I had updated the firmware and editor for the Line 6 Helix, and wanted to open SONAR. Windows booted into the desktop but once there, if I clicked on anything, although the mouse still moved everything else froze - couldn't open folders, click on shortcuts, open task manager, etc. I couldn't boot into Safe Mode...just DOA.
 
Spent a lot of time googling around for a solution but found nothing. Then I remembered this had happened to me once before. After about 30 minutes Windows had a blue screen, said it was collecting information, and when it was 100% complete, I turned off and on again and it worked.
 
So I walked away from the computer for about 40 minutes. When I came back, everything was working. 
 
Anyone know why this happened, and what I can do to prevent this kind of cardiac arrest in the future?

I don't know how to prevent it, only to wait it out.  I have a summer cabin where the older computer has to take a great deal of time when I turn it on, after being away, to do updates of Windows, antivirus, etc.  I know to give it several minutes before attempting to use it.
 
One of the early times this happened, I thought to bring up the Task Manager and that quickly revealed my PC was occupied to about 99% doing all these tasks.  So, I don't have another solution, but the diagnosis is easy.
 
If that's what happened to you ...
 

and what I can do to prevent this kind of cardiac arrest in the future?
 
Buy a MAC?
 
That's an odd one Craig. I had a major issue a while back with my KORG MS 20 controller freezing SONAR and then even rebooting would still give me issues. It turned out to be a very flaky USB 3.0 port that was only fixable with BIOS update/flash. Not sure if that even applies to your issue.
 
 

I suspect that after installing one of the PC components it placed a link in your system to 'run once' a component or driver that it needed to install on reboot and that component had a badly written installer script.

If you were to check Task Manager while your PC was semifrozen you would probably see the CPU usage pegged at 100%.
This happens when the developer fails to properly code a wait loop by not having it sleep for some interval between loop cycles.  So instead of checking let's say every second to see if somethings has successfully installed it's checking as fast as the processor can run the loop which may be thousands of times a second which effectively locks up your system.

Details provided for those reading who may not have programming experience.
 
 

Anderton
I had updated the firmware and editor for the Line 6 Helix.

I am sure you already know this, and I am not attempting to preach to the Choir. But unless something is broken I am not going to update it.
 
Never, ever update Firmware unless it's specifically recommended by the manufacturer to solve a critical problem.
I have a Samsung CD burner and have not updated the Firmware in the last 10 years and it works like new.

For Windows, I have Auto Updates set to Notify but let me decide, this way I can scan the updates and decide what to do.

This happens a lot, especially for Network routers, the firmware you updated may have contain a bug causing system instability.

I learn this a while ago when I updated my BIOS, the computer became a vegetable and will no longer boot, just black screen. This was a very scary moment because this was a $4000.00 rig.
Luckly, I was able to reverse the BIOS and everything worked as before. I researched the issue only to discover that the version of BIOS I installed was a snake pit and it was recommended not to installed it.

I take it you are running Windows 10? Have you already applied the latest HUGE Windows Update (Fall Creators -1709). It's only been out a few days. I have experienced some issues with it, but no freezes or blue screens. I'm not yet sure if the issues are Windows, interface driver, or Sonar related.
 
Also, check the Reliability Monitor and your logs in Event Viewer for exceptions and error messages.

Audioicon
 
But unless something is broken I am not going to update it. 
 

I agree 100%

Sounds like you were installing windows 95? ;)
collecting information... normally  is the same as analyzing your system before a fresh windows install or major update. in the olden days anyway.
Also after a major update it can take a long time to "install" the update after the download.
Even other app updates can take time to install after an update.
Also if you're running a virus scan can cause the "can't do anything" issues. basically the scan has taken over your resources and as you know, the auto hard drive scan and defrag may be set to auto. I don't know about scan disk with solid state drives...   I think you had a similar issues a couple months ago. I try not to remember stuff but I do seem to have it in my head's data base. lol 
But you really haven't given enough info about your system for a real solution. 
You can go way back... open up your computer and clean out all the dog hair, spiderwebs and dustbunnys.
Your system may just be overheating. 
 
I thought you where leaving... lol well I'm happy your still hanging here! :)
 
Well that's all I can think of... 
Peace!
 
 

Not sure if this might help some, or you Mr. Anderton..But if we find window's updates have indeed occurred on users systems..., It seems windows likes to default to its own debased methods of sabotaging user settings, to its bent self interested defaults, in its first renderings, and may still do?.
 
