Laptop freezing

debo_2006

13 years ago

My 4-year-old Dell laptop has been freezing all day. Vista Home Service Pack 1, Memory 3.0; 1.73 Ghz, 32 bit. I am using Chome as my browser thought it does the same thing in IE. When it does, it does one of two things:

1. It just freezes where I can't close anything. All I can do is move the arrow w/ the mouse on the screen, but that serves no purpose. C-A-D doesn't even do anything except give me a blank screen with the arrow on it. I can't close anything or log off. I have to reboot buy turning on the computer.

2. The spinning thing just keeps spinning and won't allow me to close a page or anything. Again, I have to reboot - same as before.

So far, I had to turn it off 6 times b/c it continues to freeze. Three times, when I turned it on again it ran Windows Chkdsk automatically but then the issue would happen again. I have defrag on auto so that's up to date, I ran Windows Defender, Norton's AntiVirus is fine - hasn't failed me in 8 years. I keep my cache and everything cleaned up.

This just started today. I haven't downloaded anything new or been on unusual website. And, I don't have much open when the freezing happens. One minute it's working fine, the next, it freezes.

I have Malware and Super AntiSpyware loaded (old version), but don't run them run since my Nortons does it all.

Any ideas what's causing this problem? It's driving me crazy and I need this computer for business.

Thanks in advance.

Comments (8)

mike_kaiser_gw
13 years ago
Unfortunately there are lots of things that could be causing problems and it may take a bit of work to troubleshoot the problem. I would suggest starting by rebooting into safe mode. Right after the machine completes the POST and Windows begins to start, press F8. You may need to keep tapping F8.

You'll get a list of options, pick Safe Mode with Networking. Windows will continue to load and you'll eventually get to the Windows desktop. It will look "funky" (it's normal) and you'll get some messages about being in safe mode. Just click ok or whatever sounds appropriate. You'll be able to browse the Internet so try that and see what happens. Report the results please.
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
13 years ago
believe me when I tell you your Norton does NOT do it all we see and clean up the infections daily on computers with fully updated running Norton.

Please update malwarebytes and run a full scan do the same with superantispyware.
When we speak of layered protection this is what we mean there is no golden ticket that takes care of everything if so we would all be using it and never have to clean infections. Using a variety of programs and running weekly scans is the best protection, even going online and running an online AV scan is recommended.
FREE Online Virus Scan

Many infections will cause freeze up lets rule that out so you can move on to other options if none are found.

Report back on your scan results
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debo_2006
Original Author
13 years ago
Updated and run the malewares. All checked out okay except for tracking cookies which I deleted.

Today, I noticed the computer will shut down on its own and restart the same way. When it does, it does a chkdsk. I noticed this happed twice today when the computer was on but I was away from it (shower, then cooking). Not sure what's going on.

I checked my memory that there's plenty left, more than plenty.

Raven: I didn't do a scan of Partition D, should I? I just did Partition C.

I'm at a loss at this point. I only had one freeze up today, and the rest where all with the computer shutting down itself.

This is the latest message I got on the computer:
Windows has recovered from an unexpected shutdown. A problem caused Windows to stop working.

Also, that round spinny thing is taking a long time to do what it had to do.
genes
13 years ago
Please do an independent scan with an online virus scan
..Just google online virus scan and there are a couple or so of the first few posts to choose from ie. Housecall or Bitdefender
genes
13 years ago
Check this out...it could also be a failing HDD

Here is a link that might be useful: Hard drive test Dell
debo_2006
Original Author
13 years ago
Computer was working fine today UNTIL NOW. Just had my first freeze of the day. Left my computer for awhile while doing other things. Came back and couldn't close or log off or anything. Had to shut down. Didn't reboot yet.

I'm thinking I might have to buy a new laptop - grrrr.

genes: Thought I had a Dell laptop but it's a Gateway. My "working" desktop is the Dell which is what I'm using to type this.
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
13 years ago
before buying a new one I would sure try a reformat of the OS and re install of programs to see if you have some kind of conflict or a corruption somewhere.
mikie_gw
13 years ago
Turn off screen saver,, disable sleep or hybernate. See if it still restarts.

I'd make sure it has current flash & java installed also.

Some event is causing that restart.. might be heat from fan needing fixing.

Laptop freezing

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