Computer Hope
Hardware => Hardware => Topic started by: stuart78 on July 27, 2005, 01:31:17 AM
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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
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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 :)
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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 (http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1)
-- Anti virus scanner
Trend Micro Housecall (http://housecall.trendmicro.com/)
-- Online anti virus scanner.
Anti spy/malware
Microsoft Antispyware (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=321cd7a2-6a57-4c57-a8bd-dbf62eda9671&displaylang=en)
-- Anti spyware scanner. Windows XP Home and Professional only.
Spybot Search & Destroy (http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html)
-- Anti spyware scanner
Adaware SE Personal (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/)
-- 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 (http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp)
-- Free firewall - more user friendly
Sygate Personal (http://smb.sygate.com/products/spf_standard.htm)
-- 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 (http://www.merijn.org/files/hijackthis.zip)
-- Manual malware remover. Post the HijackThis log generated only if requested!
McAfee Stinger (http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/)
-- Virus removal tool. No substitute for a fully functional virus scanner!
CWshredder (http://www.intermute.com/spysubtract/cwshredder_download.html)
-- CoolWebSearch removal tool. Widely known and persistant Hijacker.
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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.
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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?
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Type scanreg/fix in the msdos prompt.......and see if there is any imoprovement??are you using ie6?
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am using ie6. will try your recommended action and see if there's any improvement.
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Loads of issues using ie6 on win9x machines......i recommend 5.5 with tools instead.......or my shadow ;D with say firebird/firefox.......
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Unfortunately, that didn't make any difference. As soon as I logged back onto Windows after doing it, it froze again!
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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.
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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?
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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
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Is just one ramstick? what internet connection are you using?
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i use blue yonder dial up, and it is just one ramstick.
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Are you networking this pc?? do you have a firewall?
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no networking and i am ashamed to admit that i do not currently have a fire wall on my home pc, although i will be downloading zonealarm as soon as it is fixed.
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Run this trialware>>http://www.webroot.com/downloads/?WRSID=bf088383e1419b6c4ef1bbdd2231789d
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Have you done as I suggested..
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I have run AdAware and the updated norton unfortunately the computer will only stop from freezing up for any time longer than ten minutes so i have had trouble downloading anything new. Most of these communications have been done from my laptop.
Also my laptop is only cdrom and fdd so even if i download to them i cannot transfer the programs accross fast enough.
Although I have recently discovered that the pc will work fine if the mouse is not connected. the problem is i'm only just learning how to movw around the internet without it as i have never done so before.
I am about to try downloading some of those progams now but it might take me some time.
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Got it>>should have known>slap>norton anti-virus>.uninstall it from the pc>>and try this one instead>http://www.majorgeeks.com/AntiVir_Personal_Edition_d955.html
and you find a firewall like sygate on there as well.
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Merlin, only after buying it did i hear from people that norton was over rated but also people tell me microsoft is rubbish, but we all use it.
To be honest i cant say that i rate norton that much myself but i don't know enough about anti-virus' to make an informed decision.
Are you saying i should junk norton which i paid for and opt for something free. my mind is saying "you don't get anything for free in this world" but if your saying that these free anti virus' are better then i will change it. I now have two anti virus', i dont want to keep adding to them but if i dont like it i always have norton on disc anyway so have nothing to lose.
Raptor, I tried to download Trend Micro House call but it would not let me select the download without a mouse.
I have successfully downloaded avg free scan, but it has found nothing. I will proceed to try the rest but probably not tonight, im exhausted.
in the mean time thanks for all your help guys.
Btw, just a quicky; on my laptop, Quick time has put itself in the bottom right task bar (where the clock is) but when i right click there is no option to move it from there, or delete it. Does it have to run from there or can it be moved.
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Listen and learn my friend dump nav......
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I'm not a expert but couldn't this be a hardware problem rather than a virus. The system runs as sweet as a nut with the mouse removed.
I am going to buy a new mouse to try it but am more concerned that it might be the port.
Is this likeley to be the problem or is it more likely to be infected? like i say i'm not an expert.
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like i say i'm not an expert Posted by: stuart78
No one can claim that title!....i hate it>?as no one lives long enough for e:g..............My views given on nav and win9x are expert based! your pc your choice!
Advice given but not often used.......Pass!
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I'm not a expert but couldn't this be a hardware problem rather than a virus. The system runs as sweet as a nut with the mouse removed.
I am going to buy a new mouse to try it but am more concerned that it might be the port.
Is this likeley to be the problem or is it more likely to be infected? like i say i'm not an expert.
Try using a PS/2 to USB converter for your current mouse.
You can also try to remove the mouse entry from the device manager and restart your system to see if it redetects it. The drivers may be corrupted.
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Thanks for all your help guys, sorry i didnt get back sooner, have been working long hours.
Anyway seem to have temporarily solved the problem. I tried a new mouse that plugs directly into the usb port and now the pc works fine. I know this is not a permanent solution but at least the machine will stay on now so i can try more of you advice.
Thanks again, i am very grateful for all your help. If i cannot solve it from here i might be back to ask for more help.
If there is any where i can leave feed back to say thanks please let me know and i will do so.
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The administrator likes to receive flowers. ;D