Why is my computer freezing?

Thabasketballa2 · 07-09-2009, 10:19 AM

I'm not a very tech-savy guy so try not to make answers
too hard to understand, although sometimes that's not
possible. Thanks to everyone that responds!
Dell Inspiron E1505
Problem:
I sent my laptop in a while back after a virus attacked
my comptuer to the point where it couldn't get to the
desktop. They cleared almost everything off and when I
got it back it was faster than new. Then when I opened
Internet Explorer my computer beeped (like the sound
that it's almost out of battery life) and froZe. This keeps
happening randomly from before the desktop loads up
until a couple hours later. Usually it's around the 10min.
mark or so. I play Warcraft but even if it's not running my
laptop will nevertheless freeze. Does anyone have any
ideas to why this is happeneing?
Thanks and feel free to ask questions I'll be checking this.
Edit: when it freezes it's just the graphics the music still
plays in the background. It stops after 15 seconds or so.

**CriticalPoint** · 07-09-2009, 10:27 AM

Hi Thabasketballa2,

Welcome to TSF!

From what your saying, it sounds like hardware failure to me - Tell me, is the Laptop getting abnormally warm/hot quickly before it freezes?

Thabasketballa2 · 07-09-2009, 10:36 AM

Thank you!
I don't think it's overheating, I looked around the Internet about this problem and that was almost everyones problem. But usually when I turn it on in the morning (8+ hours of being off) it doesn't even make it to the desktop before it freezes. It gets hot but it's not directly related to the freezing.

**CriticalPoint** · 07-09-2009, 10:48 AM

Cool - Can you boot into Safe Mode at all?

------------------------------------

Restart your machine, press F8 at the indicated time:

For an x86-based computer: When a screen of text appears and then disappears (the screen of text may include a memory test, lines about the BIOS, and other lines), press F8. There may be a prompt that tells you when to press F8.

For an Itanium architecture-based computer: After making your selection from the boot menu, press F8. There may be a prompt that tells you when to press F8.

For information about configuring system settings that affect whether a prompt for F8 appears and how long it appears, see "To specify the default operating system for startup" in Related Topics at the bottom of this page.

Use the arrow keys to highlight the appropriate Safe Mode option, and then press ENTER.
NUM LOCK must be off before the arrow keys on the numeric keypad will function.

Use the arrow keys to highlight an operating system, and then press ENTER.

[ TechNet Link]

Thabasketballa2 · 07-09-2009, 10:59 AM

What do I do once in safe mode

Thabasketballa2 · 07-09-2009, 03:27 PM

Also my computer is at a constant 100% usage

**CriticalPoint** · 07-10-2009, 05:26 AM

Right - That's it then - Basically, I wanted to know if it was freezing in Safe Mode.. What we can do now is check to see whats using all your CPU..

Open Task manager --> Processes tab --> Click on CPU to arrange your list with highest first --> Let us know what process is using the most and how much!

Thabasketballa2 · 07-10-2009, 10:04 PM

The top one is called fuck3.exe which takes about 59CPU
Next is tmpfw.exe with around 34

Thabasketballa2 · 07-11-2009, 10:14 PM

Guessing the first ones not good?

**TriggerFinger** · 07-11-2009, 10:30 PM

Try online antivirus like ESET NOD32:
http://www.eset.com/onlinescan/scanner.php?i_agree=14

Or you can download Malwarebytes, install, update and scan your computer.

Thabasketballa2 · 07-12-2009, 02:10 AM

I have trend micro already... What's wrong with that? Also I can't open up Internet explorer or it'll freeze (I'm not on that computer)

**TriggerFinger** · 07-12-2009, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thabasketballa2

I have trend micro already... What's wrong with that? Also I can't open up Internet explorer or it'll freeze (I'm not on that computer)

Running another AV is like asking for a second opinion. By the names of the processes you posted, I am thinking they are malware/virus related although I may be wrong (because if they are infections, trend micro or a good AV should have seen them...).

Thabasketballa2 · 07-12-2009, 12:03 PM

How would u recommend downloading them?

**TriggerFinger** · 07-12-2009, 08:48 PM

Yes, download the installer of Malwarebytes (free edition) in another computer and may be copy it via a flash drive to transfer to your laptop. If laptop keeps on freezing while trying to install Malwarebytes, then may be you can try the ones here:

http://www.raymond.cc/blog/archives/...t-rescue-disk/

I will ask help from Security team so they can suggest how to approach should this be a malware/virus infection.

EDIT:
I talked to manager of Security Center and was advised to tell you that you need to open a separate thread in Virus/Trojan/Spyware Help section. Please take time to read this before you post there.

Kindly advise once you opened another thread in Virus/Trojan/Spyware section so I can link that one with this one here in Laptop section.

Thanks.

Thabasketballa2 · 07-30-2009, 10:11 PM

Thanks I'll do that

07-09-2009, 10:19 AM	#1 (permalink)
Thabasketballa2 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 9 OS: Windows XP	Why is my computer freezing? I'm not a very tech-savy guy so try not to make answers too hard to understand, although sometimes that's not possible. Thanks to everyone that responds! Dell Inspiron E1505 Problem: I sent my laptop in a while back after a virus attacked my comptuer to the point where it couldn't get to the desktop. They cleared almost everything off and when I got it back it was faster than new. Then when I opened Internet Explorer my computer beeped (like the sound that it's almost out of battery life) and froZe. This keeps happening randomly from before the desktop loads up until a couple hours later. Usually it's around the 10min. mark or so. I play Warcraft but even if it's not running my laptop will nevertheless freeze. Does anyone have any ideas to why this is happeneing? Thanks and feel free to ask questions I'll be checking this. Edit: when it freezes it's just the graphics the music still plays in the background. It stops after 15 seconds or so. Last edited by Thabasketballa2; 07-09-2009 at 10:28 AM. Reason: Title

