proceses still running after programs are closed

[Guest]

I seem to be having a problem where one of my applications suddenly freezes
up and i can't close it even with the "End Program now" dialogue.

Further more when i try to close it with task manager, i notice that
numerous other applications i have been running during the day are still
running as processes, and i can't close them either.

What's going on, any clues anyone?

 

[B Chriscoli]

Good Evening Rainbowchild,

From what you describe, it appears as though you could have a memory release
issue.

This could be caused by one of the following:

a) Bad Memory
b) Bad Windows Installation

I suggest trying a 3rd party memory test program (such as memtest) which
will check your memory for any errors. If that comes back without any
problems, I suggest reinstalling windows to see if that corrects the issue.

Bryan

 

[Malke]

I seem to be having a problem where one of my applications suddenly
freezes up and i can't close it even with the "End Program now"
dialogue.

Further more when i try to close it with task manager, i notice that
numerous other applications i have been running during the day are
still running as processes, and i can't close them either.

What's going on, any clues anyone?

What application? What is the virus/malware status of the machine? Be
sure it is clean:

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

Malke

 

[Guest]

hi Bryan

Thanks for taking the time to reply.
I'll be running memtest tonight, a useful little tool.
I'm presuming at the moment that it can't be the installation of windows for
the following reasins:-

a) This is a brand new machine, bought last week. Windows was ready to
install when i first booted up.

b) This prob started on day 2 or 3, when i was using leechftp to connect to
my web server (www.rainbowculture.com/ if you're interested), so, as i had
hardly installed any progs or created any files, i was happy to do a full
system recovery

c) That considered, i suppose it's pretty unlikely that 2 consecutive
installs would both be dud, (but i won't rule it out). It started again when
i used noton commander to do the same task.

hey, that's interesting, both times i was trying to use ftp!

Many thanks again, and i'll keep you posted

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your time on this one Malke.

I just realised that each time this has happened i was using ftp clients
(LeechFTP and Norton Commander respectively) with a full system recovery in
between.

Norton Antivirus (in the internet security 2006 package), fully updated, has
reported a clean machine prior to the problems, and i'm just rescanning now
to see if owt else is reported.

please read my reply to the other thread in this topic, but i think i've
covered the gist(jist?) of things here too.

Much gratitude

rc

 

[Malke]

Thanks for your time on this one Malke.

I just realised that each time this has happened i was using ftp
clients (LeechFTP and Norton Commander respectively) with a full
system recovery in between.

Norton Antivirus (in the internet security 2006 package), fully
updated, has reported a clean machine prior to the problems, and i'm
just rescanning now to see if owt else is reported.

please read my reply to the other thread in this topic, but i think
i've covered the gist(jist?) of things here too.

Much gratitude

Try a different FTP client then. On Windows, I like the free FTP
Commander. I don't know what you mean by a "full system recovery in
between". Do you mean reboot? If you mean you are restoring your
computer to factory condition, something else is wrong since you
certainly shouldn't need to do that.

Malke

 

[Guest]

hi Malke,

yes you're right i did restore to factory conditions. i knew this was an
extreme measure in normal circumstances, but as the laptop was so new, i had
hardly installed any software or created any files, so i didn't mind. surley
the ftp client shouldn't matter. i ran memtest on the RAM last night, and
that was all clear.

i haven't yet run the tests you suggested in safe-mode, but i will tonight

 

[Guest]

hi again Malke

I've just had a repeat of the problem - duriing the installation of Spybot.
Trying to restart windows doesn't happen either. It closes down the apps in
the tray on bottom right of task bar but won't close down the offending
program. I'm getting a bit annoyed!! I'm just about to follow the
instructions on the page you linked for me. I'm not a novice, so i'm gonna
boot into safe mode and try to run tests from there.....

