Computer Freezing

[Rotku]

Over the past five or so days my laptop (only about 3-4 months old) has developed a habit of freezing every now and then. Usually happens when desktop is loading. Sometimes it holds for three or so hours before freezing. At first thought it only happened when I loaded Chrome to surf the internet. However, today it's been occurring more and more. Have run a virus scan, using Microsoft Security Essentials. It detected and removed a couple of trojans and one worm. Hasn't improved the problem. Running in safe mode and safe mode with Network works just fine - haven't had any problems there.

After this, I'm really stuck for things to do. Could try formatting, but I'm not in any huge rush to do that so soon after buying it. Wanting to try find some other options first. Running Windows 7.

[I-KP]

Did it happen before or after installing MSE? There is a known fault with MSE that has it fighting to scan processes that are themselves continually stopping and restarting due to being scanned, this can result in veeery long pauses when starting Windows. If so kill MSE and install AVAST! instead and see if that improves matters.

[Rotku]

No, don't think so. I can't remember if I installed it before or after the crashes begun, but I'm currently running it fine in Safe Mode.

[rorax]

Freeze usually means memory issues.

If you have two sims, try to play with it and take one of them out each time, see if it works.

It's also worth to update your graphics card drivers to the latest. (and don't count on windows to tell you that you have the most updated version).

[hollyfant]

a couple of trojans and one worm

Seriously? Ffs, get your protection up - it's not normal to get any infection. Even if you don't keep them installed, just get a few free scanners (ClamWin, Comodo, Malwarebytes, Avast) and run more scans. And get more paranoid!

And frankly: a format & reinstall never hurts (except you lose half a day of your life). Just make sure you backup the little things as well, like browser bookmarks. Also: get more paranoid!

And you may want to get more paranoid too, for your own safety. Get a "real" firewall and at least two different malware scanners. Just don't have them both active at the same time.

[Rotku]

Usually behind two hardware firewalls and one software (Zonealarm). I do get a bit slack with virus scans - will throw in Avast as well, and see if that can route out anything else. Was also recommended Trend Micro HouseCall, so will give that a whirl.

[gribo]

Try to clean the dust inside it.
get a can of compressed air and blow the dust away.

[Drankathar]

could be a heat issue as well dude, laptops are crap for getting rid of heat. Best beat is to have it elevated off what every you use as a table so that air can get under the laptop as well.

If your already pro and doing this then i'd be thinking its either a ram/bad sector issue or something you have installed.

[Mord]

Try to clean the dust inside it.
get a can of compressed air and blow the dust away.

Dust only causes heat generation, if you're concerned about heat there are many small apps out there to measure this.

As Rorax pointed out, freezes are usually related to memory, try removing either RAM chip if you have more than one and see if that corrects the issue. If you have windows 7, it will usually inform you of any graphics card driver issues, I've never experienced a hard freeze due to this, but to be safe you should update your gfx drivers to the latest.

[Hialmar]

Get a Linux live CD and try using that for a few hours (when you just need web browsing or such).

If there is no problem then it's your Win 7 (which is certainly the case if it doesn't happen when you use Safe Mode) => then I would advise to do a complete re-install (which is good anyway when you have been infected).

If you have freezes with Linux then it's a hardware problem and you'd better go to the shop to see if they can change your RAM first which is, as the others stated the main reason for freezes.

In my experience, over heating produces automatic shutdowns and not freezes...

[Rotku]

Well formatted and re stalled Windows 7 (twice... was formatting an old harddrive on my PC and hit to format the OS instead - DON'T MULTI TASK). Now to see if the laptop still freezes. I guess if it does, I just need to take it back and get them to fix up what ever the hardware problem is.

[oldgrayrogue]

If you don't already have it, download this:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysi ... 95533.aspx

I was having major issues on startup. Massive delays in booting. This utility lets you see all processes running in the background and specifically at startup. I have found some nasty viruses lurking in there that I have been able to get rid of that my antivirus/malware (which I update religiously) missed entirely. I don't know much about computers, but this has helped immensely.

[ElCadaver]

Have you done a burn in test? checks all hardware error freee. google "Bitpro standard"

[Rotku]

Have you done a burn in test? checks all hardware error freee. google "Bitpro standard"

It hasn't crashed since I reformatted, but haven't heavily used it since. So still just waiting and crossing my fingers.