HP laptop periodically freezes

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My newish Envy 360 periodically slows down dramatically, almost freezing and with the fan turning loudly. Restarting the PC puts things back to normal for a day, then it happens again. Started last week, after the latest Windows update.  Windows 10 home, 8 GB, Ryzen 5 processor.

When this happens:

– no unusual tasks in Task monitor

– Performance monitor CPU, disk, and memory indicators are all less than 50%

– No unusual events in Event monitor

– No other programs need be running

– It can take 30 seconds to switch from Task monitor to Performance monitor

 

What I have tried:

– Windows defender scans, both regular and offline (nothing)

– unplug peripherals

– uninstall unneeded software

 

Suggestions appreciated

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Just a guess, but it may be an overheating problem.

a ) Install CoreTemp to monitor

b.) Blow out fan with a can of compressed air

c.) Make sure fan is turning, and not stuck (this would ordinarily result in a almost instant shutdown).

Zig

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doriel, gtd12345

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Without knowing the actual model of the laptop, as previously suggested, clean out air vents/ducts. Borrow/purchase a cooling pad for under the device, and monitor for a day or so.

Check out your HP Assistant and see if there is a bios update?
This may cure any thermal throttling/issues and is wise to check/research the details of the bios update beforehand prior to doing anything.
If there is a bios update, let us know along with the model of the laptop.

If debian is good enough for NASA...

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doriel

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+1 vote for updating BIOS.

Dell Latitude 3420, Intel Core i7 @ 2.8 GHz, 16GB RAM, W10 22H2 Enterprise

HAL3000, AMD Athlon 200GE @ 3,4 GHz, 8GB RAM, Fedora 29

PRUSA i3 MK3S+

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This is probably a long shot but I had a HP Pavilion laptop from 2009 that did something similar. It would get hot, the fan speed would go way up and the computer would slow way down. It had a snap in battery on the exterior, which I removed, let it sit for 10 minutes, then depressed and held down the power button for 60 seconds, put the battery back in, booted up, and viola, problem solved.

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Thanks all.

As suggested, I have installed CoreTemp (running cool so far) and done a full disk backup to an external drive just in case.  HP Assistant reports no firmware updates needed.  I have restarted the PC again after logging off by holding down the power button.  The fan has definitely been turning since I can hear it working when the PC heats up.

 

Will get a can of air and blow at the heat ducts, although since the PC is only 4 months old that is a long shot.

Model is HP ENVY  x360 Laptop – 15-ds1063cl

PS.  Just killed an ant on the laptop.  I hope this problem did not result from one or more ants sneaking in via a heat vent!

 

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Unfortunately some ants, other buggy pests like the electromagnetic fields, warm places and sometimes you too, you might take a look inside your laptop!

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gtd12345 wrote:

Will get a can of air and blow at the heat ducts

I’d get a vacuum cleaner and suck the dust out rather than blowing and possibly lodging it in further. Make sure the machine is off when you do this.

cheers, Paul

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BIOS and drivers are likely culprits.  There’s a reset, keeping all your programs, option in System if needed.  I’ve seen Indexing do some bizarre things until it’s done indexing everything, which can take a long time.  Long lags and unresponsiveness.  Be sure the option to index contents of files is turned off in each hard drive, Indexing may never stop with that on and the index will be huge.  That setting appears when you right click on C: or D: (Properties/General) in Explorer not in Indexing Options in Control Panel

If you have a restore point from before the issue began, consider that option.

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