 

[Malke]

hi again Malke

I've just had a repeat of the problem - duriing the installation of
Spybot. Trying to restart windows doesn't happen either. It closes
down the apps in the tray on bottom right of task bar but won't close
down the offending program. I'm getting a bit annoyed!! I'm just
about to follow the instructions on the page you linked for me. I'm
not a novice, so i'm gonna boot into safe mode and try to run tests
from there.....

If this is a brand-new computer and you are having lock-ups, you can try
testing the memory. I like Memtest86+ from www.memtest.org. Obviously,
you have to get the program from a working machine. You will either
download the precompiled Windows binary to make a bootable floppy or
the .iso to make a bootable cd. If you want to use the latter, you'll
need to have third-party burning software on the machine where you
download the file - XP's built-in burning capability won't do the job.
In either case, boot with the media you made. The test will run
immediately. Let the test run for an hour or two - unless errors are
seen immediately. If you get any errors, replace the RAM.

However, since this is a new computer if you get hardware errors you
need to immediately call the laptop's mftr. and get tech support and a
replacement.

Malke

 

[Guest]

Right ho,
I've run memtest86 - all clear after 10 passes
spybot - all clear (well actually reported reg changes to windows firewall
and ani virus, but this must only be those made by Norton Internet Security)
ad-aware - all clear(except a few tracking cookies)
Norton AV - all clear
and all of these are fully updated and were run in safe-mode,
although norton AV reported to have missing or corrupt files before it started
and asked for a reinstall
norton win doctor and disc doctor report no errors too

i guess this is all good news, but it leaves me scratching my head

 

[Malke]

Right ho,
I've run memtest86 - all clear after 10 passes
spybot - all clear (well actually reported reg changes to windows
firewall and ani virus, but this must only be those made by Norton
Internet Security) ad-aware - all clear(except a few tracking cookies)
Norton AV - all clear
and all of these are fully updated and were run in safe-mode,
although norton AV reported to have missing or corrupt files before it
started and asked for a reinstall
norton win doctor and disc doctor report no errors too

i guess this is all good news, but it leaves me scratching my head

What about testing the hard drive? Do the lockups happen when you are
only online? Unfortunately, the only way to troubleshoot this is
step-by-step methodically. My feeling - without seeing the machine - is
that you should just return the laptop and get another one. Maybe there
is a problem with the motherboard.

Malke

 

[Guest]

What about testing the hard drive? Do the lockups happen when you are
only online? Unfortunately, the only way to troubleshoot this is
step-by-step methodically. My feeling - without seeing the machine - is
that you should just return the laptop and get another one. Maybe there
is a problem with the motherboard.

Malke

hi again - starting to feel a bit guilty that i'm the one with all the probs
and you're the one with all the answers!

i've rung the helpline for my laptop, and they seem to think it's a software
issue (of course, they would), more specifically related to the firewall as
it had happened during ftp use and when updating spybot. i have to admit at
this point that my version of N.I.S. 2006 isn't the most kosher, but i
haven't had this trouble in the past. And anyway, it also happened before i
reset to factory conditions, when i was using N.I.S. 2005, admittedley hookey
as well, but the same copy had been installed on numerous other machines
which had performed well all year. I'd just like to state that i do have a
bought copy of N.I.S. 2006 too and i donated £2 to spybot yesterday.

i've just run another check with norton disk doctor, including free space
this time, and lo and behold i've got an error message!!

this was in the 'security descriptors status', stating 'errors in the volume
bitmap'(?)
and also 'problems in the file system', so i'm just about to run the test
again at bootup to see if they can be fixed.

 

[Guest]

well, norton seems to have fixed the security descriptors error, whatever it
was, so now i'm looking at either the motherboard or the firewall, which
leaves me two questions

1) is there any way of checking the integrity of the mother board?
2) what would be a decent alternative to N.I.S.? is the lavasoft firewall
anygood?they seem to rate themselves highly, and i suppose i'd need an
independant AV to go with it

 

[Guest]

crikey, i just thought i'd scan the hdd again and now there are errors in the
indexes status.

i don't really know what any of this actually means(!), so i'm off to
symantec to check it out