locking up more than normal

[bob12a]

Hi Friends

 

I have been used to PC locking up on occasions in the past not very often maybe once a month.

Of late the last few days or so been locking up once or twice a day.

 

I have done all the maintenance I know of now I have a feeling something is starting to play up

 

Any help please

 

Bob

[snow]

Hi Bob,

 

If the PC is just freezing up without restarting or displaying a blue screen of death, then the problem may be one of your background processes, or possibly an unstable driver.

 

The first thing I'd do is check the windows event log for errors or warnings. In XP, go to Control Panel, then Administrative tools, then Event viewer.

 

There will be several logs, but the main ones to look at are 'Application' and 'System'. If there are any red crosses or yellow triangles with a time stamp that seems to match your computer's lock-ups, then right-click on them and select properties. Paste the contents here so we can have a look.

 

Did you update any drivers, or install anything new before this started happening?

[bob12a]

Thank you very much Snow I have answered in red below

 

 

Hi Bob,

 

If the PC is just freezing up without restarting or displaying a blue screen of death,

 

No Snow I have to restart myself

 

then the problem may be one of your background processes, or possibly an unstable driver.

 

The first thing I'd do is check the windows event log for errors or warnings. In XP, go to Control Panel, then Administrative tools, then Event viewer.

 

There will be several logs, but the main ones to look at are 'Application' and 'System'. If there are any red crosses or yellow triangles with a time stamp that seems to match your computer's lock-ups, then right-click on them and select properties.

 

 

there are a lot of Red crosses and yellow triangles

 

Paste the contents here so we can have a look.

 

Unfortunately I cannot work out how to send the log to you

 

Did you update any drivers, or install anything new before this started happening?

 

No thought I do allow some programms to update automatically

[snow]

No problem,

 

If you have red crosses in your 'System' log, then these are the ones we need to check first. Try to think back to the last time your computer crashed. Then look at the date column of the log, to see if there are any that happened around the same time.

 

If you can't remember, or there aren't, then just choose the most recent red cross.

 

Right-click on it, and choose properties.

 

You should now get the properties window for that event. At the bottom will be a description, simply highlight it, then copy it by pressing Ctrl-C, and paste using Ctrl-V.

 

Check the others as well; if they have the same description then it could be the source of the problem.

[bob12a]

No problem,

 

If you have red crosses in your 'System' log, then these are the ones we need to check first. Try to think back to the last time your computer crashed. Then look at the date column of the log, to see if there are any that happened around the same time.

 

If you can't remember, or there aren't, then just choose the most recent red cross.

 

Right-click on it, and choose properties.

 

You should now get the properties window for that event. At the bottom will be a description, simply highlight it, then copy it by pressing Ctrl-C, and paste using Ctrl-V.

 

Check the others as well; if they have the same description then it could be the source of the problem.

 

 

 

Most of the red crosses in the system log are the same Snow

 

 

The Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) service terminated with the following error:

The system cannot find the file specified.

 

For more information, see Help and Support Center at Events and Errors Message Center: Basic Search.

[snow]

That your computer cannot find that file seems odd, as it is an integral Windows component.

 

Try running the system file checker to make sure your system files are correct and intact. Note that you might need to insert your windows CD during this process:

 

1. Click Start, click Run type sfc /scannow, and then press ENTER.

2. Follow the prompts throughout the System File Checker process.

3. Restart the computer when System File Checker process is complete.

 

Let us know how you get on.

[bob12a]

That your computer cannot find that file seems odd, as it is an integral Windows component.

 

Try running the system file checker to make sure your system files are correct and intact. Note that you might need to insert your windows CD during this process:

 

1. Click Start, click Run type sfc /scannow, and then press ENTER.

2. Follow the prompts throughout the System File Checker process.

3. Restart the computer when System File Checker process is complete.

 

Let us know how you get on.

 

Thanks again

 

Done as you say above asked for windows CD quarter way into check no problem there

 

Half way into check asked for XP home service pack 3 CD dont have such a cd so ignored it

 

At finnish re booted will keep an eye on things and let you know what is happening and will return to this thread to report

 

My main concern was my computer may have been breaking down. What you have told me makes me feel a little better now but not complacent.

 

I do have a full acronis true image home image backup

 

Regards

 

Bob

[bob12a]

Locked up again this morning Snow

 

found 2 red crosses one from this morning for you

 

1st service control

2nd DCOM

 

Can you reread my last reply from the 6/08 please

The Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) service terminated with the following error:

The system cannot find the file specified.

 

For more information, see Help and Support Center at Events and Errors Message Center: Basic Search.

 

 

and one from 25/07

DCOM got error "The service cannot be started, either because it is disabled or because it has no enabled devices associated with it. " attempting to start the service upnphost with arguments "" in order to run the server:

{204810B9-73B2-11D4-BF42-00B0D0118B56}

 

For more information, see Help and Support Center at Events and Errors Message Center: Basic Search.

[snow]

Ok, the system file checker doesn't seem to have picked up on the missing files.

 

Are there any recent red crosses in the 'Application' log as well?

