Windows Hangs then Crashes

[Rae Marie Aaland]

Windows ME Version 4.90.3000 Build 3000
System Model 15137200060380
System Type X86-based PC
Processor Intel(r) Celeron(tm) GenuineIntel~702Mhz

WHAT HAPPENS IS THIS: the computer sorta like "freezes"
and then, with movement made using the mouse, the system
reboots. This will happen most often when I've left the
computer for a couple of minutes or else when I have a
lot of stuff running at the same time (i.e., cruising the
internet and pages are piling up).

WHAT I'VE DONE TO THIS POOR COMPUTER: first of all, a
long time ago I added some extra RAM cards to the
computer. I didn't have any immediate or noticeable
problems so I tend to rule this out. Secondly, I checked
the config.sys thinking I would change the STACKS TO
9,256 but it was already like that.

However, this struck me as being a bit odd: when I ran a
search to locate the config.sys file, the results list
showed that the config.sys file was located in four
separate folders. Two of these folders had zero KB. All
of these folders had different "modified" dates. Here's a
list of the four folders:

C:\HP\BACKUP ... 0KB
C:\Program Files\Norton SystemWorks\RescueDisk ... 1KB
C:\ ... 0KB
C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\EBD ... 1KB

The backup file being empty like that made me a little
bit nervous. Any opinions? Would this situation cause the
computer to freeze up and shut off?

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS: I haven't defrag'd the computer in
a long time and I've got a lot of junk on the darn thing:

Total Phys. Memory 62.45 MB
Available Phys. Memory 400.00 KB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.78 GB
Page File Space 1.94 GB

Thanks for any help that's available out there! I'm not
very good on the computer.

[Rick T]

It doesn't sound too serious, maybe a little normal maintenance will
clear it up:

Go to:
ControlPanel/System...
-on the General tab (1st page) take note of how much RAM it sayse.
-on the Performance tab click VirtualMemory and jot down all the
settings (even the grayed out ones if there are some)

then go to:
Start/Run/msconfig.exe/system.ini
-take note of any entries in the [vcache] section


Post back here with what they all say.




And while you're waiting ;)....

Open a DOS window and type...

SCANREG /FIX
and
SCANREG /OPT

Close the Window and reboot the System into SafeMode[1]

From there...
Start/Programs/Accessories/System/DiskCleanup
....Scandisk (if you have a couple hours, run it Thorough)
.... Defrag



HTH



Rick

[1] To get into SafeMode you have to peck at the <F8> or <Ctrl> key a
bunch of times (technically once, but that never works) right after you
see the text-mode screen come up where it says what processor you have
and stuff (which is right after the POST test and right before Windows
starts). A text-menu should come up; choose SafeMode.






Then reboot into SafeMode






Rae Marie Aaland wrote:
> Windows ME Version 4.90.3000 Build 3000
> System Model 15137200060380
> System Type X86-based PC
> Processor Intel(r) Celeron(tm) GenuineIntel~702Mhz
>
> WHAT HAPPENS IS THIS: the computer sorta like "freezes"
> and then, with movement made using the mouse, the system
> reboots. This will happen most often when I've left the
> computer for a couple of minutes or else when I have a
> lot of stuff running at the same time (i.e., cruising the
> internet and pages are piling up).
>
> WHAT I'VE DONE TO THIS POOR COMPUTER: first of all, a
> long time ago I added some extra RAM cards to the
> computer. I didn't have any immediate or noticeable
> problems so I tend to rule this out. Secondly, I checked
> the config.sys thinking I would change the STACKS TO
> 9,256 but it was already like that.
>
> However, this struck me as being a bit odd: when I ran a
> search to locate the config.sys file, the results list
> showed that the config.sys file was located in four
> separate folders. Two of these folders had zero KB. All
> of these folders had different "modified" dates. Here's a
> list of the four folders:
>
> C:\HP\BACKUP ... 0KB
> C:\Program Files\Norton SystemWorks\RescueDisk ... 1KB
> C:\ ... 0KB
> C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\EBD ... 1KB
>
> The backup file being empty like that made me a little
> bit nervous. Any opinions? Would this situation cause the
> computer to freeze up and shut off?
>
> OTHER CONSIDERATIONS: I haven't defrag'd the computer in
> a long time and I've got a lot of junk on the darn thing:
>
> Total Phys. Memory 62.45 MB
> Available Phys. Memory 400.00 KB
> Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
> Available Virtual Memory 1.78 GB
> Page File Space 1.94 GB
>
> Thanks for any help that's available out there! I'm not
> very good on the computer.
>

