Laptop XP Freezes

Sony VAIO runs Windows XP with service pack 2. Freezing started fairly recently -- but months after downloading service pack 2.

On tech's advice, I removed spyware, ran disk check, ran reg editor, cleaned out cookies and temp files, and defragged. The puter freezes in Outlook Express, Word, and sometimes on startup, and sometimes when I move it from the desk to my lap! Not good for a laptop to freeze when moved! It happens 2-3 times a day, with firewall on and with firewall off, but otherwise, there's no pattern I can see. After 4-5 hard boots, it will run OK . . . til the next time.

What could be causing this and what can I do to fix it?
Thanks.
JSO

 

Look at your event logs (note the time stamps, and when it freezes). Let us know what red X's or yellow !'s you're getting about the same time as the freezing. Your event logs are in your event viewer in admin tools in control panel.

 

Thanks, Oldman. Follows more info than you ever wanted, I'm afraid:

System (sorry to be late with this):
XP Home 5.01 2660 Serv Pack 2
40 G HD
Pentium 4M
Sys mem 256 MB
Cache 512
BIOS RO216B0/RK215B0


There are several red Xs in the application event viewer:

dated today: Error Source: WinMgmt Category: None Event:10
3/12: Source: ESENT Category: Logging/Recovery Event: 454 and two 439s
3/12: Source: ESENT Category: General Event: three 490s
3/10 Source: Application Hang Category: two Nones and two (101)s
3/7 ditto, one None and one (101)
3/2 Source: Application Error Category: none Event three 1000s and one 1001
2/26 Ditto one 1000 and one 1001
2/26 Source Application Hang Category (101) Event 102
2/26 Source Trend Realtime Service Category: None Event 3
2/15 Source: MsiInstaller Category: None Event: four 11706s paired with yellow triangle warnings of same source and category but Event 1001

Also: I ran HiJack software. It found AGOBOT-NL worm in msmsgs.exe. TrendMicro PCillin does not pick it up and I don't know how to delete it.

System event log:
2 red Xs today: Service COntrol Manager: Category None Event 7000 and 7009
1 red X today: NetBT Category: None Event 4321
4 on 3/14 Service Control Mgr Event 7000 and 7009
1 on 3/12: Dhcp Category None Event: 1002
5 on 3/13 Service Control Mgr Event 7000 and 7009
1 on 3/13 Source IPNATHLP Category: None EVent:32003
2 on 3/12 Service Control Mgr Event 7000 and 7009
1 on 3/11 Dhcp/None/1002
several more 7000 and 7009
3/9 Browser/None/8032 -- several of these from 3/2 forward
3/2 Dchp/None/1002
On 3/2 nine red X: Source: NetBT/None/4321
one Browser/None/8009
one NetBT/None/4321
one Service Control Manager/None/7000 and 7009

On 2.26 four NetBT/None/4321
On 2/26 seven Source:cdRom Category None Event 7
on 2/25 more NetBT/4321s than I care to count -- at least 20 -- and at least six Browser/8009s and one Browser/8020

2/24 a gazillion NetBT/4321s and one Browser/8009

2/23 One System Error (102) Event 1003

2/22 One Browser 8019 and a gazillion NetBT 4321s

2/22 One Service Control Manager/None/7011

 

First off, it looks like late last month your pcillin realtime scanner died, is it actually running now? If not, you want to reinstall and update it, reboot to safemode and run a scan (if it lets you do so in safemode, I've never used pcillin, if not run it under normal windows). You can also go to Panda to run an online scan, they also have a bunch of removal tools as well. Get rid of the viruses first, then work on the hanging.

As far as the hanging goes... I would like to see only the redx events that happen right before/during/after a hang, try to get it to hang, note the time, reboot and post the log with the description as well.

 

OK. How do I reboot to safe mode?
The PCillin is running, but not detecting anything. And it's on auto update, which I verify manually every day.
By normal Windows, you mean Dos promp? I don't know how to access it from there.
I'll try Panda.
Then I'll get back to you with red x's after the next hang.
Thanks.
S

 

If you system came up clean and no other errors are coming up, in my opinion, the problem is hardware related.

 

OK: I tried to run Panda. I get error messages. I followed Panda's instructions to reboot and try again, and then turned off my firewall in case that was it, and then reset firewall to wireless network, home network, and direct connect to Internet. None of the above worked. I am online and my wireless signal is very strong. But again, I can't download the ActiveX, according to Panda. I used to be able to run Panda on this puter.

There was an error message right at a hang this morning: In system logs it said Service Control Manager/None/7023.

Hope this helps.

