Steam freezes my entire computer

[Billas]

So, this problem started today, and it happens like this:

If I start Steam, just a few seconds (around 15 seconds) after it has opened and the store tab is showing, my computer freezes completely.
If I try to open a game directly, with steam closed, steam logs in the background, and a few seconds after the game opens, the same thing happens.

While in offline mode, everything runs normally, but I can't, for obvious reasons, launch an online game in offline mode.

What I've tried so far:
-Defragging my hard drive
-Re-installing steam
-Cleaning registry
-Checking for faulty hardware
-bcdedit /set useplatformclock false

I've also saw here on the forums that other people had this same problem, but they were using Win10, and the solution was uninstalling ASUS AI Suite 3, but this wouldn't work for me, because I'm running Win7 and I don't have that program installed.

Right now I'm with just one thing left to try, that is deleting web browser cache and cookies, and if that doesn't work, I wont be able to use anything on steam anymore, as it seems to have no solution for the problem.

*EDIT*
Tested deleting browser cache and cookies, but it still kept freezing.
And -VERY IMPORTANT- I've also tested another thing, that is logging in with another account, and now the client is working normally, I can even play the games without anything freezing.

[Billas]

I remembered now, I run The Sims 4 on high (one of the most "power" consuming game I have) and everything runs smoothly most of the time, this may count as a stress test, and I can still run it normally (tried once today).
It is really weird that only steam and steam related games are causing the freeze on my system.

[Sapph]

Well, I have come across problems before where some problem only surfaced with one or 2 specific programs yet it was still an issue in the RAM/HDD/SSD. And swapping them helped.

Just it has never been freezing of the whole system.

[Billas]

I'll do a memtest to be sure, but it really looks like steam is conflicting with something in normal boot.

[The Giving One]

Diposting pertama kali oleh John Villas:

I'll do a memtest to be sure, but it really looks like steam is conflicting with something in normal boot.

I have to agree here, if picking a directon to go foward with.

However, you really need to test it longer in that safe boot to be sure, I think.

[Sapph]

Oh, yeah. had you checked the health of the HDD/SSD (whichever you have) yet?
If not, check it with CrystalDiskInfo.

[Billas]

Diposting pertama kali oleh The Giving One:

Diposting pertama kali oleh John Villas:

I'll do a memtest to be sure, but it really looks like steam is conflicting with something in normal boot.

I have to agree here, if picking a directon to go foward with.

However, you really need to test it longer in that safe boot to be sure, I think.

Well, I'm still on safeboot, so, atleast 30 minutes have passed since I've started steam and it is still working. I'll get everything ready for memtest and restart my system.

Diposting pertama kali oleh Sapph:

Oh, yeah. had you checked the health of the HDD/SSD (whichever you have) yet?

Not recently, this is another thing that I forgot to check, thanks for remembering me!

[The Giving One]

Please also post your exact model number and model of that computer.

If custom built, post the exact motherboard instead. Identify the exact computer.

Post the full OS, including if 32 or 64 bit. If I ask things already asked given previously, I apologize.

[Billas]

Here it goes
MoBo: Ipm41-d3, I think the manufacturer is PCWARE (the bios is from them)
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bits
HDD: Seagate ST3320418AS (320gb, 7200 RPM)
PSU: Corsair CX 600 (I know that it is way too much for what I have, but I bought it on sale)
is this all?

[The Giving One]

That's good for what I asked, but can you please go here and find it under "software and drivers" tab, and then link it to me ?

Looks like an HP OEM board to me. If this is correct :

https://support.hp.com/in-en/document/c02185182

[Billas]

Sorry, should I look for my MoBo there? If that's right, it is the one you linked.

[The Giving One]

Diposting pertama kali oleh John Villas:

Sorry, should I look for my MoBo there? If that's right, it is the one you linked.

Yes, I need to find the driver's download page for it. It's pretty old, so HP might not have them avialable anymore. Unless it came in a desktop prebuild, and it probably did.

Therefore, you need to post or link the exact model and model number of that prebuild, please. Need to find the drivers page for downloads for it.

EDITED to include "number" above. Sorry.

[Billas]

Oh right, I'm sure it came, but this one is a second motherboard, my main one was another one like that (ipm41-D3), and during a rainstorm it stopped working, so I had to buy another one. The pre-built pc is a HP Pavilion b6000br.
I can't look on the site right now, as I'm doing the had and memory test on the pc

[The Giving One]

Diposting pertama kali oleh John Villas:

The pre-built pc is a HP Pavilion b6000br.

That's what I needed. Thanks.

https://support.hp.com/gb-en/drivers/selfservice/HP-Pavilion-b6000-Desktop-PC-series/4149930/model/4157155

So have you ever reformatted this PC or installed a new hard drive since you had it ?

If so, did you reinstall all those device drivers listed there on HP's site ?

In safe mode, only basic Windows drivers are loaded and utilized. But in a normal boot, you see the freezing and have the issue, where all system drivers are loaded and utilized.

(safe mode with networking, and only basic Windows drivers + network adapter drivers are loaded and utilized)

What I am getting at is, a missing or out of date driver in a normal boot might be an issue here.

But I am still kinda leaning towards software conflicting still.

At some point, you might just have to go through and start uninstalling programs, working this problem slowly, if it is in fact software conflicting with Steam in a normal boot.

So far, it surely seems like it is, as you can run Steam in that safe boot just fine, apparently.

[Billas]

Oh, nice, I'll try to download and install all of the drivers, in case that I forgot one of them when I formated my hdd.
*EDIT*
Forgot to mention that I did a chkdsk, and nothing wrong was found within my hdd, should I go further, like downloading something to check my hdd, or is this enough?
Also, I'm having some problems with my usb stick, so I couldn't do a memtest, I'll see if I can find another one here.

[The Giving One]

Diposting pertama kali oleh John Villas:

Oh, nice, I'll try to download and install all of the drivers, in case that I forgot one of them when I formated my hdd

Ok, just get the drivers only, as you don't need that other utility stuff there. As long as they are drivers and they are for the devices on that board.

Also, HP probably has a tool under the utilities that will do this for you automatically, if the manual option is not working out for you. I prefer manual, but that's just me.

Manual meaning download each one and manually run the installer for it.