[jdemnyan1116]

Computer freezes once in a while on shutdown or while running a program. Cannot exit program (random programs) using task manager. It just sits there and does not shut off the program. Mouse works, other items work, just won't end program. Just had a new hard drive installed with XP2 installed over the old program that came with the computer. Ran good for about 2 months now, then it started acting up. Sometimes it won't go into standby, just sits there. Sometimes it won't even shut off by start, shutoff. You have to use the off button instead. When its jammed, not program spacific(sp), task manager will not work. When you hit shutdown It seems to log off the icons, then sits at the desktop picture for about 5 minutes, then says windows is logging off, just sits there forever. Have to manually shut off the computer. Went to a web site about computers freezing and it said to use XP medic or Registry Patrol to find the problem, something about it scans your system and lets you know if anything is out of order. Anyone heard of these and has anyone used them. No error messages at all or the dreaded bluescreen of death. Got that when my hard drive went the first time.

 

[jargonize]

sure sounds like a conflict, guess i would start stopping programs one at a time in task manager to see, might take a while this way.

 

[Rich-M]

This could easily be a bad hard drive...was it replaced (frequently the replacement is in worse shape).
The other place to look is in startup "Run,msconfig,Ok,Startup" can you tell us what is checked?

 

[schusterjo]

Microsoft says whenever a computer freezes or reboots (crashes) you need to run chkdsk
Start, my computer, right click on your hard drive, select properties, select tools, error checking click "check now"(chkdsk).
(General maintenance can save alot of headaches, see link below for general maintenance)

Hard drive
Download the diagnostic tool and check your hard drive
Hard Disk Drive Diagnostics/Utilities

Overheating

Description

When your CPU overheats, it will usually cause your computer to reboot. Video card overheating causes artifacts to appear on your screen, and usually wont cause reboots.

Diagnostic

Enter BIOS upon powering on your computer. Most BIOs have a hardware monitor. Use this to check your temperatures and fan speeds.

There is also hardware monitoring software that can check your temperatures from Windows. Your hardware monitoring software should have come with your motherboard. If you have no monitoring software, you can go to www.cpuid.com and get PC Wizard. PC Wizard is an easy to use program that will let you know what kind of temperatures you have, and what your fan speeds are at.

Causes

CPU overheating is usually caused by a failing CPU fan or improperly applied thermal paste. Fortunately, these 2 causes are easy to fix. If the CPU fan is dead, buy a new one and install it. If the thermal paste is improperly applied, remove the old paste off and apply new paste.

Another method is to take a house fan and open the case blowing the fan on high into the case.
if this helps we know its heat.
Goto radio shack buy a can of PCB cleaner (printed circuit board) unplug computer for an hour, open case spray everything starting from top working down to the bottom make sure you get the cpu heatsink and video card really goods.

Power Supply (PSU) Problems

Description

It is important to have a functioning, proper size of PSU for your computer. Having an underpowered or failing PSU is often the cause for random reboots. To get an estimate of how powerful a PSU, use this PSU calculator and add about 50W to the minimum power the calculator gives you.

Diagnostic

The easiest and best way to diagnose a faulty PSU is to swap it with another one that you know is in good working order.

Flowchart for ATX Power Supply Repair
Causes

PSUs just die after a while.

RAM

Description

Faulty RAM and RAM slots can cause random errors/reboots.

Diagnostic

The best way to determine if RAM is your problem is to run your computer with one stick at a time, and see if the problem occurs for either stick. This obviously doesn't apply if you only have one stick to begin with Also, try the RAM in different slots. The actual slots might be causing RAM-failing like problems. The next step is to run memtest86 to determine if you have faulty RAM.

Drivers
Visit the manufactures website and download the latest drivers for your hardware.

Viruses/malware/Trojans

Ad-Aware SE Personal
I run this daily

SpywareBlaster 3.5.1
I update once a week (keeps bad pages with known malware that cold cause damage from being displayed.)

Spybot - Search & Destroy
Daily or every other day

CwShredder
This is one I only use once a week or month lol but good to have

AVG Anti-Spyware
In order to get full use of this one you have to buy it but has a free trial. Good program to have and run before you run Hijackthis.

Download and update (update is very important before you scan) boot into safe mode (You do not need to boot into safe mode every time to run programs. Some malware cannot be fully removed or detected unless you are in Safemode, This is why I recommend running it the first time in safe mode then perhaps once a month in safe mode)

With some computers if you press and hold a key as the computer is booting you will get a stuck key message. If this occurs, instead of pressing and holding the "F8 key", tap the "F8 key" continuously until you get the startup menu.

Scan the computer,

Boot backup into Normal mode, download
CodeStuff Starter manage your startup programs

Disable all startup programs that you "do not" need running at startup.

A guide to help keep a smooth system.
Maintain your system with Windows XP

Diskeeper
The best program to use for defragging

 

[jdemnyan1116]

List on Startup. Not much there. Most shut off. Checked items are RecGuard, NVCpl Rundll.32.exe, Nwiz,usb(hp item) hpztsb04 spool driver,ccApp (Norton), os check(norton) and spywareguard. Just shut off microsoft works detention update so will see if it does anything or not. Don't need it the works detention. I know most are needed, when they reinstalled the new drive, I had them uncheck anything I did not really need. Hasn't did it for a couple of days now so maybe its over its fits, now watch, it will go today. When I installed Norton Internet Security, I got a warning about it not being compatable with Spybot, uninstalled sypbot, then reinstalled it (love spybot). My brother uses the same system i got, Windows SP2 and also spybot, not conflicts there. Was advised on the tech site that Norton is giving a false about it. They just don't want you to use any other system but theirs. Will run disk check, like I said, with PC Doctor, nothing was found bad. Anyone know of a program to shut off programs when task manager can't?

 

[jdemnyan1116]

Found something out. Used spybot for startup info. Found out about NvCplDaemon program on startup. Its RUNDLL.32\NvCpl.dll,Nv startup. Phil Collins says its a system tray icon used to change display settings, change the clock rate and memory speed for nVidia based graphic cards. This is unnecessary since you can easily configue them the way you want them in Display Properties and not mess with them again. Also disable "Nvidia Driver Helper Service" if enabled it will cause the entry to be re-enabled at reboot.(NOTE THAT THIS SERVICE CAN ALSO CAUSE EXTREME SHUTDOWN DELAYS IF ENABLED.) Checked in services, Driver helper is active, automatic on startup. Desktop manager is not enabled. Question is, can I remove/shut it down without affecting my computer? Both the NvCplDaemon and the Driver service? Is it needed for anything important. After I shut it down, will I have to change my settings in Display properties? Am not that computer savy, thats why all the questions.

 

[schusterjo]

NvCplDaemon is not needed and installed with nvidia software. you can remove it by using the startup program I list below and select it , right click on it. select explore section key, delete it.
http://www.securitystronghold.com/g...ll32.exe-NvQtwk.dll,-NvCplDaemon_solution.htm

I recommend you run a hijackthis log and post it here. sounds like you may have some intrusions on your computer and slowing it down making it act funny

HijackThis Quick Start how to use it.
button on left to download.

Now you can post it here and only listen to people with a yellow shield next to their name.
Like Rollin' Rog

Far as startup programs I recommend
Starter
manage your startup programs