 

Could you run a disk check to make sure there are no bad blocks that might be preventing windows from finding those files:

 

Go to my computer, then right-click on drive C:, and choose properties. Go to the 'Tools' tab. Under 'Error checking' select 'Check now'

 

Select both of the options 'Automatically fix file system errors' and 'Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors', make sure you have no open programs, and then start the scan. It will probably take a while to complete.

[bob12a]

Ok, the system file checker doesn't seem to have picked up on the missing files.

 

Are there any recent red crosses in the 'Application' log as well?

 

Could you run a disk check to make sure there are no bad blocks that might be preventing windows from finding those files:

 

Go to my computer, then right-click on drive C:, and choose properties. Go to the 'Tools' tab. Under 'Error checking' select 'Check now'

 

Select both of the options 'Automatically fix file system errors' and 'Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors', make sure you have no open programs, and then start the scan. It will probably take a while to complete.

 

Thank you

 

All done as requested no problems showing or none that I know how to detect. It needed to restart before it would run the scan.

Scan took about one hour

I used End It All to make sure no programs were open

 

 

Also found in Application ' Log

 

Faulting application spybotsd.exe, version 1.6.2.46, faulting module spybotsd.exe, version 1.6.2.46, fault address 0x000049ee.

 

For more information, see Help and Support Center at Events and Errors Message Center: Basic Search.

 

 

Faulting application integrator.exe, version 8.0.3100.31, faulting module rtl120.bpl, version 12.0.3210.17555, fault address 0x000095d0.

 

For more information, see Help and Support Center at Events and Errors Message Center: Basic Search.

 

 

 

Faulting application KService.exe, version 5.12.707.160, faulting module KService.exe, version 5.12.707.160, fault address 0x0021215a.

 

For more information, see Help and Support Center at Events and Errors Message Center: Basic Search.

[snow]

Thanks for checking that Bob, at least we now know this isn't related to the condition of your hard disk.

 

What worries me is the error 'The system cannot find the file specified' regarding the windows firewall and connection sharing service. If you use a 3rd party firewall (I notice ZAPro in your signature) then you won't need this service running, but the fact those system files are missing is odd. It would be best to restore them.

 

 

Open 'My Computer' and find your CD drive. It should have a letter associated with it, for example, D:

 

Use that letter in place of X: in the following two commands. Try this to restore the missing files:

 

* Insert the Windows XP disk into the CD drive.

* Click Start, click Run, type cmd in the Open box, and then click OK

* At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER.

 

expand X:\i386\ipnathlp.dl_ %systemroot%\system32\ipnathlp.dll

 

* Similarly, expand ipnat.sys file to the Drivers folder. Use the following command:

 

expand X:\i386\ipnat.sy_ %systemroot%\system32\drivers\ipnat.sys

 

 

Once you've done this, open the command prompt again and type services.msc

Look through the list to find ' Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)'

 

Right-click on it, and select properties. Change its start up-type to 'Disabled' and Stop it if it is running.

 

Another thought could be conflicting programs. Does AVGPro have a firewall as well? If your computer freezes again, then try disabling AVG, and seeing if the problem goes away.

[bob12a]

Thanks for that snow I will do all you ask me to do tomorrow have had enough for today

A friend

Bob

[bob12a]

 

Thanks for checking that Bob, at least we now know this isn't related to the condition of your hard disk.

 

 

 

What worries me is the error 'The system cannot find the file specified' regarding the windows firewall and connection sharing service. If you use a 3rd party firewall (I notice ZAPro in your signature) then you won't need this service running, but the fact those system files are missing is odd. It would be best to restore them.

 

Have done all that Snow

 

Open 'My Computer' and find your CD drive. It should have a letter associated with it, for example, D: Mine is F:

Use that letter in place of X: in the following two commands. Try this to restore the missing files:

 

* Insert the Windows XP disk into the CD drive.

* Click Start, click Run, type cmd in the Open box, and then click OK

* At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER.

 

expand X:\i386\ipnathlp.dl_ %systemroot%\system32\ipnathlp.dll

prompt states cant find

 

 

* Similarly, expand ipnat.sys file to the Drivers folder. Use the following command:

 

expand X:\i386\ipnat.sy_ %systemroot%\system32\drivers\ipnat.sys

 

 

 

Once you've done this, open the command prompt again and type services.msc

Look through the list to find ' Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)'

 

Right-click on it, and select properties. Change its start up-type to 'Disabled' and Stop it if it is

running.

No prob here all done

Another thought could be conflicting programs. Does AVGPro have a firewall as well? If your computer freezes again, then try disabling AVG, and seeing if the problem goes away

 

will wait for the lockup again before disabling AVGpro BTW it does have a firewall .

