Multiple users computers have started freezing approximately few minutes after start up but recovers after a few minutes.

Question

Hello

I have multiple users who have recently started to receive the above problem on there computers in Sweden. I believe it is happening to only Windows 7 users. The computers seem to recover from this freeze up after a few minutes. It happens just a few minutes after starting up the computer (approximately 8 minutes).Happening both in and out of the networks of the office there. I can not seem to find any problems or odd content except for System Center Endpoint Protection showing up in the applications logs quite a few times.

Could this be a recent problem with a update?

If anyone can provide any help it would be much appreciated.

Edit 1 (22/11/2016) : Now doubled from 3 users to 6 users who are facing this issue.

Thanks,

Samuel

Answer 1

Change Skype so that it does not start every time you start your computer.  Encourage users to QUIT Skype when not using it.   You could use Autoruns to more thoroughly control what is in startup.

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-ca/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx?f=255&MSPPError=-2147217396

Autoruns has been around for decades.  An excellent program that gives you complete control of what is in startup.  It may amaze you to see.

There are a bunch of programs that are serious resource hogs and contribute to slow start ups.  Here are the ones on my hit list:

• Garmin Express
• Roxio anything
• Skype
• uTorrent
• Frostwire
• Trusteer
• Dropbox
• Onenote
• Evernote
• All Apple products
• Quickbooks
• Spotify
• Pandora
• AOL desktop
• Some games, particularly online ones

Answer 2

Hi

They all use Windows defender. But I briefly installed the computers with Malware-bytes to scan them but uninstalled it once it found nothing. And I have uninstalled Dell Foundation services, I would usually do this when I set the laptops up but the computers they are using were set up before I worked at the company. They are between less than 1 to 3 years old. All laptops that are used regularly (most week days) and have hard drives or SSDs with around 500GB capacity. 

Just to let you know that I am having reports of this by other users now but I am waiting for a reply back on if removing the Dell program works or not. Also I think they are the UK. So this is spreading. I imagine its a update that causes this to trigger the programs. 

I have attached a image that shows what programs run when this happens and freezes the computer.

Thanks

Samuel

Answer 3

Are they all using the same "security" software? 

Uninstall Dell Foundation services if it is there. 

What software is installed?

How old are these computer?

Laptop/desktop?

Hard drive capacity and how much is in use?

Answer 4

I have removed a program called Dell Backup and Recovery. This seems to have stopped the crashing. I have no idea why it started to cause problems now but it seems to have been the cause.

Thanks

Samuel

Answer 5

Hello Samuel,

To troubleshoot your concern about Windows 7 freezing/hanging, click on this link for the troubleshooting steps.

Let us know if it answered your query.

Regards.