Freezes

[pennydog]

We need some help please. Our computer keeps freezing and even ctrl + alt + delete will not unfreeze it. We have Win 98. We have scanned for a virus, none were found, deleted the temp files, cleaned the cache (we use both netscape and IE) but it freezes on both browsers. It will freeze up if we use Yahoo! mail, on any MSN site, playing any game, either online or not and it will freeze if working on a document in word or excel. So any suggestions as to fixing this? We end up having to re-boot and lose what we are working on. Thanks!

[Kleinkramer]

Have you tried repairing or upgrading Internet Explorer?

And once again, it would be helpful to see whether anything's interfering with your browser:

Download StartupList

Unpack, doubleclick it, and it will generate a text file that will list all running processes, all applications that are loaded automatically when you start Windows, and more.

Go to Edit > select all, copy it and please post the contents here.

[pennydog]

Thanks, I will check this out when I get home. Tried to download the updates for both browsers and it would load in half way and "freeze".

[FHORNLEGHORN]

When's the last time you cleaned the dust out of the tower,a seized or clogged fan will do this ,overheating,etc?

[Welshjim]

pennydog--Some people who have updated IE6 to SP1 and are running Zone Alarm have reported frequent freeze-ups. If this combination applies to you, the immediate solution is to uninstall ZA. Hopefully someone will come up with a better solution.

[Prophet]

I had ZA PRO until the SP1.

I've reverted back to my McAfee FireWall.

No more probs.

[miesk5]

Yo Pennydog,
Great advice here! I had the same problem w/our Micron 450, 128, PENT II, running WIN98.

We had the the freeze in all apps too as well as freezes when the PC was idle. And ctrl-alt-del didn't work right after each freeze. Also, we couldn't use the MS SFC.

We did all that is advised here (startup cleansing, deleted Norton, case cleaning, fan flow check, virus checks, cable ribbon re-routing to get it outta da way of the air flow, updated video and other drivers, etc., etc.

Finally, we did a clean re-install of WIN 98 using the mfgr. supplied WIN 98 cd and all orig drivers...and all is Well now!

btw, we always back-up important files such as docs, Favorites, photos, etc. so the install wasn't a hassle with these important items.

[Wino]

pennydog,

Try reducing your graphics acceleration before doing anything drastic.

Open Control Panel>System>Performance Tab>Graphics Button, move slider all the way to left, OK out and reboot when told. Run at that setting for a while to see if problem solved. If so, repeat and move one notch back to right and try that setting for a while. Keep moving to right until problem returns, then move back to left one notch and leave in that setting. Reducing graphics acceleration will usually end unexplained freezes (no blue screen, just solid freeze).

Good luck.

[miesk5]

Wino,
Yes! Did that too. Gradually had it done to minimal, but the freezes continued.
Also swapped memory, etc.
I never asked for help here; did an extensive search and did all in prev. post and quite a few other things.
The biggest clue to me was that the SFC didn't work; had a few illegal ops when I tried the SFC and other System Tools.
Also deleted unnecessary start-ups, etc..
This is a great forum, thanks to all!

[pennydog]

Thank all of you so very much! I had not checked the replys until just now. I will certainly try these to see what fixes it. I will post back after we get the problem resolved. I guess the last time we cleaned the dust was about 6 months ago, the fan went out and we had to replace it. We do not run Zone Alarm, so that is not it and we have not been able to update browsers, because they download halfway and the system freezes. But will start with all these tips and see what we get. Again, thank you so much for your help.

[pennydog]

Ok, got the tower cleaned out and it was surely dusty. Did a few other things, but not everythingl isted here and so far it is ok. No freezes last night. Going to try some other suggestions and maybe try to download some updates and see how that goes. As always, your solutions have worked. Thanks to everyone for the help.

[pennydog]

Still having problems. I tried to download the start up list, but when it downloaded it was encrypted and could not read it. It tried to open in excel and told me it was not a recognized format. I have had to reboot 4 times in the past hour just to get to this screen and post. Getting very frustrating!!!! I looked for our copy of Win 98 and we do not have the full copy, the program was installed on our computer when we purchased it 4 years ago, and we were not given the disk, (at least we cannot find it amonmg our toehr disks). We do have the upgrade to win98, but not a full copy of it. btw, the guy we purchased from is out of business for using the same win program on all computers he sold during that time. So if we want to upgrade to a newer version of Win, how do we go about it? Do we have to uninstall the old, or will the new write over it, and will we lose all our other programs, such as microsoft money etc?...We are not very computer literate, so we need all the help we can get. Thank you!

[Prophet]

Withot the disk.....you are outta luck!

Have you tried to buy a new one?

You CAN buy a disk used, pretty reasonably. I bought WIN ME for less than $20, although I have not used it as yet.

[pennydog]

Ok, thanks. There is a computer show coming to the area soon, so maybe we can get one there. If not, how hard is it to install one of the newer versions of Win? On another note, I just switched our email from Netscape to IE, how do we import the address book over? Tried it and of course got the illegal error message that is now a part of that browser on our machine. Thanks for your help.