Vista Ultimate + Software Compatibility + Random Freeze Ups

G

Guest

I have a 6 mo. old Gateway computer w/ Vista Ultimate (Model GM 5424). The
computer has been freezing up (i.e., screen freezes, keyboard and mouse are
nonresponsive, only recourse is to push power button) randomly from many
months. In July I installed 2 additional gigs of ram (it came w/ 2 gigs
already). When I did that, the once a month freeze ups occurred every day,
several times a day. The new Ram had a different manufacturer than the
original 2 gigs, but were otherwise identical. I took out new RAM sticks and
returned them. Random freeze ups returned but did not occurr very often
until last couple of weeks. Now the freeze ups occur once or twice a day.

After hours and hours on the phone with Gateway, they say that I must first
determine whether it is a software compatilbity issue. I have 3 programs on
my computer that are not "vista ready." One is an older version of Microsoft
Office 2002, WordPerfect 10, and Print Shop 12. Does anyone know whether any
of these 3 programs are incompatible with Vista such that it would cause
freezing?

Other things I've notice. I, for some reason, have no system restore points
older than 1 month. Also the System Reliabilty Monitor quit creating any
System Stability Charts on June 16, 2007 (I've had the computer since March
3, 2007).

Sorry for the long post, but I'd really like some help.
 
J

Jack

ATG asked:

After hours and hours on the phone with Gateway, they say that I must
first
determine whether it is a software compatilbity issue. I have 3 programs
on
my computer that are not "vista ready." One is an older version of
Microsoft
Office 2002, WordPerfect 10, and Print Shop 12. Does anyone know whether
any
of these 3 programs are incompatible with Vista such that it would cause
freezing?
ATG
Click to expand...

Jack replied:

I'm not an MVPS but here is information given to me by MVPS John Barnett
that might help..
He was a lifesaver... It worked for me on a couple of programs I couldn't
install.. You
might have to uninstall the program and then reinstall using the information
that he gave me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Run in compatibility mode:

To install the software in compatibility mode right click the
setup.exe file for the software application and select Properties.
From the Properties window Click the compatibility tab. In the
compatibility window look for the 'compatibility mode' section and
click on the box next to the optiuon 'run this program in
compatibility mode for:' Choose Windows XP SP2 then click the OK
button. The installation should then start.

Run As Administrator:

If compatibility mode doesn't work the, again Right Click on the
software application's setup exe file and, from the drop down menu,
select Run As Administrator. Again the software should start to
install.

Good luck!!
 
G

Guest

Hey ATG,
Jack has some really good advice except for if your computer freezes up b4
you have a chance to do that. I'm not quite sure why it's freezing up but it
is most likely not the programs unless your computer freezes up while your
opening then, running them, or closing them. Try what Jack said unless your
computer freezes up b4 you have a chance to do it, in that case the only
advice I have is reinstall windows because there is a bug that may be your
problem and the only way to fix is is reinstall windows. :-( As for the
restore points windows deletes them after a certain period of time in order
to save space. Also it probably has nothing to do with the ram but you do
want to make sure it is the right kind for your computer and also that it
actually can use 4 gigs of ram. i.e. my laptop can only have a maximum of 2
gigs ram. hope this info helps :)
 
G

Guest

Thanks to both Jack and Phil. I'll try what Jack suggests and see if it
works! In the end of the day, I suspect I'll have to do a complete restore
of the hard drive.

Thanks again.
 
J

jonathan perreault

i have print shop and office 97 and i don't have any problem with those two
now i don't know about your office but it should help you to narrow the
field

--


Jonathan Perreault
Forget Do Not Undermine Windows's Work,
Or It'll Undermine You As A User.

New Word Of Advice: Torture Windows (Any) Now
Before It Tortures You
 
G

Guest

I believe I've installed all the Windons updates, but I'll check on this one.
Thanks.
 
G

Guest

Jack,

I didn't reinstall the 3 programs, but I went into Preferences for each
program and checked the box re: compatibility with XP, SP2. The computer
froze again several hours later.

I have run the memory diagnotics, and no problems were discovered. I've
scanned (routinely) for viruses/spyware, etc. I've run chkdsk, and no
problem were discovered.

I've looked at the Event Viewer and all it tells me is that on a number of
occasions, I've had various programs stop working. One application that pops
up a lot on the list is iexplorer.exe.

I now (within the last few days) have a problem with IE-7 lock ups, which I
didn't have before. I can do and "end program" in the Task Manager to get
out of that.

Maybe with this additional information, you folks out there who know much
more than I can suggest a few more things.

I think, though, that I'm going to just have to bit the bullet and reinstall
Vista back to the "factory setttings." If that doesn't work, I'll throw
Vista away and have XP Pro installed.

It's extremely frustrating that Microsoft puts out a new operating system
and then doesn't offer any free phone support to those w/ an OEM version.
And, of course, the computer manufacturer, Gateway, doesn't support the
operating system. At least there is this forum. Thanks to all.
 
R

Randor

Hi!

So, we are in the same situation.
I have had this kind of freezing each 4 days since January.

My hardware (memory, hard disk, BIOS, video, . . ) was tested and everything
is OK.
All the updates are installed.

Here is my configuration :

Motherboard : ASUS P5N32-Sli Deluxe
Memory : 4 GIG
Graphic : Nvidia Geforce 7900GTX with the last driver from Nvidia
OS : Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bits (I had the same problem with 32-bits)

I don't know anything else to do to stop freezing.

Bonne journée!
 
G

Guest

Hi,

So there is no hope, eh? It must be Vista. Since my computer is still
under warranty, Gateway suggested I take it to Best Buy (I purchased the
machine on line from BB) and have the Geek Squad try and diagnose the
problem. I'm considering doing that, but I'm not hopeful they will find
anything to fix.

I'm seriously thinking of getting rid of Vista and having XP-Pro installed.
Have you considered doing that?

Thanks, ATG
 
J

jonathan perreault

might be better beside geek squad charges arm and leg and even if you still
under warranty they probably will try to find something that isn't included,
my warranty with firedog did that too, fortunatly i was smart enough to fix
it my self it just took some time to get the idea of what was the solution

--
Jonathan Perreault

Personnal Advice To You:
#1: Do Not Undermine Windows's Work, Or It'll Undermine You As A User.
#2: Torture Windows (Any) Now Before It Tortures You

Best Comments From Users:
No Matter The Problem Even With Linux, It's Microsoft's And Windows's Faults

A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely
foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.
 
G

Guest

I bought a new pc with Vista Basic installed. How can I get my Lexmark X75
All-In-One printer to work with Vista. The disk will not finish installing
and it shows up as my default printer but Does Not Work?
 

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