Windows 10: PC very randomly freezing...hardware or software?

Hi, Originally was going to post this on the Intel NUC forums, but you guys seem more helpful. I'm having issues with my Intel NUC Phantom Canyon NUC11PHKi7CAA (i7 with RTX 2060 mobile) . It has developed a random freezing issue, which is a big problem as I'm using this as my workstation. Windows will freeze without any BSOD or error code. Sometimes it restarts automatically, most of the time it doesn't. It can work for hours on end as it did yesterday, but then freeze soon after startup. Windows event viewer just shows a "Fatal hardware error has occurred" event. What I've tried: Reinstalling Windows 10 Updating to Windows 11 (It's now running 11 since it doesn't make any difference) Switching RAM kits (both mem tested no errors) Switching M.2 Drive (using dual m.2s at the moment) I suspect it could possibly be an issue with an m.2 drive or the as it used to randomly disconnect the other brand of M.2 I used previously (Crucial instead of Samsung). Or the RTX 2060, which when I reinstalled Windows showed up as "Windows has stopped this device" in device manager until I installed NVidia drivers where it seemed to work fine. But I'm at my wits end trying to figure this out. It's very random too. Sometimes the PC can be fine for hours, other times it freezes soon after booting it up and opening Edge with Youtube. Here's a recent event log if it helps. But if there's something else I can include, let me know. It's still under warranty for 8 months or so, so I'd like to see if this can be narrowed down. Though I don't know how to replicate this issue at all. - System - Provider [ Name] Microsoft-Windows-WHEA-Logger [ Guid] {c26c4f3c-3f66-4e99-8f8a-39405cfed220} EventID 1 Version 0 Level 2 Task 0 Opcode 0 Keywords 0x8000000000000002 - TimeCreated [ SystemTime] 2021-07-18T02:05:57.8986721Z EventRecordID 3496 - Correlation [ ActivityID] {c8e8cf9d-442c-4fae-8e86-823d61d13ede} - Execution [ ProcessID] 4044 [ ThreadID] 4536 Channel System Computer DESKTOP-ERO32ET - Security [ UserID] S-1-5-19 - EventData Length 3408

:)

 

Windows 10 freezes randomly

I had already tried turning off fast startup, to no avail.
Will look at the list you provided, thanks. Hard to do when computer freezes on the Windows loading screen though. *Biggrin

I had tried that as well... no result.

 

PC Freezing

the issue began like a week after purchase

i have not made any recent change on the machine

Its freezing randomly

 

Windows 10 freezes randomly

Hi,

To better assist you regarding Windows 10 which freezes randomly, please provide the following:

• Which is the last Windows update build you've applied to the computer?
• Are there any third party applications that are currently installed?

Furthermore, we suggest that you do a BIOS update to your computer. Here are the steps:

• Check the motherboard manufacturer's website to find the specific model of your motherboard.
• Go to the computer manufacturer's website.
• Look for the computer model that you're using.
• You should find any available BIOS update.

Let us know how it goes.