Help needed with unstable win xp

[SpeedyDonkey 0]

1) I have a fairly fresh install of Windows XP. But it is acting very unstable. It freezes, a lot.

The most common programme to freeze is Internet explorer. This is probably because it is the most frequently used windows application. Typically the program hangs and will not respond and once I try to close it, it gives this basic windows error report:

Stoppat program IEXPLORE.EXE, version 6.0.2800.1106, stoppad modul hungapp, version 0.0.0.0, stoppad adress 0x00000000.

This is obviously in Swedish, but it doesn’t explain anything, other then the fact that it stopped responding.

2) The other strange thing is the task manager. Usually, after start up it works normally (it pops up when I press ctrl + alt + delete) but it stops working a couple of minutes later. When I click ctrl + alt + delete to bring it up, I show’s the task manager symbol in the bottom right corner, but it won’t display it on the screen. If I press the buttons again I will see a second task manager in the right corner but still no actual task manager.

These freezes occur in the Windows environment, either explorer.exe itself or normal programs such as internet explorer, office, video editing software or whatever. The freeze is a bit random but typically occurs then trying to “access†something from windows, e.g. saving or opening files through a program.

After starting windows (without any other programs except the firewall and antivirus) I have 37 processes running, which is quite a lot. Initially after installing windows I had some unwanted viruses (sasser and blaset to mention a few). They are removed now but I wonder if they caused any long term damage?

Oh and games work surprisingly well. It’s when windows is involved when things get messy.

Any help, tips, hints, spam or ideas are all more then welcome here.

/SpeedyDonkey

[MLF 0]

id reinstall, seems ur maybe have a corrupt install of windows on your hands.

o and btw if you have not already run msconfig and remove unwanted prog's from your start up.

[EiZei 0]

If games work fine id suggest you run a good spyware check, some spyware do have some really nasty ways to attach themselves.

[Guest]

Initially after installing windows I had some unwanted viruses (sasser and blaset to mention a few). They are removed now but I wonder if they caused any long term damage?

I think you might have answered your own question here

[SpeedyDonkey 0]

I know that freezes are a common problem and everyone gets them every now and then. But it feels like I get them all the time.

The Task manager how ever is a different story. I’ve never heard of that problem before and if I’d know what causes that I could be a bit closer to the original problem.

And yes, I’ve been thinking about re installing windows but I thought I’d ask you guys first, to see what it could be and what I could do to help it (and prevent it in the future)

[SpeedyDonkey 0]

I have another question. I have this “security solution†called Norman, and it puts the viruses in quarantine rather then deleting them. Last time I checked some of the old ones were gone though.

(Btw sasser and Blaster came before I installed Norman)

Oh and speaking of which, the “quarantine room†currently shows this:

C:\Program\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe … 2004.05.26 … 4kB … Briss.l

So is The Media player infected with Briss.l ? And what on earth is that...

[SpeedyDonkey 0]

Oh and a third thing while im at it (and i belive this has something to do with it as well)

After a couple of minutes of surfing IE kind of stops working. It won't display websites when i wirite them in the address bar. Using one of the links in a webpage or in the favourites still works though. And at this point the task mannager wont open anymore either.

[Albert Schweitzer 10]

That is a tough problem. First of all I want to say that my XP basically rarely freezes.

Did you try running taskmanager manually?

Did you try Winpatrol to see what processes you got working and which sometimes stop working?

Did you reinstall the Explorer?

[SpeedyDonkey 0]

That is a tough problem. First of all I want to say that my XP basically rarely freezes.

Did you try running taskmanager manually?

Did you try Winpatrol to see what processes you got working and which sometimes stop working?

Did you reinstall the Explorer?

Hi, yes my older computer has XP as well and it never freezes. So something is fishy.

Yes, Once the task manager goes wacky there is no way to open it.

Nope, Winpatrol, what is that? I'll have to try that!

Reinstalling explorer is like reinstalling windows, isn't it? In that case no. If you mean Internet Explorer then, no. But alot of other programs hang as well so i doubt that IE's fault.

[PAPABEAR_1985 0]

None of this will work unless you tried system restore and if it didn't work then you have corrupted installation. 2 avoid that next time reinstall in clean process first install windows then update you're drives enable the XP firewall before connecting 2 internet then update you're windows form Windows update after that install antivirus or what ever programs you want 2 use .specially sp1 400 MB.

[Albert Schweitzer 10]

System restore does not necessarily fix an internal problem like that.

Starting manually I mean seraching taskmanager in the system32 folder and clicking on it.

Are you sure you started as Admin?

Look if you have the process WUAUMQR.EXE running. this prevents taskmanager to work. It is a virus by the way. If you got Kazaa then delete a file called 44kb.exe. And make sure you delete it.

AND then search for WUAUMQR in search. Delete all files. if it doesnt work rename them whatever.xxx (montage) and delete it when restarting! Dont forget to clean your registry!

[iNeo 0]

Hehehe I guess this is for you getting your computer to a better price than me.

Also..

I have this “security solution†called Norman

..I got Norton Internet Security 2004 (Personal Firewall + Antivirus), Adobe Photoshop Elements 2, etc. And Dell sounds nicer than Fujitsu

Anyway is it working well apart from this virus crap?

[Commander-598 0]

It might just be me, but I think your screwed.

[SpeedyDonkey 0]

Yes the games are working excellent but it’s the windows applications that are unstable. I’ve spoken to some other people and they experience the same kind of problem as well. We have yet to find the problem. We have very different hardware and versions of windows so it’s hard to see what we could have in common. But a virus of some sort could have done damage somehow.

I don’t have kazaa or any other crap like that :o) And the way I understand it, Taskman would never start if I had the WUAUMQR.EXE virus, right?

I’m also a bit puzzled about the Norman software. It’s said to be good but is mainly used by cooperation’s. I find it a bit hard to use and tweak though. And the fatal error that I made was not to install it before I connected to the internet, without realising that Sasser would enter within seconds from the time that I connected to the internet.

[theavonlady 2]

I'm beginning to agree with Commander-598. Reformat and reinstall XP. Immediately afterwards install the latest version of Norton AV and update it. Only then, start installing the programs.

[SpeedyDonkey 0]

I'm beginning to agree with Commander-598. Reformat and reinstall XP. Immediately afterwards install the latest version of Norton AV and update it. Only then, start installing the programs.

Oh yeah, I’m already planning to do that. But I’m extremely curious how this could happen, especially as some others have it as well. I’ll burn all ofp stuff plus ZoneAlarm on a dvd, so that I have it ready to install it before I logon on to the internet this time.

I find ZA so much easier. I’m not the kind of guy who should be allowed Norman products in the near future :o)

The question still remains though. How on earth do I avoid it next time? These other guys claim they never had viruses and seem to be pretty sure of that.

[SpeedyDonkey 0]

Oh and saying that the problems always occurs after a couple of minutes was a small exaggeration because everything still works in windows after 50 minutes. Seems to be a bit random but i don't know...

[HellToupee 0]

could have some dodgey hardware, i had a joystick once that when using windows drivers on XP made the thing bluescreen when u hit 2 buttons at once :P, works fine on manufactures driver.

U could just get linux