and was it windows 7 32 bit or 64? as I know if the old system was 32 and was switched to 64 you'll end up with a windows.old but it shouldn't take all the space and clear itself afterwards.

 

[GreyWolf]

One quick thought the HDD settings under the BIOS are the correct ones to avoid high interrupt load? (I know it's a dumb question to ask but I've seen clients mess up their bios and say I didn't touch nothing)

 

[sapphirescales]

Platter HDD or SSD? I'm betting on the swap file is dynamic and the ram has issues

It's a platter HDD. I just took a look at the memory and there's 8GB installed in there but it only reports 6GB. All the memory sticks work, but one of the slots is dead. Strange thing though is if you load up all the slots the "dead" slot will recognize a stick of RAM. I suppose the motherboard is a PITA then? That sucks.

 

[GreyWolf]

64 bit OS what version of 7? Give me the HP model number I'll check some archive links I have.. I'm not sure the mobo is dead yet I've had more funky errors than that with HP.

Edit : I'm worst than a dog with his bone when it goes to HP computers.

 

[sapphirescales]

64 bit OS what version of 7? Give me the HP model number I'll check some archive links I have.. I'm not sure the mobo is dead yet I've had more funky errors than that with HP.

It's an HP Pavilion Elite e9280t. Windows 7 Home Premium x64. Guy doesn't want to spend much to get it working.

 

[GreyWolf]

Ok no worries I'll get back to you in 5 minutes time max from this post.

 

[GreyWolf]

Ok update information.

Home Premium can take 16GB

On this machine the ram setup should look like this with memtest
8 GB (4 x 2 GB) DDR3 PC3-10600 (message as PC3-8500)

If you take ram 3 and switch it with ram 0 and sounds or it still boots?

Nothing indicates video sharing however when pressing Windows Key break do you see 8 with 6 usable or just 6? Also on the same page it still says that the 64 bit can work? I've seen on rare occasions that something went real buggy there. Besides N & P with a reset on the defaults in the bios I don't see.

(Update my text scan finished) : https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Deskt...te-e9180t-Motherboard-Replacement/m-p/1854791

Seems this one was a lemon from the start.

 

[sapphirescales]

Ok update information.

Home Premium can take 16GB

On this machine the ram setup should look like this with memtest
8 GB (4 x 2 GB) DDR3 PC3-10600 (message as PC3-8500)

If you take ram 3 and switch it with ram 0 and sounds or it still boots?

Nothing indicates video sharing however when pressing Windows Key break do you see 8 with 6 usable or just 6? Also on the same page it still says that the 64 bit can work? I've seen on rare occasions that something went real buggy there. Besides N & P with a reset on the defaults in the bios I don't see.

(Update my text scan finished) : https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Deskt...te-e9180t-Motherboard-Replacement/m-p/1854791

Seems this one was a lemon from the start.

Yeah, this thing is a piece of sh*t. I've been Googling the motherboard trying to see if there have been any BIOS updates to address an issue like this when I found out how many of these boards came defective from the factory. Screw it. I'll try to sell him something else. By the time I load up a new board and a fresh license for Windows 10 I might as well just get him into something else. I don't like to mix new motherboards with old power supplies either so he's looking at a pretty hefty bill to "fix" this computer.

 

[GreyWolf]

I'll tell you a story of humor I used to do tech support at night for one of the top Canadian Phone companies for internet only guy for the whole Canadian network at night for business I said to a customer once cause he was irate and impatient well sir we have 2 options you stay on the phone with me and I explain to you how to fix it or B you open your window and test if your laptop makes a good Frisbee take a guess at what option Mr client took... well seems laptops are aerodynamic he said it's fine and got his secretary to go buy him a new one first thing in the morning.,, Small story short in my book I tell the client your call but I'll be damned to take credit on theses cases cash and all sales are final if your that stubborn.

Well at least you can call it quits on this one .. wish I could of find the info sooner.

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

I have a really weird problem in the shop right now. I have an older HP computer with a fresh install of Windows 7. All of a sudden, the computer will randomly freeze up and you can't click on anything. I noticed however that when it freezes all of a sudden, the hard drive's storage will be 100% full when it freezes, then it will flash and the storage will go back to it's original capacity (about 5% of the drive's total storage). Remember - this is a fresh install of Windows 7. WTF is going on here?

No i've never seen that before, I assume since you see it reach 100% full you are saying it freezes right after it shows up as 100% full and after a while it unfreezes and goes back to normal? Did you already try another hard drive?

 

[mikeroq]

Did you already try another hard drive?

I do this from time to time. If I want to narrow something down I will clone to a test drive to see if it's the drive or the OS.