HP Pavilion laptop crash

[JKWK]

Hi there,

My HP Pavilion laptop crashes randomly every so many hours (the hard reset to restart always works). I have re-installed windows 11, updated all drivers, etc. etc. Doesn't help.  I ran all the HP diagnostics several times. The laptop crashes consistently, i.e. each and every time, when I start the CPU stress test (which is a bit ironic when you come to think of it). It doesn't fail the test - so there is no report on any error or problem. It just crashes and I am back to square one. Suggestions?   

[Sneha_01]

Hi @JKWK 

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

It sounds like your HP Pavilion laptop is encountering a crash during heavy load, specifically during a CPU stress test. Since you've already reinstalled Windows 11, updated drivers, and run diagnostics with no clear errors, the issue might be related to hardware, overheating, or even power management. Let’s walk through some further troubleshooting steps:

1. Check for Overheating

During CPU stress tests, your laptop's CPU and GPU are pushed to their maximum capacity, which generates a lot of heat. If the cooling system is not working properly, the laptop could crash to prevent damage from overheating.

What to Check:

Monitor Temperature:

• Download HWMonitor or Core Temp to monitor CPU temperatures during stress testing. Temperatures above 85-90°C are generally a concern for most laptops.

Clean the Fans:

• Dust buildup can significantly affect cooling performance. If you're comfortable opening up your laptop (or have a technician do it), clean the fans and apply fresh thermal paste to the CPU if necessary.

Ensure Proper Ventilation:

• Use the laptop on a hard, flat surface. Avoid soft surfaces like beds or couches that block air vents.
• Consider using a cooling pad to enhance airflow under the laptop.

2. Run Memory and Disk Diagnostics

While HP diagnostics might not have reported an error, there could still be an issue with RAM or your storage device that is causing the crashes under load.

Test RAM:

1. Open Task Manager and monitor the Memory usage to see if it's fully utilized during the stress test.
2. Run Windows Memory Diagnostic:
   • Press Windows + R, type mdsched.exe, and hit Enter.
   • Choose Restart now and check for problems.

Test the Hard Drive/SSD:

1. In Task Manager, check the Disk Usage during heavy load.
2. Run CHKDSK:
   • Open Command Prompt (Admin) and type:chkdsk /f /r
   • Restart your laptop to allow the disk scan to run.

Alternatively, you can use CrystalDiskInfo to check the SMART status of your SSD or HDD and ensure it's not showing any errors.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

Rachel571

HP Support