As this seems to be in play...and noted by many after updating, and hence finding oddity with the system and apps there after, to send them on a wild ride of troubleshooting mayhem, and the cash cow tech support pay plan , being implemented By MS and others.
 
I would not forget this part of the process, of checking into settings, to see if it has indeed been reset: Power management...and other things in windows setup settings may also have been reset to defaults and such, and the spying thingy ...is always hiding behind a no way to stop protocol...So unplug the internet wire, and turn off the wi fi...
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7d9zsaKITc
 
 
And reset it back if so , and reboot...may solve some issues arising as suspected, CPU INTERUPTS/ and some other things of services running behind a vail of secret secret  BS/...
I guess with the witnessing of it...No one is immune to some of this infection now.,..But the update paths should be curtailed, if it is continuing with this Pushed down the pipe.
 
Hope it helps...?
 
Cheers.
 
Sir Les
 
PS...""You cannot solve for "variables"(plural) that are changing constantly, by a unknown/hidden hand/ or doorway into it doing/ what it does on or with, User settings or setup, or lead to believe it is setup as should be by doing as told by same handlers of the hidden hand.""...Trust?...ah words eh?..Ties up the people,into troubled waters?... not doing what should be done by now?..causing frustrations to arise, where none should be!= mind control, using or making people frustrated so it is easy to sway, or cause negative actions..if they pop in the head...Call medical?...or get them to medical?..but if many pop at the same time....Marshal Law be imposed....Look into the understanding of Frequency...And you can be or will be used, tested by , and pushed into...The matrix of Military pawns...Systems of unknowing users can be used to launch cyber attacks....(in the news as said by?)..is being implemented through....Has been proven can be done by hackers...So, same is also with Military mind...they like war more than peace, health and happiness doing what is best for the whole!....and they sell that also now, selfishness, and greed of wealth...surely showing much ill health in this system!...."Users"...another word to say, You own nothing, but are owned to be used!
 
Best hope.

Oh..about parallels...Think it liken already told 2000 years ago by a man...Son of man..saying: I Am The truth, the light, and the way to life....."The "Gates" of hell will not prevail against"///His Truth!...oddly in this time, it is bent to hide the sum of the words...a liar, a lie, and ill will is with it to ruin it all in all life be tainted via........tied to the system he never said to make, the breaks the laws of life, and wars on many kinds of life...Being selfish onto its own self as one Kind.....Not helping the others be in peace!....Proof is in the pudding...What turns the World is dead people to the truth!.
 
But he lets us see as witnessing it....Do we come out of it?....or do we fix it as asked, or give onto...life life in good care if it be polluting it with bent industrial madness, weapons made ready for the paranoid and breakers of the echo systems of life, to put into play a idol of engraved images..(second law of life, if broken taints when applied wrong, or in error of knowingly or unknowingly that do use it...to buy and sell what is already given by the one onto Humankind to tend and keep as given to have dominion over, Is care over Life...Not wealth or things made dead or do not live be made important for life, and whom is not getting it given back as given....Are the ones who say you have to pay now for...Food, water, land, home, movement, and or Just to say on open forum, be it tied to a belief or a Truth which may cause the ruin of the system they put into play, When the Son of Man told them what it makes be born!...)....Yet has no life in its construct as a system of truths...or how many heads of the beast it spawns upholding it as so over the Earth...Machine, money , greed,, and sacrificing Pawns of Human Kind  for it to stand this long knowing some of the mutation has begun....They now use bent sciences to mix in , what does not mix...into the children by bent doctors...Treating a effect, but not addressing the cause...((If it be True a LAW is being violated))...And he who said he is the Truth...was murdered for his truth be told....Was...And he said it properly....And we witness many monsters born harming Humans for no good reason other than they popped in the head....What made them pop?.
 
Do not believe the IDea of the IDOL has been totally removed...Nope, it only changed to something more appeasing, and hidden into money...or any cost or charge for...Is not given at all...Thus it breaks the first thing the human father said...it is given all the needs for all the living things....Do not misjudge or put into place anything else to remove what he said....We can have as Given!
 
Now who or what changes that gift?
 
Welcome to matrix eh?...we will come to the matrix?..and the little birdy said tweet tweet?...Interesting Parallels Mr and Miss Jones?.....Ah...Who feeds the tweet tweety bird saying what, while standing in a pool of ...Monsters?.
 
Do we see with open eyes, or are they wide shut?
 
Just to say solving for X Y and Z applies across the board room floors, be a understatement, when you believe th Son of man was right?....lol
 
Cheers.