Author Topic: PC freezing, hangs at aswRvrt.sys  (Read 3865 times)

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sbattisti

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PC freezing, hangs at aswRvrt.sys
« on: April 23, 2014, 04:18:50 PM »
Hi folks,

Opening my own thread, although there are plenty like it. I have both Avast and Comodo, and recently my computer has started freezing up. Upon reboot, the machine won't get to the login screen. If I try to boot to safe mode, it hangs just after loading aswRvrt.sys.

There are a number of threads on here that are precisely what I am seeing. Here are just a few:

http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=128261.0
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=140073.0

I am moderately, but not uber-technical. I have a Windows 7 CD that I could utilize if necessary.

Suggestions would be GREATLY welcomed!

Thanks,

Steve

Offline essexboy

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Re: PC freezing, hangs at aswRvrt.sys
« Reply #1 on: April 23, 2014, 04:27:01 PM »
Download the following  programme to a USB :
 
 
Farbar Recovery Scan Tool x64  Select the correct version for your computer 32 or 64bit


 Insert the windows 7 DVD into the sick computer and start the computer.
 
When you reboot you will  see this although yours will say windows 7.
 Click repair my computer  
 
 
Select your operating system  
 
 
Select Command prompt 
 

Insert the USB
 
At the command prompt type the following  :
 
notepad and press Enter
The notepad opens. Under File menu select Open
Select "Computer" and find your flash drive letter and close the notepad. 
In the command window type e:\frst64.exe  or FRST.exe and press Enter 
Note: Replace letter e with the drive letter of your flash drive. 
The tool will start to run. 
When the tool opens click Yes to disclaimer. 

Press Scan button. 
It will make a log (FRST.txt) on the flash drive. Please copy and paste it to your reply.
 


sbattisti

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Re: PC freezing, hangs at aswRvrt.sys
« Reply #2 on: April 23, 2014, 05:18:25 PM »
Thanks. Working on this. Unfortunately, the only working PC I have right now is my work one, and Symantec on that machine quarantined the Farbar Recovery Scan Tool, saying it's "WS.Reputation.1". :(

So, I'm currently stuck on that step... Working with my IT guys to free the file from quarantine.

Offline essexboy

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Re: PC freezing, hangs at aswRvrt.sys
« Reply #3 on: April 23, 2014, 05:24:17 PM »
OK but you can assure them that the programme is safe :)

sbattisti

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Re: PC freezing, hangs at aswRvrt.sys
« Reply #4 on: April 23, 2014, 06:10:28 PM »
OK, got past that. Unfortunately, when I boot to my Windows CD, and select Repair, I got an error message stating that this wasn't compatible with the version of Windows on the machine or some such. This is the same CD I used to install the OS. :(

I had an old Windows 7 Recovery disc, and I tried that as well. I didn't get the same error message in this case. However, in the box where it lists Operating Systems, it shows Windows 7 on the G: local disk (?), and then I can't take any action on that screen. The cursor is spinning and spinning forever. (It has been going for about 5 minutes. I will let it run a while longer and report back.

I may have to try this a few times. The machine doesn't seem to be behaving reliably. If I boot the machine 5 times, maybe once in the 5 it will actually make it to the desktop. I actually got to the desktop once today.

Offline essexboy

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Re: PC freezing, hangs at aswRvrt.sys
« Reply #5 on: April 23, 2014, 06:13:54 PM »
Sounds suspiciously like a hardware problem to me

If you are still having problems I can PM the link for the windows recovery console.  But, I would suspect a hard drive problem

sbattisti

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Re: PC freezing, hangs at aswRvrt.sys
« Reply #6 on: April 23, 2014, 06:44:00 PM »
Still having problems. :(

Left it on the same screen. It is still spinning. I'm going to try powering down for an hour or two. It's just anecdotal, but I have this feeling that it tends to work more reliably when it is cold... ???

Feel free to PM me anything you think might be useful!

Thanks very much for your help.

Offline essexboy

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Re: PC freezing, hangs at aswRvrt.sys
« Reply #7 on: April 23, 2014, 07:13:49 PM »
Might be worth checking that all the vents are dust free

sbattisti

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Re: PC freezing, hangs at aswRvrt.sys
« Reply #8 on: April 23, 2014, 07:36:07 PM »
Might be worth checking that all the vents are dust free

Vents look pretty clean.

Just rebooted to the Windows CD after leaving the machine off for about an hour, same result. (Get to the System Recovery Options screen, but I never get control back. It just spins forever.) Sigh.

The OS is on a relatively new SSD drive. Not sure why it would suddenly die.

Any thoughts as to what I should try next?

Steve


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Re: PC freezing, hangs at aswRvrt.sys
« Reply #9 on: April 23, 2014, 08:42:15 PM »
Do you have a second drive on the system ?  If so physically disconnect it and try a boot

sbattisti

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Re: PC freezing, hangs at aswRvrt.sys
« Reply #10 on: April 23, 2014, 10:00:56 PM »
Do you have a second drive on the system ?  If so physically disconnect it and try a boot

Interesting. I actually have three other drives in this machine. There are two SSDs and two HDDs. I unplugged all except for the main OS drive, and booted using the Windows CD, and go to the same screen, but this time without the freezing, so I can proceed.

Should I proceed with your original suggestion, or should I plug/unplug things and try again to see which device is causing the problem?

Thanks!
« Last Edit: April 23, 2014, 10:07:39 PM by sbattisti »

Offline essexboy

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Re: PC freezing, hangs at aswRvrt.sys
« Reply #11 on: April 23, 2014, 10:30:48 PM »
Plug them in until you find the problem device.  I am noticing this fairly frequently with dual SSD and HD system

sbattisti

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Re: PC freezing, hangs at aswRvrt.sys
« Reply #12 on: April 23, 2014, 10:41:05 PM »
OK, I will try that. In the mean time, while I was waiting to hear back, I went ahead and ran FRST64. Here is the log...


sbattisti

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Re: PC freezing, hangs at aswRvrt.sys
« Reply #13 on: April 23, 2014, 11:10:47 PM »
So, update. As usually, my computer resists being consistent. I plugged all of the drives back in the following order, and here's what happened:

- plugged in the other SSD - it told me that the drive needed to be checked for consistency, but then booted into windows without problem after it ran
- plugged in one of the HDDs and booted to the windows repair - no problems
- plugged in the other HDD and booted to the windows repair - no problems

 Basically, now everything is plugged back in, and I can boot without problem and it takes me to the Windows login screen.

So, we've effectively done nothing but unplug and re-plug stuff, and now my problem is fixed. However, I'm not at all convinced we have resolved anything. Certainly, the other SSD is the only one showing any dicey evidence.

If you have any other suggestions for things I could do, I would appreciate it. :)

Steve


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Re: PC freezing, hangs at aswRvrt.sys
« Reply #14 on: April 23, 2014, 11:16:11 PM »
The dodgy SSD may well have been the problem and fixing it has cured all ...  Fingers crossed anyway :)