Windows Freezes Daily
in [Windows Performance]
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From: Nancy on 27 Dec 2005 02:13 I have ran every scan for viruses and malware. My computer is clean. HD crashed a month ago (new computer, under warranty) so new HD was reformatted and windows reinsalled (by HP authorized repair station) Problem started occuring before the old HD crashed so it does not appear to be HD related. repair station also ran antivirus and spyware scanners and found nothing. They also checked all the hardware and found no problem. Previously system froze randomly every few days to few weeks. It is now occuring every 1-2 days. Computer was new in february 2005 and started freezing in september (once a day at random times and never on startup) ctrl-alt-del does not work when frozen - I have to power off. It reboots fine. freezing never happens at restart - and does not matter what programs are running. I contaced HP and did everything they suggested including checking for conflicts, limiting startup programs, checking every hardware installed, running scandisk and defrag (200gig HD 94% free space) I only use one antivirus program and have tried different anti-spyware programs and uninstalling the old ones thinking there may be a conflict (doesn't matter - freeze happens no matter what) I scan for viruses and spyware every day (Norton - and online scans at trendmicro and pandasoft regularly) I have checked the security on my computer at various sites and it says my computer is extremely secure. Recently upgraded RAM thinking it may be a memory problem (went from 512MB to 1.5gig) processor is 3.2gig I connect wireless on an extremely secure router (and have since july - problem did not start until september) None of my files are shared and intrusion detection is very secure. Computer freezes at random times with different programs - does not seem to be ryhme or reason to it. Ran eventvwr after restart and does not seem to show a problem. There is no conflict when I check for hardware conflicts. I made sure my wireless network connection is the only one enabled. Techs cannot find any problem and I did everything HP online support suggested. ALL of my windows (XP home) updates are installed - including the optional updates. This problem continues even with the newly formatted new HD so I don't believe it's the HD or corrupt windows. SP2 if that matters. When it freezes, there is no error screen or no way to get to the task manager - must power off to reboot. Here is the specs on the computer: HP Pavilion a820n desktop WinXP SP2 (completely updated) 3.2gig processor 1.5gig RAM (just upgraded from 512MB) 200gig HD (94% free) Only hardware upgrades since new was the wireless card (linksys) and the new HD after the HD hardware failure (repair station installed, formatted and they reinstalled the wireless software) and the 1gig RAM although problems started before the new HD and the RAM upgrade. Freezes even happen within a few hours of running scandisk / defrag and knowing there is no viruses or malware (I was completely scanning everything when it first started freezing thinking it was viral related) I am a fanatic keeping viruses, adware, and spyware out (repair station says my computer is the cleanest they've seen) I am out of ideas on what could be wrong and how to fix. Every time I thought I found the problem, it continues to freeze up. Never more than once a day (so far anyway) Minutes to a couple of days after reboot (usually at least several hours)
From: Shenan Stanley on 27 Dec 2005 02:19 Nancy wrote: > I have ran every scan for viruses and malware. My computer is > clean. HD crashed a month ago (new computer, under warranty) so > new HD was reformatted and windows reinsalled (by HP authorized > repair station) Problem started occuring before the old HD > crashed so it does not appear to be HD related. repair station also > ran antivirus and spyware scanners and found nothing. They also > checked all the hardware and found no problem. Previously system > froze randomly every few days to few weeks. It is now occuring > every 1-2 days. Computer was new in february 2005 and started > freezing in september (once a day at random times and never on > startup) ctrl-alt-del does not work when frozen - I have to > power off. It reboots fine. freezing never happens at restart - > and does not matter what programs are running. I contaced HP and > did everything they suggested including checking for conflicts, > limiting startup programs, checking every hardware installed, > running scandisk and defrag (200gig HD 94% free space) I only use > one antivirus program and have tried different anti-spyware > programs and uninstalling the old ones thinking there may be a > conflict (doesn't matter - freeze happens no matter what) I scan > for viruses and spyware every day (Norton - and online scans at > trendmicro and pandasoft regularly) I have checked the security > on my computer at various sites and it says my computer is > extremely secure. Recently upgraded RAM thinking it may be a > memory problem (went from 512MB to 1.5gig) processor is 3.2gig I > connect wireless on an extremely secure router (and have since july > - problem did not start until september) None of my files are > shared and intrusion detection is very secure. Computer freezes > at random times with different programs - does not seem to be ryhme > or reason to it. Ran eventvwr after restart and does not seem to > show a problem. There is no conflict when I check for hardware > conflicts. I made sure my wireless network connection is the > only one enabled. Techs cannot find any problem and I did > everything HP online support suggested. ALL of my windows (XP > home) updates are installed - including the optional updates. This > problem continues even with the newly formatted new HD so I don't > believe it's the HD or corrupt windows. SP2 if that matters. When > it freezes, there is no error screen or no way to get to the task > manager - must power off to reboot. > > Here is the specs on the computer: > > HP Pavilion a820n desktop WinXP SP2 (completely updated) > 3.2gig processor > 1.5gig RAM (just upgraded from 512MB) > 200gig HD (94% free) > > Only hardware upgrades since new was the wireless card (linksys) > and the new HD after the HD hardware failure (repair station > installed, formatted and they reinstalled the wireless software) > and the 1gig RAM although problems started before the new HD and > the RAM upgrade. > > Freezes even happen within a few hours of running scandisk / defrag > and knowing there is no viruses or malware (I was completely > scanning everything when it first started freezing thinking it was > viral related) I am a fanatic keeping viruses, adware, and spyware > out (repair station says my computer is the cleanest they've seen) > > I am out of ideas on what could be wrong and how to fix. Every > time I thought I found the problem, it continues to freeze up. > Never more than once a day (so far anyway) Minutes to a couple of > days after reboot (usually at least several hours) Get a bigger power supply. -- Shenan Stanley MS-MVP -- How To Ask Questions The Smart Way http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
