Desktop

Ask something
Discussion Locked

freezes /complicated/ ulcer-producing

0 helpful
19 replies

by newgirlx

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.
Had a compaq 5170 and HP dj640C printer, win 98 & norton antivirus. would occasionally freeze (can't use mouse, must power down at wall switch to turn off), especially when printing large projects from quickbooks, or small from publisher. freezing got worse. so I replaced parallel cable, also tried usb cable. still bad problem. so I had new white box computer built (same hard drive, new of everything else), faster processor, more memory. printer worked fine in the shop, not at my office. only difference is that i stay hooked up at office to internet express all day. seems to tie in somehow. also system resources seem to fluctuate. start up tray has bare minimum. now system is freezing constantly when printing w/internet on, and occasionally when internet isn't on. reinstalled windows 98 another time. got new hp940c printer, and downloaded the most simple 550c drivers as well. hooked up usb and it worked for a while, then wouldn't even recognize the printer. hooked up paralleland it worked for an hour. so i've had two computers, two printers and the problem is still there. please help - i might get fired over this.

19 replies

by skitzizzy

Hi,

What applications are you printing from? It could be a compatibility issue between the application sending the print information and the printer driver interfacing with it.

Andy

by newgirlx

Freeze up happens in all applications now. It used to be in high-memory apps but now it's even on a blank page. Can't figure out what having the internet connection would have to do with it.

by bobho

Does it only freeze up when you are printing or does it freeze up at any time (while you are using the pc or when it sits for awhile)?

DrBob

by ojmj

A couple of things to consider:

First, this might be caused by someone hacking into your computer while you are connected to the internet. Do you have a firewall? If not, get one.

Second: You say that you are running Norton antivirus, but you don't mention anything about keeping the virus definition files up to date. There are MANY new viruses coming out all the time, and old versions of the definition files won't catch them. Some of them kill selective .dll files, and that would cause a freeze. Go to www.trendmicro.com and run the free virus check that is offered there.

O.J.

by lmayeda

How much Ram and free disk space do you have on your C: drive? Lack of disk space or very fragmented disk space can cause systems to freeze. Clean up your Temporary internet files and other .tmp files. How big is your email files ...do you ever clean them up? If space and possible virus has been eliminated as possible causes, try running your apps with Internet Express and Norton closed and see if this has an effect, then start up one or the other and see if the problem occurs. Hope this helps.

by skitzizzy

Hi,

Does your Internet ISP have a connection timeout that you are aware of?

If the server times out your connection and you try to refresh the view with a disconnected state, it can sometimes hang the browser.

Also, does the lockup occur regardless of which browser you use? ie, does it lock up with Internet Explorer AND Netscape?

If it works in Netscape but not in IE, print your webpages (to get your required output for the boss) then try removing the printer and driver and test the browser for lockups without the printer installed.

If it doesn't lock up, the problem may be the hybrid driver setup you are using to get the printer working. I would recommend downloading the latest drivers for your OS from the HP site.

by thechas

I agree with answer #6.

I suspect that your hard drive is either not big enough, or has insufficient free space for all that you are trying to do at once.

I would want to have a minimum of 1GB free HDD space for all that you are trying to do.
I would start by clearing off ever file that you don't need.
Start with internet cache, and the windows\temp folder.
Then delete any image and data files that are backed up elswhere, or unneeded.

I had a problem once, where the print spool file was larger than the 6GB of free space on the hard drive! The file just had to many high resolution graphics to print.

You migh switch to direct printing rather that waiting for the file to be spooled.

Chas

by robanderson

Try this,

Change spool settings to 'print after last page has spooled'

Has worked for us in the past

This discussion is closed to new replies.