Strange random freezing

[DrZone]

After like an hour of usage, my computer freezes for like 5seconds and the taskbar and windows disappear. But 1second later, they all come back except some icons in my taskbar. My computer is fully operational after one of these "freezes". Oh and i have been running my setup for about 1yr now - this problem only recently came up!

Specs:
Athlon 2500+ @ 2.1ghz
512mb
WinXP Pro.

 

[Sonic587]

Sounds like you should up the vcore a bit if it's stalling like that. Try scanning for viruses and spyware as well. What are the rest of your specs?

 

[AWhackWhiteBoy]

" the taskbar and windows disappear"

explorer.exe is crashing, check your windows logs and find out the error code and figure it out from there.

edit: this belongs in the OS forum

 

[hompsar]

try using spy-ware removal software. I recommend Ad-Aware [http://www.download.com/redir?pid=10214379&merid=69274&mfgid=69274&ltype=dl_dlnow&lop=link&edId=3&siteId=4&oId=3000-8022-10214379&ontId=8022&dlrs=1&destUrl=%2F3001-8022-10214379.html and Spybot: Search&Destroy [http://www.download.com/redir?pid=10289035&merid=104443&mfgid=104443&ltype=dl_dlnow&lop=link&edId=3&siteId=4&oId=3000-8022-10289035&ontId=8022&destUrl=%2F3001-8022-10289035.html

sorry for the long links, I do not know how to use codes on this forum

 

[DrZone]

Thanks for your replies.

I also checked the OS forum but didnt find any useful info.

Strange thing about explorer.exe crashing is that my desktop comes back with all the windows again.

 

[AWhackWhiteBoy]

yea, explorer.exe is the program that runs your taskbar and windows(windows explorer). it crashes, writes to the log, then restarts the program,so it all comes back,but minus all the windows you had open,right?

 

[AWhackWhiteBoy]

by the way,to check your error logs:

right click my computre>manage>event viewer>system

 

[DrZone]

Originally posted by: AWhackWhiteBoy
by the way,to check your error logs:

right click my computre>manage>event viewer>system

Yes i suspected explorer.exe is the problem also. Thank you for your advice and directions.

 

[DrZone]

Any ideas as to why explorer.exe could be crashing? Is it usually spyware?

 

[hompsar]

spyware affects many different things. I would not doubt that the problem COULD be with spyware, but I will also say that it is most likely something in your system that is causing it.

note: if programs are freezing on your computer or things are getting very laggy, all you have to do is go to Task Manager and shut down Explorer.exe and if it does not restart itself, then just go to run task and type in Explorer.exe

 

[Cerb]

www.lavasoftusa.com, update and run Adaware.
www.safer-networking.org, update and run Spybot S&D.
Google for "download cool web shredder", as the home page seems to be down again.

 

[DrZone]

Originally posted by: hompsar
spyware affects many different things. I would not doubt that the problem COULD be with spyware, but I will also say that it is most likely something in your system that is causing it.

note: if programs are freezing on your computer or things are getting very laggy, all you have to do is go to Task Manager and shut down Explorer.exe and if it does not restart itself, then just go to run task and type in Explorer.exe

Errr... Explorer.exe is the SHELL. I dont think i want to be stopping and restarting it over and over again.

 

[Cerb]

Originally posted by: DrZone

Originally posted by: hompsar
spyware affects many different things. I would not doubt that the problem COULD be with spyware, but I will also say that it is most likely something in your system that is causing it.

note: if programs are freezing on your computer or things are getting very laggy, all you have to do is go to Task Manager and shut down Explorer.exe and if it does not restart itself, then just go to run task and type in Explorer.exe

Errr... Explorer.exe is the SHELL. I dont think i want to be stopping and restarting it over and over again.

No, but in NT it isn't so bad. You can use the PC w/o even having a shell running, if you so desire.

 

[hompsar]

yea. you can restart it without a problem.

 

[DrZone]

i just cleaned out some spyware. But i still get random restarts of my explorer.exe

Any suggestions?