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#1
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Computer suddenly hanging/crashing
My computer (running XP Home / SP2) has begun hanging, bunking out of programs and even crashing. Anti-virus is Avast, which I've been using for years and am totally happy with - never had any infections. I installed 2Gb of memory a week or so ago, giving a total of 2.5Gb - computer is configured for up to 3.5Gb. Things went fine till last night, while watching 4oD. The only other thing I've changed is to uninstall the old 4oD player, which is no longer needed, and prevent the (I was told) Kontiki helper program Khost.exe from loading at startup. Examples: *Hanging*: capricious and application-unrelated - even just surfing with Mozilla or I.E. *Bunking out*: Second Life *Crashing*: Channel 4's iPlayer (4oD) It's getting really boring and means I can't do anything much. It even hung when I was setting up this HTFC account. Any help/suggestions appreciated; thanks. |
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#2
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Computer suddenly hanging/crashing
On Thu, 8 Oct 2009 08:50:14 -0500, skylark42
wrote: My computer (running XP Home / SP2) has begun hanging, bunking out of programs and even crashing. Anti-virus is Avast, which I've been using for years and am totally happy with - never had any infections. Not to say anything bad about Avast--I think it's the best of the freeware programs, and is only slightly inferior to a paid-for program like NOD32. *But* being totally happy with it because you've never had any infections for the years you've using it is not really a good reason. That's like saying "I'm totally happy with using ketchup as a heart attack preventative; I've eaten ketchup daily for years and have never had a heart attack." With respect to your problem, you talk about your anti-virus program, but you say nothing about what anti-spyware programs you run. Which ones do you run, and are they kept up to date? -- Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003 Please Reply to the Newsgroup |
#3
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Computer suddenly hanging/crashing
On Thu, 8 Oct 2009 08:50:14 -0500, skylark42
wrote: My computer (running XP Home / SP2) has begun hanging, bunking out of programs and even crashing. Anti-virus is Avast, which I've been using for years and am totally happy with - never had any infections. Not to say anything bad about Avast--I think it's the best of the freeware programs, and is only slightly inferior to a paid-for program like NOD32. *But* being totally happy with it because you've never had any infections for the years you've using it is not really a good reason. That's like saying "I'm totally happy with using ketchup as a heart attack preventative; I've eaten ketchup daily for years and have never had a heart attack." With respect to your problem, you talk about your anti-virus program, but you say nothing about what anti-spyware programs you run. Which ones do you run, and are they kept up to date? -- Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003 Please Reply to the Newsgroup |
#4
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Computer suddenly hanging/crashing
Considering that this seemed to have begun after you installed more RAM, I
suggest that you check out the memory thoroughly. Use the tool at the following web site to run a test on the RAM http://www.memtest.org/ Leave it running for a number of cycles to see if it detects anything. Hope this helps. Martin "skylark42" wrote in message ... My computer (running XP Home / SP2) has begun hanging, bunking out of programs and even crashing. Anti-virus is Avast, which I've been using for years and am totally happy with - never had any infections. I installed 2Gb of memory a week or so ago, giving a total of 2.5Gb - computer is configured for up to 3.5Gb. Things went fine till last night, while watching 4oD. The only other thing I've changed is to uninstall the old 4oD player, which is no longer needed, and prevent the (I was told) Kontiki helper program Khost.exe from loading at startup. Examples: *Hanging*: capricious and application-unrelated - even just surfing with Mozilla or I.E. *Bunking out*: Second Life *Crashing*: Channel 4's iPlayer (4oD) It's getting really boring and means I can't do anything much. It even hung when I was setting up this HTFC account. Any help/suggestions appreciated; thanks. |
#5
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Computer suddenly hanging/crashing
Considering that this seemed to have begun after you installed more RAM, I
suggest that you check out the memory thoroughly. Use the tool at the following web site to run a test on the RAM http://www.memtest.org/ Leave it running for a number of cycles to see if it detects anything. Hope this helps. Martin "skylark42" wrote in message ... My computer (running XP Home / SP2) has begun hanging, bunking out of programs and even crashing. Anti-virus is Avast, which I've been using for years and am totally happy with - never had any infections. I installed 2Gb of memory a week or so ago, giving a total of 2.5Gb - computer is configured for up to 3.5Gb. Things went fine till last night, while watching 4oD. The only other thing I've changed is to uninstall the old 4oD player, which is no longer needed, and prevent the (I was told) Kontiki helper program Khost.exe from loading at startup. Examples: *Hanging*: capricious and application-unrelated - even just surfing with Mozilla or I.E. *Bunking out*: Second Life *Crashing*: Channel 4's iPlayer (4oD) It's getting really boring and means I can't do anything much. It even hung when I was setting up this HTFC account. Any help/suggestions appreciated; thanks. |
#6
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Computer suddenly hanging/crashing
"skylark42" wrote in message
