My computer totally freezes!! what do i do?

[hotpepper98]

hi i have a dell dimension 4100 with windows ME....After i turn it on and leave it on for a little more than 2 hours it just freezes...yes i have checked my system resources and they are above 80% (i hear closing all useless programs running in the backround gets the system resources higher) and isnt that supposed to keep my computer from just freezing out of the blue? well it hasnt so i was just wondering if there was a setting for fixing this problem?? thanks

 

[woggie]

Hey HotPepper98 -

What does Dell say? From what you've written here, I can't tell what the circumstances are.

If this happens every time you boot and your activities vary during each session, I would suggest that there is either a problem with your OS setup or there is some hardware problem.

If your activities don't vary much (if you run the same programs during every session) then there may be something about what YOU're doing that is at fault - i.e., something about the way the programs you are running are configured to use memory, or some such.

If your activities vary, I'd suggest you call Dell or go to their site for tech support.

Otherwise, check the documentation of your regularly run programs with an eye to any memory management concerns.

For instance, Adobe PhotoShop does some wierd things like setting up it's own swap space on your disk. A few other popular programs are similarly poorly behaved under Windows.

Cheers, woggie

 

[spkuc]

I have an AMD 850Mhz with 256Mb RAM running Windows Me and it sent me nuts freezing every 5 minutes despite using hardly any heavy weight memory gobbling programs. After much reading and research I adopted two of the many suggestions. 1)I have disabled System Restore and 2)I have specified my own virtual memory settings to minimum of 500 to maximum of 4994 on a 4994Mb partition. Not sure if just one or both was/were the cure but I have no problems now?!

I must admit if I had a copy of Windows 98 and could change to that effortlessly I would. My advice to anyone is DO NOT 'DOWNGRADE' TO WINDOWS ME!

 

[Guest_imported]

Have you upgraded any peripherals on the box? A friend of mine ran in to a very similar problem. The computer froze after just a few minutes of operation. The cause was the computer had an upgraded video card and processor. The processor heat-sink was not big enough to dissapate the heat. It,combined with the video card upgrade caused a quick heat build-up. It froze the computer and after a few minutes of being shut down, the system worked fine and then right back to freezing. If your fan is working properly, monitor your system temp. If it is a question as to whether or not it is enough cooling think about upgrading your case fan. Only a suggestion but it may be something to watch for. Good Luck