From: Shenan Stanley on 27 Dec 2005 02:25 Nancy wrote: > Freezes even happen within a few hours of running scandisk / defrag > and knowing there is no viruses or malware (I was completely > scanning everything when it first started freezing thinking it was > viral related) I am a fanatic keeping viruses, adware, and spyware > out (repair station says my computer is the cleanest they've seen) Also - how fanatical are you - what do you NOT do from this list of tips? (Heck - what extra DO you do?) Microsoft has these suggestions for Protecting your computer from the various things that could happen to you/it: Protect your PC http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/ Although those tips are fantastic, there are many things you should know above and beyond what is there. Below I have detailed out many steps that can not only help you clean-up a problem PC but keep it clean ,secure and running at its top performance mark. I know this text can seem intimidating - it is quite long and a lot to take in for a novice - but I assure you that one trip through this list and you will understand your computer and the options available to you for protecting your data much better - and that the next time you review these steps, the time it takes will be greatly reduced. Let's take the cleanup of your computer step-by-step. Yes, it will take up some of your time - but consider what you use your computer for and how much you would dislike it if all of your stuff on your computer went away because you did not "feel like" performing some simple maintenance tasks - think of it like taking out your garbage, collecting and sorting your postal mail, paying your bills on time, etc. I'll mainly work around Windows XP, as that is what the bulk of this document is about; however, here is a place for you poor souls still stuck in Windows 98/ME where you can get information on maintaining your system: Windows 98 and 'Maintaining Your Computer': http://www.microsoft.com/windows98/usingwindows/maintaining/ Windows ME Computer Health: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsME/using/computerhealth/articles/ Pay close attention to the sections: (in order) - Clean up your hard disk - Check for errors by running ScanDisk - Defragment your hard disk - Roll back the clock with System Restore Also - now is a good time to point you to one of the easiest ways to find information on problems you may be having and solutions others have found: Search using Google! http://www.google.com/ (How-to: http://www.google.com/intl/en/help/basics.html ) Now, let's go through some maintenance first that should only have to be done once (mostly): Tip (1): Locate all of the software you have installed on your computer. (the installation media - CDs, downloaded files, etc) Collect these CDs and files together in a central and safe place along with their CD keys and such. Make backups of these installation media sets using your favorite copying method (CD/DVD Burner and application, Disk copier, etc.) You'll be glad to know that if you have a CD/DVD burner, you may be able to use a free application to make a duplicate copy of your CDs. One such application is ISORecorder: ISORecorder page (with general instructions on use): http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/beta.htm Yes - it is BETA software - but very useful and well tested. More full function applications (free) for CD/DVD burning would be: DeepBurner Free http://www.deepburner.com/ CDBurnerXP Pro http://www.cdburnerxp.se/ Another Option would be to search the web with Pricewatch.com or Dealsites.net and find deals on Products like Ahead Nero and/or Roxio. Tip (2): Empty your Temporary Internet Files and shrink the size it stores to a size between 128MB and 512MB.. - Open ONE copy of Internet Explorer. - Select TOOLS -> Internet Options. - Under the General tab in the "Temporary Internet Files" section, do the following: - Click on "Delete Cookies" (click OK) - Click on "Settings" and change the "Amount of disk space to use:" to something between 128MB and 512MB. (Betting it is MUCH larger right now.) - Click OK. - Click on "Delete Files" and select to "Delete all offline contents" (the checkbox) and click OK. (If you had a LOT, this could take 2-10 minutes or more.) - Once it is done, click OK, close Internet Explorer, re-open Internet Explorer. Tip (3): If things are running a bit sluggish and/or you have an older system (1.5GHz or less and 256MB RAM or less) then you may want to look into tweaking the performance by turning off some of the 'resource hogging' Windows XP "prettifications". The fastest method is: Control Panel --> System --> Advanced tab --> Performance section, Settings button. Then choose "adjust for best performance" and you now have a Windows 2000/98 look which turned off most of the annoying "prettifications" in one swift action. You can play with the last three checkboxes to get more of an XP look without many of the other annoyances. You could also grab and install/use one (or more) of the Microsoft Powertoys - TweakUI in particular: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx Tip (4): Understanding what a good password might be is vital to your personal and system security. You may think you do not need to password your home computer, as you may have it in a locked area (your home) where no one else has access to it. Remember, however, you aren't always "in that locked area" when using your computer online - meaning you likely have usernames and passwords associated with web sites and the likes that you would prefer other people do not discover/use. This is why you should understand and utilize good passwords. Good passwords are those that meet these general rules (mileage may vary): Passwords should contain at least six characters, and the character string should contain at least three of these four character types: - uppercase letters - lowercase letters - numerals - nonalphanumeric characters (e.g., *, %, &, !, :) Passwords should not contain your name/username. Passwords should be unique to you and easy to remember. One method many people are using today is to make up a phrase that describes a point in their life and then turning that phrase into their password by using only certain letters out of each word in that phrase. It's much better than using your birthday month/year or your anniversary in a pure sense. For example, let's say my phrase is: 'Moved to new home in 2004' I could come up with this password from that: 'Mv2n3whmN04' The password tip is in the one time section, but I highly recommend you periodically change your passwords. The suggested time varies, but I will throw out a 'once in every 3 to 6 months for every account you have.' Tip (5): This tip is also 'questionable' in the one time section; however - if properly setup - this one can be pretty well ignored for most people after the initial 'fiddle-with' time. Why you should use a computer firewall.. http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/viruses/fwbenefits.mspx You should, in some way, use a firewall. Hardware (like a nice Cable Modem/DSL router) or software is up to you. Many use both of these. The simplest one to use is the hardware one, as most people don't do anything that they will need to configure their NAT device for and those who do certainly will not mind fiddling with the equipment to make things work for them. Next in the line of simplicity would have to be the built-in Windows Firewall of Windows XP. In SP2 it is turned on by default. It is not difficult to turn on in any case, however: Enable/Disable the Internet Connection Firewall (Pre-SP2): http://support.microsoft.com/kb/283673 More information on the Internet Connection Firewall (Pre-SP2): http://support.microsoft.com/kb/320855 Post-SP2 Windows Firewall Information/guidance: http://snipurl.com/atal The trouble with the Windows Firewall is that it only keeps things out. For most people who maintain their system in other ways, this is MORE than sufficient. However, you may feel otherwise. If you want to know when one of your applications