XP netbook starts but just hangs

Kernel_Sanders

My Asus Eee will start up but programs start to launch, then just hang, and it won't shut down properly. I can diagnostic download stuff for it onto a memory card later today at the library if required(up to 3.45pm), so what are my options please?

espresso

Have you tired starting in safe mode?

Kernel_Sanders

espresso wrote: »

Have you tried starting in safe mode?

Well I can actually get the start menu up without that.
But on that link, it states If after several attempts you are unable to get into Safe Mode as the computer is booting into Windows, turn off your computer. When the computer is turned on the next time Windows should notice that the computer did not successfully boot and give you the Safe Mode screen. When this occurs on the Asus Eee, something called 'American Megatrends' flashes up with loads of info that you cannot read, because it stays up for about 2 seconds. Is this safe mode, or do I need to press F8 during those 2 seconds?

espresso

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

Well I can actually get the start menu up without that.
But on that link, it states If after several attempts you are unable to get into Safe Mode as the computer is booting into Windows, turn off your computer. When the computer is turned on the next time Windows should notice that the computer did not successfully boot and give you the Safe Mode screen. When this occurs on the Asus Eee, something called 'American Megatrends' flashes up with loads of info that you cannot read, because it stays up for about 2 seconds. Is this safe mode, or do I need to press F8 during those 2 seconds?

American Megatrends is the BIOS, not Windows safe mode, you need to "tap the "F8 key" continuously until you get the startup menu" when you boot up.

Kernel_Sanders

espresso wrote: »

you need to "tap the "F8 key" continuously until you get the startup menu" when you boot up.

This makes no difference, I think because the previous boot always starts up OK. It lets you do a couple of siimple things before freezing, although this doesn't extend to populating 'add or remove programs'.

espresso

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

This makes no difference, I think because the previous boot always starts up OK. It lets you do a couple of siimple things before freezing, although this doesn't extend to populating 'add or remove programs'.

You should always be able to access safe mode at boot up or are you saying that safe mode makes no difference?

Kernel_Sanders

espresso wrote: »

You should always be able to access safe mode at boot up or are you saying that safe mode makes no difference?

Yes, safe mode makes no difference, I suspect for the reason stated in my previous post.

espresso

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

Yes, safe mode makes no difference, I suspect for the reason stated in my previous post.

It should be much easier to fault find in safe mode, could it be overheating that is causing it to lock up? Try installing Speedfan here and monitor the temp at startup.

Kernel_Sanders

espresso wrote: »

It should be much easier to fault find in safe mode, could it be overheating that is causing it to lock up? Try installing Speedfan here and monitor the temp at startup.

No, it never overheats unless kept on soft furnishings for a few minutes. I think the problem is malware, but I can't run any of the programmes suggested in the sticky.

TakeThis

Model number?

esuhl

First thing I'd try is to boot a clean OS to see if it still hangs. Can you install one onto flash memory (USB stick / SD card / whatever) or attach a CD drive and boot into a different OS successfully?

You might want to try downloading a Slax (Linux-based live) image. If that runs okay, you can probably rule out hardware problems. In which case, I'd probably just re-install Windows.