G
Guest
My computer constantly freezes up. I've already tried running virus scans and
reformatting my computer but it still freezes. Help?
reformatting my computer but it still freezes. Help?
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P
PsyB
How old is the computer? Has it been cleaned inside recently? Are all
the fans spinning as they should? What firewall are you using? Dial up
or Network?
PsyB
the fans spinning as they should? What firewall are you using? Dial up
or Network?
PsyB
P
PsyB
Hi Liz!
2 Years old isn't so bad, but if you have pets it could be getting
pretty dirty in there. You can buy canned air at most computer shops
which can be used to blow the dust and junk out of your heatsink on your
CPU (a big silver thing behind a fan) and your power supply (at the top
of your case with a fan that blows out of the back). You will obviously
have to take the side off of your computer to do this, and I would
suggests you do it outside because they can get pretty dirty. When using
the air around the motherboard, be careful that you don't aim it
directly as there is potential to blow of various jumpers (which are
small usually black, white, blue, teal or yellow). You can give a good
blast to the CPU and fan without worry though and also to the GPU on the
video card if it has a fan (depends on your computer). Most computer
stores will do this for you anyway, but will probably charge labor.
After blowing it out see if it is stable. If not then make sure your
firewall is up to date and you have all of the latest fixes for it. I
have never been a McAfee fan preferring Kerio or ZoneAlarm, but if you
install WindowsXP Service Pack 2 you will find that their firewall is
adequate. Does your computer freeze consistently? For example does it
freeze when you are on the Internet or when you load a large document?
Most importantly, though perhaps not the solution it is a wise purchase
option for anyone who uses high speed Internet - buy a router! A router
is a hardware firewall that deals much better with bad network activity
than any software package can. Because it is hardware, it is less
susceptible to becoming corrupted. Software firewalls are continuously
examined for weaknesses to exploit and many virii stop various software
firewalls from functioning. Unlike the software firewall, a router does
not need extra configuration in most cases. You may have allowed the
wrong kind of activity into your network connection without thinking of
it by way of the software firewall, but the hardware firewall will know
what is good and what is bad. I would NOT recommend the MS hardware
firewall. It has too many weaknesses. I would suggest the D-Link 604
router, however. With a router you get the added bonus of being able to
hook many computers to the same Internet connection. If you have a
problem hooking it up should you get one, feel free to email me at
(e-mail address removed) (remove NO & MEAT) and I will help you
configure it for your DSL provider.
One final question. Do you have file shares turned on?
2 Years old isn't so bad, but if you have pets it could be getting
pretty dirty in there. You can buy canned air at most computer shops
which can be used to blow the dust and junk out of your heatsink on your
CPU (a big silver thing behind a fan) and your power supply (at the top
of your case with a fan that blows out of the back). You will obviously
have to take the side off of your computer to do this, and I would
suggests you do it outside because they can get pretty dirty. When using
the air around the motherboard, be careful that you don't aim it
directly as there is potential to blow of various jumpers (which are
small usually black, white, blue, teal or yellow). You can give a good
blast to the CPU and fan without worry though and also to the GPU on the
video card if it has a fan (depends on your computer). Most computer
stores will do this for you anyway, but will probably charge labor.
After blowing it out see if it is stable. If not then make sure your
firewall is up to date and you have all of the latest fixes for it. I
have never been a McAfee fan preferring Kerio or ZoneAlarm, but if you
install WindowsXP Service Pack 2 you will find that their firewall is
adequate. Does your computer freeze consistently? For example does it
freeze when you are on the Internet or when you load a large document?
Most importantly, though perhaps not the solution it is a wise purchase
option for anyone who uses high speed Internet - buy a router! A router
is a hardware firewall that deals much better with bad network activity
than any software package can. Because it is hardware, it is less
susceptible to becoming corrupted. Software firewalls are continuously
examined for weaknesses to exploit and many virii stop various software
firewalls from functioning. Unlike the software firewall, a router does
not need extra configuration in most cases. You may have allowed the
wrong kind of activity into your network connection without thinking of
it by way of the software firewall, but the hardware firewall will know
what is good and what is bad. I would NOT recommend the MS hardware
firewall. It has too many weaknesses. I would suggest the D-Link 604
router, however. With a router you get the added bonus of being able to
hook many computers to the same Internet connection. If you have a
problem hooking it up should you get one, feel free to email me at
(e-mail address removed) (remove NO & MEAT) and I will help you
configure it for your DSL provider.
One final question. Do you have file shares turned on?