Freezing and Locking up

Number_XIII · 02-13-2009, 04:55 PM

Hi guys,
I don't know a ton about computers but i know enough to know that there is something definitly wrong with mine. Two days ago my computer just starts, crashing, freezing and locking up on the simplist of task. I don't know whats wrong and i don't know how to go into serious detail but if there are some reliable antivirus tools i can use or if someone can walk me through how to check if ur system is okay i would greatly appreciate it.

I have a Dell inspiron 1501 with windows XP

PLEASE HELP ME!!!!

**TriggerFinger** · 02-13-2009, 05:12 PM

How long before it starts crashing/freezing? Do you notice anything unique like it happens only if you are using a specific program or application?

If you suspect a virus infection, try the online scanners like Kaspersky and see if it finds something that might be causing this.

Number_XIII · 02-14-2009, 05:10 AM

It usually starts locking up as when i try to do something like open up my documents or internet explore. No real time limit where it just starts freezing. Its almost like the aplications are using way too much space and slowing everything down

farbar · 02-14-2009, 05:46 AM

What is the last system change you made? Meaning installing a new software, updating, downloading something, visiting p2p sites, clicking on a suspect link, etc.

You can also go to start > Run and type in the following and press Enter: eventvwr
See if there are error messages specially under Application and System. Check also Internet Explorer.

You can also open Task Manager (Ctrl+Alt+Del) and see under Processes which process is taking a high CPU usage. System idle should be high and that is not a problem as it just shows the free CPU.

The suggested Kaspersky online scan is good idea but you should have Java installed on your computer.

**TriggerFinger** · 02-14-2009, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Number_XIII

It usually starts locking up as when i try to do something like open up my documents or internet explore. No real time limit where it just starts freezing. Its almost like the aplications are using way too much space and slowing everything down

Kindly run HDD Diagnostics to test your harddrive. Get Hitachi Drive Fitness test or the diag utility of your HDD manufacturer (d/load link HDD Diags on my sig). I suggest you get the ISO file and make yourself a bootable CD. Steps to make bootable CD here:

How to Burn a Bootable ISO File

Post back any result.

Number_XIII · 02-15-2009, 04:17 PM

To Farbar: I opened up the event view and i have a ton of errors under applications and system, some of the errors under application point to a virus that i thought my F secure anti-virus took care off. P2P-worm was the name of the infection. As far as task maneger goes it seems that my F-secure 2006 it taking up most of the cpu usage.
I tried kaspersky and it did find a virus in my recycle bin but i deleted it and it hasn't found anything else.

Triggerfinger:...i don't know what any of that means so i don't want to try it and break something...do u think its possible to break that down a little for me?

**TriggerFinger** · 02-15-2009, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Number_XIII

Triggerfinger:...i don't know what any of that means so i don't want to try it and break something...do u think its possible to break that down a little for me? ... - the diagnostic test for the hard drive (HDD) will test your hard drive for hardware errors. Most of HDD manufacturers have a diagnostic tool to test the HDD. An example of this is Hitachi Drive Fitness Test (from Hitachi) and SeaTools (from Seagate). AFAIK you can use this also with any other brand. These tools can be burned into a blank CD that you can use to boot your laptop with.

Number_XIII · 02-15-2009, 05:33 PM

Is there a set of commands you have to use in order to enter into the HDD diagnostic test mode, how is it done? Do I have to click start > run > diagnostic test? Or do I restart the computer and press F8 or something...thats what I ment when I asked you to break it down, sorry i wasn't clear on that.
...
I got a better idea, do u have a website that will tell me how to enter the Diagnostic test mode?

**TriggerFinger** · 02-15-2009, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Number_XIII

Is there a set of commands you have to use in order to enter into the HDD diagnostic test mode, how is it done? Do I have to click start > run > diagnostic test? Or do I restart the computer and press F8 or something...thats what I ment when I asked you to break it down, sorry i wasn't clear on that. -- as I said in my post... the CD created is a bootable CD. You put that in your CD drive and boot your laptop from that drive. Since you have booted up from CD drive, you are outside of Windows therefore no need for F8 or set of commands or start > run..etc. Once you booted up, there will be a menu of some sort. You can choose from the menu options (i.e. TEST) on what you want to do.
...
I got a better idea, do u have a website that will tell me how to enter the Diagnostic test mode? -- visit the page http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/sup...loads/seatools there is a tutorial link there... may be that is the one you need.

farbar · 02-16-2009, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Number_XIII

To Farbar: I opened up the event view and i have a ton of errors under applications and system, some of the errors under application point to a virus that i thought my F secure anti-virus took care off. P2P-worm was the name of the infection. As far as task maneger goes it seems that my F-secure 2006 it taking up most of the cpu usage.
I tried kaspersky and it did find a virus in my recycle bin but i deleted it and it hasn't found anything else.

