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It's a self build Core2Duo 8 GB workstation used as a 24/7/365 server, started in 2007. Installed Windows 7 on February 2010, running flawless till last week. Nothing specials happened / installed last week. Last weekend I notices video freezes (played over the network to a laptop).

I thought to update the already downloaded 18 updates, end rebooted with a real power down. Still freezes, system restore to a point before all those updates, still freezes. Rebooted again, started to check with a Ping what happens, the ping times out for 1 to 3 times. The it comes back, the event viewer isn't giving me any clues besides the 'regular' errors I always encounter (for months now). I suspect:

  • hardware failure , perhaps memory, maybe not because corruption should occur
  • Root kit / Root Virus , it's used as a server for 4 months now (no keyboard, no screen) only 'normal users' with no admin right log on sometimes. So I expect it won't is a virus / root kit
  • driver failure / stall

I almost gave up after using Google, then I stumbled on "Tom Wijsman" he can see something when sending a trace, created just after the freeze / stall. So I hope he is willing to take a look at it, my trace.

I'm already thinking of taking some day's off to re-format and re-install Windows 7. But now I'm hoping Tom (or someone else) can pinpoint or direct me in the direction to disable / replace a driver / service / something else.

For more info on what I found from Tom Wijsman check his procedure.

Best Regards, Tom

Community
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Tukker Tom
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1 Answers1

4

Opening the trace, the first thing I immediately see is a CPU related problem.

enter image description here

Even for a server, you shouldn't have your CPU at 100% all of the time...

Let's look at what processes are causing this:

enter image description here

What do we see:

  • Two virus scanners (avguard.exe and OnlineCmdLineScanner) that are overly aggressive.
  • Four virtual machines if I understand the VMWare architecture right.
  • Your search indexer might be inexing too much.
  • Is viewing photos and using Dropbox necessary?
  • What is Nuria.exe exactly, I think it is related to iPing/ADSLGuide, do you need this for operation?
  • There is a back-up running?
  • For the rest, there might be unnecessary things listed there, see for yourself.

Let's look at the I/O usage, which can tell us more:

enter image description here

What do we see:

  • Disk trashing to the page file, check your memory usage.
  • Indeed four different VMs, are you sure your server can handle this?
  • Je kijkt een film, serieus? ;)
  • It seems your are installing one or two Microsoft Offices.
  • You also have Windows Defender running, so that's three virus scanners?
  • For the rest, there might be unnecessary things listed there, see for yourself.

Furthermore, your network driver is doing a lot, see if you can trim/filter some unnecessary network traffic.

To summarize it: You are asking too much of your machine, this easily can turn in freezes.

So, my suggestions:

  • Trim down your CPU and memory usages to something that your server supports.
  • Upgrade your server in case you really require everything you are currently doing.
  • Choose a single solid virus scanner that is meant for servers and doesn't bog the performance.
  • In essence, you should aim with the performance monitor to have at least:
    • Your CPU and memory aren't higher than 75%.
    • Your Pagefile isn't in the top 3 accessed files anymore.
  • Plan on monitoring the performance of your server regularly or through notifications to prevent this.
Gareth
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Tamara Wijsman
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