Windows Taskbar Freezes, Then Recovers

[Bob Huntley]

Hi,

My system uses XP Home, running on AMD X2 4400+ CPU with 2 Gigs of RAM and
as you would expect with that configuration is generally quite fast and
usable. However, I have one annoying problem, with short (30 seconds or so)
system freezes which then recover. I searched through previous messages on
this subject on the Archives, but none of the answers seem to have solved my
problem.

The symptoms are:

1. I'll be using the system normally, but suddenly for no apparent reason
will freeze. It normally happens when I close a window down (usually
Internet Explorer) and then have a problem trying to open up a new one.
During this freeze period, the mouse/cursor moves round the screen, the disk
drives don't seem to do anything (no noise/drive access lights), and the CPU
load (I run a minimised Task Manager icon in the notification area) doesn't
increase in any way.

2. Clicking on the Start Button, or trying to run a program does nothing
until the pause is over (I get an hour-glass symbol over the Start Button).

3. At the end of the freeze period, all of the windows associated with the
programs I tried to open during that period, plus the program menu all
appear instantaneously. From that point, the system runs normally until the
next freeze.

One thing I did find from the Archives search - if I disable the DNS Client
service, the machine only freezes once after each re-boot. If I enable the
service, the freezes repeat (but there doesn't seem to be any pattern to the
period between them).
PS - With the DNS clue in mind, I'm using a ADSL USB Modem in case that
makes any difference.

Would be grateful for any solutions you can provide.


Bob Huntley,

 

[Unk]

Hi,

My system uses XP Home, running on AMD X2 4400+ CPU with 2 Gigs of RAM and
as you would expect with that configuration is generally quite fast and
usable. However, I have one annoying problem, with short (30 seconds or so)
system freezes which then recover. I searched through previous messages on
this subject on the Archives, but none of the answers seem to have solved my
problem.

The symptoms are:

1. I'll be using the system normally, but suddenly for no apparent reason
will freeze. It normally happens when I close a window down (usually
Internet Explorer) and then have a problem trying to open up a new one.
During this freeze period, the mouse/cursor moves round the screen, the disk
drives don't seem to do anything (no noise/drive access lights), and the CPU
load (I run a minimised Task Manager icon in the notification area) doesn't
increase in any way.

2. Clicking on the Start Button, or trying to run a program does nothing
until the pause is over (I get an hour-glass symbol over the Start Button).

3. At the end of the freeze period, all of the windows associated with the
programs I tried to open during that period, plus the program menu all
appear instantaneously. From that point, the system runs normally until the
next freeze.

One thing I did find from the Archives search - if I disable the DNS Client
service, the machine only freezes once after each re-boot. If I enable the
service, the freezes repeat (but there doesn't seem to be any pattern to the
period between them).
PS - With the DNS clue in mind, I'm using a ADSL USB Modem in case that
makes any difference.

Would be grateful for any solutions you can provide.


Bob Huntley,

Do you have a NIC in the computer that you're not using?

Slow boot time, or delays / Blackouts or Time-outs while waiting for webpages to load.
http://www.carricksolutions.com/pppoe/windowspppoe.php#4
http://www.carricksolutions.com/pppoe.htm
http://cable-dsl.home.att.net/#LongHangs
http://www.dslreports.com/

 

[Bob Huntley]

Yes, I do.

My motherboard has a NVIDIA Nforce Ethernet NIC built in - its normally
unused (I only use it when I link my Laptop to the Internet via this PC's
Internet Connection Sharing facility and update its virus definitions etc.).

Thanks for the reply - I've just checked and its TCP/IP is already set to
192.168.0.01 with a Subnet mask of 255.255.255.0 (I think that's the default
setting left by the Internet Connection Sharing set-up wizard).

 

[ken.barford]

Do you have a NIC in the computer that you're not using?

Slow boot time, or delays / Blackouts or Time-outs while waiting for webpages to load.
http://www.carricksolutions.com/pppoe/windowspppoe.php#4
http://www.carricksolutions.com/pppoe.htm
http://cable-dsl.home.att.net/#LongHangs
http://www.dslreports.com/

 

[ken.barford]

I've gotten the same problem. I think it's a bug in the core part of
Windows Explorer. I had it happen on a Intel box, running XP Home, and
on a AMD X2 3800+ box running XP Pro. Closing Windows Explorer when
you're done with it, helps.

 

[ken.barford]

Testing 123

 

[ken.barford]

Bob,
I've had the same thing happen to me on a Intel box w/XP Home, and
on AMD X2 3800+ w/XP Pro. I think there is a bug in the core part of
WINDOWS Explorer. Closing Windows Explorer after use helps (not
leaving it open). I've also heard that a timeout to your IP, fires it
off.

Ken