Saturday 15 May 18:17

Hey, thanks for responding so quickly! Unfortunately I
will not have time to follow these recommendations until
sometime late tomorrow. I really appreciate your help, am
dying to try this stuff, but my schedule won't permit it.
Just thought I should let you know...that way you won't
have to keep checking...don't look for results until late
Sunday or sometime Monday. Alrighty then.

merci,
RMA


>-----Original Message-----
>It doesn't sound too serious, maybe a little normal
maintenance will
>clear it up:
>
>Go to:
>ControlPanel/System...
>-on the General tab (1st page) take note of how much RAM
it sayse.
>-on the Performance tab click VirtualMemory and jot down
all the
>settings (even the grayed out ones if there are some)
>
>then go to:
>Start/Run/msconfig.exe/system.ini
>-take note of any entries in the [vcache] section
>
>
>Post back here with what they all say.
>
>
>
>
>And while you're waiting ;)....
>
>Open a DOS window and type...
>
>SCANREG /FIX
>and
>SCANREG /OPT
>
>Close the Window and reboot the System into SafeMode[1]
>
> From there...
>Start/Programs/Accessories/System/DiskCleanup
>....Scandisk (if you have a couple hours, run it Thorough)
>.... Defrag
>
>
>
>HTH
>
>
>
>Rick
>
>[1] To get into SafeMode you have to peck at the <F8> or
<Ctrl> key a
>bunch of times (technically once, but that never works)
right after you
>see the text-mode screen come up where it says what
processor you have
>and stuff (which is right after the POST test and right
before Windows
>starts). A text-menu should come up; choose SafeMode.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Then reboot into SafeMode
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Rae Marie Aaland wrote:
>> Windows ME Version 4.90.3000 Build 3000
>> System Model 15137200060380
>> System Type X86-based PC
>> Processor Intel(r) Celeron(tm) GenuineIntel~702Mhz
>>
>> WHAT HAPPENS IS THIS: the computer sorta like "freezes"
>> and then, with movement made using the mouse, the
system
>> reboots. This will happen most often when I've left the
>> computer for a couple of minutes or else when I have a
>> lot of stuff running at the same time (i.e., cruising
the
>> internet and pages are piling up).
>>
>> WHAT I'VE DONE TO THIS POOR COMPUTER: first of all, a
>> long time ago I added some extra RAM cards to the
>> computer. I didn't have any immediate or noticeable
>> problems so I tend to rule this out. Secondly, I
checked
>> the config.sys thinking I would change the STACKS TO
>> 9,256 but it was already like that.
>>
>> However, this struck me as being a bit odd: when I ran
a
>> search to locate the config.sys file, the results list
>> showed that the config.sys file was located in four
>> separate folders. Two of these folders had zero KB. All
>> of these folders had different "modified" dates. Here's
a
>> list of the four folders:
>>
>> C:\HP\BACKUP ... 0KB
>> C:\Program Files\Norton SystemWorks\RescueDisk ... 1KB
>> C:\ ... 0KB
>> C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\EBD ... 1KB
>>
>> The backup file being empty like that made me a little
>> bit nervous. Any opinions? Would this situation cause
the
>> computer to freeze up and shut off?
>>
>> OTHER CONSIDERATIONS: I haven't defrag'd the computer
in
>> a long time and I've got a lot of junk on the darn
thing:
>>
>> Total Phys. Memory 62.45 MB
>> Available Phys. Memory 400.00 KB
>> Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
>> Available Virtual Memory 1.78 GB
>> Page File Space 1.94 GB
>>
>> Thanks for any help that's available out there! I'm not
>> very good on the computer.
>>
>.
>

>-----Original Message-----
>Saturday 15 May 18:17
>
>Hey, thanks for responding so quickly! Unfortunately I
>will not have time to follow these recommendations until
>sometime late tomorrow. I really appreciate your help, am
>dying to try this stuff, but my schedule won't permit it.
>Just thought I should let you know...that way you won't
>have to keep checking...don't look for results until late
>Sunday or sometime Monday. Alrighty then.
>
>merci,
>RMA
>

Tjursday 20 May 09:26

Degradation of system continued after defrag. Saved what I
could and then got out the Pavillion System Recovery disks
and reformatted the entire hard drive.

