Constant full system lock-ups on new computer

I'm running a new machine:

Intel Core i7 930 2.88GHz, 12gb DDR3 with a 1GB Nvidia GTS250 and Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit

I was all excited to play City on the new 28" monitor with the new gaming rig and I logged in, played for about 10 minutes, and then it froze. I couldn't move the mouse, couldn't control alt delete, couldn't alt-F4, nothing. I had to hit the reset switch on the tower. I logged back in hoping it was a freak accident, and it happened again not 5 minutes in. Rinsed, repeated, 2 or 3 more times, and have since tried lowering graphics settings, running in WinXP compatibility mode, running in Vista compatibility mode, nothing is stopping the lock-ups. I've made sure everything is updated, including video card drivers and Windows Update. This is a brand new machine so there's not a lot on my system yet, let alone enough to tax it's resources. I even tried loading into the Training room to see if it ran in Ultra mode as compared to normal mode. Same error happened. I get no error messages because of the full lockup. I've run CoHHelper and Hijackthis (in Administrator mode), and have attached the .txt files to this post.

Is this some kind of compatibility issue with Windows 7? Please help!

I don't actually see the attachments on my previous post. Posting data here :

CoH Helper:

---System information gathered by CoH Helper version 0.1.1.8---

DxDiag gathered at April 23, 2010 22:27 (-06:00)
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7600) (7600.win7_gdr.100226-1909)
System Manufacturer: System manufacturer
System Model: System Product Name
BIOS: BIOS Date: 02/24/10 14:05:48 Ver: 08.00.15
Central Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU 930 @ 2.80GHz (8 CPUs), ~2.8GHz
Memory: 12288MB
.Net Memory Report: 10592MB out of 12279MB available
Page File: 21351MB (3204MB currently in use)
C Drive: (Hitachi HDS722020ALA330 ATA Device) 1844852MB out of 1907626MB (96%) free
D Drive: (HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GH24NS50 ATA Device) zero-size drive
Windows directory location: C:\Windows
DirectX: DirectX 11
DirectX Diag version: 6.01.7600.16385 (64-bit version)

Display Notes: No problems found.
Sound Notes: No problems found.

No problems found.

No problems found.
Input Notes: No problems found.

Monitor:
Monitor's Max Resolution: (blank)
Video Device Name: NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250
Manufacturer / Chip: NVIDIA / GeForce GTS 250
Video Memory: 4077 MB
Driver Version: 8.17.11.9745
Driver Date: 04/03/2010 10:55:32 PM
Driver Language: English

Sound Device Description: Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Driver File: RTKVHD64.sys
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.5859
Driver Date: 01/01/0001 12:00:00 AM

Sound Device Description: Digital Output(RCA+Optical) (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Driver File: RTKVHD64.sys
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.5859
Driver Date: 01/01/0001 12:00:00 AM

Sound Device Description: Realtek Digital Output (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Driver File: RTKVHD64.sys
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.5859
Driver Date: 01/01/0001 12:00:00 AM


WMI Information
Motherboard Manufacturer: ASUSTeK Computer INC.
Motherboard Model: (empty)
Motherboard Product: P6T SE
Motherboard Version: Rev 1.xx
BIOS Manufacturer: American Megatrends Inc.
BIOS Name: BIOS Date: 02/24/10 14:05:48 Ver: 08.00.15
BIOS Version: 022410 - 20100224
BIOS Release: 20100224000000.000000+000

Registry Information for Current User
Resolution: 1920x1200
3D Resolution: 1920x1200 (Not using renderscale)
Full Screen: Yes
Maximized: No
Screen Position: 0, 0
Refresh Rate: 60Hz
Vertical Sync Enabled: Yes

Physics Quality: Medium
Maximum Particles: 50000
Max Particle Fill? 10.000
Physics Card Enabled: No

Anti-aliasing: 4x
Anisotropic Filtering: 4x
Texture LOD Bias: Smooth
Water Effects: High Quality
Bloom: 1.000 (turned on)
Depth of Field Enabled: Yes
Desaturation Effects (Sepia) Enabled: Yes
Shader Detail: High

World Texture Level: Very High
Character Texture Level: Very High
World Detail Level (Vis_Scale): 1.000
Entity Detail Level: 1.000
Shadows Enabled: Yes
Gamma Correction: 1.000
Geometry Buffers (VBOs) Enabled: Yes
Suppression of Extra Player FX Enabled: No
Suppression of FX When Camera Close Enabled: No
Close Suppression Range: 3.000
Show Advertisements: Yes

Audio Mode: Performance
3D Audio: No
FX Sound Volume: 1.000
Music Sound Volume: 0.600

Show Advanced Graphics Options: No
Overall Graphics Quality: 0.600
Reverse Mouse Buttons: No
Save Login Username: Yes
Transfer Rate: 380886 bytes/second
Current Game Version: 1600.20100114.11T
Installation Directory: C:\Program Files (x86)\City of Heroes

Mod files in the Data directory
No modifications found



Hijackthis :

