Computer freezes constantly

catwelk · 07-07-2009, 04:52 PM

hi, my boyfriend is letting me use this computer. it freezes a lot, but only under very specific circumstances. When I try to log on to windows messenger, specifically, it freezes. Which I don't understand, because I can play music, or play java-based MMORPGs. When I started using this, the sound wasn't working, but I went on the dell website and updated all the drivers (Or I thought I did, anyways) and the speakers worked immediately after.
I have run CHKDSK just this morning, there are absolutely no viruses, no background processes that could be causing this. I verified this via MSCONFIG and task manager. The hard drive has 70 gig of space and 40 gigs of it is free space.

Thought it may be an overheating issue, because it had been making grinding noises upon boot, but opened up the case, and after a thorough dusting of the fan, the grinding halted, but the freezing still persists. The hard drive is new, so I'm sure it must be a driver-related issue, but don't know how else to go about fixing it.

I don't know the relevance of this to the issue, but in device manager there is a yellow ! and ? next to "Multimedia Video Controller"
don't know how to fix it, because it couldn't find the driver, and I don't know how to go about updating it otherwise. Maybe that is the issue, I hope so, because then it'd probably be less complicated to figure out! :)

Responses are very much appreciated, I have been racking my brains for days on end trying to fix this thing.

Computer info:

Windows XP
Pentium 4 CPU 2.80GHz
2.79 GHz,
512 MB Ram

Dell Dimension 3000

makinu1der2 · 07-07-2009, 06:21 PM

Hello,

Does it only freeze with MSN messenger?

Update the Video Driver from the dell website.

catwelk · 07-08-2009, 08:27 PM

it is not only with msn, it happens at random other times, i downloaded every driver from the dell website.

count_fog · 07-09-2009, 04:17 AM

When was the last time you reformatted this computer? Biggest cause of freezing. Reformatting cures many problems.

07-07-2009, 04:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
catwelk Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 2 OS: Windows XP	Computer freezes constantly hi, my boyfriend is letting me use this computer. it freezes a lot, but only under very specific circumstances. When I try to log on to windows messenger, specifically, it freezes. Which I don't understand, because I can play music, or play java-based MMORPGs. When I started using this, the sound wasn't working, but I went on the dell website and updated all the drivers (Or I thought I did, anyways) and the speakers worked immediately after. I have run CHKDSK just this morning, there are absolutely no viruses, no background processes that could be causing this. I verified this via MSCONFIG and task manager. The hard drive has 70 gig of space and 40 gigs of it is free space. Thought it may be an overheating issue, because it had been making grinding noises upon boot, but opened up the case, and after a thorough dusting of the fan, the grinding halted, but the freezing still persists. The hard drive is new, so I'm sure it must be a driver-related issue, but don't know how else to go about fixing it. I don't know the relevance of this to the issue, but in device manager there is a yellow ! and ? next to "Multimedia Video Controller" don't know how to fix it, because it couldn't find the driver, and I don't know how to go about updating it otherwise. Maybe that is the issue, I hope so, because then it'd probably be less complicated to figure out! :) Responses are very much appreciated, I have been racking my brains for days on end trying to fix this thing. Computer info: Windows XP Pentium 4 CPU 2.80GHz 2.79 GHz, 512 MB Ram Dell Dimension 3000

07-07-2009, 06:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
makinu1der2 Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 2,044 OS: Vista Home Premium SP1,Win XP SP3,Ubuntu 9.04,Sabayon 4,Windows 7 RC1 x64 My System	Re: Computer freezes constantly Hello, Does it only freeze with MSN messenger? Update the Video Driver from the dell website. __________________ "The dumbest people I know are those who know it all."

07-08-2009, 08:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
catwelk Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 2 OS: Windows XP	Re: Computer freezes constantly it is not only with msn, it happens at random other times, i downloaded every driver from the dell website.

07-09-2009, 04:17 AM	#4 (permalink)
count_fog Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 25 OS: XP pro SP3	Re: Computer freezes constantly When was the last time you reformatted this computer? Biggest cause of freezing. Reformatting cures many problems.