Momentary Freezing Advent 7098

donny-gal

Hi folks

I know this is an old laptop, but used by a 70+ year old neighbour for email and booking plane/ferry tickets via dial up:eek: (though it is running currently on my wi-fi)

It appears to be momentarily freezing, just stopping doing nothing and then starting again? I haven't come across this before. Done all the usual stuff, run full Malwarebytes scan - found 3 minor ones and removed them, cleaned up up via CCleaner, swopped the virus protection to Avast, and loaded Chrome instead of IE. Running full virus scan now, but nothing found.

Wondered if it could be the memory, so have re-seated that, and cleaned out a little fluff from near the fan. Not sure if it is a feature of the Advents, but the fan appears to cut in and out. Not running hot though. Only has 1GB of memory, could be upgraded to 2, but still doing it when using minimal memory.

Any ideas please? DG

donny-gal

Anyone?? DG

Figment

Version of Windows?

Open the task manager on the perfomance tab. Does CPU or memory usage suddenly peak around the time it becomes unresponsive?

donny-gal

XP - and no the memory doesn't peak. Installed CleanMem to watch it. DG

closed

what about the processor utilisation - task manager, processes and performance.

hijackthis log might throw something up

run chkdsk on c: chkdsk c: /f

donny-gal

Sorry for the delay, here is the Hi-Jack Log
Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.4
Scan saved at 18:31:13, on 19/05/2012
Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v8.00 SP3 (8.00.6001.18702)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\S24EvMon.exe
C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\AvastSvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 3.0\PhotoshopElementsFileAgent.exe
C:\Program Files\Canon\IJPLM\IJPLMSVC.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\LxrSII1s.exe
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 3.0\PhotoshopElementsDeviceConnect.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\RegSrvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Western Digital\WD SmartWare\WD Drive Manager\WDDMService.exe
C:\Program Files\Western Digital\WD SmartWare\Front !!!!!!\WDSmartWareBackgroundService.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\SearchIndexer.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\SearchProtocolHost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZCfgSvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\1XConfig.exe
C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\avastUI.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Reginald Ford\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Reginald Ford\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Reginald Ford\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Reginald Ford\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HiJackThis\HiJackThis.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Reginald Ford\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = https://login.yahoo.com/config/login_verify2?&.src=ym
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: Spybot-S&D IE Protection - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {5C255C8A-E604-49b4-9D64-90988571CECB} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: Windows Live Sign-in Helper - {9030D464-4C02-4ABF-8ECC-5164760863C6} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live\WindowsLiveLogin.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - C:\Program Files\Google\Google Toolbar\GoogleToolbar_32.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Notifier BHO - {AF69DE43-7D58-4638-B6FA-CE66B5AD205D} - C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\5.7.7227.1100\swg.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Google Toolbar - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - C:\Program Files\Google\Google Toolbar\GoogleToolbar_32.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Alcmtr] ALCMTR.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ZCfgSvc.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZCfgSvc.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [avast] "C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\avastUI.exe" /nogui
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Google Update] "C:\Documents and Settings\Reginald Ford\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Update\GoogleUpdate.exe" /c
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [swg] "C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe"
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTFMON.EXE (User 'SYSTEM')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\Run: [Picasa Media Detector] C:\Program Files\Picasa2\PicasaMediaDetector.exe (User 'SYSTEM')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\Run: [DWQueuedReporting] "c:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\MICROS~1\DW\dwtrig20.exe" -t (User 'SYSTEM')
O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTFMON.EXE (User 'Default user')
O8 - Extra context menu item: Add to Google Photos Screensa&ver - res://C:\WINDOWS\system32\GPhotos.scr/200
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {DFB852A3-47F8-48C4-A200-58CAB36FD2A2} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Spybot - Search & Destroy Configuration - {DFB852A3-47F8-48C4-A200-58CAB36FD2A2} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O14 - IERESET.INF: START_PAGE_URL=http://www.pcservicecall.co.uk
O16 - DPF: {4B0999FD-6937-11D5-8FEC-00606779369C} (NetConf) -
O16 - DPF: {CF84DAC5-A4F5-419E-A0BA-C01FFD71112F} (SysInfo Class) - http://content.systemrequirementslab.com.s3.amazonaws.com/global/bin/srldetect_intel_4.4.24.0.cab
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: Browseui preloader - {438755C2-A8BA-11D1-B96B-00A0C90312E1} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\browseui.dll
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: Component Categories cache daemon - {8C7461EF-2B13-11d2-BE35-3078302C2030} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\browseui.dll
O23 - Service: Adobe Active File Monitor (AdobeActiveFileMonitor) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 3.0\PhotoshopElementsFileAgent.exe
O23 - Service: avast! Antivirus - AVAST Software - C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\AvastSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Google Update Service (gupdate) (gupdate) - Google Inc. - C:\Program Files\Google\Update\GoogleUpdate.exe
O23 - Service: Google Update Service (gupdatem) (gupdatem) - Google Inc. - C:\Program Files\Google\Update\GoogleUpdate.exe
O23 - Service: Google Software Updater (gusvc) - Google - C:\Program Files\Google\Common\Google Updater\GoogleUpdaterService.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\11\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: Canon Inkjet Printer/Scanner/Fax Extended Survey Program (IJPLMSVC) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Canon\IJPLM\IJPLMSVC.EXE
O23 - Service: Lexar Secure II (LxrSII1s) - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\LxrSII1s.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (NVSvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
O23 - Service: Photoshop Elements Device Connect (PhotoshopElementsDeviceConnect) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 3.0\PhotoshopElementsDeviceConnect.exe
O23 - Service: Pml Driver HPZ12 - HP - C:\WINDOWS\system32\HPZipm12.exe
O23 - Service: RegSrvc - Intel Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\system32\RegSrvc.exe
O23 - Service: Spectrum24 Event Monitor (S24EventMonitor) - Intel Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\system32\S24EvMon.exe
O23 - Service: WD SmartWare Drive Manager (WDDMService) - WDC - C:\Program Files\Western Digital\WD SmartWare\WD Drive Manager\WDDMService.exe
O23 - Service: WD SmartWare Background Service (WDSmartWareBackgroundService) - Memeo - C:\Program Files\Western Digital\WD SmartWare\Front !!!!!!\WDSmartWareBackgroundService.exe