is trying to obtain access to the outside world so you can stop it, then you will have to install a third-party application and configure/maintain it. I have compiled a list with links of some of the better known/free firewalls you can choose from: BlackICE PC Protection (~$39.95 and up) http://blackice.iss.net/ Jetico Personal Firewall (Free) http://www.jetico.com/index.htm#/jpfirewall.htm Kerio Personal Firewall (KPF) (Free and up) http://www.kerio.com/kpf_download.html Outpost Firewall from Agnitum (Free and up) http://www.agnitum.com/download/ Sygate Personal Firewall (Free and up) http://smb.sygate.com/buy/download_buy.htm Symantec's Norton Personal Firewall (~$25 and up) http://www.symantec.com/sabu/nis/npf/ ZoneAlarm (Free and up) http://snipurl.com/6ohg You should find the right firewall for your situation in that list and set it up. Every firewall WILL require some maintenance. Essentially checking for patches or upgrades (this goes for hardware and software solutions) is the extent of this maintenance - you may also have to configure your firewall to allow some traffic depending on your needs. ** Don't stack the software firewalls! Running more than one software firewall will not make you safer - it would possibly negate some protection you gleamed from one or the other firewall you run. Now that you have some of the more basic things down.. Let's go through some of the steps you should take periodically to maintain a healthy and stable windows computer. If you have not done some of these things in the past, they may seem tedious - however, they will become routine and some can even be automatically scheduled. Tip (6): The system restore feature is a new one - first appearing in Windows ME and then sticking around for Windows XP. It is a useful feature if you keep it maintained and use it to your advantage. Remember that the system restore pretty much tells you in the name what it protects which is 'system' files. Your documents, your pictures, your stuff is NOT system files - so you should also look into some backup solution. Whenever you think about it (after doing a once-over on your machine once a month or so would be optimal) - clear out your System Restore and create a manual restoration point. 'Why?' Too many times have I seen the system restore files go corrupt or get a virus in them, meaning you could not or did not want to restore from them. By clearing it out periodically you help prevent any corruption from happening and you make sure you have at least one good "snapshot". (*This, of course, will erase any previous restore point you have.*) - Turn off System Restore. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310405 - Reboot the Computer. - Review the first bullet to turn on System Restore - Make a Manual Restoration Point. http://snipurl.com/68nx That covers your system files, but doesn't do anything for the files that you are REALLY worried about - yours! For that you need to look into backups. You can either manually copy your important files, folders, documents, spreadsheets, emails, contacts, pictures, drawings and so on to an external location (CD/DVD - any disk of some sort, etc) or you can use the backup tool that comes with Windows XP: How To Use Backup to Back Up Files and Folders on Your Computer http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308422 Yes - you still need some sort of external media to store the results on, but you could schedule the backup to occur when you are not around, then burn the resultant data onto CD or DVD or something when you are (while you do other things!) A lot of people have wondered about how to completely backup their system so that they would not have to go through the trouble of a reinstall.. I'm going to voice my opinion here and say that it would be worthless to do for MOST people. Unless you plan on periodically updating the image backup of your system (remaking it) - then by the time you use it (something goes wrong) - it will be so outdated as to be more trouble than performing a full install of the operating system and all applications. Having said my part against it, you can clone/backup your hard drive completely using many methods - by far the simplest are using disk cloning applications: Symantec/Norton Ghost http://www.symantec.com/sabu/ghost/ Acronis True Image http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage Tip (7): You should sometimes look through the list of applications that are installed on your computer. The list may surprise you. There are more than likely things in there you know you never use - so why have them there? There may even be things you know you did *not* install and certainly do not use (maybe don't WANT to use.) This web site should help you get started at looking through this list: How to Uninstall Programs http://snipurl.com/8v6b A word of warning - Do NOT uninstall anything you think you MIGHT need in the future unless you have completed Tip (1) and have the installation media and proper keys for use backed up somewhere safe! Tip (8): Patches and Updates! This one cannot be stressed enough. It is SO simple, yet so neglected by many people. It is especially simple for the critical Windows patches! Microsoft put in an AUTOMATED feature for you to utilize so that you do NOT have to worry yourself about the patching of the Operating System: How to configure and use Automatic Updates in Windows XP http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306525 However, not everyone wants to be a slave to automation, and that is fine. Admittedly, I prefer this method on some of my more critical systems. Windows Update http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ Go there and scan your machine for updates. Always get the critical ones as you see them. Write down the KB###### or Q###### you see when selecting the updates and if you have trouble over the next few days, go into your control panel (Add/Remove Programs), insure that the 'Show Updates' checkbox is checked and match up the latest numbers you downloaded recently (since you started noticing an issue) and uninstall them. If there was more than one (usually is), uninstall them one by one with a few hours of use in between, to see if the problem returns. Yes - the process is not perfect (updating) and can cause trouble like I mentioned - but as you can see, the solution isn't that bad - and is MUCH better than the alternatives. Windows is not the only product you likely have on your PC. The manufacturers of the other products usually have updates. New versions of almost everything come out all the time - some are free, some are pay and some you can only download if you are registered - but it is best to check. Just go to their web pages and look under their support and download sections. For example, for Microsoft Office you should visit: Microsoft Office Updates http://office.microsoft.com/ (and select 'Check for Updates' and/or 'Downloads' for more) You also have hardware on your machine that requires drivers to interface with the operating system. You have a video card that allows you to see on your screen, a sound card that allows you to hear your PCs sound output and so on. Visit those manufacturer web sites for the latest downloadable drivers for your hardware/operating system. Always get the manufacturers' hardware driver over any Microsoft offers. On the Windows Update site I mentioned earlier, I suggest NOT getting their hardware drivers - no matter how tempting. How do you know what hardware you have in your computer? Break out the invoice or if it is up and working now - take inventory: Belarc Advisor http://belarc.com/free_download.html