Accessing network freezes computer

[idaspud]

Hi

This problem started suddenly, not over time. The computer will run fine
doing anything else except accessing other computers or the web. So anything
to do with networking. Once you open say, a browser, maybe get to a site or
two, the computer completely freezes up. Accessing another computer on my
network has the same results. No BSOD or the like, just a solid freeze. I
ran three different spyware programs with no problems detected and two
different virus programs with no problems detected. Finally I performed HP's
"full restore" (Hidden Partition type not disks), formatting the HD etc.
Same problem with freezing up.

The computer is an HP Pavilion XT983, AMD 1.4ghz, 512mb ram, with an
onboard Realteck RTL8139. MB is Trigem. I also tried disabling the NIC in
Hardware profiles, and installing a known good NIC, but with the same
results. At this point I'm thinking hardware failure of some sort.

Any Ideas?

Thanks Keith

 

[idaspud]

Hi

This problem started suddenly, not over time. The computer will run

fine

<snip>

Geeze, I'm trying to hurry, as it's time to go to work. (will access this
from there later)

I didn't mention that the OS is XP home, and that I have tried a
different networking cable, and a different hub, just to help isolate the
problem.

Thanks again

 

[Chuck]

Hi

This problem started suddenly, not over time. The computer will run fine
doing anything else except accessing other computers or the web. So anything
to do with networking. Once you open say, a browser, maybe get to a site or
two, the computer completely freezes up. Accessing another computer on my
network has the same results. No BSOD or the like, just a solid freeze. I
ran three different spyware programs with no problems detected and two
different virus programs with no problems detected. Finally I performed HP's
"full restore" (Hidden Partition type not disks), formatting the HD etc.
Same problem with freezing up.

The computer is an HP Pavilion XT983, AMD 1.4ghz, 512mb ram, with an
onboard Realteck RTL8139. MB is Trigem. I also tried disabling the NIC in
Hardware profiles, and installing a known good NIC, but with the same
results. At this point I'm thinking hardware failure of some sort.

Any Ideas?

Thanks Keith

Keith,

Did you do a complete malware exam? Did it end with HijackThis, and if so, do
you have a link to a HJT log analysis?
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/dealing-with-malware-adware-spyware.html>

Start by finding out WHAT the computer is actually doing when it "freezes". Get
Autoruns, Filemon, Process Explorer, Regmon, and TCPView, all free, and all from
SysInternals.
<http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities.html>

Each of these programs need no installation - just copy them to a folder, make a
shortcut, or whatever you like to do, and run each one.
# Autoruns lists each process automatically started by the system, looking in
close to a dozen startup lists. It provides a GUI equivalent to HijackThis, but
provides much more detail about each entry.
# Filemon makes a scrolling display of each file as it is accessed, including
the process accessing it, the action used in the access, and the status (success
/ failure).
# Process Explorer provides a very detailed list of all processes running on the
system, including how each process started, what resources each is using, what
components are used in each process. I like to add a colum that displays Start
Time of each process, then sort by that column. You can watch what just
started, sometimes with enlightening results.
# Regmon makes a scrolling display of each registry value as it is accessed,
including the process accessing it, the action used in the access, and the
status (success / failure).
# TCPView lists all open ports on the system, what process owns each port, and
its local and remote endpoints. It complements Process Explorer quite nicely.
For a network activity display, or at least a display indicating the variety and
volume of network activity, it is essential.

Play with each one a bit, get used to what it shows, then start your browser,
and see what interesting information you see.

 

[Keith]

Keith,

Did you do a complete malware exam? Did it end with HijackThis, and if so, do
you have a link to a HJT log analysis?
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/dealing-with-malware-adware-spyware.h
tml>

Start by finding out WHAT the computer is actually doing when it "freezes". Get
Autoruns, Filemon, Process Explorer, Regmon, and TCPView, all free, and all from
SysInternals.
<http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities.html>

Each of these programs need no installation - just copy them to a folder, make a
shortcut, or whatever you like to do, and run each one.
# Autoruns lists each process automatically started by the system, looking in
close to a dozen startup lists. It provides a GUI equivalent to HijackThis, but
provides much more detail about each entry.
# Filemon makes a scrolling display of each file as it is accessed, including
the process accessing it, the action used in the access, and the status (success
/ failure).
# Process Explorer provides a very detailed list of all processes running on the
system, including how each process started, what resources each is using, what
components are used in each process. I like to add a colum that displays Start
Time of each process, then sort by that column. You can watch what just
started, sometimes with enlightening results.
# Regmon makes a scrolling display of each registry value as it is accessed,
including the process accessing it, the action used in the access, and the
status (success / failure).
# TCPView lists all open ports on the system, what process owns each port, and
its local and remote endpoints. It complements Process Explorer quite nicely.
For a network activity display, or at least a display indicating the variety and
volume of network activity, it is essential.

Play with each one a bit, get used to what it shows, then start your browser,
and see what interesting information you see.

Thanks for the response and info. I'll check into it further, using your
suggestions. One thing bothers me however; Having formatted the hd, and
reinstalled xp, and nothing else, why then would there still be malware on
there, and why did it freeze the very first time I tried to use
networking?, (Not the Net but computer to computer) I had also run several
spy/add ware programs before I got radical and wiped 'er clean, as well as
scanned for viruses, with no problems reported. I have since run the
detectors yet again, with no reported problems. I ran Hijackthis before and
after as well, and had searched the web for every entry that even looked a
little suspicious, ("before") with good results for all. I am a VERY careful
NET user, and do regular maintenance to make sure I don't have problems. I
use a firewalled router, and keep resident programs running in the
background, just-in-case I do run into something adverse on the web. So I'm
a little perplexed here.

Cheers
Keith

 

[Keith]

Update,

Yup, hardware failure. Something about a "south bridge " or "north
bridge" controller failure. I have sense bought another computer.

Cheers

 

[Chuck]

Update,

Yup, hardware failure. Something about a "south bridge " or "north
bridge" controller failure. I have sense bought another computer.

Cheers

Gack. Well, I'm glad you found it so easily. Thanks for updating the thread.