Help! Computer partial freezes - Lateral thinking needed
in [Laptops]
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From: Roger Mills on 20 Apr 2010 08:22 In an earlier contribution to this discussion, Adrian C <email(a)here.invalid> wrote: > On 20/04/2010 12:39, Roger Mills wrote: > >> * This freeze-up happens every morning - not always at the same >> time, but usually between 10am and noon. [I can't find anything >> that's scheduled to happen at this time, which may cause it] > > What time do you switch it on? > About 7:30 each morning > Fan/Heatsink clogged up with fluff? Left the carton for the HP > software box blocking the laptop vents? I'll check for fluff, but I doubt whether it's temperature related. It tyupically fails after about 3 hours, and then runs ok for another 14 hours after being restarted. The machine is 7 or 8 years old - so no software cartons left! -- Cheers, Roger _______ Please reply to Newsgroup. Whilst email address is valid, it is seldom checked.
From: Roger Mills on 20 Apr 2010 08:24 In an earlier contribution to this discussion, Bruce <docnews2011(a)gmail.com> wrote: > On Tue, 20 Apr 2010 12:39:55 +0100, "Roger Mills" > <watt.tyler(a)googlemail.com> wrote: >> My computer has recently developed a very annoying fault of locking >> up, and I need some help to diagnose and fix it. >> >> It's an HP/Compaq laptop running Win XP/SP3 but I'm using it as a >> desktop with additional monitor and separate keyboard/mouse. >> >> The symptoms are as follows: >> * The taskbar (which is usually hidden) displays when I mouse over >> it, and then freezes in position - and the clock doesn't update >> * The mouse pointer continues to move in response to mouse >> movements, but mouse clicks (mostly) have no effect >> * I am unable to open any new programs or shut down any that are open >> * Mailwasher (which I have permanently open on one of the monitors) >> continues to scan for emails and displays any new ones it finds. It >> even responds to mouse clicks to zap any emails I don't want - but >> it's virtually the only program which *does* respond to mouse clicks >> * This freeze-up happens every morning - not always at the same >> time, but usually between 10am and noon. [I can't find anything >> that's scheduled to happen at this time, which may cause it] >> * The only way (that I can find) to recover is to power down ("big >> red switch" job - except that it isn't red) and start again >> * Once restarted, it usually runs ok for the rest of the day >> >> Oh, and one final thing - I'm not sure whether it's relevant . . >> It has only started happening since I installed the software for a >> USB-based Canon all-in-one printer scanner - but the device itself >> is at another location and so not physically connected - but the >> problem is still occurring. [The device doesn't show up in Device >> Manager, so I can't tell the system not to use it in this profile, >> or somesuch] >> >> Anyone come across anything like this, or got any ideas? > > > I have had similar problems in the past with anti-virus software. When > it started scanning, everything seemed to freeze. Perhaps yours is > timed to start its daily scanning at 10:00 AM? No - AVG updates each day at 18:00 and does a full scan only once a week, on a Monday evening. -- Cheers, Roger _______ Please reply to Newsgroup. Whilst email address is valid, it is seldom checked.
From: Roger Mills on 20 Apr 2010 08:36 In an earlier contribution to this discussion, Adrian <toomany2cvs(a)gmail.com> wrote: > "Roger Mills" <watt.tyler(a)googlemail.com> gurgled happily, sounding > much like they were saying: > >> Oh, and one final thing - I'm not sure whether it's relevant . . It >> has only started happening since I installed the software for a >> USB-based Canon all-in-one printer scanner - but the device itself >> is at another location and so not physically connected - but the >> problem is still occurring. [The device doesn't show up in Device >> Manager, so I can't tell the system not to use it in this profile, >> or somesuch] > > Is there a Canon software component being auto-started on boot? Now, there's a bit of lateral thinking! Yes, there is a program called CanonMyPrinter which is auto-started and sits in the system tray. I've now disabled it, and will see whether that makes any difference. Meanwhile, thanks to all for the other suggestions - keep them coming! -- Cheers, Roger _______ Please reply to Newsgroup. Whilst email address is valid, it is seldom checked.
From: Dave Liquorice on 20 Apr 2010 08:36 On Tue, 20 Apr 2010 12:39:55 +0100, Roger Mills wrote: > Oh, and one final thing - I'm not sure whether it's relevant . . > It has only started happening since I installed the software for a > USB-based Canon all-in-one printer scanner - Wonder if that has installed a "check for latest driver/firmware/clean socks" something that happens a couple of hours after the machine is first booted each day? > but the device itself is at another location and so not physically > connected ... The above is then grinding to a halt when it can't find the device to check what firmware it has. Why are windows programmers so fing dumb when it comes to error checking or rather not error checking? -- Cheers Dave.
From: BillW50 on 20 Apr 2010 08:49
In news:835i59FigfU1(a)mid.individual.net, Roger Mills typed on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 12:39:55 +0100: [...] > Oh, and one final thing - I'm not sure whether it's relevant . . > It has only started happening since I installed the software for a > USB-based Canon all-in-one printer scanner - but the device itself is > at another location and so not physically connected - but the > problem is still occurring. [The device doesn't show up in Device > Manager, so I can't tell the system not to use it in this profile, or > somesuch] > Anyone come across anything like this, or got any ideas? The first place I would start is the Canon software. I have seen many of these multifunction printer drivers causing lots of problems like this if it can't find the device. Good thing you mentioned this too. ;-) You could try killing it under the Task Manager. If this fixes the problem, you have a number of options: 1) Uninstall the software. 2) Rename the program which also disables it without uninstalling anything. Thus all you have to do is rename it back and run the program or reboot if you need it later. I like Process Explorer (free from Microsoft) rather than using the Task Manager. But the Task Manager should be able to handle this one. Process Explorer also shows DPC usage too, which could be your problem too. Probably linking back to the Canon software. -- Bill Asus EEE PC 701G4 ~ 2GB RAM ~ 16GB-SDHC Windows XP SP2 (quit Windows updates back in May 2009) |