New Build Keeps Freezing

NickM · 13 May 2011 at 15:01

Juts got my new build up and running completely, here is the spec:

- Motherboard: MSI P67A-GD65 Intel P67 (socket 1155) DDR3 (Sandybridge) ** B3 REVISION **
- Processor: Intel Core i5-2500K 3.30GHz (Sandybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor RETAIL
- Graphics: MSI ATI Radeon HD 6950 OC Twin FrozR III Power Edition 2048MB
- Memory: Corsair XMS3 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit
- Case: Coolermaster CM-690 II Advanced Dominator Case - Black
- PSU: XFX 750W Black Edition Modular
- CPU Cooler: Akasa AK-CC017V2
- Optical Drive: LG BH10LS30 10x BluRay-RW / 16 x DVD±RW Drive - Black (Retail)
- HDD: OCZ Vertex 3 120GB SATA-3 SSD

Software:
- Win 7 Pro SP1 (happened pre-SP1 as well)
- Intel RST 10
- All mobo/chipset/graphics drivers up-to-date from MSI & ATI sites.
- All Windows Updates installed.

SSD has around 70GB free.

The Problem: I've got Windows 7 Pro installed and it keeps freezing (windows grey out and stop responding but I can still move my mouse around) / locking up completely (cant move the mouse or do anything) anywhere from a few seconds to a several minutes after booting up. I think its due to the SSD because I've just noticed the disk activity LED on the case is on solid when it freezes and in Windows Resource Monitor, which I had open when it locked up, its showing the "Disk Highest Active Time" locked on 100%.

The SSD is plugged into SATA-0 (6gbps Intel).
First I tried reinstalling Windows, didn't help. Then I tried it with the BIOS set to AHCI and then set to RAID mode but it freezes on both. I was going to try upgrading the SSD firmware (2.02F at the moment) but with the Intel RST10 drivers installed I cant! Is upgrading the firmware likely to help?

Since this is my first build & first SSD is there something I might have missed?

Stu_Allcott · 13 May 2011 at 15:10

is there any chance that the ssd itself is corrupt, maybe got a bang at some point you didnt know about and is causing parts of windows installed on it to not be read propperly?

NickM · 13 May 2011 at 15:33

I suppose its possible. I handled it pretty carefully myself but in transit or in the warehouse, maybe.
Is there a way of checking to see if its corrupt? Is running Windows Check Disk on SSDs ok?

Stu_Allcott · 13 May 2011 at 15:35

it should be ok using windows check disk on it, but if your not sure google and see if any problems have been found using it.
have you tried using a normal hdd and seeing if the problem is still there?

NickM · 13 May 2011 at 16:10

Ran chkdsk, didn't find any problems, still freezing. I'll see if I can find an old SATA drive to test it with.

Stu_Allcott · 13 May 2011 at 16:14

http://www.ithinkdiff.com/how-to-enable-ahci-in-windows-7-rc-after-installation/

maybe that link will help?

R.C.Anderson · 13 May 2011 at 16:20

I had a similar problem. First, check that AHCI is enabled (think it is by default on SB boards), then enable hotswaping on the SATA port that your Vertex3 is connected to.

Solved my problem, but I've got an Asus P8P67 Pro, so there's a chance it won't work for you, but worth trying

NickM · 13 May 2011 at 16:21

Its not a problem with the AHCI/RAID mode - I just did that to see if one mode worked any better (I changed the registry setting, as mentioned in that link, and it booted fine).

edit: Ah, I have had AHCI enabled since I installed but I haven't enabled hot swapping because it didn't seem necessary on a boot drive! Will give that a try.
Currently got it on RAID mode (after doing the registry fix) because I intend to add 2 additional drives (not the SSD) in a RAID array later when it works. (Couldn't be bothered to reinstall again with it on RAID mode since I'd just finished loading on all my programs, not related to the freezing problem because it still did it under AHCI).

As well as enabling hot-swap on the sata port I changed the cable from an Akasa right-angle to a standard straight that came with the mobo and changed the sata port to the other Intel 6gbps one to see if that helps.

Stu_Allcott · 13 May 2011 at 16:30

im off to work but keep this post updated and ill see if i can think of anything when im serving drunk people cocktails and beer

NickM · 13 May 2011 at 16:45

Hmm, so far so good, been up for 60 mins without freezing up!
I'd call this fixed!

After more googling it seems its related to an incompatibility with the Intel RST Link Power Management (LPM) feature (Link 1, Link 2, Link 3) and enabling hot-swapping or doing a registry hack is the accepted fix. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction R.C. Anderson!