RMA
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>It doesn't sound too serious, maybe a little normal
>maintenance will
>>clear it up:
>>
>>Go to:
>>ControlPanel/System...
>>-on the General tab (1st page) take note of how much RAM
>it sayse.
>>-on the Performance tab click VirtualMemory and jot down
>all the
>>settings (even the grayed out ones if there are some)
>>
>>then go to:
>>Start/Run/msconfig.exe/system.ini
>>-take note of any entries in the [vcache] section
>>
>>
>>Post back here with what they all say.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>And while you're waiting ;)....
>>
>>Open a DOS window and type...
>>
>>SCANREG /FIX
>>and
>>SCANREG /OPT
>>
>>Close the Window and reboot the System into SafeMode[1]
>>
>> From there...
>>Start/Programs/Accessories/System/DiskCleanup
>>....Scandisk (if you have a couple hours, run it
Thorough)
>>.... Defrag
>>
>>
>>
>>HTH
>>
>>
>>
>>Rick
>>
>>[1] To get into SafeMode you have to peck at the <F8> or
><Ctrl> key a
>>bunch of times (technically once, but that never works)
>right after you
>>see the text-mode screen come up where it says what
>processor you have
>>and stuff (which is right after the POST test and right
>before Windows
>>starts). A text-menu should come up; choose SafeMode.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>Then reboot into SafeMode
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>Rae Marie Aaland wrote:
>>> Windows ME Version 4.90.3000 Build 3000
>>> System Model 15137200060380
>>> System Type X86-based PC
>>> Processor Intel(r) Celeron(tm) GenuineIntel~702Mhz
>>>
>>> WHAT HAPPENS IS THIS: the computer sorta
like "freezes"
>>> and then, with movement made using the mouse, the
>system
>>> reboots. This will happen most often when I've left
the
>>> computer for a couple of minutes or else when I have a
>>> lot of stuff running at the same time (i.e., cruising
>the
>>> internet and pages are piling up).
>>>
>>> WHAT I'VE DONE TO THIS POOR COMPUTER: first of all, a
>>> long time ago I added some extra RAM cards to the
>>> computer. I didn't have any immediate or noticeable
>>> problems so I tend to rule this out. Secondly, I
>checked
>>> the config.sys thinking I would change the STACKS TO
>>> 9,256 but it was already like that.
>>>
>>> However, this struck me as being a bit odd: when I ran
>a
>>> search to locate the config.sys file, the results list
>>> showed that the config.sys file was located in four
>>> separate folders. Two of these folders had zero KB.
All
>>> of these folders had different "modified" dates.
Here's
>a
>>> list of the four folders:
>>>
>>> C:\HP\BACKUP ... 0KB
>>> C:\Program Files\Norton SystemWorks\RescueDisk ... 1KB
>>> C:\ ... 0KB
>>> C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\EBD ... 1KB
>>>
>>> The backup file being empty like that made me a little
>>> bit nervous. Any opinions? Would this situation cause
>the
>>> computer to freeze up and shut off?
>>>
>>> OTHER CONSIDERATIONS: I haven't defrag'd the computer
>in
>>> a long time and I've got a lot of junk on the darn
>thing:
>>>
>>> Total Phys. Memory 62.45 MB
>>> Available Phys. Memory 400.00 KB
>>> Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
>>> Available Virtual Memory 1.78 GB
>>> Page File Space 1.94 GB
>>>
>>> Thanks for any help that's available out there! I'm
not
>>> very good on the computer.
>>>
>>.
>>
>.
>

[Rick T]

well.. that's one way of cleaning things up. Hope it works better for
you now.


