Lenovo Ideapad320-14ik8 internet browsers freezing

[A Bit Annoyed]

Hopefully we have the model number correct.

 

My daughter bought this laptop three years ago for University work and it worked fine up until November (she says).

 

It has been used exclusively for her University work and browsing. It is more important this year, because she will have to do her exams online.

Since an update went on around November, she says it sometimes freezes and the browser has to be reloaded,. This is mainly when she uses Blackboard Collaborate or Teams. Once it freezes, it won't just reconnect and carry on. It happens on Chrome and Microsoft Edge. It can happen when just browsing.

Also, the avatar on her lock screen is pixelated and her tiles on start screen are grey, although she has clicked for multi coloured. I am quoting what my daughter says, as I don't use the laptop, so hope it makes sense.

 

Can anyone offer advice on what to do, please? You wonderful people have helped so much in the past. Thank in advance.

[KenB]

Hi again :)

 

Intermittent faults are a pain :)

 

In Chrome - try disabling "Hardware Acceleration"

 

Open Chrome.

click on the three little dots [ top right ]

scroll down and click on "Settings"

Scroll down again and at the very bottom should be "Advanced"

 

On the left side of screen click on "System"

Then disable "Use Hardware Acceleration when Available"

 

If it is already disabled try enabling it.

 

This is only for Chrome but Edge would be very similar.

 

Please turn it back on if there is no improvement.

 

===========================

 

Re Lockscreen :

 

click here

 

Hope this helps.

Edited March 2, 2021 by KenB

[A Bit Annoyed]

Thank you for this. I will get her to go through this when she has a chance.

[KenB]

No problem - let me know how it goes.

[A Bit Annoyed]

Hi

Laptop completely lost internet connection. Had a very stressed daughter this morning as there was no sign of the wireless adapter at all. After several attempts to update drivers so the computer could find them again, still no luck. She had to use a mobile Wi-Fi dongle we had bought for emergencies. This morning, it managed to reconnect. For now. We really have no idea what to do. She scanned for hardware many times and the adapter just didn't show up. Until this morning.

Please help

[Ned Seagoon]

My thoughts: This laptop is important as she is completing her degree with it on-line this year. It has an intermittent fault, which is a difficult fault to locate even if an expert has the laptop in front of them.

 

I'm retired now, but when I working as an IT manager with a large company, some years ago, we considered the life of a laptop to be three years and would replace them at this point. Perhaps it's time to consider this rather than risk her loosing important university work. Your decision of course, but the faulty laptop could be either traded in or repaired (subject to a satisfactory quote) and either sold or kept as a backup machine.

 

The other plus to purchasing a new machine is that it will have a one or two year warranty which should ensure she has a trouble covered laptop to finish her degree.

[KenB]

What Ned says makes sense.

Your daughter needs a reliable machine for her university work.

It is something to consider.

 

no sign of the wireless adapter at all

Does the laptop have a socket for an Ethernet Cable to be connected?

You could bypass the wireless side and plug the cable from the laptop directly into the router.

 

If this is stable then it points to the wireless adapter as being the problem with the freezing.

 

What is the make and model number of the laptop please ?

 

Is her laptop using your router?

If it is - I assume that you have no problems?

[A Bit Annoyed]

Hi

 

We have a mobile Wi-Fi Dongle which connected to her laptop, but only by plugging it in, I.e. as an Ethernet. All other devices in the house connect with no problems. Well, I say that, the fire stick and V6 box have their moments but I think that's part of their job description.

It is a Lenovo Ideapad 320 142 and then the numbers are blurred.

 

We have just run malwarebytes adwcleaner through and on the restart, it said it was scanning and repairing hard drive. Never said that before. When it turned on, it was on the Wi-Fi.

Seriously, my brain hurts sometimes. But, I told her I would definitely help her buy a new machine if this kept playing up. She bought this herself and has always taken a lot of care, but electronics can't run forever.

I won't mention the laptop my work had to provide me with. That's a whole other Horror Story.

[KenB]

Wi-Fi Dongle which connected to her laptop, but only by plugging it in, I.e. as an Ethernet

 

Does it freeze when you have this connected via ethernet cable to the router ?

[A Bit Annoyed]

so far, no.

[KenB]

Keep it on the cable [ if it isn't too obstructive ]

If you get no freezing then the problem seems to be related to the Wireless Adapter.