Computer keeps freezing.

Question

OK, so I am a super layman. I have been really trying to learn how to figure this out on my own but I am stumped. This happens at random times with no common variable.

I have event viewer info and I think MAYBE I opened up the right thing on WINDBG but honestly IDK if I am even looking at the right stuff.

Really I am just out of my league here and not even sure if I am starting in the right spot.

Answer 1

Please upload any minidump files you have, I will check those to see if they provide any insight into a potential cause of the system crashes.

Open Windows File Explorer

Navigate to C:\Windows\Minidump

Copy any minidump files onto your Desktop, then zip those up

Upload the zip file to the Cloud (OneDrive, DropBox . . . etc.), then choose to share those and get a share link

Then post the link here to the zip file, so we can take a look for you.

Answer 2

If it's a Dell see https://www.dell.com/community/en/conversations/xps-desktops/xps-8910-and-the-nightmare-of-june-2026-secure-boot-update/6a2f121d172f524e9c53981c

Answer 3

The screenshots show freezes without a clear bug check (no obvious BSOD). For this type of issue, the recommended approach is to first collect proper diagnostic data, then analyze it.

Follow these steps in order:

1. Prepare the system to capture a full memory dump
   1. Press Win + R, type sysdm.cpl, press Enter.
   2. On the Advanced tab, under Performance, select Settings → Advanced → Change and confirm there is a paging file on the system drive (usually C:). Its size should be at least “installed RAM + 100 MB”, and there must be more free disk space than installed RAM.
   3. Back in System Properties → Advanced, under Startup and Recovery, select Settings.
   4. In Write debugging information, choose Complete memory dump and check Overwrite any existing file.
2. Enable keyboard-triggered crash dumps (so a freeze can be turned into a dump)
   1. Open Registry Editor (regedit).
   2. Go to:
      • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\i8042prt\Parameters
      • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\kbdhid\Parameters
   3. In each key, create a DWORD (32-bit) value named CrashOnCtrlScroll and set it to 1.
   4. Restart the computer.
   5. Next time the system hard-freezes, hold the right Ctrl key and press Scroll Lock twice. This forces a crash and writes a dump file to %SystemRoot%\MEMORY.DMP.
3. Verify the dump file
   1. After reboot, confirm that %SystemRoot%\MEMORY.DMP exists.
   2. Use the Dump Check Utility (Dumpchk.exe) to verify the dump is valid.
4. Analyze the dump on another machine
   1. Copy MEMORY.DMP to another Windows PC.
   2. Install the Windows 10 SDK and select Debugging Tools for Windows to get WinDbg.
   3. In WinDbg, set the symbol path to the Microsoft public symbol server: https://msdl.microsoft.com/download/symbols.
   4. Open the crash dump (File → Open Crash Dump) and start analysis. This will show whether the freeze is caused by a driver (for example, display driver like nvlddmkm.sys), hardware, or the kernel.
5. If the system is frozen but still technically running (mouse may or may not move)
   • For advanced scenarios, attach a kernel debugger (KD/WinDbg) and break into the system to inspect CSRSS or the kernel, as described in the stalled-system debugging guidance.

These steps convert random freezes into actionable crash dumps that can be analyzed reliably instead of guessing from Event Viewer alone.

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References:

• Advanced troubleshooting for Windows freezes
• Collect data for the freeze issues
• Debugging a Stalled System
• Advanced troubleshooting for stop code errors
• Troubleshooting Windows startup issues