Windows – Random freezing, Can a bad battery cause it

batteryfreezelaptopubuntu 14.04windows 10

I've been using my laptop for almost 3 years now, at that time there is no problem except when I lift my laptop it freezes. I have to long press the power button to reset the computer.

But later about 1 month ago I recently got unexpected/random freeze, sometimes with BSOD but after the BSOD its freeze again, so no dump file.
I can't tell what triggers the freezing. Its completely random. It even happens sometimes when logging in and shutting down.

I installed Ubuntu too on my device and the same thing happens but not as often as Windows. So I don't think its an OS problem. I've brought it to some IT guy to check it (for a week), but he said he doesn't see the freezing, so he can fix it because he doesn't see it.

Laptop specification:

  • Core i5 4200U 1.60Ghz (4 cpus) ~ 2.30Ghz
  • 8 GB RAM, 2 pieces of 4 GB
  • Geforce 720M 2GB
  • 500GB HDD

Currently running windows 10

Here is what I do:

  1. I've tried to downgrade my Nvidia driver, because the first time it happened
    after I updated my Nvidia driver, but there is no change at all.
  2. Checking my RAM with Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool -> it says no problem
  3. Replaced my RAM and switched position between two of them -> nothing changed
  4. Checked my drive with HDTunePro -> no bad sector, nothing to worry about with the other status (I guess, since I don't really understand what its mean + seeing no red block)
  5. Reinstalled Windows -> After several hours freezing came back
  6. Unplugged the battery and used AC power (I'm just doing it right now, so I would update the effect later).

Best Answer

A bad battery is unlikely to cause such an issue, unless it is creating power surges, something unheard of. I would have put it at a bad RAM, but since you checked it, you probably are having a failing motherboard. Try the following:

1) Open the laptop and clean it thoroughly, especially the CPU fan and motherboard. You should do good to clean all connectors with a volatile solvent (which solved a similar problem in my case)

2) Clean the RAM connectors with an eraser.

3) Remove your optical drive.

4) Check the connections to the network card. Strangely enough, this was causing freezes in my laptop a few days back.

5) Check for loose connections (especially for components like Hard Drives) and look out for missing screws which may prevent proper connections.