[66emberglow]

The folks at VMF are the smartest people I know, so I thought it a logical place to ask about my computer problems.

I have a 333 MHz Cyrix machine with 128M RAM, 30G HD, USB. It freezes up several times a day. I have to reboot each time. It usually happens with a keystroke. The screen, mouse and keyboard are all frozen. Any ideas? Any websites that would help me troubleshoot the problem? I need to fix this, otherwise SWMBO will make me use Mustang money to buy a new computer!

Coppertone's current condition:
http://www.knology.net/~dorner/images/coppertone2.jpg

 

[Guest]

I'm as far from a computer nerd as you can get but my machine would crash on Windows or Netscape several times a day so I found out from the Winfix site to delete a lot of the useless programs I had running in the background. Then I switched to Internet Explorer and it hardly happens anymore.
Tom

1967 Coupe
Auto w/C4
302 w/Edelbrock 1406 carb and intake
Factory air
http://www.fortunecity.com/marina/kingfisher/1369/index.htm
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1581047&a=12027981&p=43670918.jpg

 

[GolfBoy]

Unfortunately, computers are my life...
First thing, is get rid of anything running in your system tray that doesn't need to be there. Especially things like RealPlayer.
If that doesn't clear up the problem, reinstall Windows. You may have a corrupted .DLL file or a registry file.
These are two of the easiest places to start.

 

[Guest]

What you need to do is get rid of anything that is taking up space or something that really doesnt have any use on your hard drive! Then reinstall windows it should work that time then!

 

[66emberglow]

The only thing that's in my sys tray that I would suspect is a task scheduler. I disabled it. I don't know if I should, or how, to remove it.

This problem existed with Win95, so I bought a new hard drive and installed Win98. I'm suspecting a hardware problem, but I don't know.


Coppertone's current condition:
http://www.knology.net/~dorner/images/coppertone2.jpg

 

[Poppy65]

Netscape is a dog unfortunately.. I program games for the web and when someone has a problem it is 99% of the time a netscape user..they used to have the best browser but not any longer..

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1582904&a=12044467&p=43545944.jpg
Chris Hunter
65 A-Code Convertible

 

[thespazardman]

Well, I've always had trouble with Cyrix processors (yeesh), but that's not your problem. Not to insult your intelligence, but here goes:

Windows (95, 98, NT, 2000, ME, etc) gets less and less efficient as it gets "older". By older I mean from the time it was installed. Little things start to go wrong, and it's usually only fixed completely with a complete re-install. I would seriously advise AGAINST re-installing windows over the top of your existing system. You need to purge (format) your entire computer and start from scratch. This can be done a couple ways, depending on your setup. The most ideal is if you have two harddrives (or just two partitiions), so you can backup your personal data, and re-install windows via the Emergency Restoration CD. Most newer computers (within two or three years old) came with this CD. All you have to do is stick it in the computer, turn the computer on, and it will lead you through the installation process. If you don't have this disk, it's quite a bit more difficult.

I can help you further if you give more details about your computer, ie Do you have the restoration disk? Do you have a second harddrive to back up your personal data? Do you have any personal data worth saving?

Thespazardman

 

[darren66]

Unfortunately it may be your Cyrix processor. They are notorious for overheating and deteriorating over a period of time. I suspect this because you stated that this problem existed with Win95, then you bought a new hard drive and installed Win98.

-Darren

 

[VictorII]

In addition to the excellent advice you've already gotten try doing a disk clean up and defrag. I have AOL (gag...) and once a month or so my PC acts exactly like you have described. I set the defrag off at night and it's done by the time I get up. It seems to help in my case.

 

[Guest]

Are you running win98 1st or 2nd edition. If it's first edition, upgrade to 2nd edition. It's worth the money. If you merely upgraded to win98, delete win98, and reinstall it from scratch. The Cyrix is probably at least part of the culprit. Does it seem to lock up in any particular program? If it's netscape, do the reinstall, and start using IE.

'67 Coupe project car (Did I say project car? I meant pile of rust)
http://www.americainter.net/~fevans/tangdar.jpg

 

[Guest]

Wow! This previous post looks like a scene from "Road Warrior"! What is hanging all around your car, man? Is that spider webs? This is really cooool! Talk about "atmosphere" in your shop...

Dan
Be a good dad to your kids and phone your mom twice a week...
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1589115&a=12097562&p=43884454.jpg

 

[71stang]

what i have experianced with cyrix chips are that many programs games and hardware need to be patched or updated to run properly check for a modem driver update and try to dissable yor power manadgement in your bios and dissable screen savers and as posted anthing witch is running thats not needed also a bad cd rom could cause your computer to behave strangely you can also just try to clear your cache in the taskbar settings start/settings/taskbar-startmenu/startmenu programs then hit the clear button you will see your functions quicken up

 

[Gene_J]

I agree about Netscape, At my place of employment we use it as the lowest common denominator. If it works on NS it will work on IE.

A complete reinstall should have handled the problem. Have you installed any new hardware or drivers?

Do you have any children? MY son would "improve" my desktop when ever I traveled which is about every week. New boards, new programs, utilities and upgrades. A few reconfigures also occured. "But the games run faster!" Sorry there isn't enough memory left to open a word document.

Only when I pointed out that he was a fetus in his 67th trimester did the upgrades stop.

Gene J

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1584519&a=12058180&p=43615717.jpg
66 Coupe/66 Convert/84 GT Turbo/96 coupe

Gene's cars

 

[Guest]

I hadn't even noticed how that stuff stands out. The black cords in the forground are my pull down electrical cords. The white stuff on the wall behind the car, are my christmas lawn figures hanging on the wall.

'67 Coupe project car (Did I say project car? I meant pile of rust)
http://www.americainter.net/~fevans/tangdar.jpg