Once you know what you have, what next? Go get the latest driver for your hardware/OS from the manufacturer's web page. For example, let's say you have an NVidia chipset video card or ATI video card, perhaps a Creative Labs sound card or C-Media chipset sound card... NVidia Video Card Drivers http://www.nvidia.com/content/drivers/drivers.asp ATI Video Card Drivers http://www.atitech.com/support/driver.html Creative Labs Sound Device http://us.creative.com/support/downloads/ C-Media Sound Device http://www.cmedia.com.tw/e_download_01.htm Then install these drivers. Updated drivers are usually more stable and may provide extra benefits/features that you really wished you had before. As for Service Pack 2 (SP2) for Windows XP, Microsoft has made this particular patch available in a number of ways. First, there is the Windows Update web page above. Then there is a direct download site. Direct Download of Service Pack 2 (SP2) for Windows XP http://snipurl.com/8bqy If all else fails - grab the full download above and try to use that. In this case - consider yourself a 'IT professional or developer'. Tip (9): What about the dreaded word in the computer world, VIRUS? Well, there are many products to choose from that will help you prevent infections from these horrid little applications. Many are FREE to the home user and which you choose is a matter of taste, really. Many people have emotional attachments or performance issues with one or another AntiVirus software. Try some out, read reviews and decide for yourself which you like more: ( Good Comparison Page for AV software: http://www.av-comparatives.org/ ) AntiVir (Free and up) http://www.free-av.com/ avast! (Free and up) http://www.avast.com/ AVG Anti-Virus System (Free and up) http://free.grisoft.com/ eset NOD32 (~$39.00 and up) http://www.eset.com/products/products.htm eTrust EZ Antivirus (~$29.95 and up) http://ca.com/store/home/us/hp2/ Kaspersky Anti-Virus (~$49.95 and up) http://www.kaspersky.com/products.html McAfee VirusScan (~$11 and up) http://www.mcafee.com/ Panda Antivirus Titanium (~$39.95 and up) http://www.pandasoftware.com/ (Free Online Scanner: http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/) RAV AntiVirus Online Virus Scan (Free!) http://www.ravantivirus.com/scan/ Symantec (Norton) AntiVirus (~$11 and up) http://www.symantec.com/nav/nav_9xnt/ Trend Micro (~$49.95 and up) http://www.trendmicro.com/en/home/us/personal.htm (Free Online Scanner: http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp) Most of them have automatic update capabilities. You will have to look into the features of the one you choose. Whatever one you finally settle with - be SURE to keep it updated (I recommend at least daily) and perform a full scan periodically (yes, most protect you actively, but a full scan once a month at 4AM probably won't bother you.) Tip (10): The most rampant infestation at the current time concerns SPYWARE/ADWARE. You need to eliminate it from your machine. There is no one software that cleans and immunizes you against everything. Antivirus software - you only needed one. Firewall, you only needed one. AntiSpyware - you will need several. I have a list and I recommend you use at least the first five. First - make sure you have NOT installed "Rogue AntiSpyware". There are people out there who created AntiSpyware products that actually install spyware of their own! You need to avoid these: Rogue/Suspect Anti-Spyware Products & Web Sites http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm Also, you can always visit this site.. http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm For more updated information. Install the first five of these: (Install, Run, Update, Scan with..) (If you already have one or more - uninstall them and download the LATEST version from the page given!) Lavasoft AdAware (Free and up) http://www.lavasoft.de/support/download/ (How-to: http://snipurl.com/atdn ) Spybot Search and Destroy (Free!) http://www.safer-networking.net/en/download/index.html (How-to: http://snipurl.com/atdk ) Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner (Free!) http://www.kephyr.com/spywarescanner/ (How-to: http://snipurl.com/ate3 ) SpywareBlaster (Free!) http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sbdownload.html (How-to: http://snipurl.com/ate6 ) IE-SPYAD2 (Free!) https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ehowes/www/resource.htm (How-to: http://snipurl.com/ate7 ) CWShredder Stand-Alone (Free!) http://www.intermute.com/spysubtract/cwshredder_download.html Hijack This! (Free!) http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html (Log Analyzer: http://hjt.iamnotageek.com/ ) ToolbarCop (Free!) http://windowsxp.mvps.org/toolbarcop.htm Microsoft AntiSpyware BETA (in testing stages - Free!) http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/ (How-to: http://snipurl.com/fqur ) Browser Security Tests (Free Tester) http://www.jasons-toolbox.com/BrowserSecurity/ Popup Tester (Free Tester) http://www.popuptest.com/ The Cleaner (~$49.95 and up) http://www.moosoft.com/ Sometimes you need to install the application and reboot into SAFE MODE in order to thoroughly clean your computer. Many applications also have (or are) immunization applications. Spybot Search and Destroy and SpywareBlaster are two that currently do the best job at passively protecting your system from malware. None of these programs (in these editions) run in the background unless you TELL them to. The space they take up and how easy they are to use greatly makes up for any inconvenience you may be feeling. Please notice that Windows XP SP2 does help stop popups as well. Another option is to use an alternative Web browser. I suggest 'Mozilla Firefox', as it has some great features and is very easy to use: Mozilla Firefox http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/ So your machine is pretty clean and up to date now. If you use the sections above as a guide, it should stay that way as well! There are still a few more things you can do to keep your machine running in top shape. Tip (11): You should periodically check your hard drive(s) for errors and defragment them. Only defragment after you have cleaned up your machine of outside parasites and never defragment as a solution to a quirkiness in your system. It may help speed up your system, but it should be clean before you do this. Do these things IN ORDER... How to use Disk Cleanup http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310312 How to scan your disks for errors http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315265 How to Defragment your hard drives http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314848 I would personally perform the above steps at least once every three months. For most people this should be sufficient, but if the difference you notice afterwards is greater than you think it should be, lessen the time in between its schedule.. If the difference you notice is negligible, you can increase the time. Tip (12): SPAM! JUNK MAIL! This one can get annoying, just like the rest. You get 50 emails in one sitting and 2 of them you wanted. NICE! (Not.) What can you do? Well, although there are services out there to help you, some email servers/services that actually do lower your spam with features built into their servers - I still like the methods that let you be the end-decision maker on what is spam and what is not. I have two products to suggest to you, look at them and see if either of them suite your needs. Again, if they don't, Google is free and available for your perusal. SpamBayes (Free!) http://spambayes.sourceforge.net/ Spamihilator (Free!) http://www.spamihilator.com/ As I said, those are not your only options, but are reliable ones I have seen function for hundreds+ people. Tip (13): ADVANCED TIP! Only do this once you are comfortable under the hood of your computer! There are lots of services on your PC that are probably turned on by default you don't use. Why have them on? Check out these web pages to see what all of the services you might find on your computer are and set them according to your personal needs. Be CAREFUL what you set to manual, and take heed and write down as you change things! Also, don't expect a large performance increase or anything - especially on today's 2+ GHz machines, however - I look at each service you set to manual as one less service you have to worry about someone exploiting. Black Viper Service Configuration Tips http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm Configuring Services http://snakefoot.fateback.com/tweak/winnt/services.html Task List Programs http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist.htm Processes in Windows NT/2000/XP http://www.reger24.de/prozesse/ There are also applications that AREN'T services that startup when you start up the computer/logon. One of the better description on how to handle these I have found here: Startups http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.php If you follow the advice laid out above (and do some of your own research as well, so you understand what you are doing) - your computer will stay fairly stable and secure and you will have a more trouble-free system. -- Shenan Stanley MS-MVP -- How To Ask Questions The Smart Way http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
From: Nancy on 27 Dec 2005 02:53 Done all that. Even turned off all except the minimal startup items (as reccomended by HP via MSConfig) and that did not stop the freezing up. I run disk cleanup / scandisk / defrag weekly My antivirus software updates weekly, I run antivirus on every file every day. I run antispyware 6 times a day (and more if I visit sites I am unfamiliar with) Three complete scans by three different anti-spyware scanners and three quick scans by the same scanners. I had five although I had uninstalled them and rotated them thinking there may have been a conflict (there wasn't - freeze happened with different configurations of anti-spyware software) all of my scanners are set to scan at different times (and freeze has not happened when any of the scanners have been running) plus I use online scans at trendmicro and panda software regularly. I scan every file I ever download (even from friends) and every time before I install any software (the software I am about to install) this includes boxed software from reliable sources. When it was in the repair shop last week geting the RAM upgrade (and being checked for hardware problems) they ran a linux based antivirus and antispyware on it and could not find anything. I am confident it is not virus or malware. I backup all of my important files weekly (since the HD failure) and I regularly (daily) empty the temp internet files and delete the unwanted cookies regularly. temp internet file size was reset to 100MB awhile back. Computer does not run sluggish (and didn't even before the RAM upgrade) I use norton systemworks and norton firewall. Firewall is very secure (even blocked the netbios) I have automatic windows updates set and I also visit microsoft regularly (weekly) to check for updates and install even the "optional" ones. Except for the freezing, the system seems extremely stable all other times. There is no warning that I can see (or hear) before it freezes up - just a random event. Sometimes I'm just listening to windows media player (online station I've listened to for several years with no problem - even on my old win 95 computer) and the computer just freezes up. I am the only person that ever uses the computer. "Shenan Stanley" wrote: > Nancy wrote: > > Freezes even happen within a few hours of running scandisk / defrag > > and knowing there is no viruses or malware (I was completely > > scanning everything when it first started freezing thinking it was > > viral related) I am a fanatic keeping viruses, adware, and spyware > > out (repair station says my computer is the cleanest they've seen) > > Also - how fanatical are you - what do you NOT do from this list of tips? > (Heck - what extra DO you do?) > > Microsoft has these suggestions for Protecting your computer from the > various things that could happen to you/it: > > Protect your PC > http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/ > > > Although those tips are fantastic, there are many things you should > know above and beyond what is there. Below I have detailed > out many steps that can not only help you clean-up a problem PC but > keep it clean ,secure and running at its top performance mark. > > I know this text can seem intimidating - it is quite long and a lot > to take in for a novice - but I assure you that one trip through this > list and you will understand your computer and the options available > to you for protecting your data much better - and that the next time > you review these steps, the time it takes will be greatly reduced. > > Let's take the cleanup of your computer step-by-step. Yes, it will take > up some of your time - but consider what you use your computer > for and how much you would dislike it if all of your stuff on your > computer went away because you did not "feel like" performing some > simple maintenance tasks - think of it like taking out your garbage, > collecting and sorting your postal mail, paying your bills on time, > etc. > > I'll mainly work around Windows XP, as that is what the bulk of this > document is about; however, here is a place for you poor souls still > stuck in Windows 98/ME where you can get information on maintaining > your system: > > Windows 98 and 'Maintaining Your Computer': > http://www.microsoft.com/windows98/usingwindows/maintaining/ > > Windows ME Computer Health: > http://www.microsoft.com/windowsME/using/computerhealth/articles/ > > Pay close attention to the sections: > (in order) > - Clean up your hard disk > - Check for errors by running ScanDisk > - Defragment your hard disk > - Roll back the clock with System Restore > > > Also - now is a good time to point you to one of the easiest ways to find > information on problems you may be having and solutions others have found: > > Search using Google! > http://www.google.com/ > (How-to: http://www.google.com/intl/en/help/basics.html ) > > > Now, let's go through some maintenance first that should only have to be > done once (mostly): > > Tip (1): > Locate all of the software you have installed on your computer. > (the installation media - CDs, downloaded files, etc) > Collect these CDs and files together in a central and safe > place along with their CD keys and such. Make backups of these > installation media sets using your favorite copying method (CD/DVD Burner > and application, Disk copier, etc.) You'll be glad to know that if you > have a CD/DVD burner, you may be able to use a free application to make a > duplicate copy of your CDs. One such application is ISORecorder: > > ISORecorder page (with general instructions on use): > http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/beta.htm > > Yes - it is BETA software - but very useful and well tested. > > More full function applications (free) for CD/DVD burning would be: > > DeepBurner Free > http://www.deepburner.com/ > > CDBurnerXP Pro > http://www.cdburnerxp.se/ > > Another Option would be to search the web with Pricewatch.com or > Dealsites.net and find deals on Products