HP ENVY Freezing

[wakandandoctor]

Hello!
I've had this notebook since 2016 and used it for the entire year with no problems (other than overheating). I stopped using it for a year (I didn't turn it on once in that second year since owning), and when I started using it again, the computer began freezing. I thought the cause might be running mutiple applications or having a website like YouTube open while browsing other sites, but the freezing has occured even without these things. To fix I have to hold the power button down, which doesnt work a lot of the time. I could hold the power button down for 10 seconds and it will turn off. Sometimes I could hold it down for 5 minutes and nothing would happen. When this happens I have to just let the battery die. Why might this be and how can I fix this issue?

[IT_WinSec]

Hello @wakandandoctor 

There could be many reason for this to happen - all of them we can divide into hardware problems OR software problems.

Let's test all major components and see what might be causing it.

Perform some basic hardware checks to rule out hardware problem

1. Please, shutdown the computer using the power button (pressed and hold for a few seconds until PC powers off)

2. Power the computer back on.

2.1 As soon as you press the power-on button, immediately begin hitting the Esc button (like tap-tap-tap) before any logo appears. This should open a HP Startup Menu >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSN0qzXayUY

3. Choose F2 to open System Diagnostics. Follow the on-screen instructions to perform System Test >> Quick test.

This will check major hardware componets for issue (do it just in case) . Here is more info >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JXUp43ahHA

If there are no system checks/no quick tests, perform HDD (hard disk drive) and RAM check (memory check).

Let me know the test results.

Back to Windows:

1. Optimize

- defragment your Hard Disk Drive (if you have hard disk drive) > https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/8933-optimize-defrag-drives-windows-10-a.html

- run Disk Clean Up - cleanmgr.exe > https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/3012-disk-cleanup-open-use-windows-10-a.html

2. Remove unneeded and temporary files. Download and run Bleachbit  with the extra options checked. Here are instructions

>> https://www.bleachbit.org/

3. Scan your PC for threats, viruses, malware...

3.1.... Run the free ESET Online Scanner >> http://download.eset.com/special/eos/esetonlinescanner_enu.exe

Scan your PC for viruses, threats and unwanted/unsafe applications - remove if anything found.

3.2.... Run AdwCleaner >>https://www.malwarebytes.com/adwcleaner/

Let me know in details if they found something and what it was....

4. Uninstall any programs you definitely do not use but you think might be a bit high on resources. You can uninstall them from Control Panel > Programs and features

5. Download and run the free Speccy  > http://www.piriform.com/speccy

Install and run the app

When it is ready, click on File > Save a snapshot

A file with .speccy extension will be generated. Please, upload it somewhere (e.g. in your Google Drive, Dropbox, ICloud or OneDrive storage) and give me URL to download/see

• Extra reading - RECOMMENDED -> read the official HP article abour such problems and follow the steps

>>  http://hp.dezide.com/ts/start.jsp?guide=pclockupfreeze.net&as=true&section=ccweb&sfs=tdoc&lc=en

(Follow the appropriate steps in the interactive guide)

Looking forward to your reply

[wakandandoctor]

Thank you for the response.

I did the basic hardware check and everything came back clean. My computer has not been freezing as of late, so I plan on using my HP normally until the problem returns. If it does return I'll proceed to step two. Maybe a previous update fixed the issue?