Hi, I have a 2009 Alienware Aurora (Core i7 920, HD 5870, 6GB 1333Mhz RAM, 2 x 1TB HDD, Windows 7 SP1). Recently I added an SSD (Sandisk Ultra Plus, 256GB). The upgraded system worked fine for about two weeks.

After two weeks, the PC started to freeze after each cold boot. It boots up correctly, Windows loads, but after a few minutes the system freezes. It only happens after each cold boot, but there is no issue after I reboot the system. The PC works flawlessly then.

The system is not overclocked, BIOS settings are at manufacturer's "Optimal settings" (system default settings). I have run several diagnostics, they all report no errors. Except memtest86, which freezes within the first iteration after a cold boot (no freeze or errors after a reboot).

What I have tried - but without a positive result

• update Windows drivers
• update BIOS to A11
• update SSD firmware to latest version
• clean the inside of the case (remove all dust)

What I have tried - and works thus far

Based on some online information on "cold boot freeze" issues, I have upped voltages in order to make the system more stable. The following BIOS settings stop the cold boot freezing (thus far):

• cpu vcore +40mv
• vdimm 1,60v
• IOH 1,20v
• QPI uncore +80mv

It seems weird to me that I have to increase these voltages in order to get a stable system. I really want to run my system at default voltages.

Does anyone have any idea what is wrong? Is at a compatibility issue? Is my RAM faulty? It's difficult to test, since the problem only happens after a cold boot, so after one test, I have to wait for a couple of hours before I can run the next one.

Thanks for your help.