Total system freeze/lock-up consistantly after 5 min idle

The other threads did not solve the problem, THIS thread involves a new insight or approach. I left the other threads intact:

1. for reference to all the unsuccessful things already tried, and

2. because obviously no one had a new or good idea how to fix the problem, and

3. folks knew those thread titles and skipped them, and

4. I could not CHANGE the old thread titles, and THIS thread involves a new insight or approach

Is this a clean installation of w1703?

I do not know what "clean install" would mean in this case. I bought this HP EliteBook G2 used and had Winx Pro installed, also put in a new, proper 500GB Samsung SSD. All worked fine for a month or so, no freezes or ANY problems! I had not wanted to install v1703 until all or most the bugs were found & removed but MS "tricked" me into downloading and installing v1703. It was in Windows Update with a KB number but NO reference to v1703. At that time I also found that Spotlight didn't function, tried many things incl. messing with the Registry, Since that time continual freezing (not in Safe Mode with no Internet via Mobile Partner dongle) but scannow and dism/restorehealth used many times and all corrupted or missing files and Registry restored, no problems that way. If you look through the other related threads referenced above you will see that I have tried many, many things, Updating drivers helped but did not remove the problem.

Then the thread got moved to BSOD but the problem continues. Although I had previously removed Defender in the Registry (I use Kaspersky, with Defender back but supposedly only doing Periodic Scanning) with no effect. I now wonder if I should perhaps try that again (a problem, like an airplane crash, may have several contributing and additive causes)

:) Good to know!

Thanks, and I really do appreciate your overview!

In the meanwhile, do you think I should totally remove Defender again (still froze then even w/o Defender a few months ago, now back), this time having also updated drivers and removed Spotlight and Store. Of course I can reverse that with System Restore hopefully (I reversed it before and got Defender back, don't remember how though).

EDIT: Something I just noticed: although InstallAgentUserBroker was involved in many or most of the freezes, since running the HP Extensive Memory Test it has not "acted up"

Something I just noticed: although InstallAgentUserBroker was involved in many or most of the freezes, since running the HP Extensive Memory Test it has not "acted up"

I think InstallAgentUserBroker is a Red Herring: I just made a test, and at some seconds BEFORE a new freeze (clocked locked ar 15:51), last user input just before 15:43 >

Attachment 161757

I checked after re-start and VSS is running in Manual. I previously tried setting it on Automatic and then on Automatic (delayed start). All 3 of those settings still allow the 5min freeze. What causes VSS to stop running at or just before 5 - 7 min idle ...?

Thanks.

Anyway I now think InstallAgentUserBroker is a Red Herring: I just made a test, and at some seconds BEFORE a new freeze 7 min after (clock froze at 15:51) last user input at just before 15:43 >

Attachment 161759

I checked after re-start and VSS is running in Manual. I previously tried setting it on Automatic and then on Automatic (delayed start). All 3 of those settings still allow the 5min freeze.

What causes VSS to stop running at or just before 5min idle ...?