Windows 10 Pc dell xps 8700 circa July 2014 win 10 freezes after a few mins orange light stays on

bmitie

TK Veteran
As per heading pc faultless until this morning and now freezes after a few mins, tested psu ok, took out video card, swopped ram, it has 4 slots 32gb,

Dis connected 2nd ssd, checked for new drivers, changed cmos battery and that’s the end of my expertise. Is there a anytying else I can try , the ssd with the os is tiny and attached to Mb . Is there anyway of establishing if MB has a fault?
 
if you have a spare drive, do a fresh windows installation and some apps and leave it running doing something to see if it's the install or hardware that's the problem
 
You could try and boot into safe mode and see if that works ok.
Also you could try and do a system restore to before the date of the freezing. As it freezes you would have to do it from boot/start up but I can't remember what keys you press so may have to check with Dell for that.

Sorry it's F12 button press repeatedly at start and you get to Dell diagnostic part from the boot menu so you should be able to check for errors there
 
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Its a win 8.1 system updated to win 10 online so no discs. The f12 wont respond but as its old maybe a different key. Its so long simce I did anything with windows I am very green. The hdd is one of those small micto ones attached to the MB and it has 25gb space left, 220gb is the size. I'll try that system restore later but i dont think system will stay working for long enough. I have more rtme today and I've ordered a mb off ebay as a last resort,
 
Its a win 8.1 system updated to win 10 online so no discs. The f12 wont respond but as its old maybe a different key. Its so long simce I did anything with windows I am very green. The hdd is one of those small micto ones attached to the MB and it has 25gb space left, 220gb is the size. I'll try that system restore later but i dont think system will stay working for long enough. I have more rtme today and I've ordered a mb off ebay as a last resort,
Here's another link for you to try and read all of it as there is a bit and the end about the hard drive.
Have you taken the lid off and and seen what state the inside is like?

Sorry you have, is the inside dusty? Check the CPU fan is dust free as it maybe overheating the CPU but that's explained in the link.

The F12 button needs to the repeatedly pressed not held down when the machine starts up from cold or reboot.

If you can get into diagnostics that may pin the issue down or safe mode option as you can then get into Event logs and see if the issue is mentioned there.

As you don't have much space on the hdd that could do with a clean up to give you more space but as mentioned you to have the machine not freezing long enough to do that
 
Open "Task Manager" and see what going on in there.

Type Task Manager into the bottom left corner were it says "Type here to search"
 
here is an update, I got enough time to start system restore and it actually worked, took ages but PC back up and running, orange light still on. check disk drive c no errors, checked video card ok, did a disk cleanup got back 3.78gb now 29.5gb available.

I did have watts app loading on start up so disabled that, and I recall a few messages about mcafee adding bits to brave but I declined. I have switched to using a HDMI lead for time being, card as 5 hdmi outlets but was using an hdmi adapter to a dell monitor for last 2 years.

What happens now is when monitor goes to sleep I can only get pic back by taking hdmi lead out at rear of pc and re inserting. Not the end of the world.

I have to add when I opened PC it was full of dust and I mean full. I hoovered everything and got all the vent holes clear. I have it under a desk and its a bugger to get at, that's my excuse.

That tip on restore was ace as I would not have thought of it. I'll keep my eye on things and do a few googles.

Any thing else I can check?

1vincent no link.
 
Brand new Dell XPS 8930 freezing intermittenly with Windows 10

Sorry for no link .

In the link there is some one who had an error with the hard drive that was causing the freezing.

Did you run Dell diagnostic when you got your pc restored from system restore? Sometimes that may suggest driver updates or other things to install.

When you checked hard drive was that using some hard drive soft ware or windows?

Do you have CPU temp app/software on thpc as that may indicate if high temp is causing the freezing as in the link.

A can of air duster is good for getting rid of all the dust in the fans.

As for the hdmi not responding there maybe a setting in the graphics card app or windows that set to wake after you press a button or move the mouse but you could always adjust the time for when the screen goes to sleep after no use to longer.

It could also be a good time to check your pc and see what software you don't use anymore and delete it to free up some more space.

Let's us know if how things go.
 
dell xps 8700 hdmi not waking up

If you put the above words into Google the 1st thing that comes up is ai overview for me and that may help you with the hdmi issue.
 
