Large downloads cause whole system to freeze or crash

[Entropy]

Hello,

while downloading large games (i.e. DOOM, The Witcher 3) my PC frequently completely freezes (not a 5 second freeze or something like that, but a crash, and without blue screen or reboot, just complete standstill).

I tried multiple things already:
- update/reinstall all third party drivers (graphics driver, network driver)
- reinstall steam
- check memory using MemTest
- run chkdsk on the HDD where I install my Steam games on
- disable all non-microsoft services (besides the steam client service - without this steam obviously won't start...)

The weird thing is: When downloading other large files, i.e. games via EAs Origin Platform (BF4 ~ 30GB, or Star Citizen (~30 GB) everything works fine - no crashes, no freezes. I have Windows 10 without any third party anti virus scanner, I'm only using Windows Defender and disabling it did not fix the problem. So something must be up with the way Steam downloads/installs the games. I need advise on how to fix this issue, as I cannot install DOOM for instance, because its 60 GB, so the opportunity to freeze/crash is quite high - and after each incident I have to verify the game files via Steam because DOOM (or any other large game I want to play) won't start as the crash/freeze corrupted the files. And especially with DOOM... after verifying the files it wants to download over 20 GB again - so enough time to just crash/freeze again...

Here are my system details:
- AMD FX 8350
- Gigabyte GA-970A-D3 AMD 970
- 3GB PowerColor Radeon HD 7950
- 8GB Corsair ValueSelect DDR3-1333 DIMM CL9 Dual Kit
- 450 Watt Cougar A-Series
- Windows 10 64 Bit, all updates installed

I hope you see my predicament and can give me advise on what to try.

[crunchyfrog]

Първоначално публикувано от Jwest1999:

Първоначално публикувано от Lord Wraith:

I had same issue, but fixed it:
use windows search for: msconfig
on the 'BOOT' tab select "advanced options"
check the number of cpu cores that = ur cpu cores
reboot

WARNING:
cpu cores not theds or logicel cores!!!!
A 6 core AMD FX has only 3 cpu cores and 6 logical cores
you can verify using task manager.

this fix will also make some games that wont load, (no even an error of why) start working.
it is a bug with win10

Hey bro im a dummy i kinda need a walk through. i got boot tab open but i dont know exactly what im supposed to change or do what needs to be rearranged. been having this problem for a while and hoping this helps cuz my windows 7 was ultimate(pirated) for a long time finally updated it to 10 pro and been having problems downloading steam and tried to redownload windows and it froze.

In your case, it's likely going to be impossible to fix because you had a cracked version of Windows you've updated. There could be ANY sort of corruption or misconfiguration in there.

Sadly, I think your best bet is to wipe your computer and reinstall Windows afresh. Then go from there.

[Iceira]

Am i the only one that notice no free space or size on the disk and free space left.

if you do not have any free 500gb left then DL is 100gb , that your problem. ( 1 to 5 unpacking ratio and still have enough free space for temp files )

example
fallout4 say its 30gb on store page and yet with all dlc its 93,2gb aka 100gb now. ( and that just without mods )

[Sebastian]

Първоначално публикувано от Lord Wraith:

I had same issue, but fixed it:
use windows search for: msconfig
on the 'BOOT' tab select "advanced options"
check the number of cpu cores that = ur cpu cores
reboot

WARNING:
cpu cores not theds or logicel cores!!!!
A 6 core AMD FX has only 3 cpu cores and 6 logical cores
you can verify using task manager.

this fix will also make some games that wont load, (no even an error of why) start working.
it is a bug with win10

I owe you one man, deeply appreciating that solution, made me nuts for months now., thank you.

[Iceira]

Ask AMD support whats up with chipeset driver you set o MS and why its wrong cpu is used in windows system.

MS dont make AMD Chipset Driver, and its AMD job to send its Driver to MS or update ppl pc themself.

