3 mins doesn't give me time to run ad-aware and spybot to find the problem. are there free tools that can help me pinpoint where my comp is failing. the 2 or 3 minute freeze happens consistently. all help will be greatly appreciated.
2006-06-08 12:08:42 · 15 answers · asked by scottydigital 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Desktops
what the others before me suggested is great but i will also suggest that you try to see what your computer loads when it boots up and if their are lots of programs running then that is your problem. then again it could also be that you have lots of icons on your front page and then you just keep the ones that you absolutely need. that is another suggestion that i can give out.
2006-06-08 12:22:57 · answer #1 · answered by blueman2 5 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Usually something like a freeze is a heat related problem.
1) Check to make sure all your fans are on and working. If you have any really old fans, you might want to find a fan that is rated for your CPU and case.
2) Is your computer really really cluttered with wires? This can cause your case to overheat because there is no air flow in it.
3) I am assuming you have more than one RAM chip in your motherboard. With one chip in at a time, start the computer and see if it freezes. If it doesn't, try another one of the RAM chips until it freezes. Heat related problems usually effect the RAM first and because it causes a memory problem, it freezes up.
4) Your motherboard may come with a tool like Memtest which is a small software program in your BIOS that runs memory math tests on your RAM looking for errors. If you have this test, run it for about half a day and if you continue to get tons of errors, your memory is bad and needs replacing. (You should not have to boot into windows to use this tool, hit f8 or the delete key to get into bios, it might be an option in there)
5) Last but not least, and sometimes an expensive solution, go buy a stick of RAM and try booting off of that.
If none of these work, you may want to call up a tech support group like GeekSquad, Geekstogo or take it into a computer repair place.
Overall, freezing computers are usually heat related / bad RAM. Especially if it seems to freeze at random times after start up (random I mean one time it is 2 minutes, the next it is 3, the next it is 1 minute etc).
I hope this helps!
2006-06-08 12:30:20 · answer #2 · answered by Martyr2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1. When was the last time your computer was blown out with compressed air? Go buy a can of compressed air and blow out the whole computer. You will need to unscrew the left side panel to do this.
2. Could be a virus boot into safe mode hitting the f8 key before startup. Then use your anti-virus to check for viruses. If you don't have an anti-virus download AVG FREE it is a good free anti-virus.
3. Run disk cleanup while in safe mode by hitting the f8 key before startup. Deleting any temporary files and any useless garbage.
4. Run disk defragmenter while in safe mode by hitting the f8 key before startup.
5. Run ad-aware or spybot while in safe mode by hitting the f8 key before startup.
6. While in safe mode click the start button goto run and type in msconfig and goto the startup tab and see all the programs that start up when you start the computer.
7. Also you might try downloading and burning a copy of Memtest and booting that and see if you have memory problems.
8. Also makes sure you clean the fans good inside the computer so that all the dust is off of them i had a friend and his fan had dust covering the entire CPU fan.
9. As a last resort go out and buy 512MB RAM and see if that helps.
2006-06-08 13:12:45 · answer #3 · answered by SANDY 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get to safe mode by pressing the "F8" key before the system boots. See if you can get the thing to stay up for more than a couple of mins. Then run Ad-Aware from there and AVG Anti-virus. You may also have some bad memory, it's a good idea to run MEMTEST 86+ from a boot disk to see if the memory is bad. Test #6 is the one to watch, if you see a red line across the screen after test #6 runs then you have some bad memory.
2006-06-08 16:05:29 · answer #4 · answered by mittalman53 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since it appears to be freezing after 3 minutes it is likely a system problem. I'd reload the operating system and see if the problem presists. You can also try starting the computer up in SAFE mode which doesn't load every startup program, and try running Search and Destroy from there.
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/chsafe.htm#02
You could also try cleaning dust out of the computer in the rare case that it might be overheating.
2006-06-08 12:18:31 · answer #5 · answered by zott820 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is one of two things occurring.Either you have virus, or your memory is insufficient for the number of programs you are running at one time.Thank God your running Xp.The first step will be to start (F8) in the safe mode(hit it prior to splash screen at boot up).Once the computer loads go to start menu,(run)type in msconfig and then when it loads go to start up.Once there uncheck everything.Click ok and reboot.If your computer runs fine and does not lock up then your just running too much from the moment the system loads.All you need is yoursystem files, internet, and antivirus to load at start up everything else will run when you click on it and use it.Lots of people have a too much crap running uselessly in the backround eating up thier resources.lots of downloaded software loves to run at start up if you let it.If your still having the freeze thing,it could be a virus ,so start up again in safe mode and log onto the net if you have time and run a good viral/spy/malware program like www.housecall.
trendmicro.com (its free) if no time run your own that you have installed.My guess is it is a resources (memory issue) so first clean out start up and limit number of programs running at one time, that should fix it, when it does upgrade to at least 512mg of ram, I can tell the problem is likely you have loaded more software its running in the backround now and your little 320megs of ram is not getting the job done(only option cut down programs running or increase ram).Good luck
2006-06-08 12:41:49 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try starting it in 'safe mode' (press f8 upon startup, BEFORE the xp splash screen appears). Does it still freeze in safe mode? Run a virus scan in this mode. If you've recently added software, return to a previous system RESTORE point.
Sorry, not an expert... mine was similar.. ended up being a memory issue.
2006-06-08 12:18:32 · answer #7 · answered by Chiron 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
try starting in safe mode by booting up your computer and keep hitting f 8 until you get to the boot menu screen. boot into safe mode and try running the anti virus and ad ware programs. if you still get the freeze up condition, look for a bad fan, especially the cpu fan. it could also be the power supply going bad. Adding more memory could also help.
2006-06-08 12:18:19 · answer #8 · answered by medic391 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm sorry but my only advice would be to check up on your Task Manager, but that's only when your computer has finally loaded your account (and account information) and stuff. What I would do is totally trash that computer. If your problem continues, I have no doubts: your computer sucks! Just kidding just kidding. Don't take my second piece of advice, THAT sucks. Plus that would have been hundreds of dollars wasted....
2006-06-08 12:13:24 · answer #9 · answered by fiyah! 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
actually, i would say it sounds like a cooling issue. try calling your computer maker's tech support also...they can do wonders. i don't know how to enter the BIOS settings on XP, so i'm sorry about that, but if you do find some way to get there, keep an eye on your computer temperature.
2006-06-08 17:36:37 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