07-09-2009, 10:27 AM	#2 (permalink)
CriticalPoint Professional Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: High Wycombe, UK Posts: 240 OS: 2003 Server, 2008 Server, Xp Pro (SP3), Vista x86, Windows 7 Ultimate My System	Re: Why is my computer freezing? Hi Thabasketballa2, Welcome to TSF! From what your saying, it sounds like hardware failure to me - Tell me, is the Laptop getting abnormally warm/hot quickly before it freezes? __________________ Please post back your results! Please 'Resolve' your threads! There are 10 types of people in this world.. Those who understand binary, and those who don't..

07-09-2009, 10:36 AM	#3 (permalink)
Thabasketballa2 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 9 OS: Windows XP	Re: Why is my computer freezing? Thank you! I don't think it's overheating, I looked around the Internet about this problem and that was almost everyones problem. But usually when I turn it on in the morning (8+ hours of being off) it doesn't even make it to the desktop before it freezes. It gets hot but it's not directly related to the freezing.

07-09-2009, 10:48 AM	#4 (permalink)
CriticalPoint Professional Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: High Wycombe, UK Posts: 240 OS: 2003 Server, 2008 Server, Xp Pro (SP3), Vista x86, Windows 7 Ultimate My System	Re: Why is my computer freezing? Cool - Can you boot into Safe Mode at all? ------------------------------------ Restart your machine, press F8 at the indicated time: For an x86-based computer: When a screen of text appears and then disappears (the screen of text may include a memory test, lines about the BIOS, and other lines), press F8. There may be a prompt that tells you when to press F8. For an Itanium architecture-based computer: After making your selection from the boot menu, press F8. There may be a prompt that tells you when to press F8. For information about configuring system settings that affect whether a prompt for F8 appears and how long it appears, see "To specify the default operating system for startup" in Related Topics at the bottom of this page. Use the arrow keys to highlight the appropriate Safe Mode option, and then press ENTER. NUM LOCK must be off before the arrow keys on the numeric keypad will function. Use the arrow keys to highlight an operating system, and then press ENTER. [ TechNet Link] __________________ Please post back your results! Please 'Resolve' your threads! There are 10 types of people in this world.. Those who understand binary, and those who don't..

07-09-2009, 10:59 AM	#5 (permalink)
Thabasketballa2 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 9 OS: Windows XP	Re: Why is my computer freezing? What do I do once in safe mode

07-09-2009, 03:27 PM	#6 (permalink)
Thabasketballa2 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 9 OS: Windows XP	Re: Why is my computer freezing? Also my computer is at a constant 100% usage

07-10-2009, 05:26 AM	#7 (permalink)
CriticalPoint Professional Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: High Wycombe, UK Posts: 240 OS: 2003 Server, 2008 Server, Xp Pro (SP3), Vista x86, Windows 7 Ultimate My System	Re: Why is my computer freezing? Right - That's it then - Basically, I wanted to know if it was freezing in Safe Mode.. What we can do now is check to see whats using all your CPU.. Open Task manager --> Processes tab --> Click on CPU to arrange your list with highest first --> Let us know what process is using the most and how much! __________________ Please post back your results! Please 'Resolve' your threads! There are 10 types of people in this world.. Those who understand binary, and those who don't..

07-10-2009, 10:04 PM	#8 (permalink)
Thabasketballa2 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 9 OS: Windows XP	Re: Why is my computer freezing? The top one is called fuck3.exe which takes about 59CPU Next is tmpfw.exe with around 34

07-11-2009, 10:14 PM	#9 (permalink)
Thabasketballa2 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 9 OS: Windows XP	Re: Why is my computer freezing? Guessing the first ones not good?

07-11-2009, 10:30 PM	#10 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,826 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: Why is my computer freezing? Try online antivirus like ESET NOD32: http://www.eset.com/onlinescan/scanner.php?i_agree=14 Or you can download Malwarebytes, install, update and scan your computer. __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

07-12-2009, 02:10 AM	#11 (permalink)
Thabasketballa2 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 9 OS: Windows XP	Re: Why is my computer freezing? I have trend micro already... What's wrong with that? Also I can't open up Internet explorer or it'll freeze (I'm not on that computer)

07-12-2009, 12:03 PM	#13 (permalink)
Thabasketballa2 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 9 OS: Windows XP	Re: Why is my computer freezing? How would u recommend downloading them?

07-12-2009, 08:48 PM	#14 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,826 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: Why is my computer freezing? Yes, download the installer of Malwarebytes (free edition) in another computer and may be copy it via a flash drive to transfer to your laptop. If laptop keeps on freezing while trying to install Malwarebytes, then may be you can try the ones here: http://www.raymond.cc/blog/archives/...t-rescue-disk/ I will ask help from Security team so they can suggest how to approach should this be a malware/virus infection. EDIT: I talked to manager of Security Center and was advised to tell you that you need to open a separate thread in Virus/Trojan/Spyware Help section. Please take time to read this before you post there. Kindly advise once you opened another thread in Virus/Trojan/Spyware section so I can link that one with this one here in Laptop section. Thanks. __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE Last edited by TriggerFinger; 07-12-2009 at 09:31 PM.

07-30-2009, 10:11 PM	#15 (permalink)
Thabasketballa2 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 9 OS: Windows XP	Re: Why is my computer freezing? Thanks I'll do that