XP Freezes after connecting to the internet

DanO · Mar 4, 2008

Here's my problem, hoping someone can assist. I have a Dell 4600 w/ 1.5 gigs
of ram, 120 Gig HD, running XP home SP2. I'm forced to connect to the
internet via dialup. Lately, whenever I connect, my computer will stop
responding to any request to start a new program, ie Firefox or Outlook. The
computer doesn't even respond to a Ctrl Alt Del. If a program is already up
and running it will continue to operate but nothing new can be opened or
started. I've recently installed regcure and kasperky anti virus. I had
avast on there before but wasn't happy with it. I've run the regcure and it
seems like everytime I run it, things get picked up. I'm at my whit's end
and am afraid the only solutioin will be a HD format. I have also run
adaware and it will ocasioinally find something but I haven't run it
recently. This problem has been going on since before I switched anti virus
so I don't believe it to be any conflict with that. Any help is greatly
appreciated.

smlunatick · Mar 4, 2008

Here's my problem, hoping someone can assist. I have a Dell 4600 w/ 1.5gigs
of ram, 120 Gig HD, running XP home SP2. I'm forced to connect to the
internet via dialup. Lately, whenever I connect, my computer will stop
responding to any request to start a new program, ie Firefox or Outlook. The
computer doesn't even respond to a Ctrl Alt Del. If a program is already up
and running it will continue to operate but nothing new can be opened or
started. I've recently installed regcure and kasperky anti virus. I had
avast on there before but wasn't happy with it. I've run the regcure and it
seems like everytime I run it, things get picked up. I'm at my whit's end
and am afraid the only solutioin will be a HD format. I have also run
adaware and it will ocasioinally find something but I haven't run it
recently. This problem has been going on since before I switched anti virus
so I don't believe it to be any conflict with that. Any help is greatly
appreciated.

I would never use a registry cleaner (regcure.) These type of
utilities always try to fix non-existing Registry settings. Since the
registry is where most XP configurations are store, if you "screw"
this up, only a repair install or a complete re-install will normally
repair this.

Daave · Mar 5, 2008

DanO said:
Here's my problem, hoping someone can assist. I have a Dell 4600 w/
1.5 gigs
of ram, 120 Gig HD, running XP home SP2. I'm forced to connect to the
internet via dialup. Lately, whenever I connect, my computer will
stop
responding to any request to start a new program, ie Firefox or
Outlook. The
computer doesn't even respond to a Ctrl Alt Del. If a program is
already up
and running it will continue to operate but nothing new can be opened
or
started. I've recently installed regcure and kasperky anti virus. I
had
avast on there before but wasn't happy with it. I've run the regcure
and it
seems like everytime I run it, things get picked up. I'm at my whit's
end
and am afraid the only solutioin will be a HD format. I have also run
adaware and it will ocasioinally find something but I haven't run it
recently. This problem has been going on since before I switched anti
virus
so I don't believe it to be any conflict with that. Any help is
greatly
appreciated.

First, uninstall Regcure. It's not necessary, and may even screw things
up.

Second, please post pertinent copies of Error Reports from Event Viewer,
easily accessed by:

Start | Run | type "eventvwr.exe" (without the quotes)

For more info, see "How to view and manage event logs in Event Viewer in
Windows XP":

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308427

Also, bookmark the following page, as it may be helpful down the road:

http://www.theisplist.com/mserrors/er600.phtml

DanO · Mar 6, 2008

Daave said:
First, uninstall Regcure. It's not necessary, and may even screw things
up.

Second, please post pertinent copies of Error Reports from Event Viewer,
easily accessed by:

Start | Run | type "eventvwr.exe" (without the quotes)

For more info, see "How to view and manage event logs in Event Viewer in
Windows XP":

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308427

Also, bookmark the following page, as it may be helpful down the road:

http://www.theisplist.com/mserrors/er600.phtml

Well I've looked at the event viewer for the past few days and I really
can't pick out anything in particular that seems to be the culprit. Last
night, it froze for almost 12 minutes, the clock never changed the entire
time.

Daave · Mar 6, 2008

DanO said:
Well I've looked at the event viewer for the past few days and I
really can't pick out anything in particular that seems to be the
culprit. Last night, it froze for almost 12 minutes, the clock never
changed the entire time.

No error messages at all?

Does the freeze only occur whenever you dial up your ISP? What about
when you are not online? What about Safe Mode?

Did you try a System Restore to a point in time before this problem
started?

DanO · Mar 6, 2008

Daave said:
No error messages at all?

Does the freeze only occur whenever you dial up your ISP? What about
when you are not online? What about Safe Mode?

Did you try a System Restore to a point in time before this problem
started?

The freeze only occurs when I dial in to my ISP. After it unfreezes
everything functions normally. I haven't tried it in safe mode. As I said
before, right after I get a connection to my ISP, no programs can be opened
or started that were not already functioning. So if I want to check my
email, I have to open outlook before I connect to the ISP etc.
I haven't tried restoring to a time before this started happening because
I'm frankly not sure when it started, I just think it's been getting worse
lately.

