Laptop 'freezing' all the time - please help!

emmylou69

I have a Toshiba Satelite U400-15B which has always worked with no problem at all.
But the last week it has been virtually useless - it freezes frequently - sometimes even on the Windows welcome screen (where you put in the password).
It seems to have been about the time I renewed my Norton Internet Security (but this may be a coincidence) - I had 2009 which was installed from a CD then I purchased 2010 and entered the licence number. I have since uninstalled and reinstalled it via download (the Norton program requested this).
Then it seemed to disappear and would not load or do anything so I uninstalled again and reinstalled via the disc.
But I am still having problems - any help anyone? It freezes irrespective of whether I am online or not, and it doesn't seem to be any particular program etc.
I have done system restore but this has made no difference.

Please can anyone help - but please use the very simplest techie terms as I am definitely not tech-minded :-)

Thank you :-)

The_Grandmaster

I think that's caused by norton - it is a very heavy programme.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2436849 is a method of speeding up a computer.

Start with memory clean up programme - should speed up the computer.

Then maybe delete programmes you don't use. Are you running multiple antivirus programmes by any chance?

Running malwarebytes scan to ensure nothing bad is present then a hijack this log (which you paste here) to help you decide what to remove may be useful.
Instructions available on the link above I think.

emmylou69

I have just noticed that on my list of programs (from the start button) it has Norton Internet Security and also one called Norton Internet Security(441) which it says is empty.
Is this ok or something to worry about?

:-S

punksluck

Hello,
first of all let me just say that installing anything from Norton is a bad idea as it is very difficult to wipe from the system once i'ts embedded itself into your precious rescources. There are lots of free system protection programs out there that are just as good and don't eat away at your RAM or take up alot of processing power.

I few things I'd like to know:
1. Since you last restored the sytem have you re installed Norton?
2. What version of windows are you running?
3. How much RAM does you laptop have?

Thanks.

emmylou69

Thank you guys :-)

The Grandmaster - I will check that link now. I don't think I am running more than one antivirus - how would I find out?


Punksluck -
1. Yes
2. Vista 32 bit
3. 4GB

aliEnRIK

Use the Norton removal tool (probably need to run for both versions)
http://service1.symantec.com/Support/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039


Assuming your computer works fine then clearly norton was the problem

The_Grandmaster

But emmylou69 has (presumably) bought norton internet security 2010... a bit of a waste of money if it isn't on the computer although norton is freezing the computer.

Hammyman

The_Grandmaster wrote: »

But emmylou69 has (presumably) bought norton internet security 2010... a bit of a waste of money if it isn't on the computer although norton is freezing the computer.

If its freezing the computer, its freezing the computer. Not really much else you can do other than remove it if its the problem.

FWIW, some recent court decisions have started to hold software makers responsible for buggy software and it should be possible to get a refund under SOGA.

emmylou69

Yes, it was bought from Amazon - are they likely to listen to a request for a refund do you think?

Am working through the advice from the link given by The Grandmaster at the moment to see if it helps :-)

emmylou69

I suppose the problem is knowing if it actually is Norton causing the problem...

EvilScotsman

When the computer freezes is it completely unresponsive or can you press Ctrl+Shift+Escape to bring up Task Manager? If so you can click on the processes tab and see if Norton (or any other application) is hogging lots of memory.