Web Development

Ask something
Question Locked

Computer freezes every few seconds

0 helpful
12 replies

by bjebis

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

Background: After an install of windows XP onto my computer it started to skip at random intervals for just a few seconds (mouse doesn't move, music skips etc), before working again for another few seconds, and then freezing again.

I have had the computer for about 8 months now and i have had no problem with XP until this most recent install (about 3 and a half weeks ago).

I have checked all of the related questions on this website but none of the solutions there suit my circumstances.

What i have tried:

-Numerous RAM test's
-Cleaning out computer of all dust
-monitoring heat raises
-Updating Bios (tried 3 differnt versions)
-checked for conflicting programs by using msconfig to view starup programs
-Updated video drivers

After all of these did not show any reason for the freezes i formatted and reinstalled XP hoping that it would fix the issue, which it did not.

Things of note:
The computer will not freeze when i am not on it, or using it directly (the computer is on at all times).

The freezes do not happen in either windows vista or windows 7.

The freezes appear to occur more often when i am using autocad and 12d (drafting software).

I have to use the computer for more than an hour before the freezes become a problem.

System Spec's

Motherboard: Gigabyte ep45-ds3p
CPU:Intel Core2 Quad CPU Q9550 @ 2.83GHz running at stock speed
Graphics:ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2
Ram: 4gb ddr2 800
HHD: i have windows xp on a 45gb partition, with 30gb free space
Power: 800W running 4 HDD 4 Fans 2 DVD-RW

The only change to the current setup is an upgrade of a 19" CRT screen to a 24" LCD

It could still be a heat issue, but i am just coming outof winter and i had no issues last summer.

Thanks for your help.

12 replies

by oh smeg

So you have to look at your Software load here.

As it's not happening when you are not using it it has to be related to something you are using so what software do you have open or running when you are using the system that isn't open when you are not using it?

Col

by bjebis

I often have both, Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro and outlook open when i am using autocad and 12d.

But the freezing can also occur when i am just watching a dvd with media player classic, or power dvd.

by rob miners

turn of System Restore and run them again in Safe Mode

Download Spybot - Search & Destroy and install it. Update it. http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html

Download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, install it and update it.

Malwarebytes

* Double-click mbam-setup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
* At the end, be sure a checkmark is placed next to Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, then click Finish.
* If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.
* Once the program has loaded, select Perform Quick Scan, then click Scan.
* When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.
* Be sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected.

If you encounter any problems while downloading the updates, manually download them from here and just double-click on mbam-rules.exe to install.
mbam-rules

I would keep scanning with it until it is clean by closing out and rebooting and running it again.

Run this Rootkit Revealer GMer
Gmer

FAQ
FAQ

by bjebis

GMER: It found no issues
Spybot: found 1 issue which was fixed, and nothing in safe mode
mbam:found 4 issues, and 1 more in safe mode

But what was interesting that when running the scans in safe mode, it started to skip. So i left the scans to complete while the skips were occuring, and i returned to find the skips had stopped. I was only away from the computer for 10-15 minutes. Up until this point restarting was the only way to stop the skips.

by rob miners

MBAM and post the log file for us to have a look at. What do you mean by skips?

by bjebis

I refer to the freezes as skips due to the fact that, even though the computer freezes, videos dont pause for the duration of the freeze, so its kind of like a skip. But for clarity i will refer to them as freezes from here on.

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.41
Database version: 2964
Windows 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3

16/10/2009 11:37:58 AM
mbam-log-2009-10-16 (11-37-58).txt

Scan type: Full Scan (C:\|)
Objects scanned: 114907
Time elapsed: 8 minute(s), 56 second(s)

Memory Processes Infected: 0
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 0
Registry Values Infected: 0
Registry Data Items Infected: 0
Folders Infected: 0
Files Infected: 4

Memory Processes Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Memory Modules Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Values Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data Items Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Folders Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Files Infected:
C:\Program Files\WinRAR\SysTools\Trial-Reset.exe (Trojan.Agent) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\WinRAR\SysTools\Plugins\Alcohol 1.x.dll (Malware.Packer) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\WinRAR\SysTools\Plugins\Empty Key.dll (Malware.Packer) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\WinRAR\SysTools\Plugins\SlySoft.dll (Malware.Packer) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

by bjebis

All i can do now is wait and see if it happens again.

by older mycroft

You are running something like Slysoft Game Jackal (or something similar and equally noxious to your system health).

Are you using ISO files to prevent the need to 'insert the CD/DVD' to play the game?

You ought to be aware that Slysoft Game Jackal and the sites where you can get it from, are heavily infected and should be avoided at all costs.

There are far safer ways to accomplish what you are trying to do and it doesn't involve running a virtual optical drive in order to mount an ISO of the disc.

If you want further info simply Google for [b][u]No CD[/b][/u] and follow your nose. If you choose to act on this information (which I am NOT promoting in ANY way) - be assured that the level of complexity is zero and any chance of viral infection is even less. :)

by bjebis

I am using daemon tools to load an iso with my mother board drivers on it. I made an image of the cd incase i lost the original disk, which i did.

This discussion is closed to new replies.