--
End of file - 7462 bytes

I know you will find loads to thin out now I have seen this.

I ran chkdsk, the results page just flashed up and then the pc restarted, but I did manage to see that there were no bad sectors.

Performance Tab
Commit Charge
Total 575k
Limt 2502k
Peak 603k

Processes 44 :eek: All I opened was Chrome.
Thanks again
DG

closed

Is memeo/WD smartware being used or needed at startup? If not, uninstall or disable. - there is a free version of acronis on the Wd site available for backing up systems using WD drives

IE may be better than chrome

delete the google update task from c:\windows\tasks

uninstall spybot

fix ctfmon (see sticky)

disable dwtrig20.exe, picasa media detector using msconfig/startup

disable searchindexer, use www.voidtools.com instead

remove the adobe bloat, file monitor etc.

robmar0se

Gut feel is that this is a software issue rather than hardware. If the above suggestions don't resolve the issue, it may be worth looking in the control panel/admin tools/event viewer's system and/or application logs and see if there are errors reported at approx the time that the freezes occur?

-TangleFoot-

closed wrote: »

IE may be better than chrome

IE9 perhaps; IE8... not so much. In any case merely having 44 processes is nothing to worry about.

Additional: could this be relevant?

closed

in terms of performance, memory, and especially privacy, IE beats chrome easily imo. google and chrome gets quite a few mentions on that log, none of which are required for a machine to run well and browse. (same applies to the extra microsoft bloat). 44 processes is quite a lot on an xp machine.

GunJack

^^^ opera is even lighter than IE, and pretty darn awesome....I compared memory useage of opera, IE, chrome & FF a couple of months ago...same 3 tabs open on all of them, Opera won hands-down