Windows 10 Hanging Randomly

I'm getting a persistent hanging when playing games, that seems to occur randomly. The system will completely hang up and become unresponsive, and when it does this, more often than not it's accompanied by a loud, screeching static that is heard through the headphones or speakers (whatever audio device is plugged in.) Sometimes the audio just buzzes, and in some occasions, all connected USB devices like keyboard and mouse lose power all at once and do not get power when plugged back in.

I've run through the bucket list of solutions I could think of, and none of them have alleviated these issues. I'm still not entirely sure if this is a software or hardware issue.

If needed, I can post videos of what happens when my PC hangs.

Thanks

PC Specs:

• Windows Version 10 Pro Version 20H2 - Build 19042.1645
• Intel i7-5820k @ 3.50 Ghz
• 1 TB Crucial SSD
• 64 GB of RAM - CT Ballistix DDR-4
• Nvidia RTX 3060
• EVGA 1300 PSU

zebal said:

You Windows is out of date 1 year, this is likely the reason for driver failure.

Can you upgrade OS to current 21H2?

I suppose I could. That was one of the things I just tried rather recently, was updating my Windows. I guess I have to bite the bullet and update to 21H2, huh? I can do that today

Clean installation might be better, as the current Windows hangs.

Matthew Wai said:

Clean installation might be better, as the current Windows hangs.

That's a shame, I did have this install for several years, after all...
Here's what I've tried so far:

1. Deleting game configuration files
2. Uninstalling the problem games and reinstalling them (completely deleting game folders and doing a full reinstall)
3. Cleaning all caches and driver caches
4. Deleting Nvidia and Realtek Audio Drivers and reinstalling
5. SFC /scannow
6. DISM /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
7. Defragmenting/Optimizing hard drives and SSD Windows is installed on
8. Starting in Safe Mode and with all services disabled (I still got crashes with all non-MS services disabled on boot + with stock Windows Display Driver)
9. Updating Windows through Windows Update
10. Unplugging all USB devices except mouse and keyboard
11. Going into BIOS to check for overclocking, everything was still stock, updated Gigabyte BIOS to latest just to be sure

You may firstly try upgrading Windows. If it can fix the problem, clean installation is unneeded. Otherwise...

Hello, I upgraded to Windows 10 21H2, and am still getting freezing ☺

VladNeedsHelp said:

I did have this install for several years

Some hidden problems could have accumulated in these years. Try clean installation.