NAC

Just a quick question which has nothing whatsovever to do with immigration or Australia Quite often my computer just seems to 'die'!. The cursor stops and doesn't seem to link up with the mouse so I am completely stuck and cant do anything. I move the mouse but nothing happens. I end up having to switch off the computer and start again. Any help for a completely computer illiterate person would be much appreciated
Carolyn

Deadmeat

A few possible causes, a bit tricky to diagnose from here though -
1) Virus Infection
2) Dodgy graphics card
3) Dodgy memory (might be overheating?)
4) Dodgy processor (might be overheating too? Check your fans inside are running)
5) Something is trying to run and is taking all the computer's power
6) Some horrible Windows (I assume it's Windows) problem

Is it just the mouse pointer that's frozen or can you type too? Try pressing the CTRL, ALT and DELETE keys together before hitting the power switch direct, that might "wake it up".

Installed anything lately that may have caused a problem? New sound card?

(edit) Plenty of techie people in "The Lounge" too, try posting there if you have no luck ... right, sorry to leave you but I gotta eat

(edit 2) Cute avatar by the way

pandya_m

Give us your configration. like the Ram, Processor, OS and all the hardware info.
I assume the OS was working fine earlier...
I guess if the machine hangs two issues:
1. Less Ram.
2. Someone is killing your cpu...
check the task manager for information if its w2k.

seang

First thing- if it freezes hit the caps lock button a few times - see if the little light comes on (on the keyboard). If it doesnt then pc has froze completely.If it does come on/off then give the pc a few minutes and see if it clears.

The first thing I would do when the pc is back up is run a complete defrag

NAC

Em, oh dear :scared: Wish I'd never asked I realise now that me and computers don't really know much about each other!
I will start with a virus scan?? At least I'll feel like I'm doing something
I had tried ALT, CTRL and ESC but nothing happened - will now try the DELETE button instead if it happens again. It's happened about 4 or 5 times but each time has been after switching on in the morning and using for about 5 mins - don't know if this is significant or not?
Thanks for your help everyone!
Carolyn

philian4

I find the best way is to turn it off at the plug.....swear a lot......then turn it back on again!!!! Sounds like I have the same technical knowledge that you do!!!!!

OzTennis

Did you do the '3 fingered salute' by holding down ALT+CTRL and pressing DEL (i.e. you have to press all 3 at the same time)? The 'Close Program' box should appear with a list of everything running and end task, shutdown and cancel buttons at the bottom.

Often an item on the list will have 'not responding' in brackets after it and you can click end task and carry on without the need to power off and on again.

OzTennis

Deadmeat

If you don't have a virus program running then I'd get one ... and if you don't know then I'd seriously consider getting a trained mobile techie in to have a look at thing.

"Defrag" means defragmenting the disc by the way, I wouldn't guess this would cause a total "hang" and is more a performance tuning thing.

I'm guessing hardware fault or a virus, both of which will need specialist help ... sorry I can't be more positive!

bondipom

Might just be windows 98. Doesn't need anything wrong for it to crash.

Deadmeat

True 'nuff. ME was worse for me ... USB support ... hahahahaha ....

NAC

Thanks Deadmeat, the thing is its a new computer. Just got it a few weeks ago from Dell. It has McAfee anti-virus stuff on it so I'll have a look at that. It has a years warranty so I the best bet is probably to give Dell a call. And here's me thinking it was something simple - like the mouse not working properly Shows how technical I am! But someone described it as 'freezing' which is exactly what it does, just not sure if the keyboard freezes too, so will check that out next time
Thanks again for all your help
Carolyn

Deadmeat

Sounds like a call to Dell is in order ...

I bought a couple of new PCs last year for my folks and both had hardware problems, one memory-related (a simple fix once you have a new "bit") and one dodgy graphics card. Standards must be slipping as things get cheaper ...

The bods on the desk will talk you through the procedure, they are usually pretty helpful. It would help them to know:

1) How often it does it.
2) When it does it (using a particular program?)
3) Whether it is truely frozen or just busy (i.e can it respond to the keyboard at all).

And obviously all the usual stuff like serial numbers (usually near a bar-code on the machine) and where you bought it.

Good Luck!

Cheers,
Matt

anya4oz

Are you running SP2 (I guess so if it's a new box)? IME some anti-virus software seems to react badly with SP2 & have this effect (depends on how it's configured though).

Anya.

Pollyana

I am totally un-technical, but....it sounds like the poblem we had when we first bought my pc. Took it back to pc World and they found that it had two conflicting anti-virus programs on it - we had loaded Norton, whilst unbeknown to us BT had snuck their own in when we signed with them.
The two programs were "fighting" each other - the PC World guy removed the BT one, perfect ever since (touch wood)

cul8rm8e

Hi,
first thing to do is insert the windowsdisk (hopefully you have it) if not then you can still do a check butnot fix it.

OK, click start, then run, type in the box sfc /scannow and hit the enter key


between the sfc and the / leave a space



this will do a standard system file scan for any corrupt or renamed files that will keep your system from running properly, As soon as a file needs replaced you will be asked to insert the windows disk if you dont have it already in your drive.


let me know how you get on and i will help you out more if needed


best of luck