Rick


wrote:
>>-----Original Message-----
>>Saturday 15 May 18:17
>>
>>Hey, thanks for responding so quickly! Unfortunately I
>>will not have time to follow these recommendations until
>>sometime late tomorrow. I really appreciate your help, am
>>dying to try this stuff, but my schedule won't permit it.
>>Just thought I should let you know...that way you won't
>>have to keep checking...don't look for results until late
>>Sunday or sometime Monday. Alrighty then.
>>
>>merci,
>>RMA
>>
>
>
> Tjursday 20 May 09:26
>
> Degradation of system continued after defrag. Saved what I
> could and then got out the Pavillion System Recovery disks
> and reformatted the entire hard drive.
>
> RMA
>
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>It doesn't sound too serious, maybe a little normal
>>
>>maintenance will
>>
>>>clear it up:
>>>
>>>Go to:
>>>ControlPanel/System...
>>>-on the General tab (1st page) take note of how much RAM
>>
>>it sayse.
>>
>>>-on the Performance tab click VirtualMemory and jot down
>>
>>all the
>>
>>>settings (even the grayed out ones if there are some)
>>>
>>>then go to:
>>>Start/Run/msconfig.exe/system.ini
>>>-take note of any entries in the [vcache] section
>>>
>>>
>>>Post back here with what they all say.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>And while you're waiting ;)....
>>>
>>>Open a DOS window and type...
>>>
>>>SCANREG /FIX
>>>and
>>>SCANREG /OPT
>>>
>>>Close the Window and reboot the System into SafeMode[1]
>>>
>>>From there...
>>>Start/Programs/Accessories/System/DiskCleanup
>>>....Scandisk (if you have a couple hours, run it
>
> Thorough)
>
>>>.... Defrag
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>HTH
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Rick
>>>
>>>[1] To get into SafeMode you have to peck at the <F8> or
>>
>><Ctrl> key a
>>
>>>bunch of times (technically once, but that never works)
>>
>>right after you
>>
>>>see the text-mode screen come up where it says what
>>
>>processor you have
>>
>>>and stuff (which is right after the POST test and right
>>
>>before Windows
>>
>>>starts). A text-menu should come up; choose SafeMode.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Then reboot into SafeMode
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Rae Marie Aaland wrote:
>>>
>>>>Windows ME Version 4.90.3000 Build 3000
>>>>System Model 15137200060380
>>>>System Type X86-based PC
>>>>Processor Intel(r) Celeron(tm) GenuineIntel~702Mhz
>>>>
>>>>WHAT HAPPENS IS THIS: the computer sorta
>
> like "freezes"
>
>>>>and then, with movement made using the mouse, the
>>
>>system
>>
>>>>reboots. This will happen most often when I've left
>
> the
>
>>>>computer for a couple of minutes or else when I have a
>>>>lot of stuff running at the same time (i.e., cruising
>>
>>the
>>
>>>>internet and pages are piling up).
>>>>
>>>>WHAT I'VE DONE TO THIS POOR COMPUTER: first of all, a
>>>>long time ago I added some extra RAM cards to the
>>>>computer. I didn't have any immediate or noticeable
>>>>problems so I tend to rule this out. Secondly, I
>>
>>checked
>>
>>>>the config.sys thinking I would change the STACKS TO
>>>>9,256 but it was already like that.
>>>>
>>>>However, this struck me as being a bit odd: when I ran
>>
>>a
>>
>>>>search to locate the config.sys file, the results list
>>>>showed that the config.sys file was located in four
>>>>separate folders. Two of these folders had zero KB.
>
> All
>
>>>>of these folders had different "modified" dates.
>
> Here's
>
>>a
>>
>>>>list of the four folders:
>>>>
>>>>C:\HP\BACKUP ... 0KB
>>>>C:\Program Files\Norton SystemWorks\RescueDisk ... 1KB
>>>>C:\ ... 0KB
>>>>C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\EBD ... 1KB
>>>>
>>>>The backup file being empty like that made me a little
>>>>bit nervous. Any opinions? Would this situation cause
>>
>>the
>>
>>>>computer to freeze up and shut off?
>>>>
>>>>OTHER CONSIDERATIONS: I haven't defrag'd the computer
>>
>>in
>>
>>>>a long time and I've got a lot of junk on the darn
>>
>>thing:
>>
>>>>Total Phys. Memory 62.45 MB
>>>>Available Phys. Memory 400.00 KB
>>>>Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
>>>>Available Virtual Memory 1.78 GB
>>>>Page File Space 1.94 GB
>>>>
>>>>Thanks for any help that's available out there! I'm
>
> not
>
>>>>very good on the computer.
>>>>
>>>
>>>.
>>>
>>
>>.
>>

[Mart]

...... and don't forget to do your WinMe updates!!

