Frequent "freezes"

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Guest

We are running XP Home with SP 2, and experiencing frequent freezes of the
entire computer. I also use AdAWare periodically to quarantine and remove
ad "spy" software. We DO run a keystroke capture tool, but I usually turn it
off when I'm using the computer as it's not "me" that we are capturing, but
the teens.

Got any ideas? Anything I can look for? We keep the MS software current
through the automatic update process. I've recently changed to Firefox, to
see if perhaps problems with IE were contributing, but that has not made a
difference. This is MOST frustrating!!

Thanks in advance for help and/or suggestions..........
 
Wendy said:
We are running XP Home with SP 2, and experiencing frequent freezes of
the
entire computer. I also use AdAWare periodically to quarantine and
remove
ad "spy" software. We DO run a keystroke capture tool, but I usually
turn it off when I'm using the computer as it's not "me" that we are
capturing, but the teens.

Got any ideas? Anything I can look for? We keep the MS software
current
through the automatic update process. I've recently changed to
Firefox, to see if perhaps problems with IE were contributing, but
that has not made a
difference. This is MOST frustrating!!

Thanks in advance for help and/or suggestions..........
Click to expand...

I don't see any mention of an antivirus in your post. System lockups can
be caused by software or hardware. You haven't given us enough
information to get an accurate diagnosis. Look in Event Viewer
(Start>Run eventvwr.msc [enter]) to see if there are any clues.
Otherwise, post back with more details about your system, your
antivirus, the results of any av scanning (do scans in Safe Mode), what
changed between the time things worked, and if the lockups seem random.

In the meantime, if the lockups are random, here are general hardware
troubleshooting steps:

1) Open the computer and run it open, cleaning out all dust bunnies and
observing all fans (overheating will cause system freezing). Obviously
you can't do this with a laptop, but you can hear if the fan is running
and feel if the laptop is getting too hot.

2) Test the RAM - I like Memtest86+ from www.memtest.org - let the test
run for an extended (like overnight) period of time - unless errors are
seen immediately.

3) Test the hard drive with a diagnostic utility from the mftr.

4) The power supply may be going bad or be inadequate for the devices
you have in the system - this isn't applicable to a laptop, of course.

5) Test the motherboard with something like TuffTest from
www.tufftest.com.

Testing hardware failures often involves swapping out suspected parts
with known-good parts. If you can't do the testing yourself and/or are
uncomfortable opening your computer, take the machine to a good local
computer repair shop (not a CompUSA or Best Buy type of store).

Malke
 
Realized after I posted that I did not include AV info. I run current
McAfee. The computer is an eMachine, with new hard drive 6 mos old; computer
is year old. In meantime I'll print and do the various checks/tests you
suggested. Is there other info I can supply here?

Malke said:
Wendy said:
We are running XP Home with SP 2, and experiencing frequent freezes of
the
entire computer. I also use AdAWare periodically to quarantine and
remove
ad "spy" software. We DO run a keystroke capture tool, but I usually
turn it off when I'm using the computer as it's not "me" that we are
capturing, but the teens.

Got any ideas? Anything I can look for? We keep the MS software
current
through the automatic update process. I've recently changed to
Firefox, to see if perhaps problems with IE were contributing, but
that has not made a
difference. This is MOST frustrating!!

Thanks in advance for help and/or suggestions..........
Click to expand...

I don't see any mention of an antivirus in your post. System lockups can
be caused by software or hardware. You haven't given us enough
information to get an accurate diagnosis. Look in Event Viewer
(Start>Run eventvwr.msc [enter]) to see if there are any clues.
Otherwise, post back with more details about your system, your
antivirus, the results of any av scanning (do scans in Safe Mode), what
changed between the time things worked, and if the lockups seem random.

In the meantime, if the lockups are random, here are general hardware
troubleshooting steps:

1) Open the computer and run it open, cleaning out all dust bunnies and
observing all fans (overheating will cause system freezing). Obviously
you can't do this with a laptop, but you can hear if the fan is running
and feel if the laptop is getting too hot.

2) Test the RAM - I like Memtest86+ from www.memtest.org - let the test
run for an extended (like overnight) period of time - unless errors are
seen immediately.

3) Test the hard drive with a diagnostic utility from the mftr.

4) The power supply may be going bad or be inadequate for the devices
you have in the system - this isn't applicable to a laptop, of course.

5) Test the motherboard with something like TuffTest from
www.tufftest.com.

Testing hardware failures often involves swapping out suspected parts
with known-good parts. If you can't do the testing yourself and/or are
uncomfortable opening your computer, take the machine to a good local
computer repair shop (not a CompUSA or Best Buy type of store).

Malke
--
MS MVP - Windows Shell/User
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
Click to expand...
 
Wendy said:
Realized after I posted that I did not include AV info. I run current
McAfee. The computer is an eMachine, with new hard drive 6 mos old;
computer
is year old. In meantime I'll print and do the various checks/tests
you
suggested. Is there other info I can supply here?
Click to expand...
Not right now. Do the hardware tests. Just because a machine is new
doesn't main hardware won't fail. In fact, hardware tends to fail right
away or go for years.

Malke
 
Well, went through all the tests you recommended; nothing came out of it; the
interior of the cpu is nice and clean (wasn't very dusty anyway) and gets
plenty of circulation. I have removed all the power management options like
powering down hard drives after a couple hours of "idle", etc., the monitor.
Still getting errant freezes. Today there were 4 within a 30 minute period.
Sometimes it's while keyboarding, other times when the mouse is moved. I've
removed and reseated both of those cables into their adapters; neither is USB
although the keyboard is on a USB>PS2 adapter rather than consuming a USB
port on the rear of the tower.

I'm at a total loss as to what to look for to isolate and fix. The keyboard
is new with the eMachine; the mouse is a Logitech optical and I've downloaded
it's latest drivers. Sometimes, the cpu freezes when there is NO activity
..... ala I have stepped away from the computer for several minutes, so I have
to deduce it has nothing to do with any peripheral hardware "hitting" it.

Help, please!!!
 
Wendy said:
Well, went through all the tests you recommended; nothing came out of
it; the interior of the cpu is nice and clean (wasn't very dusty
anyway) and gets
plenty of circulation. I have removed all the power management
options like powering down hard drives after a couple hours of "idle",
etc., the monitor.
Still getting errant freezes. Today there were 4 within a 30 minute
period.
Sometimes it's while keyboarding, other times when the mouse is
moved. I've
removed and reseated both of those cables into their adapters; neither
is USB although the keyboard is on a USB>PS2 adapter rather than
consuming a USB port on the rear of the tower.

I'm at a total loss as to what to look for to isolate and fix. The
keyboard is new with the eMachine; the mouse is a Logitech optical and
I've downloaded
it's latest drivers. Sometimes, the cpu freezes when there is NO
activity .... ala I have stepped away from the computer for several
minutes, so I have to deduce it has nothing to do with any peripheral
hardware "hitting" it.
Click to expand...
So you tested the RAM with Memtest86+ and it tested good? Frankly, since
this is a new machine I'd take it back. What you're describing
certainly sounds like hardware failure and if it isn't the RAM (the
usual suspect) it could very well be the motherboard. The system is
undoubtedly still under warranty; take it back.

Malke
 
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