I used the air duster, freezing only started yesterday, I am now messing with power management stuff. hdd was checked using windows, I tried with online dell diagnostics and itfoze at 68%. Back to freezing now and on a laptop with a wonky spacebar!!

I got the video card tested today and it passed so all that is left is the MB.

Looking at a new DELL desktop, how do I connect speakers!!!
 
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I used the air duster, freezing only started yesterday, I am now messing with power management stuff. hdd was checked using windows, I tried with online dell diagnostics and itfoze at 68%. Back to freezing now and on a laptop with a wonky spacebar!!
Try HWinfo(not sure where you can get it from) and that software will give you lots of info about your pc and the CPU temp and it may show if the CPU is overheating and causing freezing.
If you can boot into safe mode that should reduce the amount of items loading on the pc and you could the run diagnostic again.
In the link I gave there was a bit about replying thermal paste to the CPU as maybe the cause.
Also have you checked Event Viewier in Windows to see what error messages you are getting?
 
Yes to all of the above, I have cpu id, and i have the temp monitor, i cant get into safe mode, tried F8 and F12. I have ordered thermal paste. I did get to event viewer and did not understand the error messages.

And to connect speakers I need a pci souncard, used to be standard.

Thanks for all the tips.

And on the link replacing the SSD did the trick. I took out the SSD and booted up but orange light stayed on. AI said if it was the fault light would go white.
 
Sorry to bombard you with links.

Not sure if you have tried these tests.

Go to this link (may say USA but carry on) and read it all. It's about POST beeps codes at the start when you turn on the pc.

Press the XPS desktop highlighted and that gives you options and if click highlighted pre boot diagnostics test and that will open another page and if you read that and then restart your pc and get to the Dell logo press F12 repeatedly and that should bring up diagnostic part on the pc and then test away and see if anything turns up.

I don't have a Dell pc just a pc I built myself so I don't know how the diagnostic software works.

I hope this helps and you don't think I am "mansplaining" too much.
 
No thats perfect, I have forgotten all the bits I used to know even the obvious!! I booted up and old 2007 PC yesterday and it had 3 images on it, xp, win 7 and unbuntu!! Could I do it now not a hope.

this is the ssd Samsung SSD PM841 mSATA 256gb and if I decide to buy one does it have to be an exact match.

With dell diagnostics I have a dell account so you log on and click support assist, enter jtag number and DELL downloads software that go though diagnostics. I got to 68% and it froze when on a mmeory test. All bits wre good.
 
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LINK??

Yes to all of the above, I have cpu id, and i have the temp monitor, i cant get into safe mode, tried F8 and F12. I have ordered thermal paste. I did get to event viewer and did not understand the error messages.

And to connect speakers I need a pci souncard, used to be standard.

Thanks for all the tips.
 
Sorry to bombard you with links.

Not sure if you have tried these tests.

Go to this link (may say USA but carry on) and read it all. It's about POST beeps codes at the start when you turn on the pc.

Press the XPS desktop highlighted and that gives you options and if click highlighted pre boot diagnostics test and that will open another page and if you read that and then restart your pc and get to the Dell logo press F12 repeatedly and that should bring up diagnostic part on the pc and then test away and see if anything turns up.

I don't have a Dell pc just a pc I built myself so I don't know how the diagnostic software works.

I hope this helps and you don't think I am "mansplaining" too much.
LINK??

Yes to all of the above, I have cpu id, and i have the temp monitor, i cant get into safe mode, tried F8 and F12. I have ordered thermal paste. I did get to event viewer and did not understand the error messages.

And to connect speakers I need a pci souncard, used to be standard.

Thanks for all the tips.
 
LINK??

Yes to all of the above, I have cpu id, and i have the temp monitor, i cant get into safe mode, tried F8 and F12. I have ordered thermal paste. I did get to event viewer and did not understand the error messages.

And to connect speakers I need a pci souncard, used to be standard.

Thanks for all the tips.
Sorry having problems putting up links.
Understanding Beep Codes on a Dell Desktops | Dell US
 
Not getting F12 button to work maybe something to do with Windows 10 boot up.

Googled it and secure boot could be the issue as it doesn't show the Dell splash screen or something like that.

Other more knowledgeable people may have the answer.
 
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