like Ahead Nero and/or Roxio. > > > Tip (2): > Empty your Temporary Internet Files and shrink the size it stores to a > size between 128MB and 512MB.. > > - Open ONE copy of Internet Explorer. > - Select TOOLS -> Internet Options. > - Under the General tab in the "Temporary Internet Files" section, do the > following: > - Click on "Delete Cookies" (click OK) > - Click on "Settings" and change the "Amount of disk space to use:" to > something between 128MB and 512MB. (Betting it is MUCH larger right > now.) > - Click OK. > - Click on "Delete Files" and select to "Delete all offline contents" > (the checkbox) and click OK. (If you had a LOT, this could take 2-10 > minutes or more.) > - Once it is done, click OK, close Internet Explorer, re-open Internet > Explorer. > > > Tip (3): > If things are running a bit sluggish and/or you have an older system > (1.5GHz or less and 256MB RAM or less) then you may want to look into > tweaking the performance by turning off some of the 'resource hogging' > Windows XP "prettifications". The fastest method is: > > Control Panel --> System --> Advanced tab --> Performance section, > Settings button. Then choose "adjust for best performance" and you > now have a Windows 2000/98 look which turned off most of the annoying > "prettifications" in one swift action. You can play with the last > three checkboxes to get more of an XP look without many of the > other annoyances. You could also grab and install/use one > (or more) of the Microsoft Powertoys - TweakUI in particular: > > http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx > > > Tip (4): > Understanding what a good password might be is vital to your > personal and system security. You may think you do not need to password > your home computer, as you may have it in a locked area (your home) where > no one else has access to it. Remember, however, you aren't always > "in that locked area" when using your computer online - meaning you likely > have usernames and passwords associated with web sites and the likes that > you would prefer other people do not discover/use. This is why you should > understand and utilize good passwords. > > Good passwords are those that meet these general rules > (mileage may vary): > > Passwords should contain at least six characters, and the character > string should contain at least three of these four character types: > - uppercase letters > - lowercase letters > - numerals > - nonalphanumeric characters (e.g., *, %, &, !, :) > > Passwords should not contain your name/username. > Passwords should be unique to you and easy to remember. > > One method many people are using today is to make up a phrase that > describes a point in their life and then turning that phrase into their > password by using only certain letters out of each word in that phrase. > It's much better than using your birthday month/year or your anniversary > in a pure sense. For example, let's say my phrase is: > 'Moved to new home in 2004' > I could come up with this password from that: > 'Mv2n3whmN04' > > The password tip is in the one time section, but I highly > recommend you periodically change your passwords. The suggested time > varies, but I will throw out a 'once in every 3 to 6 months for > every account you have.' > > > Tip (5): > This tip is also 'questionable' in the one time section; however - > if properly setup - this one can be pretty well ignored for most people > after the initial 'fiddle-with' time. > > Why you should use a computer firewall.. > http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/viruses/fwbenefits.mspx > > You should, in some way, use a firewall. Hardware (like a nice > Cable Modem/DSL router) or software is up to you. Many use both of > these. The simplest one to use is the hardware one, as most people > don't do anything that they will need to configure their NAT device > for and those who do certainly will not mind fiddling with the equipment > to make things work for them. Next in the line of simplicity would > have to be the built-in Windows Firewall of Windows XP. In SP2 it > is turned on by default. It is not difficult to turn on in any > case, however: > > Enable/Disable the Internet Connection Firewall (Pre-SP2): > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/283673 > > More information on the Internet Connection Firewall (Pre-SP2): > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/320855 > > Post-SP2 Windows Firewall Information/guidance: > http://snipurl.com/atal > > The trouble with the Windows Firewall is that it only keeps things > out. For most people who maintain their system in other ways, this is > MORE than sufficient. However, you may feel otherwise. If you want to > know when one of your applications is trying to obtain access to the > outside world so you can stop it, then you will have to install a > third-party application and configure/maintain it. I have compiled a > list with links of some of the better known/free firewalls you can choose > from: > > BlackICE PC Protection (~$39.95 and up) > http://blackice.iss.net/ > > Jetico Personal Firewall (Free) > http://www.jetico.com/index.htm#/jpfirewall.htm > > Kerio Personal Firewall (KPF) (Free and up) > http://www.kerio.com/kpf_download.html > > Outpost Firewall from Agnitum (Free and up) > http://www.agnitum.com/download/ > > Sygate Personal Firewall (Free and up) > http://smb.sygate.com/buy/download_buy.htm > > Symantec's Norton Personal Firewall (~$25 and up) > http://www.symantec.com/sabu/nis/npf/ > > ZoneAlarm (Free and up) > http://snipurl.com/6ohg > > You should find the right firewall for your situation in that > list and set it up. > > Every firewall WILL require some maintenance. Essentially checking for > patches or upgrades (this goes for hardware and software solutions) is > the extent of this maintenance - you may also have to configure your > firewall to allow some traffic depending on your needs. > > ** Don't stack the software firewalls! Running more than one software > firewall will not make you safer - it would possibly negate some > protection you gleamed from one or the other firewall you run. > > > Now that you have some of the more basic things down.. > Let's go through some of the steps you should take periodically to > maintain a healthy and stable windows computer. If you have not > done some of these things in the past, they may seem tedious - however, > they will become routine and some can even be automatically scheduled. > > > Tip (6): > The system restore feature is a new one - first appearing in Windows > ME and then sticking around for Windows XP. It is a useful feature > if you keep it maintained and use it to your advantage. Remember that > the system restore pretty much tells you in the name what it protects > which is 'system' files. Your documents, your pictures, your stuff is > NOT system files - so you should also look into some backup solution. > > Whenever you think about it (after doing a once-over on your machine > once a month or so would be optimal) - clear out your System Restore > and create a manual restoration point. > > 'Why?' > > Too many times have I seen the system restore files go corrupt or get > a virus in them, meaning you could not or did not want to restore from > them. By clearing it out periodically you help prevent any corruption > from happening and you make sure you have at least one good "snapshot". > (*This, of course, will erase any previous restore point you have.