vista ultimate freezes

[Gilbert Lynds]

Hi, I have Vista Ultimate with SP2 and updates. For some reason copying
files to or from usb drive freezes the computer. lights still on but nothing
happening. mouse pointer wont move nor any keys on keyboard. left for half
hour and still same. Used to work fine. tried different usb drives and
same problem. partitioned drive and no problem copying between partitions.
Reinstalled Vista and problem persists. Installed Windows 7 on second
partion and copys files to from usb no problems. Have HP Pavilion DV5 AMD
laptop. Dont really want to spend $500 and buy Windows 7 if can help it.
would prefer stay with vista. Also 2gb ram in machine

 

[Gil Tennant]

Have you tried starting Windows in Safe Mode, to see if you can copy files
normally to your USB, under that mode?

Safe Mode eliminates all but the basic Windows necessary drivers and
services. If it works in Safe Mode, then you need to run MSCONFIG, from the
command prompt; click on the services tab, check "Hide all Microsoft
Services", then "Disable All" for the remaining services that are shown.

Next, click on the StartUp tab; make a note of all the items NOT checked
(write down the Startup Item names of those NOT checked), and then click on
Disable All. Then "Apply" button.

Click "OK".

Restart Windows in Normal mode. Try the USB copy files actions again, and
see if your issue still occurs. If it does not, then you must go into
MSCONFIG, and turn on each Service and Start-up item (except the ones you
wrote down that were not checked in the first place), ONE AT A TIME, and
reboot after each ITEM is turned on. Once the issue occurs again, then the
last item you turned on, is your problem. Go back and uncheck that item, and
seek out the manufacturer to see if they have an update/fix.

These are the very basics of troubleshooting a behavior issue in any version
of Windows.

Good luck!