PC keeps freezing and not responding

[bubblesupper]

Hi,

 

I have a pretty old PC and I don't know too much about them. Basically, mine keeps freezing up. I have windows XP. I have used AVG virus scan, ad-aware, done disk clean up, de fragmented, used CCleaner to clear cache/cookies etc.

 

When I bring up task manager, the web pages are not responding. Sometimes it wont even bring up task manager as ctrl/alt/delt doesn't work either.:confused:

It also freezes when not connected to the net.

 

My msn icon in the bottom right hand corner, sometimes appears as just a black box!

 

Lots of stange happenings...any ideas?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Amanda x

 

PS: I don't know which version or how to find out. Sorry

Edited April 25, 2009 by bubblesupper

[bubblesupper]

Oh I found out it's windows XP home ed service pack 3

[Plastic Nev]

Hi Amanda, and welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help,

lets first find some basic information of your version of XP and other basic stuff.

 

Click on "Start" then "Run". In the box that opens, type in "sysdm.cpl" (without the quotation marks " " ) then click OK.

Let us know what is displayed in the window that opens, the tab at the top should be in general. (Be better still if you can show us a screen shot of it)

Nev.

[bubblesupper]

hi, thanks, dont know how to get a screen shot but heres what it says:

 

System:Microsoft Windows XP

Home edition

version 2002

service pk 3

 

Registered: Amanda

55285-011-7712711-21920

 

Computer: AMD Athlon XP

1600+

1.40 ghz, 640mb of RAM

 

Thanks

[Plastic Nev]

Thanks for that Amanda, there can be many causes for system freezes and crashes, these can be faulty or damaged files in the operating system, driver files corrupted, or the presence of malware.

 

Can you tell us does this freezing happen at random, or is there any specific thing or command that seems responsible?

 

Although I hope we won't need it do you have preferably, the full windows XP disk, or at least a system recovery disk?

 

When on line and surfing the web, do you get any pop ups, pages that you didn't ask for or other unwanted happenings?

 

If you can answer those for us it will give us some idea where to go next.

Thanks,

Nev.

[bubblesupper]

Thank you.

 

No I don't have the disks as i was given the PC from a friend about 10 years ago.

 

No, no pop ups, I have got pop up blocker on also. Nothing seems to set it off, although it all seems to have been happening since I downloaded the new MSN messenger service. My MSN icon also sometimes appears as a small black box in the bottom right hand corner instead if the usual little green man icon!

[Plastic Nev]

Hi again, I assume this was the latest release of windows live messenger that came out about two months ago?

Can you go to System Restore "Start" > all programs > Accessories > system tools > System Restore. Click on "Restore My Computer to an earlier time, then "Next" From the calendar, pick a restore point that is previous to when you downloaded the latest live messenger.

Let us know if that stops the freezes.

[bubblesupper]

Hi, it will only let me go back to end of march? I need to go back to around feb I think.

[Plastic Nev]

Hi, Are you sure you can't go further back than the end of March, have you clicked the arrow on the top left of the calendar?

 

If that is correct and won't go further back, you may just have an unwanted visitor.

Please follow everything below, it looks a lot, but if taken one stage at a time, and read everything thoroughly, you will find it is quite easy.

 

 

Your computer appears to be infected with Malware. Malware is software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner's informed consent. It is a combination of the words malicious and software. The expression is a general term used by computer professionals to mean a variety of forms of hostile, intrusive, or annoying software or program code.

 

It is in your best interest to note the following:

1. Please disable your resident security applications (such as AVG, Spybot, WinPatrol, etc.) before performing the below procedure so that they do not interfere with the process.
   
2. Perform all the steps in the order listed to avoid any conflicts.
   
3. If unsure, please stop and voice your doubts.
   
4. You might be required to go offline during the disinfection process. Therefore, it is recommended to print off the instructions below for ease of reference.
   

If you stick to the above guidelines, all should go smoothly.

 

 

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

STEP 1

1. Download ATF-Cleaner by Atribune.
   
2. Save the file to your Desktop.
   
3. Double-click on the file to run the program.
   
4. On the Main tab, check the Select All button.
   
5. Next, click on the Firefox tab (if applicable) and check the Select All button.
    
   Note: If you would like to preserve your saved passwords in Firefox, then click No at the corresponding prompt.
   
6. Now, click on the Opera tab (if applicable) and check the Select All button.
    
   Note: If you would like to preserve your saved passwords in Opera, then click No at the corresponding prompt.
   
