B
Bob
The computer is a relatively new Sony SZ381P laptop, running Windows
XP Pro. The machine has 2 GB of memory and a 160 GB HDD and generally
appears to work well. It is running on a small workgroup peer to peer
network. However....
The computer will work fine from 4 to 36 hours; then something happens
- seems to have typically happened between 3 and 7 PM, when I'm not
watching, but I cannot correlate the occurrence with anything specific
as yet.
Application programs, (Outlook, Word, IE, Citrix, Excel, Quicken,
Acrobat, others), continue to function properly after the event. A
suite of Norton Internet Security, Norton Save and Restore and Norton
System Works seems to be running OK, and reports no problems, (beyond
the normal list of things it doesn't like with anyone's registry,
which I have left alone). However, the screensaver disappears, and
the machine will not display the normal security screen when ctrl alt
del is pressed. Most normal functionality (lock computer, run task
manager, etc.) is still available with other keyboard shortcuts, but
not through the use of ctrl alt del. So, for example, the screensaver
can be restarted with the windows key and "L".
In addition, when the unknown event happens, the computer will no
longer shut down or restart when requested through the start menu or
in any other way, except through the power switch. With a normal
shutdown request it starts to shut down, clears the icons and bottom
task bar from the screen, but then hangs. It leaves the wallpaper up,
and never gets to the "saving your settings" or "windows is shutting
down" messages. It never plays the shutting down music. And the HDD
remains available to other machines over the network.
I have examined the event logs and made a cursory comparison of
various images of the registry (saved when the system is working as it
should and after the event), without anything I was able to recognize
as related to the event and the problem I am having.
I have shut down various non-essential stuff, like the HP printer
bloatware, software update monitors, and so forth, again without any
joy.
I have also run both Norton and Trend Micro antivirus, malware scans
several times - no joy.
I tried increasing the size of the pagefile from 2GB to 4GB; no joy.
I am reluctant to just wipe the HDD and start over, since I have 80 GB
of programs and data on the machine, which took me several weeks to
install and make operational. I'd rather not start over again. I
also don't want to leave this unknown problem lurking on the machine -
I don't know what else it might eventually do (or is already doing).
Any suggestions as to how to logically narrow down the possible causes
and solutions would be appreciated. Since the problem takes 4 - 36
hours to manifest itself after every restart I am hopeful someone has
seen something very similar to this and can give me some specific
advice to either fix or at least locate whatever is causing this
problem.
Other forums that I should post this message to?
Help!!!
Thanks,
Bob
XP Pro. The machine has 2 GB of memory and a 160 GB HDD and generally
appears to work well. It is running on a small workgroup peer to peer
network. However....
The computer will work fine from 4 to 36 hours; then something happens
- seems to have typically happened between 3 and 7 PM, when I'm not
watching, but I cannot correlate the occurrence with anything specific
as yet.
Application programs, (Outlook, Word, IE, Citrix, Excel, Quicken,
Acrobat, others), continue to function properly after the event. A
suite of Norton Internet Security, Norton Save and Restore and Norton
System Works seems to be running OK, and reports no problems, (beyond
the normal list of things it doesn't like with anyone's registry,
which I have left alone). However, the screensaver disappears, and
the machine will not display the normal security screen when ctrl alt
del is pressed. Most normal functionality (lock computer, run task
manager, etc.) is still available with other keyboard shortcuts, but
not through the use of ctrl alt del. So, for example, the screensaver
can be restarted with the windows key and "L".
In addition, when the unknown event happens, the computer will no
longer shut down or restart when requested through the start menu or
in any other way, except through the power switch. With a normal
shutdown request it starts to shut down, clears the icons and bottom
task bar from the screen, but then hangs. It leaves the wallpaper up,
and never gets to the "saving your settings" or "windows is shutting
down" messages. It never plays the shutting down music. And the HDD
remains available to other machines over the network.
I have examined the event logs and made a cursory comparison of
various images of the registry (saved when the system is working as it
should and after the event), without anything I was able to recognize
as related to the event and the problem I am having.
I have shut down various non-essential stuff, like the HP printer
bloatware, software update monitors, and so forth, again without any
joy.
I have also run both Norton and Trend Micro antivirus, malware scans
several times - no joy.
I tried increasing the size of the pagefile from 2GB to 4GB; no joy.
I am reluctant to just wipe the HDD and start over, since I have 80 GB
of programs and data on the machine, which took me several weeks to
install and make operational. I'd rather not start over again. I
also don't want to leave this unknown problem lurking on the machine -
I don't know what else it might eventually do (or is already doing).
Any suggestions as to how to logically narrow down the possible causes
and solutions would be appreciated. Since the problem takes 4 - 36
hours to manifest itself after every restart I am hopeful someone has
seen something very similar to this and can give me some specific
advice to either fix or at least locate whatever is causing this
problem.
Other forums that I should post this message to?
Help!!!
Thanks,
Bob