Vista occasionally freezes mometarily

[BillyR]

I'm running Vista Home Premium on a custom-built computer with a 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 duo, 4 GB RAM 32-bit. Actually, I'm not sure if the freeze is caused by Vista or IE 7.

Two or three times a day when I'm performing some task, doesn't matter what, the computer stops responding. The mouse pointer still works and there are no error messages, it just doesn't respond to the mouse or keyboard. After about 5 - 10 seconds it returns to normal. I would classify this as a minor irritant at this point, but if anyone has any ideas of the cause and remedy I would appreciate your advice.

Thanks.

 

[johngalt]

Hi, BillyR, and welcome to the forums.

Are you by chance using Spybot S&D to monitors for malicious files? If so, do you have the IEResident and TeaTimer functions enabled in SpyBot?

 

[BillyR]

Hi, BillyR, and welcome to the forums.

Are you by chance using Spybot S&D to monitors for malicious files? If so, do you have the IEResident and TeaTimer functions enabled in SpyBot?

Thanks, glad to be here.

As a matter of fact, I do have Spybot installed. I've tried to find out if those other features are enabled but was unable to do so with a cursory look at the program. I'll look more thoroughly tomorrow. I'll betcha' they could be the cause of the problem, right?

 

[johngalt]

Indeed - especially as you mentioned not being sure if it was Vista or IE, because TeaTimer has a nasty habit of freezing IE periodically, lasting anywhere (depending upon the speed of the system and number of tabs open and other factors) from 3-10 seconds.

To give you a much better idea of the tools included with SpyBot, look at the tutorial at The home of Spybot-S&D! and for specifics on TeaTimer and IEResident, look at The home of Spybot-S&D!

TeaTimer is located from the Advanced mode (by default Spybot installs with the Basic mode enabled - go to Mode --> and change to Advanced) and then you'll see some new buttons on the left near the bottom - click on the Tools button, then when it opens up, Click on Resident.

HTH

 

[jpease]

I have the same problem. I don't have spybot installed. Where else can I look?
Win Vista 32 on a HP Laptop DV2700 series 3gig ram Turion 64x2 2.10 ghz

 

[BillyR]

TeaTimer is located from the Advanced mode (by default Spybot installs with the Basic mode enabled - go to Mode --> and change to Advanced) and then you'll see some new buttons on the left near the bottom - click on the Tools button, then when it opens up, Click on Resident.

Hey thanks for the roadmap. Saved me a little time. I followed your instructions and deactivated both those features. We'll see what happens now.

Actually, I'm not sure I still need Spybot & Ad-Aware, which I've been using since Windows 98. In addition to Windows Defender I have Pitstop Optimize 2.0 and the pay version of AVG, and that may be enough. I've been noticing a reduction in my connection speeds recently when I check them with the Pitstop program, and this problem may have had something to do with that. After I deactivated those features and restarted I performed a check, and my speed was back up to about 6900 Kbps, which I have rarely seen recently, but one test doesn't prove much I suppose. Time will tell, but I suspect you've solved my problem, for which I thank you.

P. S.: Atlas Shrugged is my all-time favorite book, and I'm old enough to have read it soon after it was first published!

 

[johngalt]

Here's to hoping that this does in fact solve some of your problems.

I should add that I jumped on this question specifically because I experienced the same slow down myself - and I spent several months dealing with it until I finally decided to ask about it - and I found out right away it was TeaTimer.

This was maybe 2 or 3 years ago, when I was first getting acquainted with the boards at CalendarofUpdates....

S, when I saw your post, I (somehow!) remembered TeaTimer and chimed in.

RE: Atlas Shrugged - You, my friend, have just dated yourself lol. But it is nonetheless an enjoyable book - and rumor has it that it is hitting the big screen in a few years (rumors started first with a remake of Fountainhead.

Surprisingly enough, though, I have been using the moniker since I first started access online BBS systems back in the early 90s - I have several free mail accounts with the name (or variations) and it never ceases to amaze me how I will meet someone in an off-chance, random encounter all because of the name I chose to use as my alias....