UBB.threads Forums General Interest Computer Help & Idea Exchange Forum Computer "Freeze up"

I continue to be aggravated by this. Computer freezes-mouse pointer won't move. You must cut the power to the computer to restart. Anything to be done to end this?

Get rid of Microsoft Windows and get Linux. It is so much more stable. The other thing you may try is clean out your memory cache, defrag your hard drive and clean out all files you don't use anymore.

Happens to me many times on my Windows computer. It NEVER happend on the MAC. Maybe the new Microsoft Vista might minimize those problems.

Houston:
Hit the Cntl-Alt-Del buttons at the same time. When the proper window comes up terminate the task that's hanging up your computer. I stay with Windows because it's still the most versatile format available.
Jim

Tried that Jim-Nothing. My computer is always tuned up also-defraged and optimized but it still does it. Running Windows XP

Sorry this isn't working Houston. I run a bunch of preventative software including AVG and Adaware. I also defrag my disc space periodically. I think this is an ongoing problem since Microsoft software is the most popular and unfortunately the most attacked.
This might be a good subject for an offline discussion at the SOS in a few weeks. See you there.
Jim

I have one computer (Compaq Presario) running Windows XP and another that is an Apple IMAX. not one single problem ever on the Apple, but Windows...that's a whole different story.

Any other computer I ever buy will be an Apple. I've had it with all the virus updates, re-boots, defrags, clean ups, etc. Apple has none of those needs...simply NONE!

Get some!

Mark

hi,im not a computer bod at all but i had same probs after free download upgrading of windows xp ,
i got some online advice after weeks of struggling with even my company IT bloke having no idea,cleaned this,deleted that,scanned,defraged,anti-spyware,anti-adware.some guy on a forum said to download smiley central ,then uninstall it using add/remove programs. somehow the problem attatches itself to that and it dissappears...........whey hey...it worked.
BUT AS I SAID ...I`M NO EXPERT so if it dont work,dont blame me please.
mustang

I have experienced two types of freeze-ups on Windows. One is the kind Houston has mentioned where the pointer won't move. The other kind is where the pointer moves but when I click there is no response. The CTR-Alt-Del escape works whenever it wants to, most of the time it doesn't. I made a special tool for activatiing the emergency shut-down which has become a standard accessory. Now I'm using Windows only for emailing. For everything else I use the MAC.

Hey Manfred:
Can you tell us why you haven't switched your email over to the MAC as well?
Jim

Because I'm getting gobs of spam and the old Windows computer is still working. The arrangement works just fine.

It could be for a number of reasons: virus, recently installed software, anti-virus software clashing with an application.

If you're running anti-virus software, deactivate it when you're working on your PC but not on the internet.

Also see if the same application is running or you are doing the same thing every time it freezes up. Try to come up with a common denominator.

I probably average 1 to 2 "non responsive it's time to hit cntl-alt-del" situations a week. The only communality I've ever noted is this tends to happen when the traffic is very heavy on my Internet providers network. I can't explain this other than it may in fact be a timing problem with the TCPIP protocol but that's what I've noted.
Jim

Just heard on the news that the new Vista program is supposed to solve all the problems. According to the interview with some computer geek the program's main emphasis is on security. I don't know if this means that the anti-virus and anti-pyware programs would become obsolete, but it appeared that the geek was somewhat noncommital about that. That would probably be too much to ask. After all, this would put a multi billion dollar industry out of business.

Jim m: Back to why I do the email on one computer. One more important reason is that I'm uncertain if the email (and all that spam) would load down on both computers. Its bad enough having to sift through all this garbage on one computer. I certainly wouldn't want to go through all this crap twice. Once is bad enough.

I've had the same "freeze-up", "pointer won't move" problem all of a sudden several times over the past few months and had to do the same as Houston and cut the power (take out battery also) to straighten it out. One time I was on WAF and the last time I was on GDC when it happened. Can't think of a common link or task I was doing at the times it happened and I know zilch about computers anyway. I have WindowsXP also. JohnJ

Hi Everyone,I downloaded this free programme ,and my computor running on Win XP SP2 has not froze since.By the way it did not freeze before the SP2 update,nats

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/System-Tweak/Advanced-WindowsCare.shtml

http://members.lycos.nl/stantheman/

Manfred:
I "retired" my jim@netpnnt.com email account for the same reason. The spam filters at that ISP were terrible. I was getting 100-200 spams a day. When I switched over to Cox Communications and instituted my new email account the spam problems virtually went away.
I have Cox DSL services and I still have a hunch these lockups are related to the network traffic load as I usually will have a problem during the day but not late at nite when traffic is the lightest.
Jim

Wonder of Windows

Hi Jim,most of the time when the cursor freezes ,its down to video card drivers,also the mouse still works,you just cannot see it as the cursor is frozen.If you still move the mouse to the left and down on the pad,you will come to the start button,and you can turn off the computor,nats

http://members.lycos.nl/stantheman/

You should consider buying a new computer.

