Windows 2000 Mouse/System Freeze

[DrJorde]

This is an update, with more information. My problem continues;

I have 2000 Pro on a 1Ghz machine with 256MB RAM & a 40GB HD. It is networked through a router with a Win 98 machine in my Hamshack.

Everything has worked perfectly for 16 months. Suddenly this past week the system freezes up (mouse stops & you cannot get into Task Manager). This has been mostly random, not associated to any task. Sometimes it happens at bootup, sometimes when I launch an application and sometimes during an application. Some applications always lock up, some work fine for hours then lock up.

I tryed to set up the task manager in the corner of the screen so I could possibly tell what is causing the freeze. Twice it locked up just setting up that.

I went to the Western Digital site and performed a "Health Test" on the HD, it passed. The drive is dated 2/8/01.

I have 2000 Pro SP3 update, I think I installed it just after this started. I have tried so many things, I have lost track of what was done and when.

The last sofware that I installed, other than Windows and McAfee updates was the Epson 1650 Scanner software and Adobe Photoshop. That was about 4 months ago and it has worked fine up to now. I re-installed the software for this today after the Icon somehow got disfunctional. Before you react to this, my machine is locking up without launching this program. But it will lock up if I go into this program.

Any suggestions? DrJorde
Webmaster

http://plansbyjorde.tripod.com

 

[paltask14c]

just asking, did you try removing the network card, then booting up to see if everything works normally? 3com network cards seem to cause this problem the most in my office (i have 50+) all are identical, with 3com nics, when this problem flares up on one of them, i swap the nic for a dlink or linksys, and it goes away. If it weren't for users, computers would work just fine.

 

[DrJorde]

paltask14c
I removed the 3Com NIC and replaced it with a known good card and the results was no change. I tried it without the network attached and with. Same results. While it is not only Microsoft Publisher that locks up every time I launch it the Icon sometimes goes generic on it. If I do a properties on it there is no location shown. I re-create the Shortcut and it locks up when I lanunch it. Repair, did nothing for MS Pub.
The lockup does not only happen there, it is, as I said before, happening randomly in some cases, predictably in others.
DrJorde
Webmaster

http://plansbyjorde.tripod.com

 

[nuklearb]

Nuklearb to all friends (& Dr Jorde)
(TechnicalUser)
I have the same freeze/stall problem on a 633Mhz box
installed with W2k pro, Realtek net card, 256 RAM etc.
Swaping 20Gbs and 40Gbs didn't help...Eliminating other hardware e.g. Ram,CD,Printer etc. also didn't solve it.
Changing Setup to basic (lazy) Default configuration didn't do any progress too.
Starting to loose my pro confidence...Help !!!


An apple a day keeps the doctors away!

 

[DrJorde]

Nuklearb
Today I came home, turned on the computer and it froze right after the icons loaded. I rebooted only to get about 120 blank windows opened up. They were opening faster than I could hit Alt F4.
The 3rd time I was able to get this far after opening my mail. It is just a matter of time before it goes down again. Each time there is something new, yet some of the freezes always occur when I launch certain programs.
I think I am going to attempt the reformat and reload over the long weekend. I just hope I can get the OS back in after and get back on line.
This has got to be something to do with corrupted software, maybe a bad DLL?
DrJorde
Webmaster

http://plansbyjorde.tripod.com

 

[site4sure]

Hi,

I have had similar problems latley. I just upgraded to Winamp 2.8 which is NOT the newest out, but the newest upgrade of the 2x world. Anyhow, ever since I have installed that, it seems my system freezes and freezes only when playing MP3s. Has anyone had this problem or do you have Winamp 2.8?

-Chris

 

[nuklearb]

nuklearb

Hi folks!
After an extensive and tiresome search and research, it seems I have an answer for theese peculiar freezes with the Win2k prof. According to "The Big Brother" (Microsoft)they admit there could happen a "Deadlock" when a program runs - sending data to different parts of your computer, doing that through (or/nor)gates, and then, when a second program or a file is called (by you) there rises a problem of priority and a deadlock/stall/freeze occurs!
Anyway, first: download every update Windows offers after scanning your machine (lots of time, reboot etc.). Download one or two at a time, to ensure your machine doesn't go rk.
Second: go to Microsoft Knowledge Base, find Q322843, read it and dowload it. This one is supoused to solve the problem!?!?. I myself am still in the phase of testing its abillity.
If you are left (after all that) with any spare time let me
know your opinion.
Nuklear Boy

 

[DrJorde]

Nuklear Boy
I went to the Microsoft Knowledge Base and did a search for Q322843 and could not find it. However let me update what has been tried:
This past weekend we:
Replaced the HD
Replaced the RAM 256MB
Replaced the Video Card by using the on board one.
Replaced the NIC Card
Replaced the Logitech Mouse with a USB Logitech Mouse
Removed the Modem (used only for FAX)
Disconnected all the periferals IE printer, Scanner, Camera

We then Installed fresh Software and it still hangs, either at bootup or when I enter programs. Not always right away. I sometimes can read my mail before it hangs. If there are graphics or potential for math exercise, it will hang.
All that is left is the Motherboard (MSI), Microprocessor (Intel P3 1 GHZ), Bios or Power supply.
Should I just go out and upgrade the system?
It is now a MSI P3 1Ghz Intel
If I go to a MSI P4 2+GHZ can this problem follow me?
Will my current 256MB RAM chip work with this board?
DrJorde
Webmaster

http://plansbyjorde.tripod.com