Unexplained PC lockups happening on new OS build?

It happened on the last build, so I rebuilt the OS, again, and it did it on the new OS build yesterday.  It's windows 7 pro x64, amd-fx 8300, 32gb ram, gtx 970.  This latest OS build is 2 days old.  On this new build, I only have a couple games installed, steam, skype, macrium reflect free (imaging software), malwarebytes and avast.  I did get all windows updates as well.

Basically what's happening is I'll be using the computer, and lets say I want to open notepad.  Nothing will happen.  So I'll try again, still nothing happens.  So I right click taskbar, start task manager, nothing happens.  Then I'm just sitting there staring at the hour glass, and then the screen goes white opaque.  After another minute or so I get this message, Windows explorer has stopped responding, so I end process, and then everything comes back up and working.  Task manager pops up, the two notepads I tried to open are now open, and this all happens within a 5 to 10 minute time frame.

I know the OS is out of support, I'm still choosing to use it.  My question is, could there be a hardware related problem to the lockups?  I use a 500gb WD hard drive and that's more than 10 years old.  To be honest, something tells me it's the hard drive, but every hard drive monitoring software I've gotten all say my hard drives are healthy.  Even the 500gb C:\ drive.

Thanks

2021-01-03T16:26:24Z

Thanks for the answer VP.  Yes, I built the PC myself, but about 2 or 3 years ago liquid was spilled on top of the case, mostly got onto the RAM chips and GPU, which I removed and replaced with new RAM and a went from a 960 to the 970 I have now.  I did not see any damage to the motherboard, but I do plan to build a newer system at some point in the future.  My only 2nd guess is it's still something from that liquid, but once I replaced the RAM 2 years ago, all freezing issues went away.

2021-01-03T16:29:57Z

Until windows 10 seems like a viable OS, I can't use it.  I don't consent to being spied on.  So until all tracking and telemetry is 100% stripped from 10, it's not something I trust.  Besides, why do they need to track and spy on us???  They don't need to, but they are, and it's something we should all be highly concerned about.  This stuff needs to simply stop.

VP2021-01-03T15:43:49Z

Favorite Answer

The obvious answer is, "Upgrade to Win 10." But since you choose to stay behind, if I were 'shooting this problem, I'd start by reducing the number of things it could be.  In your case, you're suspecting hardware so start by disconnecting/removing non-essential pieces of hardware.  If possible, just unplug the device's power or data cable and save some time when it comes to reinstalling the hardware you're disconnecting.
 
You didn't mention whether you built your computer or bought it from someplace like Dell. If from Dell, did you also download and install all matching BIOS updates and drivers for your system?  If self-built, did you visit the mobo vendor for BIOS updates and drivers to install?

It may be a RAM issue. Try removing 3 sticks and test using 8 GB (assuming you have 4 sticks of 8 GB).  Test each stick -- one at a time to see if the error pops up or not. If not, test 2 at a time. Then 3. etc.
 
Also, shrink down the list of things/apps that start-up when you boot-up. Don't delete the start-up entries, just disable them, if possible. By doing it this way you don't lose track of what was running when you first started.

There's definitely no shortcut for finding issues like the one you described. You just have to be patient and methodical.  

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