[RESOLVED] Computer Locked Up!

[momstheword468]

Please help! I'm ready to take a sledge hammer to my computer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have a Pentium III 800mhz witha 28.3g hard drive, Windows ME and 240mb ram. What happens is my computer is continually locking up. Sometimes ctrl-alt-del works and it tells me that the program I am working on is 'not responding', when I do an end task I usually get a screen on the computer that says my explorer is not working. At this point I have to reset the computer because nothing works. There are times that I can't even get ctrl-alt-delete to work and I have to completely reset the computer.
I have tried using Dr. Watson and I get this as the result:

If the Taskbar is behaving strangely, try exiting Multimedia background task support module.

Module Name: mmtask.tsk
Description: Multimedia background task support module
Version: 4.90.3000
Product: Microsoft Windows
Manufacturer: Microsoft Corporation

I went into system information and found this:
Under components these are the problem devices
IRQ Holder for PCI Steering PCI\IRQHOLDER\IRQ0B 10
IRQ Holder for PCI Steering PCI\IRQHOLDER\IRQ0A 10
IRQ Holder for PCI Steering PCI\IRQHOLDER\IRQ09 10
IRQ Holder for PCI Steering PCI\IRQHOLDER\IRQ05 10

I am also having a problem with the cursor. It shows the arrow but the hour glass is continually flickering on and off, as if the computer is trying to find something.

I have done scan disks and it has corrected errors and then run a defrag. Two days later it starts all over again and I run scan disk again and there are more errors.

Just two weeks ago I had to replace my 2 year old hard drive because it died on me.

What is wrong????????? I am at a loss!!!!!!!!!
Hope I have given you enough info about comp specs, can't remember where to look for the whole list of system specs.

Thankyou
Suzanne

[llama]

Here's the link to this thread in the Software forum. Thought it might do better here though

http://discussions.virtualdr.com/sho...hreadid=108103

[ski]

Do a Ctrl-Alt-Del on the Desktop and see how many programs are running in the background. If there are a lot, do an 'End Task' to all of them, except Explorer and Systray. If this fixes things, then you can prevent these programs from running at startup by going to Start/Run, type msconfig, click OK/Startup, and uncheck the boxes for the programs that you do not want to run at startup.

If the above does not fix things, then open Device Manager and check for problems with any of the hardware devices. If you find any, then remove the problem ones from Dev. Mgr., restart, and let Windows recognize them and reload their drivers.

[momstheword468]

Thankyou very much for your help! So Far So Good! I ended up going into msconfig and disabling some of the startup programs, there were over 20 of them running which probably in itself explains my problem!

[Train]

Now if you were to activate one at a time, you probably find the problem program. Probably trying to check in and tattletale on you.
Get and run Ad Aware and see what it finds. And I like ZoneAlarm firewall [free version] as it stops those programs and lets you know what is trying to get out.
Might help find the guilty program.
Suggest www.google.com for a search engine.

[momstheword468]

Have zone alarm already and thank goodness for that. I had 53 alerts in less than 10 minutes this morning! I will try and find the culprit though thankyou

[Train]

It'l take a little detective work, but it is worth it.

Just in case, I'll add this:

OK, This needs to be done anyway as it will help your computer.
Lets see if we can free up some resources.
Do Start > Run > MSCONFIG > Start up tab
This will list all of the programs being started at boot time. The icons in the bottom right of the screen.
Leave
ScanRegistry
SysTray
Your Antivirus
Your firewall if you run one.
Unselect all of the rest, reboot
As well, if you are unsure of what they are, post back the items in the list, maybe someone will know.

Dab nabit the archieves are dead, but check the following links.

Step by Step with Snapshots on how to do this

What some of those words mean
Some more of what those words mean
Some other good links on resources.
And some more


PC 911

Windows Help

PC Forrest

[momstheword468]

This is the info I got from ad aware. What the heck do I do with it. I am going to go in and remove more of the programs from startup now wish me lock

[momstheword468]

oops forgot to paste ad aware report here it is

Scan initialized on 07/06/2002 9:04:26 PM.
(AAW release 5.82, referencefile 021-29.05.2002)
=================================================


Started memory scan
====================
Running processes:

#:1 : C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\KERNEL32.DLL

#:2 : C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSGSRV32.EXE

#:3 : C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\mmtask.tsk

#:4 : C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MPREXE.EXE

#:5 : C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSTASK.EXE

#:6 : C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\STIMON.EXE

#:7 : C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\ZONELABS\VSMON.EXE

#:8 : C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\ZONELABS\MINILOG.EXE

