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Vista freezing problem
Nightslyr
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Okay, this is getting annoying.
I've had a Vista Business system for about 8 months now. This is the same system that I've bitched about in the employment thread months ago. Long story short: my XP system shat the bed, so I payed around $400 to have it rebuilt. Unfortunately, I had my coworkers build the thing before I knew the depths of their incompetence (I naively thought that they'd do better work building a new system instead of trying to troubleshoot and repair a used system). So, the thing has never worked right from day 1. I've had BSODs from the beginning. I bought an additional fan, as I thought the problem was it overheating, but that wasn't the case as the BSODs continued.
Now, instead of BSODs, I'm getting frequent freezes. I only have 30 minutes or so of useful time before it freezes completely. I don't think it's a virus, as I scan my system fairly regularity. I also don't think it's a power supply problem. I'm thinking it's either a hardware problem or that one of the BSODs fucked Vista up severely.
Is there anything I can do/check before going for a complete reinstall of the OS? Is there a way to check hardware issues without cracking the machine open?
I've had a Vista Business system for about 8 months now. This is the same system that I've bitched about in the employment thread months ago. Long story short: my XP system shat the bed, so I payed around $400 to have it rebuilt. Unfortunately, I had my coworkers build the thing before I knew the depths of their incompetence (I naively thought that they'd do better work building a new system instead of trying to troubleshoot and repair a used system). So, the thing has never worked right from day 1. I've had BSODs from the beginning. I bought an additional fan, as I thought the problem was it overheating, but that wasn't the case as the BSODs continued.
Now, instead of BSODs, I'm getting frequent freezes. I only have 30 minutes or so of useful time before it freezes completely. I don't think it's a virus, as I scan my system fairly regularity. I also don't think it's a power supply problem. I'm thinking it's either a hardware problem or that one of the BSODs fucked Vista up severely.
Is there anything I can do/check before going for a complete reinstall of the OS? Is there a way to check hardware issues without cracking the machine open?
Nightslyr on
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If you want troubleshooting help from those of us who are technically inclined, I really suggest you give some computer specifications, ram (amount+speed) video card, motherboard, processor, hard drives, all additional cards that are plugged into the system, and software (any AV software?)
One of my coworkers did mention something about my RAM possibly being the wrong kind of RAM, whatever that means. I'm also weary about it being a rogue process eating my CPU. That's what killed my XP system -- there was a rogue Windows process which kept using all my CPU (I think it was a svchost process) that I couldn't fix. First thing tomorrow I'm going to watch the task manager to see if something similar is happening.
NEED DATA, give me data, you cant get past the POST if you dont have the "correct" ram.
I'll be able to give an in-depth list tomorrow morning - I'm more or less stuck in bed at the moment, writing these posts on my PS3. Here's what I can list off the top of my head:
CPU - Athlon 64 dual core 5000+
Graphics Card - EVGA GeForce 8600GT
RAM - 2GB, dunno the speed at the moment
Motherboard - a Biostar (I'll get the details tomorrow morning)
Antivirus - Avast!, which is up-to-date
on another note, start looking for a bios update first and foremost, have all mobo settings at default, have you tried a fresh install of vista at any time since you received this system?
Memtest tests for faulty/dying RAM.
It does sound like a memory problem. Vista does have a handy built in memory checking utility that you can load on bootup. An even quicker way to check would be remove one stick of RAM and see if you still get the problems and if so swap. However if your friend built the system as poorly as it sounds you may only have one stick in there to begin with.
It also sounds like the video card is either over heating or seated incorrectly. The memory could also be seated incorrectly.
Give the above a try and then report back and we can go from there.
"Read twice, post once. It's almost like 'measure twice, cut once' only with reading." - MetaverseNomad
I have run the RAM test (twice). Vista itself suggested it to me after a couple of my BSOD crashes. It didn't detect any errors.
I ran Avast! overnight in safe mode. No freezes, and it didn't detect any viruses.
I'm looking at the running processes in task manager right now, and everything looks fine. CPU usage fluctuates between 2% - 6% and physical memory is between 34% and 35%.
For the curious, the last program I installed was EVEmon, and I doubt that would cause such issues.
I've looked in the device manager, but I can't find anything that will give me details on the motherboard or RAM. Is there another place to find this info? And, of course, they never gave me any of the documentation or anything. They never to to our customers, either.
Is there a program I could download that would give me CPU and/or video card heat info? Or info on the RAM and motherboard? Should I still look for a bios update? I'm assuming mobo = motherboard.
So...I should probably switch to AVG, huh?
trend micro pccillian 2007 - running for 6 months no problems (vista ultimate) go for that, or get rid of vista
Why would he get rid of Vista if the AV is the problem?
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I meant it would be better to downgrade to XP again as opposed to go without AV software - not having AV is NOT a good idea at any time no matter what.
You are absolutely incorrect and the sort of person in whom the core problem lies.
"I had AV for years and nothing ever happened, so I dont need AV" thats the kind of stupidity that leads to billions of dollars being lost every year through cyber-attacks. if you are running without AV (this includes antivirus, antispyware, firewall, the entire set of protection) you are just waiting to get abused, and you will get abused eventually.
As much as I can see your point jlrx I agree with RandomEngy. I do still have an AV installed on my Vista box, although not running constantly, I can see not needed an AV program. As long as you have a firewall up you are good from random attacks. Most viruses come from people opening attachments or downloading random files online.
If you know what you're doing you don't need to run an AV. For the average person I would say that an AV program is recommended.
"Read twice, post once. It's almost like 'measure twice, cut once' only with reading." - MetaverseNomad
While I, personally, do not run AV software, I am well aware of everything that happens on my system and network, and am extremely well versed in computer security (take that to mean what you will).
However, I do strongly agree that the vast majority of people should run AV software.
Downgrading to XP to run the software is not necessary, when there are free or cheap solutions available.
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I dont recommend downgrading either, I only mean it might be better to run xp as opposed to vista without AV, and I dont advocate using AV software that bogs down your system.
Frankly, anyone who is telling you if you know what your doing, you dont need it is just asking for trouble, its like sticking your head in the sand. Maybe nothing will ever happen to you - but you are responsible, and legally liable when you actively choose to do something that could make your computer a puppet in an attack. If it is hijacked for some DOS or used for something else, which you would never know, you will take the blame , if only because you should have had something to protect yourself.
The amount of protection should be proportional to the amount of risk you're exposed to, especially when that protection has costs associated with it.
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guess what, your on the internet, the neighborhood is bad, oops.
You don't magically get viruses by connecting to the internet. The comparison in concern to your actual risk and what kinds of measures to take against it is completely valid.
No, you dont magically get them, but you can get them without knowing, you can get them from seeing an image file in certain instances or simply visiting a website, and staying update on all your patches isn't going to guarentee you much because many times a fix breaks something unintended.
Fact is you believe you are "careful" enough to not need AV, and no matter what the case may be your mind is set. Here's hoping you dont regret it, and here's hoping some doldrum doesnt take what you say as a good idea.
Actually, staying up to date on patches can and will save you. It is extremely rare for a regular patch to break something unless it took advantage of the flaw being patched. Basically all viruses/worms that utilize a remotely exploitable (no user intervention required) bug get their hole from reverse engineered patches. Trojans are what you actually need protection from, especially if you are the "I don't believe in paying for games/software/operating systems/porn" type.
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