Well it is important to know if the dates of those errors are recent. Even a clean Kaspersky log doesn't necessarily means the system is clean.
IMO you should first get your system checked in the malware sub-forum.

Number_XIII · 02-17-2009, 02:44 PM

Hi guys, Welp I appreciate all of your help, especially about Kaspersky, but i got something called Calmwin and it found the problem....right now it seems like its back to normal, i'll give it a few days and check back in, but i really appreciate all of you guys help :)

farbar · 02-18-2009, 12:08 AM

Glad it is sorted out now.

02-13-2009, 04:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
Number_XIII Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 5 OS: XP	Freezing and Locking up Hi guys, I don't know a ton about computers but i know enough to know that there is something definitly wrong with mine. Two days ago my computer just starts, crashing, freezing and locking up on the simplist of task. I don't know whats wrong and i don't know how to go into serious detail but if there are some reliable antivirus tools i can use or if someone can walk me through how to check if ur system is okay i would greatly appreciate it. I have a Dell inspiron 1501 with windows XP PLEASE HELP ME!!!!

02-13-2009, 05:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,826 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: Freezing and Locking up How long before it starts crashing/freezing? Do you notice anything unique like it happens only if you are using a specific program or application? If you suspect a virus infection, try the online scanners like Kaspersky and see if it finds something that might be causing this. __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

02-14-2009, 05:10 AM	#3 (permalink)
Number_XIII Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 5 OS: XP	Re: Freezing and Locking up It usually starts locking up as when i try to do something like open up my documents or internet explore. No real time limit where it just starts freezing. Its almost like the aplications are using way too much space and slowing everything down

02-14-2009, 05:46 AM	#4 (permalink)
farbar Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 49 OS: windows XP SP3	Re: Freezing and Locking up What is the last system change you made? Meaning installing a new software, updating, downloading something, visiting p2p sites, clicking on a suspect link, etc. You can also go to start > Run and type in the following and press Enter: eventvwr See if there are error messages specially under Application and System. Check also Internet Explorer. You can also open Task Manager (Ctrl+Alt+Del) and see under Processes which process is taking a high CPU usage. System idle should be high and that is not a problem as it just shows the free CPU. The suggested Kaspersky online scan is good idea but you should have Java installed on your computer.

02-15-2009, 04:17 PM	#6 (permalink)
Number_XIII Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 5 OS: XP	Re: Freezing and Locking up To Farbar: I opened up the event view and i have a ton of errors under applications and system, some of the errors under application point to a virus that i thought my F secure anti-virus took care off. P2P-worm was the name of the infection. As far as task maneger goes it seems that my F-secure 2006 it taking up most of the cpu usage. I tried kaspersky and it did find a virus in my recycle bin but i deleted it and it hasn't found anything else. Triggerfinger:...i don't know what any of that means so i don't want to try it and break something...do u think its possible to break that down a little for me?

02-15-2009, 05:33 PM	#8 (permalink)
Number_XIII Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 5 OS: XP	Re: Freezing and Locking up Is there a set of commands you have to use in order to enter into the HDD diagnostic test mode, how is it done? Do I have to click start > run > diagnostic test? Or do I restart the computer and press F8 or something...thats what I ment when I asked you to break it down, sorry i wasn't clear on that. ... I got a better idea, do u have a website that will tell me how to enter the Diagnostic test mode?

02-17-2009, 02:44 PM	#11 (permalink)
Number_XIII Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 5 OS: XP	Re: Freezing and Locking up Hi guys, Welp I appreciate all of your help, especially about Kaspersky, but i got something called Calmwin and it found the problem....right now it seems like its back to normal, i'll give it a few days and check back in, but i really appreciate all of you guys help :)

02-18-2009, 12:08 AM	#12 (permalink)
farbar Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 49 OS: windows XP SP3	Re: Freezing and Locking up Glad it is sorted out now.