Funny Freezing in XP

[Jimi]

Hi

Fairly often, not long after I log on, my machine freezes in a funny way.
Let me explain... A few apps will open, and then all of a sudden no more
apps will open! The open ones run and respond fine, but every other app I
try open (whether double-clicking on the desktop, seleting from the start
menu, or double-clicking in explorer) results in a spinning hourglass for a
few seconds, then it goes to the normal mouse cursor as though I didn't
double-click anything! Then after a long period (between 2 and 15 minutes),
all the apps I double-clicked suddenly open in a tidal wave!

A few more details - the taskmanager shows the processor running at normal
percentages (1% - 2%) and memory and page file are fine. During the freeze
period XP won't even repond to ctrl-alt-del - I need to make sure
taskmanager is one of the first things I open if I want to try monitor
anything.

I'm running XP Prof on an Acer 4101WLMi.

If anyone can help, please let me know!

Thanks
James

 

[Malke]

Hi

Fairly often, not long after I log on, my machine freezes in a funny
way. Let me explain... A few apps will open, and then all of a sudden
no more apps will open! The open ones run and respond fine, but every
other app I try open (whether double-clicking on the desktop, seleting
from the start menu, or double-clicking in explorer) results in a
spinning hourglass for a few seconds, then it goes to the normal mouse
cursor as though I didn't double-click anything! Then after a long
period (between 2 and 15 minutes), all the apps I double-clicked
suddenly open in a tidal wave!

A few more details - the taskmanager shows the processor running at
normal percentages (1% - 2%) and memory and page file are fine. During
the freeze period XP won't even repond to ctrl-alt-del - I need to
make sure taskmanager is one of the first things I open if I want to
try monitor anything.

I'm running XP Prof on an Acer 4101WLMi.

Do the normal troubleshooting for viruses and malware:
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

If the machine is clean and the problem persists, try clean-boot
troubleshooting:

Clean Boot - http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=310353
and How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310560

Post back with results if you need more help.

Malke