... My computer (running XP Home / SP2) has begun hanging, bunking out of programs and even crashing. Anti-virus is Avast, which I've been using for years and am totally happy with - never had any infections. I installed 2Gb of memory a week or so ago, giving a total of 2.5Gb - computer is configured for up to 3.5Gb. Things went fine till last night, while watching 4oD. The only other thing I've changed is to uninstall the old 4oD player, which is no longer needed, and prevent the (I was told) Kontiki helper program Khost.exe from loading at startup. Examples: *Hanging*: capricious and application-unrelated - even just surfing with Mozilla or I.E. *Bunking out*: Second Life *Crashing*: Channel 4's iPlayer (4oD) It's getting really boring and means I can't do anything much. It even hung when I was setting up this HTFC account. Any help/suggestions appreciated; thanks. Hi "skylark42", Did you install the RAM in matched pairs? Make/model of computer? The instructions for Dell computers says: "NOTICE: Before you install new memory modules, download the most recent BIOS for your computer from the Dell™ Support website at support.dell.com." - "Memory modules should be installed in pairs of matched memory size, speed, and technology. If the memory modules are not installed in matched pairs, the computer will continue to operate, but with a slight reduction in performance." I have heard of "Hanging" and "Crashing", but your message is the first where I have seen the term "Bunking out". Please define/describe that. Why is your computer not fully patched at Windows Update? Standard Caution: "Without SP3, all post-SP3 updates, and updated anti-virus and anti-spyware protection, your computer remains vulnerable to an untold number of security exploits! For your own safety and the safety of the online community at large, you should NOT be connected to the internet with an unpatched computer. If SP3 isn't install by April of 2010, you won't even be able to install updates via Windows Update or Automatic Updates." Avast is an excellent anti-virus program that includes some anti-spyware protection, but it is still a good idea to periodically check your computer with another anti-malware program like MalwareBytes AntiMalware. Microsoft Online Crash Analysis - Memory Test INSTaller http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp (That page is the user manual. Download MTINST.exe there.) Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool http://www.memtest.org/ (Versions for CD, floppy and USB flash drives) System Information resources: Start (all)Programs Accessories System Tools Event Viewer (Check both Application and System logs in Event Viewer) Start (all)Programs Accessories System Tools System Information Start Run dxdiag If you need assistance with error messages, please post complete messages, including text that LOOKS_LIKE_THIS, and complete error codes. HTH. (Hope This Helps. --Richard |
#7
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Computer suddenly hanging/crashing
"skylark42" wrote in message
... My computer (running XP Home / SP2) has begun hanging, bunking out of programs and even crashing. Anti-virus is Avast, which I've been using for years and am totally happy with - never had any infections. I installed 2Gb of memory a week or so ago, giving a total of 2.5Gb - computer is configured for up to 3.5Gb. Things went fine till last night, while watching 4oD. The only other thing I've changed is to uninstall the old 4oD player, which is no longer needed, and prevent the (I was told) Kontiki helper program Khost.exe from loading at startup. Examples: *Hanging*: capricious and application-unrelated - even just surfing with Mozilla or I.E. *Bunking out*: Second Life *Crashing*: Channel 4's iPlayer (4oD) It's getting really boring and means I can't do anything much. It even hung when I was setting up this HTFC account. Any help/suggestions appreciated; thanks. Hi "skylark42", Did you install the RAM in matched pairs? Make/model of computer? The instructions for Dell computers says: "NOTICE: Before you install new memory modules, download the most recent BIOS for your computer from the Dell™ Support website at support.dell.com." - "Memory modules should be installed in pairs of matched memory size, speed, and technology. If the memory modules are not installed in matched pairs, the computer will continue to operate, but with a slight reduction in performance." I have heard of "Hanging" and "Crashing", but your message is the first where I have seen the term "Bunking out". Please define/describe that. Why is your computer not fully patched at Windows Update? Standard Caution: "Without SP3, all post-SP3 updates, and updated anti-virus and anti-spyware protection, your computer remains vulnerable to an untold number of security exploits! For your own safety and the safety of the online community at large, you should NOT be connected to the internet with an unpatched computer. If SP3 isn't install by April of 2010, you won't even be able to install updates via Windows Update or Automatic Updates." Avast is an excellent anti-virus program that includes some anti-spyware protection, but it is still a good idea to periodically check your computer with another anti-malware program like MalwareBytes AntiMalware. Microsoft Online Crash Analysis - Memory Test INSTaller http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp (That page is the user manual. Download MTINST.exe there.) Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool http://www.memtest.org/ (Versions for CD, floppy and USB flash drives) System Information resources: Start (all)Programs Accessories System Tools Event Viewer (Check both Application and System logs in Event Viewer) Start (all)Programs Accessories System Tools System Information Start Run dxdiag If you need assistance with error messages, please post complete messages, including text that LOOKS_LIKE_THIS, and complete error codes. HTH. (Hope This Helps. --Richard |
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