*) > > - Turn off System Restore. > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310405 > - Reboot the Computer. > - Review the first bullet to turn on System Restore > - Make a Manual Restoration Point. > http://snipurl.com/68nx > > That covers your system files, but doesn't do anything for the files > that you are REALLY worried about - yours! For that you need to look > into backups. You can either manually copy your important files, folders, > documents, spreadsheets, emails, contacts, pictures, drawings and so on > to an external location (CD/DVD - any disk of some sort, etc) or you can > use the backup tool that comes with Windows XP: > > How To Use Backup to Back Up Files and Folders on Your Computer > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308422 > > Yes - you still need some sort of external media to store the results > on, but you could schedule the backup to occur when you are not around, > then burn the resultant data onto CD or DVD or something when you are > (while you do other things!) > > A lot of people have wondered about how to completely backup their system > so that they would not have to go through the trouble of a reinstall.. > I'm going to voice my opinion here and say that it would be worthless to > do for MOST people. Unless you plan on periodically updating the image > backup of your system (remaking it) - then by the time you use it > (something goes wrong) - it will be so outdated as to be more trouble than > performing a full install of the operating system and all applications. > > Having said my part against it, you can clone/backup your hard drive > completely using many methods - by far the simplest are using disk cloning > applications: > > Symantec/Norton Ghost
From: yogi on 27 Dec 2005 05:40
Hey nancy, Try this: Remove the wireless lan card from your computer. Check if the problem persists. yogi "Nancy" wrote: > Done all that. Even turned off all except the minimal startup items (as > reccomended by HP via MSConfig) and that did not stop the freezing up. > > I run disk cleanup / scandisk / defrag weekly > > My antivirus software updates weekly, I run antivirus on every file every > day. I run antispyware 6 times a day (and more if I visit sites I am > unfamiliar with) Three complete scans by three different anti-spyware > scanners and three quick scans by the same scanners. I had five although I > had uninstalled them and rotated them thinking there may have been a conflict > (there wasn't - freeze happened with different configurations of anti-spyware > software) all of my scanners are set to scan at different times (and > freeze has not happened when any of the scanners have been running) plus I > use online scans at trendmicro and panda software regularly. I scan every > file I ever download (even from friends) and every time before I install any > software (the software I am about to install) this includes boxed software > from reliable sources. When it was in the repair shop last week geting the > RAM upgrade (and being checked for hardware problems) they ran a linux based > antivirus and antispyware on it and could not find anything. I am confident > it is not virus or malware. > > I backup all of my important files weekly (since the HD failure) and I > regularly (daily) empty the temp internet files and delete the unwanted > cookies regularly. temp internet file size was reset to 100MB awhile back. > Computer does not run sluggish (and didn't even before the RAM upgrade) I > use norton systemworks and norton firewall. Firewall is very secure (even > blocked the netbios) > > I have automatic windows updates set and I also visit microsoft regularly > (weekly) to check for updates and install even the "optional" ones. Except > for the freezing, the system seems extremely stable all other times. There > is no warning that I can see (or hear) before it freezes up - just a random > event. Sometimes I'm just listening to windows media player (online station > I've listened to for several years with no problem - even on my old win 95 > computer) and the computer just freezes up. > > I am the only person that ever uses the computer. > > > > > "Shenan Stanley" wrote: > > > Nancy wrote: > > > Freezes even happen within a few hours of running scandisk / defrag > > > and knowing there is no viruses or malware (I was completely > > > scanning everything when it first started freezing thinking it was > > > viral related) I am a fanatic keeping viruses, adware, and spyware > > > out (repair station says my computer is the cleanest they've seen) > > > > Also - how fanatical are you - what do you NOT do from this list of tips? > > (Heck - what extra DO you do?) > > > > Microsoft has these suggestions for Protecting your computer from the > > various things that could happen to you/it: > > > > Protect your PC > > http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/ > > > > > > Although those tips are fantastic, there are many things you should > > know above and beyond what is there. Below I have detailed > > out many steps that can not only help you clean-up a problem PC but > > keep it clean ,secure and running at its top performance mark. > > > > I know this text can seem intimidating - it is quite long and a lot > > to take in for a novice - but I assure you that one trip through this > > list and you will understand your computer and the options available > > to you for protecting your data much better - and that the next time > > you review these steps, the time it takes will be greatly reduced. > > > > Let's take the cleanup of your computer step-by-step. Yes, it will take > > up some of your time - but consider what you use your computer > > for and how much you would dislike it if all of your stuff on your > > computer went away because you did not "feel like" performing some > > simple maintenance tasks - think of it like taking out your garbage, > > collecting and sorting your postal mail, paying your bills on time, > > etc. > > > > I'll mainly work around Windows XP, as that is what the bulk of this > > document is about; however, here is a place for you poor souls still > > stuck in Windows 98/ME where you can get information on maintaining > > your system: > > > > Windows 98 and 'Maintaining Your Computer': > > http://www.microsoft.com/windows98/usingwindows/maintaining/ > > > > Windows ME Computer Health: > > http://www.microsoft.com/windowsME/using/computerhealth/articles/ > > > > Pay close attention to the sections: > > (in order) > > - Clean up your hard disk > > - Check for errors by running ScanDisk > > - Defragment your hard disk > > - Roll back the clock with System Restore > > > > > > Also - now is a good time to point you to one of the easiest ways to find > > information on problems you may be having and solutions others have found: > > > > Search using Google! > > http://www.google.com/ > > (How-to: http://www.google.com/intl/en/help/basics.html ) > > > > > > Now, let's go through some maintenance first that should only have to be > > done once (mostly): > > > > Tip (1): > > Locate all of the software you have installed on your computer. > > (the installation media - CDs, downloaded files, etc) > > Collect these CDs and files together in a central and safe > > place along with their CD keys and such. Make backups of these > > installation media sets using your favorite copying method (CD/DVD Burner > > and application, Disk copier, etc.) You'll be glad to know that if you > > have a CD/DVD burner, you may be able to use a free application to make a > > duplicate copy of your CDs. One such application is ISORecorder: > > > > ISORecorder page (with general instructions on use): > > http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/beta.htm > > > > Yes - it is BETA software - but very useful and well tested. > > > > More full function applications (free) for CD/DVD