Applications won't open

[Charley]

I have been having an annoying problem lately. Whenever I am on my computer
for more than about 30 minutes, none of my applications will open. If I try
to open one, the cursor goes into busy mode, but nothing happens. Task
manager will show that the corresponding process is running, but the app is
nowhere to be found. If I try to open it again, another process shows up,
but still no app. CPU usage stays below 5%, but nothing will open. If I
try to end the relevant process, it will not close. E.g., if I try to open
Notepad 4 times, notepad.exe shows up 4 times in processes under task
manager and I cannot end any of them. I then try to restart Windows, and it
hangs at the "Windows is shutting down" screen.

I am running XP SP2 and have checked for virii, spyware and malware til I am
blue in the face, yet this problem persists.

Please help!

 

[DanaFrancey]

how much ram does this pc have? It might be a factor.

 

[lvee]

your pc might be overheating. Have you opened the case to see how much dust
has built up inside?
Get a can of air, and after taking the proper precautions before you open
the case, clean the dust.
That may be all that's wrong.

 

[Charley]

I thought of that, I have 1GB RAM (2 Corsair VS512MB400 DIMMs), and my
Athlon XP 3200+ proc temp never goes above 45? C.

I also have: SB X-Fi, 120 GB Maxtor HD (Drive C), 300 GB WD HD, ASUS
A7N8X2.0, and Plextor PX-716A. All in a Silverstone TJ04 case. (And I just
built the thing, so I know that dust is not the factor.)

I am at a complete loss here.

 

[Malke]

I thought of that, I have 1GB RAM (2 Corsair VS512MB400 DIMMs), and my
Athlon XP 3200+ proc temp never goes above 45? C.

I also have: SB X-Fi, 120 GB Maxtor HD (Drive C), 300 GB WD HD, ASUS
A7N8X2.0, and Plextor PX-716A. All in a Silverstone TJ04 case. (And
I just built the thing, so I know that dust is not the factor.)

I am at a complete loss here.

I know you just built the machine, but test your RAM. I use Memtest86+
from www.memtest86.org. The fact that the hardware is new is
irrelevant; if hardware is going to fail it will usually do so quite
soon after you buy it or go for years.

Also make sure your power supply is adequate for all the goodies you've
stuffed into the case. If you have a generic power supply, try
replacing it with a high quality one instead.

Malke

 

[Charley]

All good suggestions! However, I have run MemTest 86 (overnight - twice!).
And I have an Antec True 480 PSU.

The thing that puzzles me is that I can sometimes go for days without the
problem, and then it starts up again. And I mean days without a power down
or reboot. That's what makes me suspect virus or malware. And it still
occurs going back to my earliest available restore point.

I am wondering if I have had a virus, got rid of it, but can't pin down
changes to my system that the virus wrought.

 

[Malke]

All good suggestions! However, I have run MemTest 86 (overnight -
twice!). And I have an Antec True 480 PSU.

The thing that puzzles me is that I can sometimes go for days without
the
problem, and then it starts up again. And I mean days without a power
down
or reboot. That's what makes me suspect virus or malware. And it
still occurs going back to my earliest available restore point.

I am wondering if I have had a virus, got rid of it, but can't pin
down changes to my system that the virus wrought.

If you have a current version av with an active subscription and updated
definitions, I would think you would know whether you had a virus or
not. You may have picked up some non-viral but destructive malware.
Here are general malware removal steps:

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

A good thing to do is to run HijackThis and use its extra Tools to
generate a Startup List. You can post your HJT log on one of the forums
linked at the site above (not here, please).

Malke