Applications closing shutting down after random amounts of time...

[wolfy2k4]

Hi all,

 

I have a very very annoying problem that's started to occur now.

I boot my computer, open some applications i.e internet explorer, utorrent, vlc player, games...etc...

 

All may run fine for an hour or more, but suddenly they will close. Usually without any error message.

 

I immediately thought this could be a virus of some kind, so I ran two programmes (malwarebytes and Eset NOD32 antivirus) both have come back saying my computer is clean. They are both updated to current versions.

 

Reinstalling windows is not an option, therefore, if anyone has some suggestions i'd love to hear them!

 

Thanks in advance.

[RandyL]

All may run fine for an hour or more, but suddenly they will close

So all the open programs and open Windows close but the computer does not shut down or restart. I guess this rules out heat issues.

I boot my computer, open some applications i.e internet explorer, utorrent, vlc player, games...etc...

I see you are torrenting. In spite of the fact you ran some excellent programs and they came back clean this does not mean you are clean of infections or corruption.

 

I don't know why you say reinstalling is not an option. Since torrents are a major source of issues then the first thing you should do is make darn sure reinstalling is an option.

 

You could try deleting all files and uninstalling all programs obtained by utorrent etc. but even then corruption may remain. It's a risk one takes since this is a common way to really screw up a computer.

 

Seriously in my opinion if you are torrenting you should reinstall Windows but do not torrent in the future. Anything obtained by such will likely result in major issues.

[wolfy2k4]

Thanks for the reply.

 

I rather think you're reading a little too much into my use of torrents. I use a website called "clearbits.net" that is for legal, open-licensed digital media. Furthermore, the computer is protected from such actions via NetNanny.

I cannot reinstall windows as this is a company laptop and i've already had that request denied.

 

I will try uninstalling any extraneous programs that are lurking on my PC....

[Starbuck]

As long as you're using any form of Peer-to-Peer networking ( Frostwire, Limewire, Bit Torrent etc.) and downloading files from non-documented sources, you can expect infestations of malware to occur.

Once upon a time, P2P file sharing was fairly safe. That is no longer true.

P2P programmes form a direct conduit onto your computer, their security measures are easily circumvented, and Malware writers are increasingly exploiting them to spread their wares onto your computer. Further to that, if your P2P programme is not configured correctly you may be sharing more files than you realise. There have been cases where people's Passwords, Address Books and other personal, private, and financial details have been exposed to the file sharing network by a badly configured programme.

 

Many of the programmes come bundled with other unwanted programmes, but even the ones free of any bundled software are not safe to use.

When you use them you are downloading software from an unknown source directly onto your computer, bypassing your Firewall and Anti-Virus software. Hardly surprising then that many of these Downloads are being targeted to carry infections.

 

So because you are bypassing your Firewall and Anti Virus, i doubt that NetNanny is going to be of much use either.

 

In spite of the fact you ran some excellent programs and they came back clean this does not mean you are clean of infections or corruption.

Very true.