Acer Aspire V keeps freezing - help please!

moggie · 22 May 2017

I am a newbie relatively speaking. My laptop is superb but...........as I go thru the day using it the screen I am on (any screen) suddenly freezes and the only way I can get it back to were I was working is to press Ctrl-Alt-Del (sometimes two or three times and then click task manager to get back either to the screen I was on or sometimes to the home screen!

This happens about 5 or 6 times at no particular intervals. When it works normally it is very fast and accurate. I have Win 10 installed from new (laptop is about 2 years old) and it uses Edge. I have tried not using Edge and opening in IE and there is a slight improvement! I gave up on this because then sometimes the screens do not open to the full size. I have heard that Win 10 is designed for Edge.

I cannot attempt anything really difficult as I am elderly and do not understand some of the terms. I have the same make of tablet (Acer Win10) set up exactly the same with the same desktop (I do not use apps screen) and that never freezes!

Is it something I have installed do you think? I do use Classic Shell as it gives me the old Win 7 look (shows my age!) but I have that on the tablet also and that is ok. Have tried Acer Tech people but they have no aanswer.

Thanks everyone

Caledon Ken · 22 May 2017

Hi moggie.

Lets start with the basics. What Anti-Virus product are you using? Do you have more than one installed? It is easy to do, plenty come down the pipe when we are installing things like Adobe Flash, etc.

When was the last time you did a complete scan?

Is your system up to date? Use the Windows+R keys, type Winver, enter. Please post back Version and build numbers?

If you use Windows Key + S, and type reliability, then click on Reliability History it may give some insights.

Red "X's" can be clicked on for detail. If no red X's click on other symbols for details. In the lower part of screen you can further click on "View Technical Details"

When you press CRTL+ALT+Del do you "End Task" to clear the issue? Then do you just restart browser?

Ken

cottonball · 22 May 2017

Hi, moggie!

In addition to following Ken's suggestions...

How long ago did this issue start?

Can you revert your Acer to a earlier time using System Restore?

1.Right click the white Windows icon at the bottom left of the screen, and select: Control Panel ::::
2. Click System and Security > Action Center, then click Recovery at the bottom of the window.

3. Click Open System Restore, then: Next

4. Click the latest restore point (at a time when your system worked correctly), click Next, then Finish.
5. A confirmation window appears; click Yes.

Your system is restored using the restore point you specified. This process may take several minutes, and may restart your computer.

moggie · 23 May 2017

Hello Ken
Thanks for that - I have done all the things you said.

1. Have always used Avast at a paid for level on this laptop since I bought it refurbished 8 moths ago. If I ever download an programs then I always look an immediately uninstall anything that has been added (often Chrome comes up and U get rid of it).

2. I do complete scans regularly and have done 3 since this problem has occurred.

3. Re. Winver - have done this and this is the info: Windows version 1511 OS build 10586.916 -2015

4. Reliability history shows about 7 red X over last month and they say things like windows not responding or windows shut down.

5. When I do the Ctl-Alt-Del and click on task mgr the box comes up but I usually click on the x in to r/h corner and not close prog. as sometimes the box disappears before I can do anything and reverts to desktop!

Regarding what was mentioned by the last respondent I have tried to restore but this makes no difference as I cannot restore to a very early date before this started.

Caledon Ken · 23 May 2017

Thanks.

You are certainly more advanced than your first email let on.

I think we have to start with your version of Windows. You said yours was 1511. That was released in November of 2015. Next came the Anniversary Update 1607 (July 2016) and recently released Creator Update 1703.

The good news is you have the most current build for your version.

Are you delaying the Anniversary Update? Is your machine prompting you to install?

moggie · 23 May 2017

Thanks Ken
There is the anniversary update showing but I did not install it because I thought it meant that it was for a Windows 10 which was an update from Win 8 as on some laptops but mine came installed with Win 10! Silly me.
So shall I install this now? and also set my laptop to automatically install these updates?
Regards

moggie · 23 May 2017

Ken - it is me again!

Hope I have not done wrong. In updates it gave me option of downloading Windows Anniversary so I did so.

It took about 90 mins including installing. Went into to check again what version and it now shows V1607. Went into update history and it showed the update for today and in check for updates it showed none but it said 'Creator update on way'

Presume that I have done everything I can and I will come back after a few days and advise regarding the 'freezing'

Regards

Caledon Ken · 23 May 2017

Sounds very good.

Now if you go in and type Winver again you will see the version and build number you now have. The latest build for V1607 is 14393.1198 released May 9th

You can see in this table.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...update-history

I wouldn't rush into the Creator Update v1703. Microsoft is rolling this out and learning as it goes.

Now to ensure you have a some bootable media, please create a Recovery Drive. Real easy and everyone should have one and keep it updated.

Windows Key + S, type recovery, click on Create a recovery drive. Follow the prompts. Different machines need different size USB keys. Most use an 8GB key. It overwrites USB key so this is a USB key you are not using.

With this key, should your device become cranky the USB key will allow you boot and apply some simple Window recovery processes.

If you want to take it a step further check out Macrium Reflect.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/...p-restore.html

Will be interested to see if the freezing remains.

Ken

moggie · 24 May 2017

Thanks again Ken - yes the build number is exactly as you said!

Take your point about 'Creator' and I will not be drawn into this if it is offered soon.

Have done the recovery onto a memory stick and will keep this in a safe place. I will keep this forum advised about the 'freezing'

Regards

robertosburn · 24 May 2017

Your CPU or GPU fan may be failing. Clean out the inside of the laptop to remove dust and dirt that may be clogging the fan(s), and see if there's a "PC Health" section of the BIOS that will show fan speeds; monitor the fan speeds for a few minutes to make sure they're not slowing down or stopping.