Vista Keeps Freezing, Searched For Solutions to No Avail

R

RedRage

Member
Hello everyone! Recently, I have been having problems with my Dell Vostro 220 desktop computer. I am running Windows Vista Home Basic 32-bit with, 3GB of memory, Intel(R) Core (TM)2 Duo CPU E7400 @ 2.80GHz 2.79GHz, and an ATI Radeon HD 4350 video card (I'm assuming this is a video card).

The problem is simple: my desktop freezes to the point that I cannot move my mouse or perform the Ctrl+Alt+Delete option. Usually, I have to wait several minutes before it begins to work again however, sometimes I have to shut the computer down and restart it.

I have checked to make sure my drivers were up to date on the ATI Radeon HD 4350 (which it was) and I am on the Service Pack 2 for Vista. I have also scoured the internet for solutions but either I don't understand them (too technical) or it doesn't work.

If someone could please help me out it would be greatly appreciated because as a college student, I depend on my desktop for the majority of my work.

Thank you in advance for your time and help!
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 220
    Memory
    3 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 3450
While I prepare other suggestions
Run a full anti virus scan
Download Malwarebytes and make a full updated scan
Perform in safe mode is necessary.
Report back
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
richc46 said:
While I prepare other suggestions
Run a full anti virus scan
Download Malwarebytes and make a full updated scan
Perform in safe mode is necessary.
Report back
Click to expand...

I performed Malwarebytes (Full Scan) in SafeMode (I did notice it froze but for only a few short minutes). There were no malicious objects found. I will now perform the clean boot in Safe Mode and report back to you.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 220
    Memory
    3 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 3450
Take your time. If clean boot works, we have this licked.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
richc46 said:
Take your time. If clean boot works, we have this licked.
Click to expand...

I followed the steps in the Clean Boot and then restarted the computer regularly. I went ahead and started playing Counter-Strike on Kongregate.com and my desktop froze. The only thing I noticed differently is that the time it took to unfreeze was considerably less than in the past.

What is the next step and have we been able to find out what the issue may be? Once again, thank you for your continual support!
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 220
    Memory
    3 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 3450
Go to the website of your hard drive manufacturer and test the hard drive.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
richc46 said:
If you pass, this test is not as accurate as the other, but if you fail, there are problems.
Make sure that you check both boxes as shown. The test will take at least an hour or more
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67612-check-disk-chkdsk.html
Click to expand...

I'm guessing I passed the test as the chkdsk did not return any errors and seemed to run smoothly. I just wish Hitachi had an easier way to test the hard drive than what's currently available.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 220
    Memory
    3 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 3450
Did you have both boxes checked as shown in the tutorial?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
richc46 said:
Did you have both boxes checked as shown in the tutorial?
Click to expand...

Yes, I followed the instructions and selected both boxes. I also want to mention that in the past I used to receive an error saying that, "display driver has stopped responding and has recovered" or something along those lines.

Also, I still haven't adjusted my settings from the clean boot (not sure if this needs to be changed). I also plan on using IE and seeing if that makes a difference and that the freezing may be attributed to Firefox?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 220
    Memory
    3 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 3450
I doubt if its your browser.
Go to search by the start button, type device manager.
In device manger look for any small yellow marks, indicating that the driver must be updated. If none, update graphics, driver.
Do all of the steps that I gave you in my early post.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
So far I have not experienced any freezing. I'm going to keep using IE and see if I can get it to freeze (LOL). I will post if I see anything unusual or the problems persist and if you find any new solutions or tests, please continue to advise.

Thank you for your timely responses and support, I'm very grateful to have found this forum and you are an asset here!
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 220
    Memory
    3 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 3450
I thank you for your kind words. Someone will always be here if you have additional problems.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
richc46 said:
I thank you for your kind words. Someone will always be here if you have additional problems.
Click to expand...

So the message that stopped pooping up is now back. I'm going to force myself to use IE and see if the problem occurs again. If so, I guess the problem is not the browser and something else. It just sucks that there are no definite solutions.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 220
    Memory
    3 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 3450
We will find the solution, but its hit or miss.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
Thats probably for Graphics, it may be the cause.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
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