workstation locks at 2:30 everyday

This problem may be due to some scheduled programs that have been scheduled on your network server so as to run at the time that you have mentioned. This problem can also because of the reason that your hardware has some problems and at the time specified your system becomes very hot and this may trigger the problem. this problem can be rectified by checking your hardware completely by performing a chip level servicing or check your network server for scheduled tasks at this time. Reconfigure the tasks so that the load on the server is reduced or try reinstalling your programs again.

Here are some initial thoughts. Assuming that she starts working at 8 AM, then the computer locks up after 6-7 hours of using the windows resources.

So it's either the hours of use that makes it lock up.

or

Some "scheduled" task makes it lock up.

or

Perhaps a virus is infecting the system that runs itself at 2:30 causing the lock up.

or

Something else causes it to lock up.

Just for grins, change the system clock to run 2 hours ahead of real time. Then, if the computer suddenly locks up at 12:30 real time (but 2:30 adjusted computer clock time) instead of 2:30 real time, then you know there's a scheduled task of some sort causing the problem.

I would suspect, however, that after 7 hours of use, her Windows 98 isjust getting worn out. Windows 9x should be rebooted occasionally anyway just to restore the resources.

Have you tried a Windows "tune-up"? Run a virus check program. Delete all temporary folders and files. Delete temporary Internet files. Run check disk, scan disk - delete .chk files. Empty the recycle bin. Run scan disk and disk defrag. Minimize the programs being run in the start up menu. (I've seen a lot of Windows98 machines on which users have installed that popular flag program, and its locking up the system all the time - the one that shows the little waving flag in the lower right corner.) Get rid of the unnecessary resource hogs. Why does she use media player all the time? Get a radio/CD player for her desk.

Here are some links to articles describing ways to optimize Windows 9x systems.

http://www.davesite.com/computers/windows/

http://www.windows-help.net/windows98/tunetips-idx-nf.shtml

REMOVE SPACES from the pasted URLs.

Got virus software and latest DAT?

It may be that the user is doing the same thing at that time of day. This is around break time at most companies so what's she doing. You said "outlook", that's a good unsecure place to start.

I investigated a similar situation at a factory where they had a lot of large machines, metal breakers, punches and such. They also had a room with four large (8' x 16') industrial router tables. The shift change happened at 4 pm and the routers were always "flashed-up" for the evening shift. They also used a VERY large motor driven blower to provide cooling and suction for the router tables. EVERY day at 4pm or so, some or most of the computers would lock up, re-boot or just start working erratically. I noticed the proximity of the computers to the room with the routers and blower so, I checked the power going to the computers. Sure enough, at the same time the blower came on, there was a huge spike on the incoming power. It seems the computers were on the same circuit as the blower and they were affected by the power spike. All of the computers had surge protecting power bars installed but, unfortunately, after a while, some of them wear out (after repeated power surges). This is exactly what was happening. That is why initially only one commputer was affected then over the next few months, more became affected until finally, after several months, most of the computers were failing everyday at 4pm. The solution was to have an electrician wire in a new circuit for the routers and blower. We replaced the power bars with new surge protecting units and all was well. I was surprised that no computers suffered obvious damage from the spikes. We assumed however, that they had probably been significantly weakened by the abuse they took so everyone was prepared for a possibly higher level of maintenance, at least in the short term.

Anyway, check power to the computer involved. Is there any machinery (ac units, motors, manufacturing equipment etc.) that could be causing these problems when they turn on at 2:30 pm every day?

Just one more thing to check...good luck.

the machine could be geting a signal from another through the network card/ also could be antivirus software running or a virus/ debug/ format and all should be well(delete partion) 1hr and a half max

Have you checked your NT server? I have found several instances of logon times being changed on the server. Let's say that the server is set so that she is not allowed to be logged on at 2:30pm and she is allowed to logon at 8:00am. Well the server might disconnect her session at 2:30pm every day. This means that anytime she tries to use a network resource that she had open before the server disconnected her will lock her system up most likely.

Hello,

I noticed that you have 60 stations. Are all stations configured the same both hardware and software ? This is a tough one as it could be hardware or software causing this. It looks like the station is running out of resouces and is freezing. Have you tried running the system monitor to see how memory and processor resouces look ? Make sure all the applications have all the latest updates. I would also try running hardware diagnostics over night(continuous loop)and also try (if they are not a job requirement) shutting down the apps ( media player first ) one at a time to see if one of those are the culprit. Also, maybe a Norton scan is happening at that time which is also sucking up resources and hanging the station.

About checking the settings for your Media Player to not autoupdate, it may be set to go out and search for updates from the Web at a certain time of day.Or just try not having one of the programs open during that time one at a time so you can know exactly which program is causing your PC to lock up. Also since you're hooked up to a network, try to find out from the Systems Administrator what's happening during that time.

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