 

Hi turcoloco, I guess it could be hardware, but we'll see. Not sure what "comes up clean" means: The error logs are full of error messages tho, and there is a worm detected by Hijack. Thanks.

 

I tend to agree, (especially if it happens at startup as well as other times). I also would think it's may be a dying HD (I was hoping to see some atapi errors in the system log or something of the sort). Normally I myself would run a drive scan at this point but I don't really have the time to spell out how to create/run a DFT or Seatools cd.

However, JS Oliver, you can open a command prompt (start, run, "cmd"), and type chkdsk /f and then y. Then reboot and windows will run a HD scan. look at the event logs for the results of the scan. If that comes up clean, I suppose you could have some windows corruption somewhere... hard to tell.

 

I did the chkdsk. There were no events in the log.
Anything else you can think of that I should try?
Thanks for all your time and support.
JS

 

Well, I didn't want to interfer with your troubleshooting but if you ask my opinion, I would suggest you ATTACH a copy of the HijackThis log file with your next post. Also make sure you run HJT from its own folder directly on C drive, so it should be something like C:\HJT\Hijackthis.exe or C:\Program Files\HJT\hijackthis.exe, also make sure you have all browser windows closed.

For running scandisk, open My computer, right-click on C drive then Properties and under Tools tab click on the Error-checking button and check both boxes, Windows will prompt you that it will run on next boot, do so.

Final Suggestion, looking for the culprit in one of the startup entries (Registry value, one of the .ini files and/or device drivers). Before going with this theory, reboot in 'Safe Mode' (not sure if you already tried it). Then use your system for a little while to see if you experience the same random freeze-ups, if you do either your OS is severely jackup (a fresh install is my suggestion) or a problem hardware component such as RAM or HardDisk.

If things look fine in Safe Mode, then (see screenshot):
Start > Run > msconfig > OK
and uncheck the 'Load Startup Items' > OK and reboot, if problem still occurs,
keep the above mentioned optioned UNchecked but also UNcheck one of the other options as well, then reboot and observe. No change then again leave the 'Load Startup Items' option, checked the option you Unchecked the last time and this time Uncheck another new option and reboot. Repeat the steps until you find the settings that was causing the problem and repost.

 

Hi Turcoloco,

I dont know how to reboot in safe mode. I'll see if I can figure that out, and then try your other steps til I get freaked or frustrated.

You know what? I may just reformat. You can tell that I'm only somewhat comfortable with computer talk. Do you think reformatting is something I can do myself, or should I take this thing to a service shop?
Thanks.
S

 

I do not know how tech savvy you are, you might know more/less than I can tell with a few words you post here but regardless, there are all kinds of people here on MG who could help you out through so-seemed complicated tasks such as Windows clean install, Formating a HardDisk, etc.
It is really up to you, if you decide that you got nothing to lose and in the process you might even learn a thing or two then stick around and ask whenever confused or stuck, ok?

PS. For 'Safe Mode', when you reboot or turn on your machine and see the BIOS screen (white letters on the black screen) start tapping the F8 key slowly, following the BIOS screen, the Advanced Options Menu should appear. At the top of that list you will see 'Safe Mode' and using the arrow keys on the keyboard move the selection bar and high-lite the Safe Mode option then press the ENTER key.

 

Also here is the thread about formatting and re-installing Windows:

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=25831

 

HOOOOOOOOOKAY!

I didn't want ya'll to think I'd just et and run, so here I am to update and thank you all -- Turcoloco, thanks for the link and offer of continued support, which I didn't see 'til today. <sigh>

I run XP Home as I said, OEM. Yesterday I succeeded at downloading and installing Win's backup utility, which was a big step for me. Then, following the advice I see in a PCWorld issue, I tried to use the Repair function on the XP Cd-rom, only to discover that somebody has set an admin password and didn't tell me. I tried admin and blank and versions thereof, to no avail. So I couldn't use the Repair function. By then it was 1 pm and I had HAD it with 1.5 days of trying to fix this daggum mo-chine, so I called a tech.

He then tried to wipe the HD using the System Restore disks supplied by Sony. Guess what? You can't wipe a formatted VAIO HD using those disks. Or so he says. And it's a good thing he was here, because if I had seen my desktop emerge intact after having run all 3 Sys Restore disks, I would have thought that somehow all had been saved, rather than that Sys Restore DIDN'T wipe the HD. (If you follow.)

So he took the laptop home and will return it in half an hour or so, I hope having wiped the HD using the XP CD, and having reinstalled XP. Now we get to re-network the two computers and I get to try to reinstall the software and restore my email. Wish me luck.

Have I said recently that I hate Microsoft?
Thanks again,
JS Oliver