Windows 10: Intermittent freeze on startup

I have had this issue since I bought the machine a year ago. It has occurred intermittently from the very first fresh install of Windows 10 (without connecting to the internet), so almost certain it's not due to malware but more likely a driver/hardware issue.

4/5 times when my PC restarts, it gets as far as the Windows desktop but then hangs:
- the mouse cursor moves
- right clicking brings up the popup menu, but it's half-transparent and non-functional
- some of the task bar icons appear but not all
- the system is unusable: applications can't be started/used
- the start menu doesn't work

My solution until now has been to restart until finally this doesn't happen and from then on the system works fine. However, I try to avoid restarting the machine as much as possible due to this annoyance, so would really like to fix it.

Here are relevant log extracts from a couple of failed boot attempts where the freeze occurred:
- Application event log
- System event log
- ntbtlog.txt

The main recurrent system log error seems to be:

Log Name: System
Source: Microsoft-Windows-DistributedCOM
Date: 01/06/2016 08:42:31
Event ID: 10005
Task Category: None
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: SYSTEM
Computer: Dave-New-PC
Description:
DCOM got error "1084" attempting to start the service TermService with arguments "Unavailable" in order to run the server:
{F9A874B6-F8A8-4D73-B5A8-AB610816828B}
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
<System>
<Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-DistributedCOM" Guid="{1B562E86-B7AA-4131-BADC-B6F3A001407E}" EventSourceName="DCOM" />
<EventID Qualifiers="0">10005</EventID>
<Version>0</Version>
<Level>2</Level>
<Task>0</Task>
<Opcode>0</Opcode>
<Keywords>0x8080000000000000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2016-06-01T07:42:31.687410800Z" />
<EventRecordID>177783</EventRecordID>
<Correlation />
<Execution ProcessID="756" ThreadID="920" />
<Channel>System</Channel>
<Computer>Dave-New-PC</Computer>
<Security UserID="S-1-5-18" />
</System>
<EventData>
<Data Name="param1">1084</Data>
<Data Name="param2">TermService</Data>
<Data Name="param3">Unavailable</Data>
<Data Name="param4">{F9A874B6-F8A8-4D73-B5A8-AB610816828B}</Data>
</EventData>
</Event>

If any more info is required to diagnose this, please let me know.

Thanks in advance.

:)

 

Windows 10 intermittent freeze on startup

I suggest you install all the drivers for your system from the manufacturer’s website in the below link and check if it helps: GA-Z97M-DS3H (rev. 1.0) | Motherboard - GIGABYTE Global

I have downloaded and installed all the drivers on that page. The problem still persists.

Method 1: I suggest you to perform the system maintenance troubleshooter. It will resolve the common system problems.

1. Tap on Windows Key and click on search bar.

2. Type “Troubleshooting” without the quotes and click on Troubleshooting.

3. Then click on System and Security.

4. Click on System Maintenance.

5. Click on Next and follow the prompts to run the troubleshooter.

If the issue still persist, refer to the below method.

I have carried this out as above (see result below). The problem still persists.





Method 2: Run the System File Checker and check if it helps.

1. Press Windows Key. Click on search bar.

2. Type “CMD” without the quotes and hit on Enter Key.

3. Right click on it and select Run as Administrator.

4. Type “sfc /scannow” and hit on Enter Key.

If the issue still persist, refer to the below method.

I have carried this out as above (see result below). The problem still persists.





Method 3: If doesn't work, I would suggest you to perform the below methods and check if it helps.

1. Tap on Windows Key and click on search bar.

2. Type "CMD" without the quotes and right click on it.

3. Select Run as Administrator.

4. Type the following command to Repair corruption:

Dism /online /cleanup-image /checkhealth

Dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

I have carried this out as above (see result below). The problem still persists.





The original issue still persists after carrying out all the above steps. I have
made a video to illustrate where it gets stuck - as you can see the taskbar icons stop loading and right-clicking brings up a semi-transparent popup menu with no content. Attempting to launch
any application results in a blank window frame which is displayed indefinitely and cannot be closed. I've left the machine in this state for 12 hours and it did not resolve. Restarting multiple times is the only solution. Approximately 1 out of 5 restarts
is successful and the issue does not occur. The machine functions fine after a successful start.

 

Windows 10 intermittent freeze on startup

Hi Dave,

I am sorry for the delay.

I suggest you install all the drivers for your system from the manufacturer’s website in the below link and check if it helps:

GA-Z97M-DS3H (rev. 1.0) | Motherboard - GIGABYTE Global

If the issue still persist, I suggest you to try the below troubleshooting steps and check if it helps:

Method 1: I suggest you to perform the system maintenance troubleshooter. It will resolve the common system problems.

1. Tap on Windows Key and click on search bar.

2. Type “Troubleshooting” without the quotes and click on
Troubleshooting.

3. Then click on System and Security.

4. Click on System Maintenance.

5. Click on Next and follow the prompts to run the troubleshooter.

If the issue still persist, refer to the below method.

Method 2: Run the System File Checker and check if it helps.

1. Press Windows Key. Click on search bar.

2. Type “CMD” without the quotes and hit on Enter Key.

3. Right click on it and select Run as Administrator.

4. Type “sfc /scannow” and hit on Enter Key.

If the issue still persist, refer to the below method.

Method 3: If doesn't work, I would suggest you to perform the below methods and check if it helps.

1. Tap on Windows Key and click on search bar.

2. Type "CMD" without the quotes and right click on it.

3. Select Run as Administrator.

4. Type the following command to Repair corruption:

Dism /online /cleanup-image /checkhealth


Dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

Hope your issue will be resolved.

Let us know if you have any queries in the future, we will be glad to help you.