Mart


"Rick T" > wrote in message
...
> well.. that's one way of cleaning things up. Hope it works better for
> you now.
>
>
> Rick
>
>
> wrote:
> >>-----Original Message-----
> >>Saturday 15 May 18:17
> >>
> >>Hey, thanks for responding so quickly! Unfortunately I
> >>will not have time to follow these recommendations until
> >>sometime late tomorrow. I really appreciate your help, am
> >>dying to try this stuff, but my schedule won't permit it.
> >>Just thought I should let you know...that way you won't
> >>have to keep checking...don't look for results until late
> >>Sunday or sometime Monday. Alrighty then.
> >>
> >>merci,
> >>RMA
> >>
> >
> >
> > Tjursday 20 May 09:26
> >
> > Degradation of system continued after defrag. Saved what I
> > could and then got out the Pavillion System Recovery disks
> > and reformatted the entire hard drive.
> >
> > RMA
> >
> >>>-----Original Message-----
> >>>It doesn't sound too serious, maybe a little normal
> >>
> >>maintenance will
> >>
> >>>clear it up:
> >>>
> >>>Go to:
> >>>ControlPanel/System...
> >>>-on the General tab (1st page) take note of how much RAM
> >>
> >>it sayse.
> >>
> >>>-on the Performance tab click VirtualMemory and jot down
> >>
> >>all the
> >>
> >>>settings (even the grayed out ones if there are some)
> >>>
> >>>then go to:
> >>>Start/Run/msconfig.exe/system.ini
> >>>-take note of any entries in the [vcache] section
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>Post back here with what they all say.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>And while you're waiting ;)....
> >>>
> >>>Open a DOS window and type...
> >>>
> >>>SCANREG /FIX
> >>>and
> >>>SCANREG /OPT
> >>>
> >>>Close the Window and reboot the System into SafeMode[1]
> >>>
> >>>From there...
> >>>Start/Programs/Accessories/System/DiskCleanup
> >>>....Scandisk (if you have a couple hours, run it
> >
> > Thorough)
> >
> >>>.... Defrag
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>HTH
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>Rick
> >>>
> >>>[1] To get into SafeMode you have to peck at the <F8> or
> >>
> >><Ctrl> key a
> >>
> >>>bunch of times (technically once, but that never works)
> >>
> >>right after you
> >>
> >>>see the text-mode screen come up where it says what
> >>
> >>processor you have
> >>
> >>>and stuff (which is right after the POST test and right
> >>
> >>before Windows
> >>
> >>>starts). A text-menu should come up; choose SafeMode.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>Then reboot into SafeMode
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>Rae Marie Aaland wrote:
> >>>
> >>>>Windows ME Version 4.90.3000 Build 3000
> >>>>System Model 15137200060380
> >>>>System Type X86-based PC
> >>>>Processor Intel(r) Celeron(tm) GenuineIntel~702Mhz
> >>>>
> >>>>WHAT HAPPENS IS THIS: the computer sorta
> >
> > like "freezes"
> >
> >>>>and then, with movement made using the mouse, the
> >>
> >>system
> >>
> >>>>reboots. This will happen most often when I've left
> >
> > the
> >
> >>>>computer for a couple of minutes or else when I have a
> >>>>lot of stuff running at the same time (i.e., cruising
> >>
> >>the
> >>
> >>>>internet and pages are piling up).
> >>>>
> >>>>WHAT I'VE DONE TO THIS POOR COMPUTER: first of all, a
> >>>>long time ago I added some extra RAM cards to the
> >>>>computer. I didn't have any immediate or noticeable
> >>>>problems so I tend to rule this out. Secondly, I
> >>
> >>checked
> >>
> >>>>the config.sys thinking I would change the STACKS TO
> >>>>9,256 but it was already like that.
> >>>>
> >>>>However, this struck me as being a bit odd: when I ran
> >>
> >>a
> >>
> >>>>search to locate the config.sys file, the results list
> >>>>showed that the config.sys file was located in four
> >>>>separate folders. Two of these folders had zero KB.
> >
> > All
> >
> >>>>of these folders had different "modified" dates.
> >
> > Here's
> >
> >>a
> >>
> >>>>list of the four folders:
> >>>>
> >>>>C:\HP\BACKUP ... 0KB
> >>>>C:\Program Files\Norton SystemWorks\RescueDisk ... 1KB
> >>>>C:\ ... 0KB
> >>>>C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\EBD ... 1KB
> >>>>
> >>>>The backup file being empty like that made me a little
> >>>>bit nervous. Any opinions? Would this situation cause
> >>
> >>the
> >>
> >>>>computer to freeze up and shut off?
> >>>>
> >>>>OTHER CONSIDERATIONS: I haven't defrag'd the computer
> >>
> >>in
> >>
> >>>>a long time and I've got a lot of junk on the darn
> >>
> >>thing:
> >>
> >>>>Total Phys. Memory 62.45 MB
> >>>>Available Phys. Memory 400.00 KB
> >>>>Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
> >>>>Available Virtual Memory 1.78 GB
> >>>>Page File Space 1.94 GB
> >>>>
> >>>>Thanks for any help that's available out there! I'm
> >
> > not
> >
> >>>>very good on the computer.
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>>.
> >>>
> >>
> >>.
> >>