Daave · Mar 6, 2008

The freeze only occurs when I dial in to my ISP. After it unfreezes
everything functions normally. I haven't tried it in safe mode. As I
said
before, right after I get a connection to my ISP, no programs can be
opened
or started that were not already functioning. So if I want to check
my
email, I have to open outlook before I connect to the ISP etc.
I haven't tried restoring to a time before this started happening
because
I'm frankly not sure when it started, I just think it's been getting
worse
lately.

Did you configure your dialup connection manually or did you use your
ISPs proprietary software? Have you tried asking your ISP's support
staff? Which ISP do you use?

You should try running Process Explorer to see which process is
responsible for your problem:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx

smlunatick · Mar 6, 2008

Did you configure your dialup connection manually or did you use your
ISPs proprietary software? Have you tried asking your ISP's support
staff? Which ISP do you use?

You should try running Process Explorer to see which process is
responsible for your problem:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx

You can try uninstalling the "modem" driver and re-installing it or am
updated one (if available.)

DanO · Mar 6, 2008

I'll give my ISP a call this evening and see about making sure that I'm
properly configured. I'm using Verizon right now, and they aren't always the
most helpful.

smlunatick · Mar 7, 2008

I'll give my ISP a call this evening and see about making sure that I'm
properly configured. I'm using Verizon right now, and they aren't always the
most helpful.

- Show quoted text -

ISPs do not normally provide drivers for equipement that they do not
supply. Check with the maker of your dial-up modem for updated
drivers or just replace it with a "better" quality modem (if the modem
was "bundled with the PC, it might be a "generic" make and not a
"branded" name.) US Robotics modems are "my" favorite to fix "dial-
up" problems so far.

DanO · Mar 10, 2008

smlunatick said:
ISPs do not normally provide drivers for equipement that they do not
supply. Check with the maker of your dial-up modem for updated
drivers or just replace it with a "better" quality modem (if the modem
was "bundled with the PC, it might be a "generic" make and not a
"branded" name.) US Robotics modems are "my" favorite to fix "dial-
up" problems so far.

I beginning to believe that the hang up is being caused by a few things.
1. a horrible ISP. Verizon service in New Hamprhire where I live is
laughable.
2. Anti-Virus updates and Windows updates trying to download at the same
time.

I have tried talking to the ISP, my modem was set up properly. I downloaded
the latest drivers for my modem, that didn't seem to help. I have
experiemented by switching both Windows and my anti-virus to manual update
and the system doesn't freeze for nearly as long. Still not sure something
isn't wrong but I don't know what else to check anymore.

Daave · Mar 11, 2008

DanO said:
I beginning to believe that the hang up is being caused by a few
things.
1. a horrible ISP. Verizon service in New Hamprhire where I live is
laughable.
2. Anti-Virus updates and Windows updates trying to download at the
same time.

I have tried talking to the ISP, my modem was set up properly. I
downloaded the latest drivers for my modem, that didn't seem to help.
I have experiemented by switching both Windows and my anti-virus to
manual update and the system doesn't freeze for nearly as long.
Still not sure something isn't wrong but I don't know what else to
check anymore.

That doesn't sound like a freeze, then.

Is it possible that your antivirus program is scanning your hard drive
at the time things seem slow? If so, once it's done scanning, the
sluggishness should go away. Does that sound right?

It's also possible that a virus or other malicious software slipped
through.

DanO · Mar 11, 2008

Daave said:
That doesn't sound like a freeze, then.

Is it possible that your antivirus program is scanning your hard drive
at the time things seem slow? If so, once it's done scanning, the
sluggishness should go away. Does that sound right?

It's also possible that a virus or other malicious software slipped
through.

I wouldn't call what is happening sluggishness. The computer just won't
open new applications, and this lasts for up to 10 minutes sometimes. What's
odd is it doesn't happen everytime. I've done a full scan with Kaspersky
AnitVirus so if something did slip in, I hope Kaspersky would find it.

Daave · Mar 11, 2008

DanO said:
I wouldn't call what is happening sluggishness. The computer just
won't open new applications, and this lasts for up to 10 minutes
sometimes. What's odd is it doesn't happen everytime. I've done a
full scan with Kaspersky AnitVirus so if something did slip in, I
hope Kaspersky would find it.

An antivirus program won't catch all malware.

What do you use to check for spyware?

DanO · Mar 12, 2008

Daave said:
An antivirus program won't catch all malware.

What do you use to check for spyware?

Honestly I'm not familiar with malware. I do run Ad-aware, not sure if
that's the right stuff though. What do you suggest?

Daave · Mar 12, 2008

DanO said:
Honestly I'm not familiar with malware. I do run Ad-aware, not sure
if that's the right stuff though. What do you suggest?