[Argo]

Първоначално публикувано от Lord Wraith:

I had same issue, but fixed it:
use windows search for: msconfig
on the 'BOOT' tab select "advanced options"
check the number of cpu cores that = ur cpu cores
reboot

WARNING:
cpu cores not theds or logicel cores!!!!
A 6 core AMD FX has only 3 cpu cores and 6 logical cores
you can verify using task manager.

this fix will also make some games that wont load, (no even an error of why) start working.
it is a bug with win10

You literally fixed multiple days of stress that this issue has caused me. You literally have no idea how much love I have for you at the moment, random stranger, but I wish for nothing but the best for you in life.

[Coachpotato]

Not just a windows problem. I had a lot of freezing issues on Linux, mainly when trying to download large games, like RDR2 for example. First thing I did was make sure GPU acceleration for the client was turned off, because that's a known issue. Second things I did to finally fix the freezing issues was add Steam to my firewall rules and limit the download speed to 15 MB/s. So far no crashes.

[Elucidator]

'Freezes and crashes' (the combination) happening due to something odd in the processor are often due to overvoltage spikes. (Its, in my guess likely not windows 10 failing to detect something properly as one poster described.)
Considering less heat is produced and more heat is taken away much quicker if you halve the logical processors, there is less voltage needed in the area.

I suspect something is wrong internally on the hardware side, if it isn't the driver itself (the software that is used to control your processor).

Unless you know how to check things yourself, I'd at least recommend trying to clean the case and the powersupply. If you do have some expertise, check the power lines with a voltage meter. (and obviously the mosfets that also control voltage levels)
and also check the connection between the processor controller and the processor itself.
It won't break easily with only a few overvoltages, but... e.e; it could, if it gets worse, fry the system or at least a specific local core area.

When you disable cores, you basically go from core 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7, to 0 1 2 3 or something. It depends on how it was crafted, etc. There is an order to things.
likely the edge cores are more effected. ... just saying.
You're not supposed to need to tone down the number of processor cores permanently at least.

Edit: just to note: the problem could be very well in the PSU, not just on the motherboard.
and it could also be a failure in programming of the bios or something. (try updating the firmware).
there are a number of reasons as to why the processor in a specific place could at a very specific condition receive too much voltage causing the 'clock' to stop detecting stuff.
(Another thing you can do: check the RAM and make sure it doesn't need more voltage than your processor can handle, some RAM eat more voltage)
(also note: it can also be too little voltage and it could also be a small issue in a small cable too. Again its kinda hard to find without tools, etc.)

[Lexor]

Първоначално публикувано от Lord Wraith:

I had same issue, but fixed it:
use windows search for: msconfig
on the 'BOOT' tab select "advanced options"
check the number of cpu cores that = ur cpu cores
reboot

WARNING:
cpu cores not theds or logicel cores!!!!
A 6 core AMD FX has only 3 cpu cores and 6 logical cores
you can verify using task manager.

this fix will also make some games that wont load, (no even an error of why) start working.
it is a bug with win10

Many thanks, friend! I had this issue for about two years now. Your solution fixed it as far as I can tell. Big SSD operations still can cause some lag, but nothing comparable to the soul eating freezes before your fix (until now).

[Iceira]

Complain to own Motherboard ( this is not a MS or steam issue, ) that is a chipset driver issue that your board did not tell MS about. ( be happy steam dont lock this post then this is own Brand product fault or user for not take it to the right place. )

MS dont make other Brand product Driver, ( this post dont belong on steam )

[Reogaz]

Първоначално публикувано от Iceira W10:

Complain to own Motherboard ( this is not a MS or steam issue, ) that is a chipset driver issue that your board did not tell MS about. ( be happy steam dont lock this post then this is own Brand product fault or user for not take it to the right place. )

MS dont make other Brand product Driver, ( this post dont belong on steam )

I agree, but since it only affects specific games, each affected game needs this posted to it, so the players can resolve the issue. Most players don't want, or care to learn how to troubleshoot; they just want it to work. So any way we can streamline the solution to them, the better.

[Reticuli]

Първоначално публикувано от Lord Wraith:

I had same issue, but fixed it:
use windows search for: msconfig
on the 'BOOT' tab select "advanced options"
check the number of cpu cores that = ur cpu cores
reboot

WARNING:
cpu cores not theds or logicel cores!!!!
A 6 core AMD FX has only 3 cpu cores and 6 logical cores
you can verify using task manager.

this fix will also make some games that wont load, (no even an error of why) start working.
it is a bug with win10

Must be an AMD thing, because that doesn't solve anything for an Intel cpu.

