Computer freeze-ups and unresponsives

[BearoNet]

Hi..
We have a desktop Compaq Presario PC with a Celeron processor w/ Win98SE which we bought in 2000. In more recent days it has developed several annoying problems.

1. The computer would become kind of "sluggish" when a Java ap was in use; during the loading of a Java game the entire screen would freeze minus the mouse cursor. CTRL-ALT-DEL once would show the Blue Screen saying the system was busy or unresponsive, twice would show another Blue Screen saying there was a "fatal exception at 0000232A" or similar.

2. The current list of unresponsive programs when I press CTRL-ALT-DEL during "normal" operation includes around 8+, including a Helpexp, USBmonitor, Printmonitor, Emsw, Ccapp, the scanner software, etc.

It was suggested to me that it might be a hardware conflict but I have seen no real sign of it. An external CD-RW drive was added in May and a HP scanner was added last month.

I would scan for viruses but Norton 2003 has long ago ceased to work. I did however do a file search for a couple virus names, which was negative.

Another problem, which is effecting this message right now, (on Netscape 6 anyway), is that random parts or the entire text will highlight itself, and/or the cursor will reposition itself.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

-James W.

[SeanC]

Welcome to TechIMO.

I would suggest doing the following.

Go to the online anti virus scanning site: housecall.antivirus.com

Do a full scan of your hard drive. If no viruses are found, get a free anti virus program. I recommend AntiVir. There is a free version for home use at www.hbedv.com. I use it on all my systems and it works great.

Now I recommend going to:

www.lavasoftusa.com and download a program called AdAware. Install it and run it. It will look for Spyware and other malicious code that shouldn't be on your PC. The go to www.safer-networking.org to download Spybot Search and Destroy. It will look for some Spyware that AdAware doesn't see and vice-versa.

If that comes up clean then I suggest reinstalling your PC from scratch.

Backup any data and then format and reinstall Windows 98.

After you've done that go to www.zonelabs.com and download ZoneAlarm. It's a personal firewall program that helps protect your PC from being broken into from the Internet.

Sean

[unknown9]

I would definatly try using this http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ (i think it only works with IE, so do it with that). this is a trusty, good online scanner. Your problem definatly sounds like a virus or power supply. What power supply do you have? You might want to look into a new one, espically if its going bad.


edit: too fast for me shawn

[jesseejames]

I had similar problems after installing a scanner. look in the device manager under system and see if it is working properly or if it is conflicting with other hardware. I just uninstalled the scanner software and did a reinstall being careful as I installed it and now it works. I still have it slowing down the computer when I scan in large pictures and then print them. I think it is a memory shortage as it only has 64mb of Ram. Anyway give it a try and see.

[BearoNet]

Another problem appears to be graphics: images, words, even the whole page sometimes blurs, changes colors or distorts....I don't think this is virus-related, but one never knows...anyway it surely is something wrong when even Solitaire distorts...