Computer locks up and is slow

Computer locks up and is slow

We have a HP 3.5ghz computer with Vista Home Basic.  It boots fine, but runs 
EXTREMELY slow and sometimes locks up competely.  It runs fine in Safe 
Mode--other than the inconveniences of not having a printer and speakers, not 
being able to download MS updates, etc.  I did a system restore, going back 
several times until I found a point at which the computer would run, but very 
very slowly.  I tried deleting some programs that had been added, using the 
control panel and delete programs.  It just sits there and says it's 
gathering information.  For hours.  The little busy circle just keeps going 
around, but the green bar never advances.  I tried updating drivers using 
Windows Update and it does go online etc., but then locks up when it tries to 
download the updates.  The green bar goes back and forth for a while then 
stops and it never finished the update.  The mouse works but nothing responds 
to it.
This happened one before.  We did a system restore, then updated drivers and 
all was well.  This time it won't allow that.  Que pasa?
Keith

date: Wed, 25 Jun 2008 11:20:03 -0700 author: Keith Hansen Keith

Re: Computer locks up and is slow

When your logged on and its running slowly have you checked task manager to 
see what process(s) is/ are hogging the processor?



"Keith Hansen" <Keith Hansen@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message 
news:6F005AFF-4E67-42B7-96B7-518BD5CAD158@microsoft.com...
> We have a HP 3.5ghz computer with Vista Home Basic.  It boots fine, but 
> runs
> EXTREMELY slow and sometimes locks up competely.  It runs fine in Safe
> Mode--other than the inconveniences of not having a printer and speakers, 
> not
> being able to download MS updates, etc.  I did a system restore, going 
> back
> several times until I found a point at which the computer would run, but 
> very
> very slowly.  I tried deleting some programs that had been added, using 
> the
> control panel and delete programs.  It just sits there and says it's
> gathering information.  For hours.  The little busy circle just keeps 
> going
> around, but the green bar never advances.  I tried updating drivers using
> Windows Update and it does go online etc., but then locks up when it tries 
> to
> download the updates.  The green bar goes back and forth for a while then
> stops and it never finished the update.  The mouse works but nothing 
> responds
> to it.
> This happened one before.  We did a system restore, then updated drivers 
> and
> all was well.  This time it won't allow that.  Que pasa?
> Keith

date: Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:16:15 +0100 author: gerryR

Re: Computer locks up and is slow

Yes, but I couldn't get it to come up (Task Manager).  I did resolve the 
issue.  I just kept doing "System Restore" until I found a date that worked 
and it sped up to normal speed, automatically ran Windows Update and now all 
is good again.  I ran the anti-virus program and found nothing.  Ran SpyBot 
and found nothing.  All is good.  The real question is why this has happened 
twice on this particular computer (the one my wife uses) and not on my 
computer, which is almost the same machine.
Keith

"gerryR" wrote:

> When your logged on and its running slowly have you checked task manager to 
> see what process(s) is/ are hogging the processor?
> 
> 
> 
> "Keith Hansen" <Keith Hansen@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message 
> news:6F005AFF-4E67-42B7-96B7-518BD5CAD158@microsoft.com...
> > We have a HP 3.5ghz computer with Vista Home Basic.  It boots fine, but 
> > runs
> > EXTREMELY slow and sometimes locks up competely.  It runs fine in Safe
> > Mode--other than the inconveniences of not having a printer and speakers, 
> > not
> > being able to download MS updates, etc.  I did a system restore, going 
> > back
> > several times until I found a point at which the computer would run, but 
> > very
> > very slowly.  I tried deleting some programs that had been added, using 
> > the
> > control panel and delete programs.  It just sits there and says it's
> > gathering information.  For hours.  The little busy circle just keeps 
> > going
> > around, but the green bar never advances.  I tried updating drivers using
> > Windows Update and it does go online etc., but then locks up when it tries 
> > to
> > download the updates.  The green bar goes back and forth for a while then
> > stops and it never finished the update.  The mouse works but nothing 
> > responds
> > to it.
> > This happened one before.  We did a system restore, then updated drivers 
> > and
> > all was well.  This time it won't allow that.  Que pasa?
> > Keith 
> 
> 
>

date: Sat, 28 Jun 2008 05:06:00 -0700 author: Keith Hansen

Re: Computer locks up and is slow

"Keith Hansen"  wrote in message
news:DD47EBBC-C8BF-4E07-BD7D-F7416067C355@microsoft.com...
> Yes, but I couldn't get it to come up (Task Manager).

Sometimes you have to be patient to let that happen...   ; )

...
> The real question is why this has happened twice on this particular computer
> (the one my wife uses) and not on my computer, which is almost the same
> machine.

So, why wasn't Task Manager already started (with Above Normal priority)?

Actually even better would be to have  Process Explorer  running
(with Above Normal priority, so you can switch to it easily.)

> Keith
>
> "gerryR" wrote:
>
>> When your logged on and its running slowly have you checked task manager to
>> see what process(s) is/ are hogging the processor?

Looks like  GerryR's assumption may have been that you could *switch* to TM
too, as needed.   However, if you are very careful about what you are doing
(and patient) it should be possible to get  TM  running even when it is not,
in most cases.   Hint:  use your keyboard (sparingly) instead of using the mouse
to get the commands queued up that will get it running.

Good luck

Robert Aldwinckle
---

date: Sat, 28 Jun 2008 23:05:20 -0400 author: Robert Aldwinckle