XP "Freezing"

[M. Sawalski]

Just want to do a quick sanity check here....we have a small network: 8 new
Dell PC's running Windows XP Pro, one new Dell file server running Windows
2003, connected via hardwired Cat 5 cable through a Netgear switch. We are
using assigned TCP/IP addresses, with a netmask of 255.255.255.0. We have
the server setup to act as a file server and a DNS server.

We have had a problem since the consultants installed this network with slow
response on the network. Recently we have had two workstations that appear
to freeze or lock up. So if you are in Word, all of a sudden when you press
menu commands or try to type, nothing happens. You still Ctrl-Alt-Del, then
end the current task, and everything is back to normal.

That is our problem. We looked at the TCP configuration, and noticed that
the gateway is set to the TCP address of our server. Is this correct, or
doesn't it matter. Has anyone heard or seen this type of error before?
Anything we can do or check to make sure everything is setup properly? It
almost seems as though things are getting lost in the network, but since it
is so small, not sure how it could take this long. Any help or insights
would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

The gateway setting is correct for the setup you are describing. Does this
happen on all the XP machines? If so, is it when the systems are accessing
network resources? How about when they are working with a local file?

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[M. Sawalski]

It appears that when we are accessing network resources, particularly the
shared drives that we have setup where the users store their files.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

Have you got the service pack installed? There is a known issue with delays
caused by the original version of tcpip.sys.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Kelly]

In addition to what Rick has suggested...

See line 157: http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

And:

For Word: Go to Start/Run and type in: windword /r
For Excel: Go to Start/Run and type in: excel /regserver
For PowerPoint: Start/Run and type in: powerpnt /regserver
For Access:Go to Start/Run and type in: msaccess /regserver

Added info:

When your computer is connected to a network, booting up Windows XP can take
a long time.
A big part of this time is taking up by updating the group policies.

This tweak lets you log on before this process is finished. Because of this,
booting up is much faster.

Speedup Network Logon/Boot (Line 79)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Go to the registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system

In this key, look for the following values:

SynchronousMachineGroupPolicy
SynchronousUserGroupPolicy

By default, these values don't exist. If you can't find them, create them as
REG_DWORD values. Set both values to 0.

Speedup Logon/Boot (Line 79) Right hand side
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
--
In memory of our dear friend, MVP Alex Nichol: http://www.dts-l.org/

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com

 

[M. Sawalski]

Hmmm..is this the new service pack that just came out the other day? If so,
no. We had installed the computers March 25, and at that time we put on all
known patches from MS site. We don't have an Internet connection to this
facility (security reasons) so we don't have automatic updates on. Sounds
like I need to hit MS website again. If you could clarify Rick, that would
be great! Thanks!

 

[M. Sawalski]

Thanks Kelly! I will give this s shot. I'll let you know how it goes.

-Mike-

 

[M. Sawalski]

Kelly:

Just a few clarifications:

And:

For Word: Go to Start/Run and type in: windword /r
For Excel: Go to Start/Run and type in: excel /regserver
For PowerPoint: Start/Run and type in: powerpnt /regserver
For Access:Go to Start/Run and type in: msaccess /regserver

For Word, is it "winword /r" or "winword /regserver" (or doesn't it matter)?

Also, do I need to type this every time I start up one of the office tools?

Finally, what does this do, and why would this help?

Sorry for being a pest...thanks!

-Mike-

 

[Steve N.]

Just want to do a quick sanity check here....we have a small network: 8 new
Dell PC's running Windows XP Pro, one new Dell file server running Windows
2003, connected via hardwired Cat 5 cable through a Netgear switch. We are
using assigned TCP/IP addresses, with a netmask of 255.255.255.0. We have
the server setup to act as a file server and a DNS server.

We have had a problem since the consultants installed this network with slow
response on the network. Recently we have had two workstations that appear
to freeze or lock up. So if you are in Word, all of a sudden when you press
menu commands or try to type, nothing happens. You still Ctrl-Alt-Del, then
end the current task, and everything is back to normal.

That is our problem. We looked at the TCP configuration, and noticed that
the gateway is set to the TCP address of our server. Is this correct, or
doesn't it matter. Has anyone heard or seen this type of error before?
Anything we can do or check to make sure everything is setup properly? It
almost seems as though things are getting lost in the network, but since it
is so small, not sure how it could take this long. Any help or insights
would be greatly appreciated!

Check your a/v software settings and turn off anything to do with
scanning or monitoring network drives.

Steve

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

I was referring to Service Pack 2, which has been out for 8 months.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Kelly]

My bad on the spelling. winword /r provokes an install and winword
/regserver opens Word.

--
In memory of our dear friend, MVP Alex Nichol: http://www.dts-l.org/

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com

 

[M. Sawalski]

Thanks Kelly, but can you tell me what using the switch "/regserver" does?
How will this help me? I tried looking for this, but haven't found anything
on it. Thanks!

-Mike-