7. Press the Empty Selected button and click OK to acknowledge the corresponding prompt.
   
8. Click on the Exit button to quit the program.
   

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

STEP 2

1. Please click here to download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware.
   
2. Save the file to your Desktop.
   
3. Double-click mbam-setup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
   
4. At the end, make sure a check mark is placed next to:
   
   1. 
      
   2. Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
      
   3. Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
      

[*]Click Finish.

[*]The program will download and update itself if it finds the necessity to do so. Please allow this.

[*]Once the program has loaded, select Perform full scan, then click Scan.

 

 

Note: Depending on your computer specifications, the scan may take some time to complete. Please wait patiently and do not interrupt the process.

[*]When the scan is complete, click OK, and then Show Results to view the results.

[*]Make sure that every entry is selected, and click Remove Selected.

[*]Restart your computer.

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

STEP 3

1. Please click here to download SUPERAntiSpyware (Free Version).
   
2. Save the file to your Desktop.
   
3. Double-click SUPERAntiSpyware.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
   
4. Open SUPERAntiSpyware.
   
5. Under Configuration and Preferences, click the Preferences button.
   
6. Click the Scanning Control tab.
   
7. Under Scanner Options make sure the following fields checked:
   

    

   [*]Click the Close button to leave the control center screen.

   [*]On the main screen, under Scan for Harmful Software click Scan your computer.

   [*]On the left, make sure you check mark All the Fixed Drives.

   [*]On the right, under Complete Scan, choose Perform Complete Scan.

   [*]Click Next to start the scan. Please be patient while it scans your computer.

   [*]After the scan is complete, a Scan Summary box will appear with potentially harmful items that were detected. Click OK.

   [*]Make sure every entry has a check mark next to it and click Next.

   [*]A notification will appear that Quarantine and Removal is Complete. Click OK and then Finish to return to the main menu.

   [*]Restart your computer.

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

   STEP 4
   1. Please visit the ESET Online Scanner, using Internet Explorer to initiate the scan.
       
      Note: If you are running Windows Vista, then you will need Administrative privileges to complete the latter part of the procedure. To do so, right-click on the Internet Explorer icon in the Start Menu and select the Run As Administrator option in the shell context menu.
      
   2. Check mark the YES, I accept the Terms of Use box.
      
   3. Click the Start button.
      
   4. Click the Install button on the following screen.
      
   5. Click Start. This will will initialize and update the scanner engine.
      
   6. Check mark the box beside Remove found threats.
      
   7. Click the Scan button. This will start the scan. Please be patient while it is in progress.
      
   8. Restart your computer.
      

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

   STEP 5
   1. Click on Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools and select System Restore.
      
   2. Choose the radio button marked Create a Restore Point on the first screen and click Next. Give the restore point a name then click Create. The new point will be stamped with the current date and time. Keep a note of this so you can find it easily should you need to use System Restore.
      
   3. Next, click on Start > Run, type Cleanmgr and click on OK.
      
   4. Click on the More Options tab.
      
   5. Click the Clean Up button in the System Restore section to remove all previous restore points except the most recent one.
      

   This will remove any infected files that have been backed up by Windows. The files in "System Restore" are protected to prevent any programs changing those files. This is the only foolproof way to ensure the deletion of those files.

    

   Note: Do not clear restore points on a regular basis as doing so will clear all previous restore points even those that you may need. System Restore is a useful tool to revert your computer back to a working condition if something goes wrong.

    

   Re-enable all your security applications and please return here and tell us how the computer seems to be operating.

    

   Happy Safe Computing! http://extremetechsupport.com/forum/../images/additional-smilies/thumb.gif

Close browsers before scanning
Scan for tracking cookies
Terminate memory threats before quarantining

[bubblesupper]

Thank you. Yeah I have clicked on the arrow and it goes from april back to march but no further. Right I will now look at your instructions and follow them carefully. I'll get back to you, thanks.

[bubblesupper]

hi, on step 3, number 7: scanner options, do I only tick those you list as ABC or do I also leave all the others ticked that are already ticked?

[bubblesupper]

ok, I have followed all the instructions very carefully...but now, my web pages wont load properly! It's actually worse than before :( Facebook will not load the home page at all, my tv guide page doesn't load and Ebay so far. Whats happened!? Amanda ps i also cannot click on the smily faces on this message! that doesn't work either.

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Ok Amanda what browser are you running and do you have Adobe Flash 10, Adobe Flash Player Active X and the latest version of Java which is 6 Update 13?

 

Find out in Add/Remove

[bubblesupper]

Hi, Yes I have all of those and am using Firefox 3.0.9. Have just realised that when I use internet explorer the web pages seem fine. With Firefox, Facebook for example only loads the profile page fully but not the home page. Ebay doesn't fully load either. With Internet explorer they all work fine. Any ideas? Firefox was loading we pages ok before I did the above instructions (apart from the freezing etc!) Thank you, Amanda.