burning would be: > > > > DeepBurner Free > > http://www.deepburner.com/ > > > > CDBurnerXP Pro > > http://www.cdburnerxp.se/ > > > > Another Option would be to search the web with Pricewatch.com or > > Dealsites.net and find deals on Products like Ahead Nero and/or Roxio. > > > > > > Tip (2): > > Empty your Temporary Internet Files and shrink the size it stores to a > > size between 128MB and 512MB.. > > > > - Open ONE copy of Internet Explorer. > > - Select TOOLS -> Internet Options. > > - Under the General tab in the "Temporary Internet Files" section, do the > > following: > > - Click on "Delete Cookies" (click OK) > > - Click on "Settings" and change the "Amount of disk space to use:" to > > something between 128MB and 512MB. (Betting it is MUCH larger right > > now.) > > - Click OK. > > - Click on "Delete Files" and select to "Delete all offline contents" > > (the checkbox) and click OK. (If you had a LOT, this could take 2-10 > > minutes or more.) > > - Once it is done, click OK, close Internet Explorer, re-open Internet > > Explorer. > > > > > > Tip (3): > > If things are running a bit sluggish and/or you have an older system > > (1.5GHz or less and 256MB RAM or less) then you may want to look into > > tweaking the performance by turning off some of the 'resource hogging' > > Windows XP "prettifications". The fastest method is: > > > > Control Panel --> System --> Advanced tab --> Performance section, > > Settings button. Then choose "adjust for best performance" and you > > now have a Windows 2000/98 look which turned off most of the annoying > > "prettifications" in one swift action. You can play with the last > > three checkboxes to get more of an XP look without many of the > > other annoyances. You could also grab and install/use one > > (or more) of the Microsoft Powertoys - TweakUI in particular: > > > > http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx > > > > > > Tip (4): > > Understanding what a good password might be is vital to your > > personal and system security. You may think you do not need to password > > your home computer, as you may have it in a locked area (your home) where > > no one else has access to it. Remember, however, you aren't always > > "in that locked area" when using your computer online - meaning you likely > > have usernames and passwords associated with web sites and the likes that > > you would prefer other people do not discover/use. This is why you should > > understand and utilize good passwords. > > > > Good passwords are those that meet these general rules > > (mileage may vary): > > > > Passwords should contain at least six characters, and the character > > string should contain at least three of these four character types: > > - uppercase letters > > - lowercase letters > > - numerals > > - nonalphanumeric characters (e.g., *, %, &, !, :) > > > > Passwords should not contain your name/username. > > Passwords should be unique to you and easy to remember. > > > > One method many people are using today is to make up a phrase that > > describes a point in their life and then turning that phrase into their > > password by using only certain letters out of each word in that phrase. > > It's much better than using your birthday month/year or your anniversary > > in a pure sense. For example, let's say my phrase is: > > 'Moved to new home in 2004' > > I could come up with this password from that: > > 'Mv2n3whmN04' > > > > The password tip is in the one time section, but I highly > > recommend you periodically change your passwords. The suggested time > > varies, but I will throw out a 'once in every 3 to 6 months for > > every account you have.' > > > > > > Tip (5): > > This tip is also 'questionable' in the one time section; however - > > if properly setup - this one can be pretty well ignored for most people > > after the initial 'fiddle-with' time. > > > > Why you should use a computer firewall.. > > http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/viruses/fwbenefits.mspx > > > > You should, in some way, use a firewall. Hardware (like a nice > > Cable Modem/DSL router) or software is up to you. Many use both of > > these. The simplest one to use is the hardware one, as most people > > don't do anything that they will need to configure their NAT device > > for and those who do certainly will not mind fiddling with the equipment > > to make things work for them. Next in the line of simplicity would > > have to be the built-in Windows Firewall of Windows XP. In SP2 it > > is turned on by default. It is not difficult to turn on in any > > case, however: > > > > Enable/Disable the Internet Connection Firewall (Pre-SP2): > > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/283673 > > > > More information on the Internet Connection Firewall (Pre-SP2): > > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/320855 > > > > Post-SP2 Windows Firewall Information/guidance: > > http://snipurl.com/atal > > > > The trouble with the Windows Firewall is that it only keeps things > > out. For most people who maintain their system in other ways, this is > > MORE than sufficient. However, you may feel otherwise. If you want to > > know when one of your applications is trying to obtain access to the > > outside world so you can stop it, then you will have to install a > > third-party application and configure/maintain it. I have compiled a > > list with links of some of the better known/free firewalls you can choose > > from: > > > > BlackICE PC Protection (~$39.95 and up) > > http://blackice.iss.net/ > > > > Jetico Personal Firewall (Free) > > http://www.jetico.com/index.htm#/jpfirewall.htm > > > > Kerio Personal Firewall (KPF) (Free and up) > > http://www.kerio.com/kpf_download.html > > > > Outpost Firewall from Agnitum (Free and up) > > http://www.agnitum.com/download/ > > > > Sygate Personal Firewall (Free and up) > > http://smb.sygate.com/buy/download_buy.htm > > > > Symantec's Norton Personal Firewall (~$25 and up) > > http://www.symantec.com/sabu/nis/npf/ > > > > ZoneAlarm (Free and up) > > http://snipurl.com/6ohg > > > > You should find the right firewall for your situation in that > > list and set it up. > > > > Every firewall WILL require some maintenance. Essentially checking for > > patches or upgrades (this goes for hardware and software solutions) is > > the extent of this maintenance - you may also have to configure your > > firewall to allow some traffic depending on your needs. > > > > ** Don't stack the software firewalls! Running more than one software > > firewall will not make you safer - it would possibly negate some > > protection you gleamed from one or the other firewall you run. > > > > > > Now that you have some of the more basic things down.. > > Let's go through some of the steps you should take periodically to > > maintain a healthy and stable windows computer. If you have not > > done some of these things in the past, they may seem tedious - however, > > they will become routine and some can even be automatically scheduled. > > > > > > Tip (6): > > The system restore feature is a new one - first appearing in Windows > > ME and then sticking around for Windows XP. It is a useful feature > > if you keep it maintained and use it to your advantage. Remember that > > the system restore pretty much tells you in the name what it protects > > which is 'system' files. Your documents, your pictures, your stuff is > > NOT system files - so you should also look into some backup solution. > > > > Whenever you think about it (after doing a once-over on your machine > > once a month or so would be optimal) - clear out your System Restore > > and create a manual restoration point. > > |