Vista Crashes

[Guest]

About 4 weeks ago I replaced my laptop with a new one that has Vista. I have
since had nothing but crashed. 2 main types:

Computer freezes. This can usually be fixed by going to Task Manager and
shutting down the frozen program.

The "Black Screen of Death". Screen goes black, with a faint background
glow. No choice but to push the off-button, and then manually reboot.

I have most often had these prolems with Outlook, but also with Word,
Internet Explorer & Excel. They occur much less frequently if I run programs
in Safe Mode. Also, they seem to be less frequent if I disable the
pre-installed anti-virus program (McAfee).

Can anyone provide assistance?

 

[Ken Schaefer]

The second symptom doesn't sound very healthy :-(

Have you updated the video drivers to the latest version (should be
available from your laptop vendor's website). Otherwise, it sounds like you
have faulty hardware.

Cheers
Ken

 

[Lang Murphy]

About 4 weeks ago I replaced my laptop with a new one that has Vista. I
have
since had nothing but crashed. 2 main types:

Computer freezes. This can usually be fixed by going to Task Manager and
shutting down the frozen program.

The "Black Screen of Death". Screen goes black, with a faint background
glow. No choice but to push the off-button, and then manually reboot.

I have most often had these prolems with Outlook, but also with Word,
Internet Explorer & Excel. They occur much less frequently if I run
programs
in Safe Mode. Also, they seem to be less frequent if I disable the
pre-installed anti-virus program (McAfee).

Can anyone provide assistance?

If Office came preinstalled on the laptop, I'd bring the laptop back and
demand replacement. If you installed Office yourself, I might consider
trying a different AV program like AVG or Avast (both free to home users)
and then, if that doesn't sort things out, try reinstalling Office. (Which
version of Office do you have?)

Lang

 

[Mike Hall - MVP]

Return it to the manufacturer and complain.

About 4 weeks ago I replaced my laptop with a new one that has Vista. I
have
since had nothing but crashed. 2 main types:

Computer freezes. This can usually be fixed by going to Task Manager and
shutting down the frozen program.

The "Black Screen of Death". Screen goes black, with a faint background
glow. No choice but to push the off-button, and then manually reboot.

I have most often had these prolems with Outlook, but also with Word,
Internet Explorer & Excel. They occur much less frequently if I run
programs
in Safe Mode. Also, they seem to be less frequent if I disable the
pre-installed anti-virus program (McAfee).

Can anyone provide assistance?

--


Mike Hall
MS MVP Windows Shell/User
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/

 

[Adam Albright]

If Office came preinstalled on the laptop, I'd bring the laptop back and
demand replacement. If you installed Office yourself, I might consider
trying a different AV program like AVG or Avast (both free to home users)
and then, if that doesn't sort things out, try reinstalling Office. (Which
version of Office do you have?)

Lang

Some of your typical IT pro advice I see.

ROTFLAMO!

 

[Saucy]

About 4 weeks ago I replaced my laptop with a new one that has Vista. I
have
since had nothing but crashed. 2 main types:

Computer freezes. This can usually be fixed by going to Task Manager and
shutting down the frozen program.

The "Black Screen of Death". Screen goes black, with a faint background
glow. No choice but to push the off-button, and then manually reboot.

I have most often had these prolems with Outlook, but also with Word,
Internet Explorer & Excel. They occur much less frequently if I run
programs
in Safe Mode. Also, they seem to be less frequent if I disable the
pre-installed anti-virus program (McAfee).

Can anyone provide assistance?

If the computer uses an ATI integrated chip for video, make sure you have
the latest drivers from AMD (AMD owns ATI now). The ATI drivers that come
with Vista can the screw up when should the computer go into sleep mode.
Otherwise, if that's not it, consider contacting the comptuer's retailer or
manufacturer.

Saucy

 

[Charlie Tame]

If the computer uses an ATI integrated chip for video, make sure you
have the latest drivers from AMD (AMD owns ATI now). The ATI drivers
that come with Vista can the screw up when should the computer go into
sleep mode. Otherwise, if that's not it, consider contacting the
comptuer's retailer or manufacturer.

Saucy

Get rid of McAfee and many problems might just go away, although it may
have caused some damage to some files , it can do that.

Use AVG or Avast, many like Avast better nowadays, but avoid Norton and
McAfee like the plague, because that is what they are.

If you have any third party "Security" software mention it, some is a
complete waste of time and some is downright nasty, and yes the laptop
makers probably put it on there, to them it brings in profits, that is all.

Of all the machines I've fixed over the years those two I mentioned are
the first things I get rid of and 90% of the time there's an immediate
improvement, even on a machine with other things broken, and EVEN if
they claim to have run out of their "Trial" period.

 

[Lang Murphy]

Some of your typical IT pro advice I see.

ROTFLAMO!

You can roll around on the floor all you want. I see no technical advise
here. Just your typical trolling mode.

Lang