Constant freezing and crashing on windows 10 previously fine computer driving me crazy.

Understanding and Resolving Frequent Freezes and System Crashes on Windows 10: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction

Experiencing persistent system freezes and crashes can be incredibly frustrating, especially on a computer that previously operated smoothly. If your Windows 10 machine has begun to freeze unpredictably after years of reliable performance, you’re not alone. This article aims to help you diagnose and resolve common causes of such issues, drawing inspiration from real-world scenarios.

System Overview

Before diving into troubleshooting, it’s essential to understand your system’s specifications and recent behaviors:

Processor: Intel Core i9-10850K
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super
Memory: 2 x 16GB Corsair RAM (exact models unknown)
Motherboard: ROG Strix Z490-E Gaming
Operating System: Windows 10

Recent Symptoms

Freezes typically occur after about an hour of use.
No initial blue screen before freezing.
Occasional system errors when crashes occur:
IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
KERNEL_THREAD_PRIORITY_FLOOR_VIOLATION
Windows Defender flags a “Winring0.G” driver as a Trojan, but multiple virus scans have only revealed outdated drivers.
Attempts to boot Linux from a USB drive result in recognition of peripherals followed by system crashes.

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting

Investigate Driver Issues

Outdated or incompatible drivers are common culprits for system instability.

Update Graphics Drivers: Visit NVIDIA’s official website to download the latest driver compatible with your RTX 2070 Super.
Check Motherboard Drivers: Download the latest chipset, audio, and network drivers from ASUS’s official support page for the ROG Strix Z490-E.
Review Device Manager: Look for warning symbols indicating driver issues and resolve them accordingly.
Address Windows Defender Alerts

The detection of “Winring0.G” as a Trojan warrants caution.

Confirm Threat Status: Use reputable malware removal tools such as Malwarebytes to perform comprehensive scans.
Verify Driver Files: Sometimes legitimate drivers or monitoring tools can be flagged. Ensure you’ve not installed any suspicious software.
Temporarily Disable Threat Detection: If confident in your system’s integrity, disable Windows Defender temporarily while performing other troubleshooting steps, but only if you are certain about your system’s safety.
Check for System Hardware Issues

Hardware problems can manifest as system freezes and errors.