Computer freezes many times per day

[Steve]

I have a new custom built Compaq with a 2.13 Ghz
processor with 496 RAM. This is becoming the most
frustrating machine I've ever had.

The computer freezes all day long. It can freeze when
trying to close my email program. It freezes when
attempting to open and/or close another program. The
feature that came with it where it automatically notifies
Microsoft of any problems has never worked. If I try to
Restart the computer...it freezes. If I open the Task
Manager, it freezes. If the "end program" window pops up
after a program stops responding, it freezes. The only
way to reboot is to unplug and do a cold start.
Yesterday, I bet I had to reboot at least a dozen times.
It is quite frustrating. How can I troubleshoot and find
the source of my problems?

Other possible pertinent info: I run Norton AV 2004.

Help?

 

[MAP]

-----Original Message-----
I have a new custom built Compaq with a 2.13 Ghz
processor with 496 RAM. This is becoming the most
frustrating machine I've ever had.

The computer freezes all day long. It can freeze when
trying to close my email program. It freezes when
attempting to open and/or close another program. The
feature that came with it where it automatically notifies
Microsoft of any problems has never worked. If I try to
Restart the computer...it freezes. If I open the Task
Manager, it freezes. If the "end program" window pops up
after a program stops responding, it freezes. The only
way to reboot is to unplug and do a cold start.
Yesterday, I bet I had to reboot at least a dozen times.
It is quite frustrating. How can I troubleshoot and find
the source of my problems?

Other possible pertinent info: I run Norton AV 2004.

Help?
.
Sounds like a pain in the kiester!

Troubleshooting Computer Lockups (Freezes)
Many readers write each week with a similar problem:
their computers periodically lock up or "freeze," so that
the mouse and keyboard won't function and nothing can be
done for a period of time (sometimes the system unlocks
after a while; in other cases you have to reboot). This
is a common problem but not an easy one to diagnose
because it has so many causes. It's like a person going
to the doctor with the complaint of a cough; the problem
could be a cold, an allergy, a substance stuck in the
throat, cancer, pneumonia, tuberculosis, etc. Here are
some common causes of lockups:
Software incompatibility
Hardware incompatibility or incorrect device driver
Bad RAM
Video card problems
Dying power supply
Processor getting too hot
The first step in diagnosing the problem is to keep a
journal showing exactly what you were doing each time the
system froze. This can help you spot patterns - for
example, if the lockup occurs when you try to print, or
whenever you play a sound, that suggests a problem with
the specific hardware device or its software driver.
Heat, bad RAM or a power supply that's about to give out
are more likely if the lockups are random

 

[Malke]

Troubleshooting Computer Lockups (Freezes)
Many readers write each week with a similar problem:
their computers periodically lock up or "freeze," so that
the mouse and keyboard won't function and nothing can be
done for a period of time (sometimes the system unlocks
after a while; in other cases you have to reboot). This
is a common problem but not an easy one to diagnose
because it has so many causes. It's like a person going
to the doctor with the complaint of a cough; the problem
could be a cold, an allergy, a substance stuck in the
throat, cancer, pneumonia, tuberculosis, etc. Here are
some common causes of lockups:
Software incompatibility
Hardware incompatibility or incorrect device driver
Bad RAM
Video card problems
Dying power supply
Processor getting too hot
The first step in diagnosing the problem is to keep a
journal showing exactly what you were doing each time the
system froze. This can help you spot patterns - for
example, if the lockup occurs when you try to print, or
whenever you play a sound, that suggests a problem with
the specific hardware device or its software driver.
Heat, bad RAM or a power supply that's about to give out
are more likely if the lockups are random

What do you mean "a custom built Compaq"? How could that be? If you mean
that you had a Compaq machine and have "upgraded" it by changing its
hardware around, then that is why you are having problems. Compaq
machines are very proprietary, and often have non-standard hardware
built just for Compaq. They are very fussy about the RAM being just
right for the Compaq m/b, too. Trying to get a Compaq to work with
other hardware and/or standard drivers may fail. Please post back and
clarify what you mean.

Malke

 

[Lem]

What do you mean "a custom built Compaq"? How could that be? If you mean
that you had a Compaq machine and have "upgraded" it by changing its
hardware around, then that is why you are having problems. Compaq
machines are very proprietary, and often have non-standard hardware
built just for Compaq. They are very fussy about the RAM being just
right for the Compaq m/b, too. Trying to get a Compaq to work with
other hardware and/or standard drivers may fail. Please post back and
clarify what you mean.

Malke
--
MS MVP - Windows Shell/User
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"

The OP "possibly" means that he "custom configured" a base model Compaq by
asking Compaq to install additonal features. In any case, if it really is a
new machine having all these problems, he ought to speak with Compaq about
returning it.

 

[Malke]

Okay...maybe "custom built" wasn't the proper term, possibly I should
have called it a "customized" Compaq. I chose the base system, then
added exactly what features and hardware I wanted installed.

Then call Compaq and have them give you a new one. Something isn't
right, probably the RAM, but why should you be the one troubleshooting
it? It's still under warranty, right?

Malke

 

[Alex Nichol]

I have a new custom built Compaq with a 2.13 Ghz
processor with 496 RAM. This is becoming the most
frustrating machine I've ever had.

The computer freezes all day long. It can freeze when
trying to close my email program. It freezes when
attempting to open and/or close another program.

If it is new (and custom built Compaq sounds odd - has some third party
been customising one of their machines?) it has a warranty. If it does
not work - send it back to be fixed. Such freezing is almost certainly
either hardware itself or incorrect drivers for it; and it is up to the
vendor to supply a machine that works