Windows XP locks up!!

[kanad1]

Hello!

Please help me out on this one! I have a P-4 1.7Ghz, 256 SD ram {NOT DDR-SD JUST PLAIN SD RUNNING AT 133MHz} and Windows XP Pro ed. for about 1 year. But then came along SP2. Since I installed it, my computer locks up agter connecting to the internet through my modem! Although the PC returns to normal operation after say 15 to 20 minutes which is a heckof a lot of time for a dial-up user.

The meaning i want to imply by using the word lock-up is:
1. Mouse moves
2. Programs dont start.
3. If i press Ctrl+Alt+Del a LOT of times a few hundred task managers activate and if I close them all, the PC goes unresponsive once again.

It's a real pain in the neck for me because I have to Start up all the programs that I would require while using the net. That means I have to start my Firewall, Browser (Firefox), My download Manager (DAP), Winamp and then connect to the internet.

Please help me out URGENTLY!! I will be very much greatful for prompt replies.

Thank You for your time!
Kanad Sharad Godse
(Jai Hind, Jai Maharashtra!)

 

[Woody419]

I can think of two solutions.

1.) Uninstall SP2 using the Add or Remove Programs
or
2.) Add more ram, another 256 mb at a minimum, 1GB total would be ideal.

256 mb is not enough ram to run everything. You can also try turning off some services to conserve ram. Blackviper is off-line, so use the Wayback Machine.
http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.blackviper.com

 

[kanad1]

Hello!
Thank you, 'Woody419' after my exams r over i plan to upgrade and add another 256MB or even 512MB if I get it. I was also wondering wether the fact that i have an on-board graphics card eating away 32Megz off my RAM leavin only 224Megz for my system.
Also, I tend to disagree with you on the fact that 256MB is not enoufg to keep everythng running smoothly. The reason why I say so is:
I have installed CachemanXP which tells me how much total free RAM is free in my system at any given time. At any given time I have 100MB to 150MB RAM free and this is the same amount of free memory I have right now (i.e. while I am connected to the net). I think when you have 100MB odd Megz of free memory, any program in the world should run as smooth as butter on my system. I was expecting a solution involving disabling of some specific services. But thanks any-way!

P.S.: Please tell me why did you give those two links at the bottom of your reply?? and what are they used for?

 

[Woody419]

Black Viper is a great resource for explaining the Services in XP, unfortunately his website is down. The solution is to use the Wayback Machine:
http://web.archive.org/collections/web.html

Copy and paste in Black Vipers address below for his cached pages:
http://www.blackviper.com/

Don't take my opinion about needing more ram. Start a new thread and ask if 224MB is enough to run XP. The responces shoud be very informative.

 

[Bozo]

This is much better than Blackviper.

http://www.tweakguides.com/XPTC.html

Bozo

 

[Woody419]

Fred Langa's newsletter might have the answer you are looking for.

Fred: I run XP Home on a Dell Dimension with Pentium 2.8GHz processor and 1Gig RAM. Over the last month or two a problem has appeared and despite searching the net, I have not found a solution--- found others with the problem but no solution.

The problem is this: when I start the machine up, everything runs fine, but when I connect to the internet (broadband--- ADSL via a USB modem) applications which are already open continue to run fine, but I am unable to open any new applications for a variable amount of time. By having task manager open before I connect to the internet I have established that the processes run (e.g. outlook.exe) but the application don't appear until this variable delay has occurred. No internet access occurs during this time either. The workaround is to fire up Outlook and Firefox BEFORE connecting to the internet, but it is only a workaround. Before you ask I have a firewall (Kerio) and anti-virus (AVG)--- I also run AD-Aware, Spybot, SpywareBlaster, Microsoft Anti-Spyware, PrevX and these are all updated regularly and although scans have found things from time to time nothing has ever got rid of the problem.

Any help would be appreciated--- otherwise it looks like a re-install job. ---Norman Stock

As this happens only when you have a connection to the internet, my best guess is that the problem is in the TCP/IP settings.

Try this: Right-click to the properties of your network connection (eg open My Computer, then right click My Network Places, and select properties; then right click on your "local area connection" or whatever connection you use to get to the internet, then select its Properties). Once the Property sheet of your internet connection is open, select "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)" and click the Properties button. Next, click the Advanced button and navigate to the WINS tab. Once there, *UN*check the "Enable LMHOSTS lookup." You may also wish to experiment with "Disable NetBIOS over TCP" on the same dialog.

What this does, and why, is explained more fully in "Easy Fix For Sloooooow Launching XP/2K Apps" (#13 http://www.langalist.com/Plus/newsletters/2002/2002-01-10plus.asp ). But the bottom line is that disabling one or both of those settings may significantly speed up your system, once the network connection is alive.

 

[kanad1]

Thamks Woody419! I am glad to see that i'm not the only one with such a problem!
I'm exploring the links u gave. Thanks.

 

[kanad1]

Oh no!!! Woody419!!!

The link in Fred's reply wants me to pay $13.50 and subscribe to an edition. Then only will he let me read all about fixing my problem!

Anyway i'll just wait untill someone else sees this post and i get a few more fixes bcos now dat i found 1 guy with da same problem like mine, there can always be a 100 more!!

 

[firewall]

I had a problem with my PC *somewhat* like that. After installing SP2 for WinXP Professional, my PC used to totally freeze up, no mouse movements, program response, task manager, etc.

Replacing the power supply with another one with a higher power rating/output resolved that issue.