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.4
Scan saved at 10:48:01 PM, on 23/04/2010
Platform: Windows 7 (WinNT 6.00.3504)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v8.00 (8.00.7600.16385)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\Program Files (x86)\ASUS\EPU-6 Engine\SixEngine.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\ASUS\TurboV\TurboV.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Users\Matawno\Downloads\HiJackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.gucomics.com/comic/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page = C:\Windows\SysWOW64\blank.htm
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar,LinksFolderName =
F2 - REG:system.ini: UserInit=userinit.exe
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {5C255C8A-E604-49b4-9D64-90988571CECB} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: Search Helper - {6EBF7485-159F-4bff-A14F-B9E3AAC4465B} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Search Enhancement Pack\Search Helper\SEPsearchhelperie.dll
O2 - BHO: Windows Live ID Sign-in Helper - {9030D464-4C02-4ABF-8ECC-5164760863C6} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live\WindowsLiveLogin.dll
O2 - BHO: Windows Live Toolbar Helper - {E15A8DC0-8516-42A1-81EA-DC94EC1ACF10} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Toolbar\wltcore.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Windows Live Toolbar - {21FA44EF-376D-4D53-9B0F-8A89D3229068} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Toolbar\wltcore.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TurboV] "C:\Program Files (x86)\ASUS\TurboV\TurboV.exe" -b
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [JMB36X IDE Setup] C:\Windows\RaidTool\xInsIDE.exe
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [Sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /autoRun (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\RunOnce: [mctadmin] C:\Windows\System32\mctadmin.exe (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-20\..\Run: [Sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /autoRun (User 'NETWORK SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-20\..\RunOnce: [mctadmin] C:\Windows\System32\mctadmin.exe (User 'NETWORK SERVICE')
O9 - Extra button: Blog This - {219C3416-8CB2-491a-A3C7-D9FCDDC9D600} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Writer\WriterBrowserExtension.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: &Blog This in Windows Live Writer - {219C3416-8CB2-491a-A3C7-D9FCDDC9D600} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Writer\WriterBrowserExtension.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\program files (x86)\common files\microsoft shared\windows live\wlidnsp.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\program files (x86)\common files\microsoft shared\windows live\wlidnsp.dll
O16 - DPF: {E2883E8F-472F-4FB0-9522-AC9BF37916A7} - http://platformdl.adobe.com/NOS/getPlusPlus/1.6/gp.cab
O18 - Protocol: skype4com - {FFC8B962-9B40-4DFF-9458-1830C7DD7F5D} - C:\PROGRA~2\COMMON~1\Skype\SKYPE4~1.DLL
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\Alg.exe,-112 (ALG) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\alg.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: ASUS System Control Service (AsSysCtrlService) - ASUSTeK Computer Inc. - C:\Program Files (x86)\ASUS\AsSysCtrlService\1.00.02\AsSysCtrlServi ce.exe
O23 - Service: DeviceVM Meta Data Export Service (DvmMDES) - DeviceVM - C:\ASUS.SYS\config\DVMExportService.exe
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\efssvc.dll,-100 (EFS) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\fxsresm.dll,-118 (Fax) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\fxssvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @keyiso.dll,-100 (KeyIso) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @comres.dll,-2797 (MSDTC) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\msdtc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\System32\netlogon.dll,-102 (Netlogon) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (nvsvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\nvvsvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\psbase.dll,-300 (ProtectedStorage) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\Locator.exe,-2 (RpcLocator) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\locator.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\samsrv.dll,-1 (SamSs) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\snmptrap.exe,-3 (SNMPTRAP) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\snmptrap.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\spoolsv.exe,-1 (Spooler) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\spoolsv.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\sppsvc.exe,-101 (sppsvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\sppsvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\ui0detect.exe,-101 (UI0Detect) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\UI0Detect.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\vaultsvc.dll,-1003 (VaultSvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\vds.exe,-100 (vds) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\vds.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\vssvc.exe,-102 (VSS) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\vssvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\Wat\WatUX.exe,-601 (WatAdminSvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\Wat\WatAdminSvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\wbengine.exe,-104 (wbengine) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\wbengine.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%Systemroot%\system32\wbem\wmiapsrv.exe,-110 (wmiApSrv) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\wbem\WmiApSrv.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%PROGRAMFILES%\Windows Media Player\wmpnetwk.exe,-101 (WMPNetworkSvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Media Player\wmpnetwk.exe (file missing)

--
End of file - 6497 bytes

I was having the exact same thing on CoH a while back, thankfully it only happened a few times before I was able to remedy it. Full system hangs definitely aren't fun, not only are they hard on your hardware but they're completely unstoppable (aside from finding and fixing the real issue).

Anyway for me I'm using a gtx 285, but we're both using windows 7 64 bit. I looked at all the stickied threads for win 7 related crashes and did the regedit stuff and all the properties/compatability mode stuff and with recent drivers still got the full system hangs.

The ONLY thing that fixed the full system hangs for me was reverting to a fairly early driver (crashes were present in nVidia 196.'s) crashes are gone when using the 64bit 185.85 drivers. So just looking at your driver version you could maybe go back a little further (to one with an older physx version) and hopefully that works. This is assuming this isn't a ghost in the recesses of ur machine (aka a hardware prob).

PS. I've also noticed full system hangs much like the CoH one in 2 other programs, a few times in photoshop cs3 after having copied images over and then zooming into the picture, and once when maximizing windows media player oddly enough. (Havent noticed either of these since i've cleaned my registry however)

A part of me has a gut feeling something about Windows 7 is to blame for all this but that's just wishful thinking.

check your sound drivers also. they look corrupt.

Wuigly Squigly: You are awesome, that fix worked! I put in the 185.85 drivers and the crashes are gone! Many, many thanks!

As to the sound drivers, I'm not having any sound issues and the lockups seem to be gone so I'm going to leave well enough alone, but thanks for your suggestion!

Glad it helped, I'm not 100% sure if its gonna be a permanent fix or not but according to you and of course for me no lockup's along with that specific driver so far.

The problem is we can't stay attached to the 185.85 driver forever, eventually there will be a new driver actually worth upgrading to (or that we NEED to upgrade past 185.85 for) but for our sake I hope it doesnt bring back the crashes from the newer drivers.

I am noticing a bit too much red since I installed that driver. Trying to fix it in the Nvidia control panel, but it's not as easy as it sounds.

I changed my monitor settings themselves and the too much red issue is a thing of the past! *grins*

good to hear. glad you got it working.