 

I do have a local disk

I cannot be sure but I think this disk might be the thing that causing my lock up. I cannot defrag it

 

Also for information

Type Local Disk

File system NTFS used space 381 GB free space 84 GB Capacity 465GB

 

Kindest regards and thanks for your time and help

Bob

[bob12a]

Snow got the lock up again this morning

I am a little scared to remove/shut down AVGpro wont it mean I loose my firewall protection plus anything else it is guarding

 

Kindest regards and thanks for your time

Bob

[bob12a]

Hello Snow

Could we take up this post again where we left off as I am still having the problem. You will know why I stopped but looks like we are back again,

I have left the thread complet

Kindest

Bob

[snow]

Hi Bob, welcome back, we are indeed open for business again ;)

 

OK, where we'd got to last time:

 

• Ran sfc.exe with no errors, but it asked for a disk you didn't have.
  
• Ran a full disk check with no errors.
  
• Disabled the windows firewall service.
  

If you run AVG pro with a firewall component, and also Zone alarm Pro which is a firewall, then these might be causing conflicts. You could safely remove Zone alarm Pro if the firewall part of AVG is running, as this will protect your computer.

 

Have another look at your event log (both System and Application). Are there any new entries now that you have the windows firewall service disabled?

[bob12a]

Thank you for your kind welcome back.

 

As far as I know I only run one firewall are you asking me to ditch ZA pro or just disable the firewall in ZA (if so dont know how.)

I have made a pdf of event log (both System and Application) how do I get that to you.

[snow]

If you click 'Add new post' there will be a little picture of a paper clip beside the smiley face on the tool bar. Click it, and you will get a new window that will allow you to add attachments.

 

I assumed by AVG Pro you meant AVG internet security?

Comparison here:

AVG Antivirus and Security Software - Download AVG Trial Versions for Free

 

If you just have the antivirus edition then that's fine, but if you have internet security then you will be running two firewalls: Zone alarm and AVG. To make sure, open AVG and check for a firewall section.

[bob12a]

before firewall checking will do that later getting a little confussed Edited September 4, 2009 by bob12a

[snow]

Ok, I can see that the Universal Plug and Play service isn't starting, and that a program associated with the BBC iplayer seems to be stalling.

 

First, you will need to enable the file options we need to correct this. Open My Computer. Click Tools at the top. Select Folder Options. Go the view tab. Look through the list of tick boxes for the option:

"Show hidden files and folders"

Select it.

 

Then find:

"Use simple file sharing (Recommended)"

And UNselect it. Click Apply then OK.

 

Now, navigate to the file "C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Application Data\Microsoft\UPnP Device Host"

 

Right-click on it, and choose Properties. Go to the security tab. You should a list of groups at the top. Select "Users". On the list of permissions at the bottom, select 'Full Control' and click Apply, then OK.

 

Go back into Folder options, per above. Find:

"Use simple file sharing (Recommended)"

And Select it again. Click Apply then OK.

 

That should deal with UPNP. Now Click Start, then Run, and type in services.msc

 

Scroll through the list until you find "KService". Change its startup option to Disabled, and stop the service.

[bob12a]

orry cant find

 

Then find:

"Use simple file sharing (Recommended)"

And UNselect it. Click Apply then OK.

[bob12a]

Ok, I can see that the Universal Plug and Play service isn't starting, and that a program associated with the BBC iplayer seems to be stalling.

 

First, you will need to enable the file options we need to correct this. Open My Computer. Click Tools at the top. Select Folder Options. Go the view tab. Look through the list of tick boxes for the option:

"Show hidden files and folders"

Select it.

 

DONE PER INSTRUCTIONS

 

Then find: CANNOT FIND

"Use simple file sharing (Recommended)"

And UNselect it. Click Apply then OK.

 

Now, navigate to the file "C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Application Data\Microsoft\UPnP Device Host"

 

Right-click on it, and choose Properties. Go to the security tab. You should a list of groups at the top. Select "Users". On the list of permissions at the bottom, select 'Full Control' and click Apply, then OK.

 

Go back into Folder options, per above. Find:

"Use simple file sharing (Recommended)"

And Select it again. Click Apply then OK.

 

That should deal with UPNP. Now Click Start, then Run, and type in services.msc

 

Scroll through the list until you find "KService". Change its startup option to Disabled, and stop the service.

 

SEE RED ABOVE PLEASE

[snow]

Sorry Bob, I didn't realise that XP Home Edition doesn't have this feature (we all learn something new every day)

 

Don't worry about it for now. try the other bit:

Click Start, then Run, and type in services.msc

 

Scroll through the list until you find "KService". Change its startup option to Disabled, and stop the service.

Once you've done that, open up your copy of AVG. Is there anything about a firewall in the list of active components?

[bob12a]

Sorry Bob, I didn't realise that XP Home Edition doesn't have this feature (we all learn something new every day)

 

Don't worry about it for now. try the other bit:

Once you've done that, open up your copy of AVG. Is there anything about a firewall in the list of active components?

 

 

 

screen shot of avg

 

I am please to be able to use my little knowledge to send you files etc

 

Thanks

can I leave it for tomight getting tired

Your friend Bob

Edited September 4, 2009 by bob12a

[snow]

That's perfect Bob, no problems there :)

 

You have normal AVG, so keep Zone alarm as it is.

 

The next time your comupter does it, if at all, come back and tell us which programs were runnning when it happened.