Laptop Freezes (with Keyboard & Mouse) ???

[j4mes_bond25]

Would anyone have any idea as why my laptop gets frozen after using it for only 5 minutes or so. I can't use the keyboard & the mouse pointer gets frozen & the only way to get over it is by turning the power off.

Couple of days back, I couldn't EVEN turn the power on but someone I manage to do after a while & at least managed to use the Safe Mode with Networking & transferred all my files using the wireless Network onto my PC (& hence backed-up all my data). Afterwards, the power was turning on but the screen used to get frozen at a point where Windows XP banner first comes up (when it's loading & has the status bar underneat it).

Now the power seems to be turning on & am being able to get to the desktop but within 5 min. or so using it, keyboard & mouse gives up.

I've recently had hard disk changed, so hightly doubted if it's anything to do with it. How about the CPU fan or RAM chip fault, or something else ??? Any idea.

I'm using Windows XP Pro. SP2 & has 256 MB of RAM with around 1Ghz of processor speed.

Even if I just use the Internet, it freezes. So, it's NOT only when I use more programs or so (or else, it could've been the RAM's fault).

 

[PC eye]

How long have you had the unit? After a period of months espcially with the usual addition and removal of various programs the system registry simply gets a load of useless entries. At other times some driver gets crosslinked with something else and problems begin. The first step in solving Windows locks is to reduce the number of startups(programs that load along with Windows) seen in the msconfig utility.

After a lenghty period the data on a hard drive will often become fragmented with that including the system files and drivers needed to run Windows. The first three things that could be tried if you have the XP installation disk onhand are:
1) reduction of anything unnecessary in the startup group of the msconfig utility.
2) routine maintainence of using the defragmentation tool in accessories\system tools\
3) the system file checker incuded in Windows since 98.

At the Run prompt right off of the Start menu type in "sfc /scannow" and press the enter key or the ok button. The enter key is faster by second nature here. You will need the Windows cd for the tool to verify and repair/replace any system files found damaged or missing. This will take several minutes at times.

The msconfig utility is opened by typing msconfig at the Run prompt and pressing the enter key. Once that screen opens go to the last tab on the right to open the startup group in order to uncheck selected items or to disable everything there. Background services like antivirus or dvd burning softwares like Roxio can be disabled in the services tab next to the startup group. First check off the hide all Microsoft services option to avoid mistakes. followed by restarting the system to put those into effect.

The third step is last since that is usually responsible for slowdowns not lockups being seen in Windows and takes the longest. But this is one thing that can be done while busy checking the mail for example even thougn things will slow down a little.

 

[j4mes_bond25]

How long have you had the unit? After a period of months espcially with the usual addition and removal of various programs the system registry simply gets a load of useless entries. At other times some driver gets crosslinked with something else and problems begin. The first step in solving Windows locks is to reduce the number of startups(programs that load along with Windows) seen in the msconfig utility.

After a lenghty period the data on a hard drive will often become fragmented with that including the system files and drivers needed to run Windows. The first three things that could be tried if you have the XP installation disk onhand are:
1) reduction of anything unnecessary in the startup group of the msconfig utility.
2) routine maintainence of using the defragmentation tool in accessories\system tools\
3) the system file checker incuded in Windows since 98.

At the Run prompt right off of the Start menu type in "sfc /scannow" and press the enter key or the ok button. The enter key is faster by second nature here. You will need the Windows cd for the tool to verify and repair/replace any system files found damaged or missing. This will take several minutes at times.

The msconfig utility is opened by typing msconfig at the Run prompt and pressing the enter key. Once that screen opens go to the last tab on the right to open the startup group in order to uncheck selected items or to disable everything there. Background services like antivirus or dvd burning softwares like Roxio can be disabled in the services tab next to the startup group. First check off the hide all Microsoft services option to avoid mistakes. followed by restarting the system to put those into effect.

The third step is last since that is usually responsible for slowdowns not lockups being seen in Windows and takes the longest. But this is one thing that can be done while busy checking the mail for example even thougn things will slow down a little.

In the mean time, I tried downloading Graphic card's driver, but when I go to the Device Manager & click on update driver & then select the folder from the location (where I saved that driver's folder, such as c:driver), I constantly get the message saying "cannot update it".

While fiddling with graphic drive, I may've "disabled" the driver & the laptop restarted but all I get now is just a "blank screen", NOT EVEN the Windows banner (which is usually seen when it's being loaded).

 

[PC eye]

Do you at least see the post or initial logo screen for using the F8 boot menu option to load Windows in safe mode? It sounds like a bad download is now seeing an immediate conflict with another driver or another system file. Even if you disable the loadup of a graphics driver Windows will use it's own default vga drivers to see the basics running.

The F8 menu is one method of choosing the last known configuration that worked or booting into safe mode to remove that. If you have a recovery disk you could also try the manual startup of the system restore process in order to roll back the drivers. http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304449

 

[j4mes_bond25]

Do you at least see the post or initial logo screen for using the F8 boot menu option to load Windows in safe mode? It sounds like a bad download is now seeing an immediate conflict with another driver or another system file. Even if you disable the loadup of a graphics driver Windows will use it's own default vga drivers to see the basics running.

The F8 menu is one method of choosing the last known configuration that worked or booting into safe mode to remove that. If you have a recovery disk you could also try the manual startup of the system restore process in order to roll back the drivers. http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304449

>> Most of the time, I can't turn the laptop on at all, by pressing its power button. (wouldn't you say, in this case, there's something wrong with the hardware itself, perhaps the "battery" or something cos the problem is with SWITCHING the laptop ON ???)
>> When it DOES turn-on, sometimes, the keyboard, mouse & screen freezes within 5-10 min. of use
>> I tried "updating" driver for various compononts & started-off with Video Card, but every time, I tell the location & select the "driver folder" (c:/driver/s3), I get the message saying "Cannot find driver" or something like that.

I do wonder however, as what's the purpose of "restoring" system to its previous point, bearing in mind that I've NOT downloaded anything new off the Internet & hence haven't had anything changed within my system ???

I'll try your recommendation in the mean time & will get back to you.

Thanks for your time & help in the mean time.

 

[PC eye]

The first things mentioned here were strictly the software side to look into there as one possible cause. If the bios programming has seen some loss there that would see a number of things come up. How old is the Laptop? Dust and dirt inside the keyboard after extended use or being exposed to room air would explain problems with the keyboard but not the power.