Unresponsive computer problem

Discussion in 'PC hardware help' started by rhyse, Nov 25, 2009.

  1. rhyse

    rhyse Member

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2009
    Messages:
    6
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    11
    So I bought a new desktop around around a month ago and had a wireless adapter as well as a firewire port installed. The thing worked fine for the first 3 weeks, no problems at all.
    Then one day while surfing the net I noticed that when I opened a new tab on IE (firefox responds mostly the same way) it would freeze for about 15 seconds and then unfreeze with the window completely loaded. This started to happen more frequently particuarly with various programs open at the same time (two or three)
    As time went on, regardless of the program or what it was running. Every 30 clicks or so (atleast) would result in the program "(Not Responding)"

    I did a comprehensive virus scan with Norton and after that showed nothing I got fed up and restored it to the out of box state.
    This helped to a degree but I still have the problem every so often.

    What could all of this mean? Should I take it in for repair? Or are there other steps I could take to fix this myself?

    For the record, I am completely computer illiterate so if you could dumb down replies as much as humanly possibly that would be great. In saying that though, any help at all is greatly appreciated!

    Thanks

    (don't know if any of this is relevent but I thought I may as well chuck it in)

    OS Name Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
    Version 6.1.7600 Build 7600
    Other OS Description Not Available
    OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
    System Name RHYSE-PC
    System Manufacturer System manufacturer
    System Model System Product Name
    System Type X86-based PC
    Processor Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q9550 @ 2.83GHz, 2833 Mhz, 4 Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s)
    BIOS Version/Date American Megatrends Inc. 0305, 8/04/2009
    SMBIOS Version 2.5
    Windows Directory C:\Windows
    System Directory C:\Windows\system32
    Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
    Locale Australia
    Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "6.1.7600.16385"
    User Name Rhyse-PC\Rhyse
    Time Zone E. Australia Standard Time
    Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 4.00 GB
    Total Physical Memory 3.50 GB
    Available Physical Memory 2.43 GB
    Total Virtual Memory 7.00 GB
    Available Virtual Memory 5.69 GB
    Page File Space 3.50 GB
    Page File C:\pagefile.sys
     
  2. rayals

    rayals Regular member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2006
    Messages:
    109
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    26
    No need for repair, yet. Let the aD'ers help. Ok. What Model, make, etc is this computer? Is your computer fully updated? Including drivers? What process are running when this happens?
    We will need a little more info to help you out.
     
  3. fabianc21

    fabianc21 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 11, 2007
    Messages:
    15
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    11
    uninstall every single program that you don't need. New computers for the most part are always loaded with trial programs that do no good (except taking up space) after you've done that runn CCleaner to clean out all the temp files and clean up the registry. I think that will do you a lot of good.
     
  4. rhyse

    rhyse Member

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2009
    Messages:
    6
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    11
    thanks for the replies

    @ rayals
    I'm in bed on my phone now, but I'll get back to you on the model and make and whatever else
    I know atleast that it's an "Asus V-series" model

    and what do you mean by the process running? like, what processes are running in task manager while it happens?

    and as far as I know, it is updated competely. how do I double check though?

    @ fabianc
    the only thing that worries me though is that it was fine when I first got it
    so any trial programs I would have got with it (or whatever) hadn't bothered it until a bit later on
    so theoretically, now that I've restored it back to it's "out of box state" un-installing programs wouldn't make any difference as I still have the problem now but didn't a month ago when buying it
     
  5. ecknight

    ecknight Regular member

    Joined:
    May 19, 2005
    Messages:
    177
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    26
    go into task manager and see what is running during these slow periods sounds like the system is being maxed out but i wouldnt think so with them specs. Just note total system usage if more than 20 to 30 % with only web browsing then you have some other program tying up all of your resources
     
  6. rhyse

    rhyse Member

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2009
    Messages:
    6
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    11
    <a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i45.tinypic.com/15f1x00.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>

    anything look out of the ordinary?
     
  7. rhyse

    rhyse Member

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2009
    Messages:
    6
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    11
    EDIT: [​IMG]
     
  8. KillerBug

    KillerBug Active member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2006
    Messages:
    3,802
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    66
    That page can be a bit decieving, as there are other items that can cause a system to get bogged down ther than memory and CPU loads. If you have not already gone through your services and scheduled tasks, I would start there...Windows 7 is better than vista, but it still needs to be tweeked to work right. There are also a few programs that seem to be starting without your permission...The Flash Helper, Live Messenger, Live Communications. If the system is not a tablet PC, you can also clear out a few more.

    I would then uninstall Norton, as this might as well be a virus...it waists lots of performance, and won't find most malware and virues. Replace with ESET if you can...if you don't have the funds, at least do a scan with malwarebytes or the free trial of ESET.

    Make sure you have all the latest drivers...I see you have a realtek audio card, and some of the older drivers dragged windows down bad. Many Dlink drivers will do the same. Even outdated video drivers have been known to do this. DO NOT use the drivers from the laptop maker's website; use the more up to date drivers from the component manufacturer website (Dlink, realtek, intel, etc...)

     
  9. rhyse

    rhyse Member

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2009
    Messages:
    6
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    11
    hey guys
    had a technician take a look at the computer the other day
    turned out that the PCI slot for the wireless adapter and the firewire were too close too eachother and ended up overheating and literally melting the insides
    the shop I bought it from refunded it with a new HP Pavilion Elite HPE-070a and so far I've been very happy

    would just like to say I really appreciate everybodys help
    thanks
     
  10. KillerBug

    KillerBug Active member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2006
    Messages:
    3,802
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    66
    OMG...what a POS! I have seen cards overheat to the point of failure; but these were almost always high powered cards like video and RAID adapters...and they still didn't melt! Wifi and firewire cards should run almost cool to the touch (they don't even need heatsinks)...there is something more than just 'the cards being too close to eachother'.
     
  11. rhyse

    rhyse Member

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2009
    Messages:
    6
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    11
    haha woah, settle down killerbug! just what he said, maybe he was exadurating with the melting thing.
     

Share This Page