Windows XP Update freezes, no shutdown possible

[Samuel Bürki]

I reinstalled WinXP home and since have the following problems, related as
far as I can see:

- Windows Update hangs at x% when set on automatic update (the yellow icon
in the taskbar)
- the Windows Update site freezes whenever it should open (via IE).
- Outlook 2002 freezes after 10-30 min
- Windows XP doesn't shut down anymore, it hangs at the shutdown message

RAM (1x 256 and 1x 512 MB) seems to be ok
Office XP with SP1-3
WinXP SP2
I can't remember when Windows froze for the first time. Whenever I did an
update via the catalogue, it worked fine. After that, I went to the Windows
Update site (via the link on the left), and as soon as I clicked on the
custom installation link, it froze again (IE). Any ideas? I know the one
about reinstalling... (the current installation is hardly two weeks old).

 

[Facon]

I reinstalled WinXP home and since have the following problems, related as
far as I can see:

- Windows Update hangs at x% when set on automatic update (the yellow icon
in the taskbar)
- the Windows Update site freezes whenever it should open (via IE).
- Outlook 2002 freezes after 10-30 min
- Windows XP doesn't shut down anymore, it hangs at the shutdown message

RAM (1x 256 and 1x 512 MB) seems to be ok
Office XP with SP1-3
WinXP SP2
I can't remember when Windows froze for the first time. Whenever I did an
update via the catalogue, it worked fine. After that, I went to the
Windows Update site (via the link on the left), and as soon as I clicked
on the custom installation link, it froze again (IE). Any ideas? I know
the one about reinstalling... (the current installation is hardly two
weeks old).

If you've got zone alarm installed that is causing it. Do a search on zone
alarm and freeze. Most likely it is some third party software.