;o)

Houston,

Do you see similar symptoms more when you are using your printer? I had an HP that did this and it turned out to be the printer software, when I uninstalled the software the symtoms ended. I then down loaded current software/drivers and installed them, worked perfectly. You might want to call the local computer geek to come check it out.

Best..

Mike W.

Also had the same type of problem.I also use XP,I think also it's a traffic problem.Have had it on GDC every so often and other sites.I noticed it happens when I click back fast or if something is not coming up fast enough and I click back.I say to myself the darn computer is more confused than me.I just shut it down.

anybody tried what worked for me yet ??............i know it sounds really really daft,i know it don`t make sense at all,but it REALLY WORKED for me.its stupid ,but after weeks of trying and paying folks and websites,and me thinking another computer was going to have to be purchased .........it worked !!!!! and its free to do

Hi Nats, What is the SP2 update you referred to above on WindowsXP? Just want to see if I have this update. Also on the cursor still working (moving) when the mouse is moved even though it is froze on the screen wouldn't my computer turn off (power off) which it doesn't, when I used the "on/off" hot switch on my computer? JohnJ

Now that I've been thinking about it I remember this "freeze up thing" use to occur ocasionally when I had WebTV also. However I've had this computer and WindowsXP for more than a year now and this is something new on it that just started happening over the past two months or so. JohnJ

Hi JohnJ, SP2 was the service pack update for Win XP, nats
http://members.lycos.nl/stantheman/

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/default.mspx

In trying for a couple of days to fix this XXXXXXXFFFFING problem I learned something that has helped a lot.If you are computer self taught like I am you know what a blue eyed time eating beech trying to fix these things can be. So--like most who use Windows I signed up a long time ago at the Microsoft web site for automatic updates. No worries-right? They do it all for you. Wrong! So- I did get updates-BUT-come to find out that when you do this you ONLY get the Security and Emergency updates and maybe a service pack once in a while. Of course they don't tell you there are others that are important to the operating "system". If you click on "Custom" instead of "Express" updates at the website you may discover that there are a whole *****zenload of IMPORTANT Windows operating updates that you did not get. When I did that I found 12 that I did not have. I was not sure what they all were but since I was having so much trouble I took them all. Guess what? No more trouble ---so far. So-you have to check for updates manually under the "Custom" updates at the Windows site on a regular basis to keep up-cause they ain't tellin' you nothin' in accordance with their "user friendly" policy. . Hopes this helps someone.

So now I am getting red X's under my name here. It must be THEIR computer this time-I have no idea what caused that.

Guys
I have had this proble for about two months.
Who knows why.
Vern said he see's my badges, but i can't?

I can see all of the badges of both of you.You don't have to see them the other guys have to.

Houston one other thing I remember, are you using a wireless mouse?I was having the same problem and changed the battery in my mouse.It was lit but not responding.

Your badges are OK Houston - I see them all.

Dave

Hi Dave,If I logon to the forum using IE7 Ron Weinand,Bob Rodgers,and Houstons pictures are all XXXX's.
If I logon using Firefox ,all the pictures are there .no more XXXX's. Stan

Houston,

I am not smart enough to help you on this, but I can tell you that on my computer, I see everyones badges and all the pictures. I have Windows XP.

Dave

Dave,

Thanks for getting back so fast...I know you're busy...Funny thing....The posting disappeared and somebody just sent me an email and bought the damn thing....
Best and thanks.......Lou

Hi Dave,heres what I mean.
Logon, Win XP sp2, Internet explorer 7. nats

WinXP SP2, Firefox Ver, 1.5.0.9. nats

What is Firefox?

nats
You are right!

I downloaded the program , now i can everyones badges ! So this must some glitch with IE7 new updated browser

Houston,

http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/

Firefox is a new Internet brouser you can download for free. I'm using it right now, works perfectly. It offers lots of security protection.

Simple ..

Best..

Mike W.

HOUSTON

I would look at getting some more RAM installed...that would probably help...XP is resource thirsty and if you have 2 gig or less you will encounter these problems....

CompTIA A+ certified

Ed Martin: I'm using a wireless mouse on my MAC. When the batteries in the mouse run low the curser starts to drift and flicker. Thats when its time to change batteries. Never experienced any freeze-up problems related to the mouse.