PC Kepps freezing

[stuart78]

About 4 days ago my pc started freezing up. I was on the internet the first time it happened and now it happens all the time.

some times it freezes as soon as it boots up and sometimes i can be using it  for 20 minutes before it freezes.

I have tried everything, Scandisk, defrag, anti spyware, anti virus and i have deleted all the cookies and temporary internet files but it still keeps happening.

I've run out of things to try so if anyone has any ideas please help.

Thanks

[utaker1987]

No worries, these guys seem to know everything, they helped me out big time, I don't think the major guys are on right now, maybe in an hour or 2, there major help so just wait for um like i am

[Raptor]

I have tried everything, Scandisk, defrag, anti spyware, anti virus and i have deleted all the cookies and temporary internet files but it still keeps happening.

1. Make absolutely certain that all infections are gone
2. What scanners have you used? I recommend  the following:
3. When has your problem first started?
4. Are all your fans operating?
5. What are your computer temperatures?

Virus scanners
AVG Free
-- Anti virus scanner
Trend Micro Housecall
-- Online anti virus scanner.

Anti spy/malware
Microsoft Antispyware
-- Anti spyware scanner. Windows XP Home and Professional only.
Spybot Search & Destroy
-- Anti spyware scanner
Adaware SE Personal
-- Anti spyware scanner

Firewalls
Using only one firewall is advised. Dual firewalls may cause problems.
Using a hardware firewall and a software firewall is even more adviced.
ZoneAlarm Free
-- Free firewall - more user friendly
Sygate Personal
-- Free firewall - more configuration options

Removal tools
The following files are not substitutes for the ones described above.
They are either diagnostic tools or removal tools for malware of a certain kind

HijackThis
-- Manual malware remover. Post the HijackThis log generated only if requested!
McAfee Stinger
-- Virus removal tool. No substitute for a fully functional virus scanner!
CWshredder
-- CoolWebSearch removal tool. Widely known and persistant Hijacker.

[uisquebeathus]

How old is the computer and are the temperatures within safe ranges, could any of the cooling fans have stopped.
on the other extreme of infections such as trojans or syware, can you sea any major drive light activity when the pc is on but you are not doing anything in particular, that could show the precence of a trojan or bot.

[stuart78]

I have used an up-to-date version of Norton Antivirus and Lavasoft AdAware SE to check my system, but they aren't detecting anything abnormal. I've done ScanDisk and Defrags, but again, nothing apparently wrong.
It's a P3 with Windows 98, so it's not a new machine, however there doesn't appear to be anything wrong with the temperature or fans.
It seems to be a problem with the mouse - the more I use it, the quicker the system crashes. Could there be a connection?

[merlin_2]

Type scanreg/fix in the msdos prompt.......and see if there is any imoprovement??are you using ie6?

[stuart78]

am using ie6. will try your recommended action and see if there's any improvement.

[merlin_2]

Loads of issues using ie6 on win9x machines......i recommend 5.5 with tools instead.......or my shadow with say firebird/firefox.......

[stuart78]

Unfortunately, that didn't make any difference. As soon as I logged back onto Windows after doing it, it froze again!

[stuart78]

Have been using IE6 for well over a year with no previous problems. I really don't think that's the root of the problem.

[merlin_2]

Type dxdiag in the run box and test graphics it should report....if there issues.........how much ram has the pc.......what the make of the hard drive? run another spy/virus sweep.......download spysweeper from webroot......if you have not got a firewall then may you should? And what mouse are you using?

[stuart78]

I have 128mb of ram, the hard drive is 10gb, i dont know what make but its hard to check anything because it does'nt stay opporational for very long,  if its any help the pc is a Tiny.

Also the mouse is a Trekker wheel mouse but all of these devices have been working together for a long time.

The computer seems to work fine when i disconnect the mouse, although my navigation skill without it are quite poor.

I have run dxdiag, but cannot see an option to test the graphics, the closet i can see is; test directdraw or test direct3d.

btw i am running windows 98se  

[merlin_2]

Is just one ramstick? what internet connection are you using?

[stuart78]

i use blue yonder dial up, and it is just one ramstick.

[merlin_2]

Are you networking this pc?? do you have a firewall?