Regular Screen Freezes, Floppy Driver - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

final_identity · 04-25-2004, 11:25 AM

OS: Windows 98 second edition
Processor: Intel pentium 533
Hewlett Packard "Pavilion 8660C"
Sony Trinitron Multiscan 100ES
Dial-up 56K modem

The screen regularly freezes when I'm typing to the internet. This will happen if I'm in IE or Netscape, and also in Eudora and MS Outlook Express. It's been like this since I first got the computer four years ago. Along with this, the floppy drive is wonky -- it will write a file, with the proper length, but it will be all blank spaces (exactly the right number of blank spaces) except for the first three lines. As I have a CD writer, I just use that instead. But it would be nice to be able to write to floppies, since I did pay for that.

I've tried messing with drivers and such, but can't find anything that would be an improvement over what I've currently got. I never got an adequate fix while I was on warranty when I first bought the computer (gee what a surprise) and now am just trolling around wondering if I'll ever find a way to browse the 'net without expecting a crash.

The actual problem event is a "freeze up" in which everything just ... freezes. The mouse cursor no longer moves, the keyboard no longer enters keystrokes (not even ctrl-alt-del), the speakers don't play sound. My only recourse is to power-down at the socket (yup; the restart button won't work; I flip the switch on the extension cord!) and restart everything. The problems seem more common with Java than without; otherwise, they are fairly predictable -- using the internet and wordprocessing = 75% chance of problem. Using the internet with multiple windows or images = 66% chance of problem. Browsing the internet one click at a time, no text-entry-boxes = 25% chance of problem. Not using internet = 10% chance of problem.

So, any suggestions? Do you need further information? Or is this a hopeless case?

soopafreek · 04-25-2004, 02:56 PM

when you're typing into the address bar and it "freezes", does it ever unfreeze when you wait a while?

my guess it that you could have spyware/adware or a CWS (cool web search) hijacker.

refer to this thread: http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthr...threadid=48137

as for the floppy... possible virus? do you have any antivirus? run a scan, make sure you've got the most up-to-date definitions or try an online scanner like http://housecall.antivirus.com .

if it isn't a virus, you may just need a new drive. floppy drives are less than $20. so it's an easy replacement.

final_identity · 04-27-2004, 05:12 PM

Thanks for the suggestion. It doesn't tend to freeze when I'm typing in the address bar, just in a "field" -- text on a bulletin board, etc. It will freeze when I'm not typing at all, sometimes, as well. Spyware's not the issue -- I have double-checked that, unless it's something remarkably sophisticated. And no, it never un-freezes by itself, it's D-E-A-D dead. I've waited five minutes on several occasions.

Other suggestions?

soopafreek · 04-27-2004, 08:20 PM

if you think it might be java-related, have you downloaded the latest java desktop software?

just a shot in the dark... are your pc's fans working correctly? i had a friend who had all kinds of crashes happen with his computer. we tried all kinds of scans and diagnostics, updates, software reloads, etc but as it turned out, he neglected to tell me that his cpu fan wasn't working at all, and his cpu would just overheat 5 or 10 minutes after boot, freeze or BSOD, then he'd have to shut it down... so like i said, just a shot in the dark.

heyal256 · 04-27-2004, 09:00 PM

Soupafreek may be onto something about diagnostics, have you tried any ram tests or even a simple scandisk to make sure that you don't have any hd/ram errors.

Since you are using windows 98SE, I'd ask how long have you had the install of your OS, and if you've installed/uninstalled a lot of stuff. This sounds like it COULD be windows rot where something that you previously installed replaced/updated some components that's being used by IE and is the reason for the freeze. If you've been changing a lot of software or stuff, i'd suggest at a minimum trying to reinstall internet explorer. IF none of the fixes that any of us comes with fixes your problem you may have to reinstall everything (or use a restore disk if you got one).

MPower · 04-28-2004, 01:58 PM

you have a 56k so I assume you dont have a lan connection. I have a sys running 98se and it does what yours does, but only if I have the wireless network card enabled.

final_identity · 04-28-2004, 04:08 PM

Thanks for these more suggestions. For a while I figgered temperature (and/or fan) could be an issue but even with the house at 50 degrees Farenheit and a little fan blowing into the vents, I had the same symptoms.

Reinstalling PROBABLY isn't an issue, since for many many occasions I ended up reinstalling everything from scratch. I haven't done that in eons, but I think I eliminated that as a potential fix, back when I was trying it. I think I did ...

I'm interested in MPower's comment. You have the same thing, or at least similar? More details plz ...