#:9 : C:\WINDOWS\EXPLORER.EXE

#:10 : C:\WINDOWS\TASKMON.EXE

#:11 : C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\RESTORE\STMGR.EXE

#:12 : C:\WINDOWS\PCTVOICE.EXE

#:13 : C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\LVCOMS.EXE

#:14 : C:\WINDOWS\LOADQM.EXE

#:15 : C:\PROGRAM FILES\PCI AUDIO APPLICATIONS\MIXER.EXE

#:16 : C:\PROGRAM FILES\NORTON ANTIVIRUS\NAVAPW32.EXE

#:17 : C:\PROGRAM FILES\INCREDIMAIL\BIN\INCREDIMAIL.EXE

#:18 : C:\PROGRAM FILES\MESSENGER\MSMSGS.EXE

#:19 : C:\PROGRAM FILES\ZONE LABS\ZONEALARM\ZONEALARM.EXE

#:20 : C:\PROGRAM FILES\WINDOWS MEDIA COMPONENTS\ENCODER\WMENCAGT.EXE

#:21 : C:\GLSYSMON\SYSMON.EXE

#:22 : C:\PROGRAM FILES\WEBSHOTS\WEBSHOTSTRAY.EXE

#:23 : C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\DDHELP.EXE

#:24 : C:\PROGRAM FILES\LAVASOFT AD-AWARE\AD-AWARE.EXE

Memory scan result:
Total modules found:24
Suspicious modules found:0


Started registry scan
======================
DSSAgent key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\broderbund software\dss\
Alexa key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\internet explorer\extensions\{c95fe080-8f5d-11d2-a20b-00aa003c157a}\
BonziBuddy key:HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\vb and vba program settings\bonzibuddy\


Registry scan result:
Suspicious keys found :3


Started folder scan
====================
Other folder:C:\Program Files\Zapspot\My ZapSpot
Other folder:C:\Program Files\Zapspot
Folder scan result:
Folders processed:3972
Suspicious folders found:2


Started file scan
==================
EverAd file:C:\WINDOWS\TEMP\~zs9262.TMP\EveradSv.dll
Other file:C:\WINDOWS\TEMP\~zs9262.TMP\ZapSpot.exe
Doubleclick file:C:\WINDOWS\Cookies\the nethery's@doubleclick[2].txt
DSSAgent file:C:\WINDOWS\BBSTORE\DSS\DSSAGENT.EXE

File scan result:
Suspicious files found:4



Scanning finished
==================
Suspicious modules found:0
Suspicious keys found :3
Suspicious folders found:2
Suspicious files found:4
=========================
Components ignored:0
Total components found:9

[momstheword468]

I was able to remove a lot of programs from startup. I have bookmarked the links you gave me. I also fiddled with ad aware for a while and was able to remove the problem links. Thankyo so much for all your help you will never know how much I appreciate it!!

Suzanne

[Train]

I will add using italics
DSSAgent key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\broderbund software\dss\
You have installed a broderbund program and it is a older one that has a tattletail built into it. Letting adaware remove it may/may not cause it to stop running.


Alexa key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\internet
explorer\extensions\{c95fe080-8f5d-11d2-a20b-00aa003c157a}\
This a add on to internet explorer something like a search engine, but tell MS or someone what you have been doing . How do I uninstall the Alexa toolbar? Should help. I have never installed it.


BonziBuddy key:HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\vb and vba program settings\bonzibuddy\

Probably THIS

ZAPSPOT
http://www.google.com/search?sourcei...OQD&q=ZapSpot+
Do not think I will open any of those links. And to prevent that type of program installing without your knowledge, in IE go to tools, internet options, advance tad and take the check out of Enable Install on Demand. That is a server demanding, not you.

BBSTORE means you have/may have THIS VIRUS


Here are some free online av sourses if you do not have one.
Suggest Housecall first

Norton

Housecall

http://www.siena.edu/antivirus/

Panda

RUN A AV and see what all you do/do not have. Be safe.
And afterward, Me I'd let adaware do its thing. Just my way is all.

[Ridgerunr]

Train is smack dab on it. And,the Broderbund site is famous for the "call home" junk it adds. Zone Alarm can be configured to stop it calling out by putting the X's in it's entry if you need the program.

The Alexa thing is supposed to be a search helper stuck there by M$. I never use it personally and have told adaware to ignore it with no dire results.

As to Bonzi buddy,from past,personal experiences, my advice is to get rid of it altogether!

And,,by all means,run the virus tests suggested and get yourself a "good" AV program.

The way things have become on the net nowa'days,you can't be too careful...

[momstheword468]

I do have Norton Virus running but it didn't detect bbstore, I removed it manually. I got rid of Bonzi Buddy long ago I get the add/remove feature didn't get it all. I let adawre get rid of all the problem files, but did make a backup just in case.
Thankyou
Suzanne

[Train]

Are you getting the updates for your av? You need to if you do not.

[momstheword468]

yes I have live update set to go automaetically.