Random Freeze

[TheWildMagic]

On Windows Vista Home Premium, after the system has been up for six, twelve, ??? hours, I will click on a shortcut on the Taskbar and get the familiar message "windows cannot access the specified device path or file. you may not have the appropriate permissions...". Up 'til then, everything is fine. This does not happen with the My Computer shortcut, or Control Panel, etc., but will happen with most executables, including Internet Explorer. All the icons in the System Tray respond normally, unless, for example, if I use a feature which requires internet access ... it will fail to connect. I have had this problem for about 2 months, after a year of no problem at all. Last Friday I did a clean reinstall with SP1 integrated, and all was fine for two days. Perchance a hotfix? I only notice the problem if the computer has been running (unattended) for about six hours or so. I use uGuru, and all my temps/voltages are fine. CPU load is not a problem, either.
Nothing in Event Viewer at the time of the freeze. I've usually had to do a hard reset to restart the computer, after which everything is fine again (for at least six hours). Power configuration has sleep (never), turn off display (20 minutes).
I'll leave it at that, for now. Please feel free to ask for further information. BTW, I can't uninstall any hotfixes (I disabled that feature), but if I ever have to reformat/reinstall, I would probably install one hotfix at a time ... a real drag, though, because it takes up to 12 hours or more to find out if a freeze will happen again. With about 40 hotfixes since SP1, it would take almost 40 days to test them all.

 

[lordbob75]

What are you using to connect to the internet? Wireless card? If so, remove it from the computer and hook up with a cable and see if that helps.

~Lordbob

 

[TheWildMagic]

Thanks Lordbob, but I use cable already. I'm thinking it's a software/new driver/hotfix issue (perhaps!!) because all was fine for over a year. Additional info: I have UAC turned off (but that wasn't an issue before these 'hangs' started). As far as I can tell, it only happens when the PC is unattended for awhile, but it's really hard to say. The problem could occur hours before I discover it if I'm away from the PC for awhile.

 

[lordbob75]

Is there another way you can connect to the internet? Spare wireless card? I think this could be a connection error. Also, try hooking it directly into your modem, and see if it still occurs.

~Lordbob

 

[TheWildMagic]

Hi,
I'm directly connected to modem .. don't have wireless internet available. What is your rationale for thinking it is a connection problem? The programs all work fine when I'm not connected to the internet (except, of course, Internet Explorer and Mail) ... that is, until the taskbar 'hang' happens after several hours of no activity.

 

[lordbob75]

Well you mentioned the "connection" problem.... Nvm I just misinterpreted it a little.

Ok...
- Right-click on the file you want to open.
- Click Properties.
- Under the General tab, at the end of the window you should be able to see a security option like this: Security: "This file came from another computer and might be blocked to help protect this computer."
- Click the button Unblock.
- Click Apply.

That may or may not work, but its worth a try.

~Lordbob

 

[TheWildMagic]

Thanks again.
In general, I already have permission to open any/every file on the computer .. it is only when the hang in the taskbar occurs that I get the error message. So unless my security/permissions option are randomly changing, I am inclined to think that it's a partially frozen desktop. I found out that Vista defrag runs automatically at a specific time...didn't know that before. In my case it runs at 1:00 AM for I noticed a hell of a lot of CPU activity at that time. I have disabled the defrag schedule because I use my own standalone defrag. If my 'hangs' occurred at 1:00 AM, then I would have considered the defrag as the problem but they occur at different times of the day. I am loathe to reformat/reinstall SP1 Integrated Vista, but if I were to, I might have to create about 40 or 50 restore points to try and figure out what software and/or hotfix and/or driver update was creating the problem ...

 

[roy69]

Have a look at your scheduled task.
Have a look at the update history as this may point to a hotfix or driver update problem.

 

[lordbob75]

You can do a repair without losing any Data. Just put in your CD and click repair. That might fix it.

It would also be useful to know when this problem occurred, and see if you can restore to before that.

~Lordbob

 

[TheWildMagic]

Have a look at your scheduled task.
Have a look at the update history as this may point to a hotfix or driver update problem.

Thanks Roy69 ... I installed about 40 hotfixes in one day after I had reformatted and installed Vista with SP1 integrated the day before. As for System Restore, Lordbob, I've never used it for the past nine years (didn't need it), but now I wish I had used it .. however, I would have had to create a new Restore Point for each new hotfix to isolate specific problem, as well as a restore point for each of the many third party driver updates (e.g., graphics card/audio/lcd monitor, etc.), which would have amounted to more than 50 restore points. If the problem were occurring every hour, it would be so much easier, but having to wait 12 hours or so for the 'hang' is a real drag. I changed to elevated administrative privileges yesterday, and I haven't had a hang yet ... although I did do a reboot after elevating my privileges, and if the problem is related to 'up' time, then the reboot restarted the 'counters'. It's been 9 hours so I'll have to wait and see.

 

[TheWildMagic]

No longer hanging! 'Twas related to ATI Catalyst drivers. Thanks to all for responses.