04-25-2004, 11:25 AM	#1 (permalink)
final_identity Tilted Location: Jackson, MS	Regular Screen Freezes, Floppy Driver OS: Windows 98 second edition Processor: Intel pentium 533 Hewlett Packard "Pavilion 8660C" Sony Trinitron Multiscan 100ES Dial-up 56K modem The screen regularly freezes when I'm typing to the internet. This will happen if I'm in IE or Netscape, and also in Eudora and MS Outlook Express. It's been like this since I first got the computer four years ago. Along with this, the floppy drive is wonky -- it will write a file, with the proper length, but it will be all blank spaces (exactly the right number of blank spaces) except for the first three lines. As I have a CD writer, I just use that instead. But it would be nice to be able to write to floppies, since I did pay for that. I've tried messing with drivers and such, but can't find anything that would be an improvement over what I've currently got. I never got an adequate fix while I was on warranty when I first bought the computer (gee what a surprise) and now am just trolling around wondering if I'll ever find a way to browse the 'net without expecting a crash. The actual problem event is a "freeze up" in which everything just ... freezes. The mouse cursor no longer moves, the keyboard no longer enters keystrokes (not even ctrl-alt-del), the speakers don't play sound. My only recourse is to power-down at the socket (yup; the restart button won't work; I flip the switch on the extension cord!) and restart everything. The problems seem more common with Java than without; otherwise, they are fairly predictable -- using the internet and wordprocessing = 75% chance of problem. Using the internet with multiple windows or images = 66% chance of problem. Browsing the internet one click at a time, no text-entry-boxes = 25% chance of problem. Not using internet = 10% chance of problem. So, any suggestions? Do you need further information? Or is this a hopeless case? __________________ The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher esteem those who think alike than those who think differently. Friedrich Nietzsche

04-25-2004, 02:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
soopafreek Psycho Location: ask your mom	when you're typing into the address bar and it "freezes", does it ever unfreeze when you wait a while? my guess it that you could have spyware/adware or a CWS (cool web search) hijacker. refer to this thread: http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthr...threadid=48137 as for the floppy... possible virus? do you have any antivirus? run a scan, make sure you've got the most up-to-date definitions or try an online scanner like http://housecall.antivirus.com . if it isn't a virus, you may just need a new drive. floppy drives are less than $20. so it's an easy replacement. __________________ aaarrrrrgggghhhh!!!!

04-27-2004, 05:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
final_identity Tilted Location: Jackson, MS	Thanks for the suggestion. It doesn't tend to freeze when I'm typing in the address bar, just in a "field" -- text on a bulletin board, etc. It will freeze when I'm not typing at all, sometimes, as well. Spyware's not the issue -- I have double-checked that, unless it's something remarkably sophisticated. And no, it never un-freezes by itself, it's D-E-A-D dead. I've waited five minutes on several occasions. Other suggestions? __________________ The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher esteem those who think alike than those who think differently. Friedrich Nietzsche

04-27-2004, 08:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
soopafreek Psycho Location: ask your mom	if you think it might be java-related, have you downloaded the latest java desktop software? just a shot in the dark... are your pc's fans working correctly? i had a friend who had all kinds of crashes happen with his computer. we tried all kinds of scans and diagnostics, updates, software reloads, etc but as it turned out, he neglected to tell me that his cpu fan wasn't working at all, and his cpu would just overheat 5 or 10 minutes after boot, freeze or BSOD, then he'd have to shut it down... so like i said, just a shot in the dark. __________________ aaarrrrrgggghhhh!!!!

04-28-2004, 04:08 PM	#7 (permalink)
final_identity Tilted Location: Jackson, MS	Thanks for these more suggestions. For a while I figgered temperature (and/or fan) could be an issue but even with the house at 50 degrees Farenheit and a little fan blowing into the vents, I had the same symptoms. Reinstalling PROBABLY isn't an issue, since for many many occasions I ended up reinstalling everything from scratch. I haven't done that in eons, but I think I eliminated that as a potential fix, back when I was trying it. I think I did ... I'm interested in MPower's comment. You have the same thing, or at least similar? More details plz ... __________________ The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher esteem those who think alike than those who think differently. Friedrich Nietzsche

04-27-2004, 09:00 PM	#5 (permalink)
heyal256 Not so great lurker Location: NY	Soupafreek may be onto something about diagnostics, have you tried any ram tests or even a simple scandisk to make sure that you don't have any hd/ram errors. Since you are using windows 98SE, I'd ask how long have you had the install of your OS, and if you've installed/uninstalled a lot of stuff. This sounds like it COULD be windows rot where something that you previously installed replaced/updated some components that's being used by IE and is the reason for the freeze. If you've been changing a lot of software or stuff, i'd suggest at a minimum trying to reinstall internet explorer. IF none of the fixes that any of us comes with fixes your problem you may have to reinstall everything (or use a restore disk if you got one).

04-28-2004, 01:58 PM	#6 (permalink)
MPower Psycho	you have a 56k so I assume you dont have a lan connection. I have a sys running 98se and it does what yours does, but only if I have the wireless network card enabled.