Game freezes, lose audio, and no processes in task manager.

Troubleshooting Game Freezes and Audio Loss: A Comprehensive Guide

Experiencing technical issues while gaming can be incredibly frustrating, especially when problems such as game freezes, loss of audio, and unresponsive task manager windows occur suddenly. If you are encountering these symptoms—particularly with a game like Dead By Daylight (DBD)—this article offers insights into potential causes and actionable solutions to help you get back to seamless gameplay.

Understanding the Issue

Common symptoms reported by gamers facing such problems include:
– Random game freezes with no response
– Inability to close or minimize the game
– Loss of in-game audio
– Task Manager opening without displaying any processes
– The need for a hard shutdown of the computer

These issues can stem from various factors, including software conflicts, driver issues, corrupt system files, or hardware malfunctions.

Preliminary Steps to Diagnose and Fix the Problem

Ensure System and Driver Updates
Confirm that your operating system is fully updated. You mentioned reinstalling Windows, which is a great first step.
Update your graphics card drivers directly from the manufacturer’s website (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel).
Update audio drivers as well, to eliminate any compatibility issues.
Check for Background Processes and Conflicts
Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and observe if any processes are running. If it appears blank or unresponsive, this might indicate deeper system issues.
Run System File Checker
Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
Type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
Wait for the process to complete and follow any on-screen prompts to fix corrupted system files.
Verify Game Integrity
Use the game launcher (e.g., Steam, Epic Games) to verify the integrity of game files, which can fix corrupt or missing files causing stability issues.
Disable Unnecessary Background Applications
Background programs may interfere with game performance. Temporarily disable antivirus software or overlay tools (such as Discord, GeForce Experience) to identify potential conflicts.
Monitor Hardware Health
Overheating or failing hardware components can cause system freezes. Use tools like HWMonitor or MSI Afterburner to check CPU, GPU, and RAM temperatures and performance.
Review Event Viewer Logs
Windows Event Viewer can provide clues about system or application errors occurring during game freezes. Look for critical