Vista Freeze-Up Query??

[tc]

I have bought a refurbished Gateway GT5426E with Vista Home Premium
Operating System from TigerDirect.com. The first model was clearly
defective and I returned it and promptly received a new model.
However, this new model started with similar problems - the "Blue
Screen of Death."

It has gotten past that problem but has frozen up twice in two days.

I thought Vista was supposed to be more stable than XP. Are such
freeze-ups common with Vista or does this indicate a PC defect? I can
return this PC for 2 weeks. Any suggestions would be greatly
appreciated.

Please reply to: (e-mail address removed). Thanks.

Tony

 

[John Barnes]

While Vista isn't more stable than XP (what new systems initially are), your
problem is more indicative of hardware problems. Can you provide any error
codes you may have in event viewer, etc.?

 

[Dale]

Freezing up has, in my experience, most often been caused by excessive heat
and the CPU getting over temperature.

Often the reason that electronic items were returned is because of
intermittent problems. That explains why a device would pass factory test
and then perform so poorly as to be returned. But the nature of
intermittent problems is that they don't always present themselves so, in
"refurbishing" - which usually means wiping with a damp cloth and reloading
the OS and factory approved malware in a refurbished PC - the problem
doesn't show up. Of course as soon as you turn it on at home, the problems
show up.

All of this is why I never buy refurbished electronics while I would happily
buy a refurbished mechanical device.

Dale

 

[Chad Harris]

Assuming hdw isn't your problem, I'd do these:

minimize your CPU/resource consumption, defrag regularly and
well, stop services and processes that you do not need because Vista
defaults some that you well may not. Also make sure you run a regular
spyeware scan--Defender comes with Vista and also Add/Aware. Or Win One
Care has its own spy scanner and I recommend it. Run the MSFT Malicious
Software Removal Tool as well from their site or dl it.

Don't judge a book by its cover - why Windows Vista Defrag is cool
http://blogs.technet.com/filecab/ar...s-cover-why-windows-vista-defrag-is-cool.aspx

Perfect Disk
www.raxco.com

Malicious Software Removal Tool
http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx


Below is a general outline for cleaning and speeding your PC:

******Speed PC and Control CPU Tips/Steps******

SPEED AND CPU:

_______________

1) Trim processes you don't need in TM. Google them or "search engine of

your choice them" if you have to.

2) Go to

services.msc in run box and turn off services not needed and there are some.

SERVICE CONFIGURATION REFERENCES*

*Vista Services*

Part One

http://www.tweakvista.com/article38662.aspx

Part Two

http://www.tweakvista.com/article38664.aspx

Windows Vista Services Tweak Guide v1.0

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=87443


3) Run System File Checker.

SFC: http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html

In Vista run it from an elevated command prompt. Right click command on

start and run as administrator.

4) Run 3 or so spyware scans Windows Defender, , Adaware, and Spybot

5) Probably the most important for speed consistently and efficient resource

use DEFRAG with www.raxco.com or www.diskeeeper.com with 15% free space on

drive if DK and or >5% if Raxco's Perfect Disk.

http://groups.msn.com/windowsxpcentral/spyware.msnw

Download Adaware and

Spybot from here.

GOOD Overall Review for Defending Your PC:

http://defendingyourmachine.blogspot.com/

MSFT Defense Site MSFT Security:

http://www.microsoft.com/security/default.mspx

Protect Your PC from MSFT Security:

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.mspx

MSFT Windows Defender

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx

MSFT MSRT: (Malicious Software Removal Tool)

http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx



MSFT "Windows One Care" in Wings (AV and Spyware Scans)

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2005/may05/05-13WindowsOneCarePR.mspx

6) Unck items from msconfig start tab you don't need starting and some

won't start--peoiple who think just uncking for many are naive because there

are 12 places things can be started including several reg keys like Run Once

keys and there are serveral.

7) Turn off Messaging service--it's a security vulnerability and it slows

you

8) Defrag very often every other day actually.

9) Turn off indexing.

10) Clear TIF and %temp% files (delete) and go to safe mode to get as many

as u can.

10) Do troubleshooting with msconfig.

11) Do Clean boot with msconfig utility and search for the directions here:





Vista RTM Tweak Guide (Tweaks to Improve Performances)

http://www.google.com/search?source...,GGLJ:2006-47,GGLJ:en&q=vista+rtm+tweak+guide



1) Task Manager lists the services on the services tab in Vista.

2) Type services.msc in run box and using the list of services, click the

service and you'll get a description of services.

3) There is a list here of the default services and a description>>click

"default settings for services" in the left pane.

http://technet2.microsoft.com/Windo...afb8-43ce-b39d-50e6d5b89bf81033.mspx?mfr=true



4) To view service dependencies

1.

Open Services.

2.

In the details pane, right-click the service that you want to view

dependencies for, and then click Properties.

3.

Click the Dependencies tab.

4.

To view services that are associated dependencies of the selected service,

in the list on the Dependencies tab, click the plus sign next to the

service.

Many of the services but not all in Vista are the same as in XP, so in that

context:

http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/services.htm


Also see the extremely helpful site:

Black Viper's Service List

http://www.dead-eye.net/WinXP Services.htm


Black Viper's Site (Many of the same services in Vista)

http://www.dead-eye.net/WinXP Services.htm


http://www.z123.org/techsupport/xpservices.htm


http://www.geocities.com/ziyadhosein/xpserv1.htm


http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.php

This will be helpful

http://web.archive.org/web/20041128084144/www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm

______________________________________________________________________________________________

How to troubleshoot by using the System Configuration utility in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310560/

Resources for troubleshooting startup problems in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308041/

How to perform advanced clean-boot troubleshooting in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;316434

How to perform a clean boot in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353/

How to Disable a Service or Device that Prevents Windows from Starting

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310602/



Also ck out these references:

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1558,5155,00.asp



http://www.speedupyourcomputer.windowsreinstall.com/index.htm

and

http://www.extremetech.com/search_r...=how+to+speed+windows+xp&filterapp=&site=4P.S.


Defragging with a decent defrag every day will make a huge dent inefficient
resource/CPU use.

Perfect Disk has a 5 month full functionality trial on now for Windows
Vista.

If you run Win One Care, it has its own spyware scanning, so you don't need
Windows Defender which ships with Vista turned on.

Good luck,

CH

 

[tc]

Thank you all for responding. I've decided to send this PC back to
the Vendor which has agreed to refund my purchase pice without
question. I highly recommend TigerDirect.com for it's incredibly
user friendly policies on returns.

Tony