I have been having tons of problems with my computer lately. A lot of it involves programs suddenly freezing up and becoming non-responsive. This happens ALL THE TIME. It's driving me crazy. I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling several of the programs but then they start again. I've run complete virus scans often but nothing is being found. There have been many instances of adware/spyware and I'm not sure if I have been successful in getting rid of them.
Here's my question...I'm considering reinstalling Windows XP, hoping that a fresh start will help. I'm fairly computer savvy but is there anything I should know before I do this or should I just stick in the disk and have at it? OBVIOUSLY, I plan on backing everything up that I need.
Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Posted by TransLab (Member # 470) on :
Better to determine what is slowing your 'puter down now, or else you will be in the same situation in a short while.
If your problem is spyware learn how to clean it and how to avoid it. If you need a firewall get one. If you have 2000 fonts loaded, learn to live with less.
A reinstall will usually solve your problems, but should be a last resort and only performed when you are fairly certain that the conditions leading to the problem will not be repeated.
Posted by Kimberly Zanetti (Member # 2546) on :
Mike, Thank you. It's not that it is slow. It's a very fast computer with tons of memory. It's that certain programs keep locking up and it happens at the same point each time. You say it should be a last resort...is there any reason NOT to do it?
Posted by TransLab (Member # 470) on :
Other than the bother of reinstalling, then reconfiguring devices, softwares, email & network settings & histories (which I insist on saving), applications and setting and loading fonts; there is no 'penalty' to reinstalling windows.
If you use norton 'ghost' to save an image of the drive after you do all this and before you run into any problems, the next reinstallation will be much easier...
I misread your first post. I suspect flakey memory. If you can swap out memory with another box it's a quick & easy check. Takes less time than a reinstall.
edit : sorry - thinking on my feet here - could also be software conflict - try uninstalling software in reverse order from install date.
What is locking up ?? One program in particular? Any program ?
[ September 23, 2004, 06:04 PM: Message edited by: TransLab ]
Posted by Bruce & Deb Newton (Member # 2312) on :
Kimberly,
I'm not using XP yet, but have experienced similar lock-ups with win98se. Everytime that it would happen I would hit control-alt-del, which shows the Close Program Window. I found that the MS autoupdater caused my mouse cursor to studder across the screen. Close that program and the mouse would work fine, 10 minutes later, same problem. Finally, had to remove that "feature".
The worst offender now seems to be the autoupdater program that is associated with my anti-virus software. The three finger salute solves the problem, but I'm unable to over-ride the "feature".
Hopefully, this might point you in the direction of which program is causing the glitch.
Bruce
Posted by Ray Rheaume (Member # 3794) on :
kimberly,
If you have the automatic updates on your computer set to automatically install updates, it could be the recent Windows XP SP2 causing problems. Many programs that were running before it no longer are compatable, even some of Microsoft's own software.
Should you decide to reinstall XP, those updates will be overwritten IE lost. Unfortunately, so will all the other updates that have been released since you bought the computer.
I've found the best way to handle the updates is to set it up with the option to review them before installing.
Rapid
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
AMEN Ray!!!!
I NEVER let Windows "automatically" update.
Posted by Curtis hammond (Member # 2170) on :
a XP reinstall is not the answer. There are so many other things that will interfere with your machine.
Sudden lockups in XP are hard to trace. BUT, is it the same program/s. Do other programs run fine.
Make sure the programs are updated. There are lots of new issues arising in XP often fixed with getting an update for that specific program.
Then of course is the heat issue. So many newer machines are having heat removal problems. Your fans must be clean, and teh air vents must be clear.
[ September 23, 2004, 11:34 PM: Message edited by: Curtis hammond ]
Posted by Kimberly Zanetti (Member # 2546) on :
yes, it is the same problems...Window Media Player, Olympus Camedia (my digital camera software) and AOL. It always happens at the same point. For instance, EVERYTIME I use WMP, it plays the one song and then locks up so you have to close it. The Camedia, often when I try and pull up a photo it will stop responding and close.
AOL does the same thing but I just figured that it was because AOL sucks anyway.
I don't do automatic updates and therefore haven't gotten the Service Pack 2.
I downloaded the latest version of WMP and it was better for about a day and then started again.
I'm perplexed and bewildered at this point. Thank you for your answers everyone. I'm still not sure what to do.
Posted by John Thomas (Member # 2854) on :
Kim from my past I reformat about once a yr. Harddrives dont like it when you ad and dlete from them all the time. You can run scandisk and defrag and see if that helps.
Any time you want to put your windows program back on your hard drive or or reinstall it is always better to format the harddrive so that you dont have problems (make sure you back up all your files and have a backup of drivers for your cutters/plotters and any others.
Good Luck
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
kim, i would delete those programs that are causing you problems 1st. run the computer with out them for a couple days, get NORTON UTILITIES, AND RUN THE WINDOWS REPAIR. then i would run the defrag in norton. check and see what the versions are of the problem program, if its the newest WMP, reload the last good version before it. check you camera web site, and d/l updated driver. now if all this makes no dif, i would pull one stick of ram at a time and run machine that way. i got the 0 ram bank in mine empty, with ram in that slot i get the same problems you have.
Posted by Curtis hammond (Member # 2170) on :
WMP has many known issues. Many are trying to remove it as well. Lockups are many but one seems to be WMP is accessign the trying to get information. Some ppl actually HATE WMP. ( i hate it too)
AOL has so many issues over the years. Its hard to tell, but usually they have probs with the scripting and java.
You digital software is probably USB.. Right? another problem some drivers are having running USB with XP. See if you can get the update or when one may be available.
Is not your machine or XP. Most problems are arising because outside venders did not exactly follow M$ specifications to the letter.
Posted by Kimberly Zanetti (Member # 2546) on :
Thanks again. I uninstalled WMP and downloaded the latest (ver 10) from MS. So far, it's working properly. I will try to download the driver update from Olympus after I get done with the Norton Defrag. The Norton Windows fix found many problems.
AOL...yea, I know, I know. The thing is my business email is on there and I just don't want to change it.
I appreciate all of your efforts to help me solve the problems.
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