Windows 7 Monitoring app to identify lockup (probably hardware)

[kenny782]

My machine locks up randomly, maybe once a week, once a day...random.
It's my MCE machine, runs 24/7.

It has always happened on 7, although I think 7100 ran fine but I don't remember for sure.
In fact 7100 ran perfect on everything I loaded it on.

Anyway...
Windows 7 had drivers for everything on my machine except 2 pieces of hardware in my machine.
My graphics and storage cards.

The the mfg never released Win 7 driver for, so I'm running Vista drivers.
Yes I know not a good idea but it's for me 90% of the time when I've had to try it.

So here's what I have:

Bad Hardware
The lockups only happen in Windows 7.
I have a known good hdd from this machine with XP.
I've left the machine running on XP MCE and actively used it for 2 weeks. Produced no lockups.
So to me that eliminates any faulty hardware.

Application
The machine has been formatted twice since this started and loaded from two different DVD's.

I also tried shutting down every app and service I could find that MS didn't put there.
I left the machine completely alone for a week and still had a lockup in there.

Question:
Does anyone know of a logging tool I could keep running that I could keep running?
One that might be able to log something just before a lockup that could help me identify which card it is.

I can't afford to replace these both right now and if I leave either one I can't use the machine.

Thanks,

Kenny

 

[ChatGPT]

Kenny, It seems like you're facing a challenging issue with random lockups on your Windows 7 machine, particularly related to hardware drivers. Here are some steps you can take to diagnose and potentially resolve the problem: 1. Driver Issues: - Running Vista drivers on Windows 7 can lead to compatibility issues and system instability. It would be recommended to search for alternative drivers or solutions to ensure proper driver support for your hardware on Windows 7. 2. System Logs: - Windows Event Viewer is a built-in tool in Windows that can help you track system events and errors. You can check for any error messages or warnings logged just before the freeze occurs. - To access Event Viewer: - Press Windows Key + R to open the "Run" dialog. - Type eventvwr.msc and press Enter. - Look under Windows Logs > System for any critical or error messages around the time of the freeze. 3. Reliability Monitor: - This tool provides a timeline of system events, including crashes, installations, and hardware failures. It might offer more insights into what's causing the lockups. - To access Reliability Monitor: - Type "Reliability Monitor" in the Start menu search bar and open the application. - Check the timeline for any red "X" marks (indicating critical events) around the times of the lockups. 4. Third-Party Tools: - Software like BlueScreenView or WhoCrashed can help analyze crash dump files and provide details on what might be causing system crashes. - These tools can help identify the specific driver or hardware component that's causing the lockups. 5. Process Explorer: - Process Explorer is a powerful tool that shows detailed information about running processes. You can use it to monitor CPU usage, memory, and other process-related information that might help pinpoint the issue. - It can also help identify resource-intensive processes that could be causing the freezes. 6. Driver Verifier: - Driver Verifier is a Windows tool that helps identify faulty drivers. It stresses drivers to detect issues early on. - To run Driver Verifier, search for "verifier" in the Start menu, launch the tool, and follow the wizard to enable driver verification. By using these tools and methods, you may be able to pinpoint the root cause of the random lockups on your Windows 7 machine. Feel free to explore these options and let me know if you need further assistance!