Desktop hangs

[jfp23]

I get this situation where The applications I have running won't freeze but if I got to launch anything else the system will hang, though I can continue working with the applications that I have running without a problem. I can get into task manager at this point and nothing is listed as not responding, the CPU and memory usage are low. My only option when this happens is to power down and restart. It happens at no apparent interval or pattern that I can find. This only started happening within the last month and I've been using Vista for almost a year an no reason hardware or software adds save monthly windows updates.

Before I go and downgrade back to XP does anyone have any ideas as to the possible cause?

 

[firewolfrl]

check your ram. ram going bad will do that

if your hard drive is going bad and the system loads but loses the drive after the app is running it will do as you described. this is an error that chkdsk /r command may not find and also this will not write an error message in the event viewer because the drive is locked. so when the app is running you are basically running on your ram. I used to have an old drive that did what you described and it had a bad power connector

also scan for virus/adware

 

[jfp23]

Its a laptop that is barely a year old, with 2gb of RAM. If the hardware was going bad I would know it. This is has software bug written all over it, I just can't figure out where.

 

[linney]

Some general things to try.

See if System Restore will get you back to a restore point before your problem with Explorer.

Try Safe Mode (Do you have this problem in Safe Mode?), or another user in Normal Mode?

Try running ChkDsk to check your drive for errors. Right-click your Drive icon/ Properties/ Tools/ Error Checking. Select both boxes.

Run the System File Checker program from the Elevated Command Prompt by typing.....Sfc /Scannow in it.

HOW TO: Verify Unsigned Device Drivers in Windows XP (works in Vista)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q308/5/14.asp

Any clues in the Event Viewer?

310560 - How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310560&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

 

[jfp23]

I disabled system restore since it uses too many resources. I turned off as many non essential services as soon as I installed Vista due to the extra amount of bloat included with it.

Event viewer shows nothing that was the first place I looked.

All hardware comes up fine in scans.

 

[linney]

Which Applications are running when you have these problems, do they vary or is it the same ones every time?

You could uninstall the last group of Windows Updates, the ones which came just before your problems and see if any of them were the cause.

These all seem to be hardware related but I'll let you decide whether there's anything in them.

xp freeze troubleshooting
thread779-935320

Windows random hang
thread779-1423743

PC Freezing - Hard to explain (see details)
thread779-1398265

Windows random hang
thread779-1423743

If your thinking of returning to XP, you could try a clean install of Vista first, you could even try repairing Vista by upgrading your current Vista version with itself.

To reinstall Windows Vista

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/help/e77344fa-e978-464c-953e-eba44f0522671033.mspx

 

[firewolfrl]

I think I am gonna stick with bad harddrive as I personally have seen the same symptoms...and just to note a harddrive can go bad right out of the package...seen that done that before.

 

[N0ktar]

I doubt this is a hard drive issue even though if you change the drives and reinstall the problem will go away.
When hard drive causes a freeze up it freezes up everything.
I think your issue is with Explorer service, next time this happens go to your task manager, select exlorer service and end process. Click File, new task, type in explorer and hit enter. Now, check if your system responds properly.

 

[jfp23]

Ending the explorer task doesn't work because the system won't start the new explorer task. If it weren't for the fact I don't have the time to be down long enough to do it I would go back to XP.

 

[firewolfrl]

as I said check your harddrive. and or even the power supply
as N0ktar said is not entirely true...if the drive loses power and you happen to be in windows running an app...windows may still work if you have sufficient ram to run without using the swap files I have proved with an old computer that even unplugging the drive the windows will still work...and do every symptom you described. I did this on a AMD 2400 MB with 2 gig of ram. you get the lockup when paging operations fail...and you are running a laptop and those harddrives are prone to failure.


are you using a laptop cooler?

that is the single item that can prevent component failure on a laptop.

I have seen harddrives and other components fail right out of the box.
I have replaced about 4 drives in the same computer because I have a client that will not listen to me about walking around with the the computer on with it either open or in its carry case....she is job security for me

as for this....backup and save your data and all your profile settings then get a hold of the manufacturer and RMA the computer so they can diagnostic it

other than that I am not going to debate on what I think it is as I do run my own computer repair business and have seen your issue before.

so it is your choice I would not wait for long to send it out as you say the year is almost up