Windows randomly freezes ctrl alt delete does not work

Question

I've posted about this before and I've done the cmd scan now...  but I still get the problem that when windows freezes randomly ctrl alt delete does not work...  and the only thing I can do is  power off and on.

Windows needs a fix for this.

Answer 1

Just to be clear the computer works fine except that when it freezes which isn't that often ctrl alt delete does not work so I'm pretty sure it's software related. In particular it should be something broken with windows 10 because regardless of whether a program is stalling using too much memeory etc ctrl alt delete is suppose to be able to bring up task manager and kill that program.

Answer 2

Hi HaoSun, I am Rob, an independent and a 14 time and dual award MVP specializing in Windows troubleshooting and Bluescreen analysis. Please remember as independents we are not responsible for the development of Windows or the computer hardware and drivers. If you will work with me I will be here to help until the issue is resolved.

Could well be a heat or hardware problem. Of course, intermittent/occasional problems can be very hard to troubleshoot.

Below are the troubleshooting steps I would try. However, it nothing helps then I would do a Clean Install. If that does not help then the issue has to be hardware related which can't be fixed with software.

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If this is a PC then I would remove ALL power then re-seat the cards, memory, and cables (on both ends when possible) - actually remove and replace - do not just snug. Ensure all the fans are working and the vents are all clean.

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If is important that you do all of these in the order set below even if you have already performed them.

If using an SSD or hybrid hard drive be sure it has the latest firmware.

Try the Clean Boot method to see if a startup program is involved - if so it is a

process of elimination :

Right Click the start button - Command Prompt (Admin) OR Windows PowerShell (Admin) - at the prompt type in

MSCONFIG

and hit enter

How to perform a clean boot in Windows

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/929135

Other programs to help :

Autoruns - Free - See what programs are configured to startup automatically

when your system boots and you login. Autoruns also shows you the full list

of Registry and file locations where applications can configure auto-start settings.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals...

Process Explorer - Free - Find out what files, registry keys and other objects

processes have open, which DLLs they have loaded, and more. This uniquely

powerful utility will even show you who owns each process.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals...

Process Monitor - Free - an advanced monitoring tool for Windows that shows real-time file system, Registry and process/thread activity. It combines the features of two legacy Sysinternals utilities, Filemon and Regmon, and adds an extensive list of enhancements including rich and non-destructive filtering, comprehensive event properties such session IDs and user names, reliable process information, full thread stacks with integrated symbolsupport for each operation, simultaneous logging to a file, and much more. Its uniquely powerful features will make Process Monitor a core utility in your system troubleshooting and malware hunting toolkit.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/d...

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Do all of these :

If you had a 3rd party antivirus on the OS you upgraded OR if you have one

now uninstall it and then run its maker's removal tool. Use Windows Defender

which in Windows 8/8.1/10 is a full antivirus. Despite all the hype out there

Windows Defender and the Windows Firewall are true superstars.

List of anti-malware program cleanup/uninstall tools

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/protect/wiki...

Uninstallers (removal tools) for common antivirus software

http://kb.eset.com/esetkb/index?page=content&am...

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Check this :

Right Click Start button - Control Panel - Troubleshooting - on right side click View all - "Hardware and Devices".

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Tips to improve PC performance in Windows 10 <-- read this link

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/400201...

The below is additional help with some of the methods in the "Tips to improve...." link.

Windows Key + X - Command Prompt (Admin) OR Windows PowerShell (Admin)

(Run these one line at a time.)

SFC /scannow

Note if that shows uncorrected errors - do the below regardless.

When that completes run these :

DISM /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth

DISM /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

Note if that shows any uncorrected errors - do the below regardless.

Then restart the computer.

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Be sure you are running the latest available BIOS, chipset drivers, and all the major device drivers.

Check with System Maker (Motherboard Maker for custom systems) for updates to the BIOS, low level chipset drivers, and the major on-board and separate device drivers. Run DriverView - set VIEW to Hide Microsoft drivers - update those without Dump in their name.

DriverView - Free - utility displays the list of all device drivers currently loaded on your system. For each driver in the list, additional useful information is displayed: load address of the driver, description, version, product name, company that createdthe driver, and more.

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/driverview.html

For Drivers check System Maker as fallbacks and Device Maker's which are the most current. Right Click Start Button - Display Adapter - write down the make and complete model of your video adapter - double click - Driver's tab - write down the version info.Now click UPdate Driver (this may not do anything as MS is far behind certifying drivers) - then Right Click - Uninstall - REBOOT this will refresh the driver stack.

Repeat that for Network - Network Card (NIC), Wifi, Sound, Mouse and Keyboard

if 3rd party with their own software and drivers and any other major device drivers

you have.

Now go to System Maker's site (Dell, HP, Toshiba as examples) (as rollback) and

then Device Maker's site (Realtek, Intel, Nvidia, ATI as examples) and get their

latest versions. (Look for BIOS, Chipset, and software updates at System Maker's

site while there.)

Download - SAVE - go to where you put them - Right Click - RUN AD ADMIN -

REBOOT after each installation.

Repeat at Device Makers - BTW at Device Makers DO NOT RUN THEIR SCANNER -

check manually by model.

Manually look at manufacturer's sites for drivers - and Device Maker's sites.

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/driverssupport/ht...

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A Clean Install would be activated with the Digital Entitlement.

How to Prepare Bootable Install Media for Windows 10 - DVD, USB or SD Card

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/for...

Start fresh with a clean installation of Windows 10

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-downlo...

Clean Install Windows 10

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

Here to help,

Rob

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