[Plastic Nev]

Hi Amanda,

I honestly don't know why, but if Internet explorer is OK, then something must have corrupted Firefox.

I am afraid the only real answer to this may be to uninstall Firefox, then get a fresh download and reinstall it.

[bubblesupper]

Hi Amanda,

I honestly don't know why, but if Internet explorer is OK, then something must have corrupted Firefox.

I am afraid the only real answer to this may be to uninstall Firefox, then get a fresh download and reinstall it.

 

Hiya, I already did that but it didn't work. I totally uninstalled it and reinstalled but it's still not working. Anyone else have any ideas? I'm stumped. Amanda x

[Plastic Nev]

Very strange Amanda, sorry about this, but did the malware procedures find anything? and if so did it remove what did get found?

[bubblesupper]

Firefox not fully loading all web pages after malware clean

 

Hi, I have been cleaning my PC as it had suspected Malware. Since the clean it is working better but now I can only fully open web pages with IE and not Firefox. When I go to Facebook with Firefox, it loads the page but only with the top bar showing and not the rest of the home page. Same with the Ebay summery page. IE works fine so far. Any ideas? I don't like using IE! Thanks, Amanda x

[bubblesupper]

Very strange Amanda, sorry about this, but did the malware procedures find anything? and if so did it remove what did get found?

 

Yup as follows: Memory Processes Infected: 0 Memory Modules Infected: 0 Registry Keys Infected: 7 Registry Values Infected: 0 Registry Data Items Infected: 1 Folders Infected: 3 Files Infected: 6 All were removed, It was after all this that now Mozilla will not work :( Could it be connection settings? It doesn't work in safe mode either. I really dislike IE! COuld you also tell me which is the best free antivirus (i have AVG) and antispyware to be running and should i leave the spyware running all the time as I do AVG? thanks again

[Plastic Nev]

Well I hope I can help there with security stuff at least. At the moment we aren't that keen on AVG, and would normally recommend others. However we have a page on what we recommend here-

http://extremetechsupport.com/forum/malware-removal-av-firewalls-etc/3597-free-pc-help-recommended-security-products.html

 

The Malwarebytes, and the Superantispyware you downloaded during the malware fix, you can keep installed. Update them regularly and then scan with them.

[Tootech]

Hi bubble,

 

Do you have any toolbars installed - if so, remove them all.

 

Also, you may still have a corrupt Firefox profile. Backup your passwords and bookmarks and uninstall it again.

 

After it's uninstalled, navigate to:

 

C:\Documents and Settings\Your_User_Name\Application Data\

 

and delete the Mozilla folder.

 

Reboot, reinstall and have another go.

[bubblesupper]

Hi bubble,

 

Do you have any toolbars installed - if so, remove them all.

 

Also, you may still have a corrupt Firefox profile. Backup your passwords and bookmarks and uninstall it again.

 

After it's uninstalled, navigate to:

 

C:\Documents and Settings\Your_User_Name\Application Data\

 

and delete the Mozilla folder.

 

Reboot, reinstall and have another go.

 

Hi,

 

Thank you, excuse my ignorence, but how do i back up my bookmarks?

 

Thanks!

[bubblesupper]

Well I hope I can help there with security stuff at least. At the moment we aren't that keen on AVG, and would normally recommend others. However we have a page on what we recommend here-

http://extremetechsupport.com/forum/malware-removal-av-firewalls-etc/3597-free-pc-help-recommended-security-products.html

 

The Malwarebytes, and the Superantispyware you downloaded during the malware fix, you can keep installed. Update them regularly and then scan with them.

 

Thanks for all your help, i'm still a little confused, I have windows firewall...so do I just leave that on and don't need to download another?

[Tootech]

No problem......

 

Open Firefox, click on Bookmarks, Organise Bookmarks.

 

After the Bookmarks page opens look for Import and Backup. Click on it, select Backup and save the file to a folder of your choice.

[Plastic Nev]

Most security related computer folk do recommend a third party firewall and to turn off the Windows one.

This is because the Windows firewall is only one way, although great at stopping stuff getting in, doesn't stop anything getting out if it has got in, and there are many ways malware can get past a firewall to get in.

A firewall that monitors outgoing traffic, can see something suspicious and either block it or at least let you know that something is phoning home that you may not want it to.

 

So I would say yes install a firewall and turn the Windows one off. I use Comodo and find it good for my needs, but do have a look at the others mentioned, after all, any choice is down to your personal needs.