[diga.]

Killer Network Manager (service) i uninstalled it completely. Seems to work faster and no freezes. I found a thread that suggested this, and that Killer Network Manager was causing RAM memory leaks (loops). Sure enough i saw my RAM and C drive at 100% load after some 10GB downloaded from Steam and computer almost froze.
So if this is the common culprit for all of you, i really hope this helps. I've been struggling with this issue for years, I even avoided playing large fun games with friends because of the 2 day download/install, computer forced restarts after every 5 min or 4-5 GB... I am free now. no more "manager", my speeds went up, everything works smoother.
Cheers!

[n3mes1s]

Concerning the ignorance of people. This is still happening, and its not a problem of hardware, or system configuration or whatever. It is just EMULE. These problems have been happening since the ages of times, they are not new. Emule is not just prepared to download large files. It will get stuck on downloading leaving your system blocked, it doesnt matter if you are only downloading one or two files, its a known problem and the only culprit is emule itself. People saying its my hardware, my isp, blah blah ssds.. blah blah (btw there is no such a thing as SSHD, it is called just SSD lol.) i mean, really? in 2022? people dont know about this universal problem of Emule... amazing o.O

Emule is suitable for small files, but when we start talking about whole gigabytes, then problems start happening. Thats one of the main reasons emule was abandoned ages ago and "replaced" with bittorrent. Even the "community" releases do nothing to fix these problems lol.

And killing network manager worked for you? amazing. Keep in mind, most people dont have network manager active, or at least they shouldnt by default. So the problems are not related to that, if it worked to you, congrats, lol. If you were using network manager for some reason, im pretty sure you shouldnt deactivate it lol. But well, its your system, not mine, so. :p

[BlueBanana]

Първоначално публикувано от n3mes1s:

(btw there is no such a thing as SSHD, it is called just SSD lol.)

Speaking of ignorance... You should read up on SSHDs before making such statements. They are (were) actually a thing.
It's a 'Solid-State Hybrid Drive'. A small SSD (used for caching) combined with a conventional HDD.

[Iceira]

Maybe you have diffrent issue or should talk with harddisk Brand support, they will end your debat on small and big files faster then all knowledge here, just because i know server and big files so do steam, they do have the server you just technical told steam cant provide big DL, this dont add up, and you mixup some have AMD chipset issue with core nr. and other had network Driver issue or should i say QoS or network management issue ( ip traffic control)

And you said all the aged, sense when did we had issue with DL then we was on modem adsl and the bigger disk over time, im not so sure you graps own timeline, this dont mean you cant have issue in GPT disk even that is newer technology most here just started and other have them for long time, and server people busted that 4GB disk many many years ago, and we dont even talk about raid and other thing made, big disk 20TB disk is made now, im sure hard disk support can tell you diffrently about what big file is, ( you post is not detail enough, and make no sense for many here,

Come again then you had overt 1 billion files most here will have them,when they have many games or 1000 of games, more a app issue i have seen defrag app cant handle sorting then overstacking is reach. it was never a disk issue more apps cant handle it.

maybe you did not read the steam user that had 5000 games, steam try to fix that so again it was app not disk.

you also seem to forget steam client keep change, things is not same as it was few years back
things thats once worked now hit steam with new issue and old advice even get issue with steam new ways.

just so you know SSD or not, system still see it as dump data storage ( no diffrence ) its a media storage just like a floppy disk.

if you need help ask steam support then. or Brand harddisk support or board support

ps.
dont forget the bigger 1 file dl is and you geta interruption, and if checksum is lost you start over thats why huge DL files is not best way to solve DL anymore and why many files is better.

most pc user know this from the past then zip file was huge, this is why things dont add up with your eplanations, ( talk with network technician they know this. )


steam is also diffrent then other DL Client , steam was there then we had modem, they had compact files better, and they keep doing it. ( and why you need CPU disk I/O then DL and decompress files