Grand parents pc freezes when Task Manager is Opened Up.

Hello, I'm Forsaken Knight. I am currently having a problem with my grand parents pc in my household. The problem is that the pc freezes when ever the task manager is opened. I have tried opening the task manager in safe mode, and no freezes occur. I have downloaded the most recent version of the display adaptor, which is the SiS 661 Series. I originally posted detail about this issue of mine in the following thread.

http://www.windowsbbs.com/general-s...twork-after-system-tool-2011-found-1-pcs.html

I was then directed to address each pc individually. I dealt with the pc my grand parents use first off, because it was where the origin of the problem in my house hold started. I dealt with the maleware issue of my grand parents pc first, then got help to a certain extent with the freezes that occured. That thread that I got help with this specific matter can be found here.

http://www.windowsbbs.com/malware-v...tem-tool-2011-found-pc-task-mngr-freezes.html

I would like help in trouble shooting what to do now; in order to resolve the issue of my grand parents pc freezing when task manager is opened up.

 

Hi Knight,

Have you tried sfc /scannow?

Also, how comfortable are you with editing the registry?

And, doing a quick search on the Google I found several free "Fix TaskManager" programs.

Which way do you want to go?

 

Hello, and thank you for posting. I look forward to receiving help from you in regards to this matter of mine.

I usually do all possible steps. So, if it is ok with you, lets start with that "sfc/scannow ", then move onto the registry, then lastly any trusted "fix manager" programs that you are sure that are reliable to be used.

When you are ready to get started, I will be ready. I also post screen shots of what occurs, expectedly or not expected. I post my screen shots on www.imageshack.us. This is to ensure that all that I see, you see.

So, when you are ready to get started, lets do so.

 

Click on Start and then Run. Copy and paste this command into the Run box and hit Enter key. (There is meant to be a space in the command, do not alter it)

sfc /scannow

This will check your file system for any errors and replace any damaged files, you may be asked to put your OS disc into the drive to supply any files that it has no record of on the hard drive.

Once complete try Task Manager again. Please post error messages if any appear.

 

Ok, I asked my grand parents if they knew if their pc came with a cd or not. They said they had no idea. So, I looked around to see if I can find one, but to no avail. I don't think I got one, not even in storage, so, running that sfc /scannow (which I assume the "sfc" stands for System File Checker) can not be done at this present time. I'll check up on this thread tomarrow. I would like to know if it would be alright to go along with the two suggested tasks to do that Evan Omo meantioned even though I can not currently do the sfc /scannow from the run command window?

 

Yes, go ahead with Evan Omo's suggestions. We will always tell you if you have to stick to a set sequence. Infact on this occasion run the Task Manager fix in Evan's post first, this may be a much quicker resolution if it works.

There will not be a problem running sfc /scannow without the XP disc. XP stores copies of a large percentage of its system files in a special folder on the hard drive, it will only call for the disc if by chance it needs a file that is not on the hard drive. If you find it needs the disc you can cancel the scan and repeat it later when you have a disc.

Please run sfc /scannow as the results of this may cure the error or we can move on to the next level in the diagnosis.

If you do borrow a disc it must be the same version of XP as the one installed on the PC.

If the current suggestions do not find a fix for the present fault you are going to need an XP disc to run a repair install. This may also apply to the other PC's you have.

 

I will do Evan's suggestions tonight. I did run the sfc /scannow, and the scan asked a lot, for the windows xp professional cd. Nothing showed up after the scan, which took a lot of cancelling requests for the cd, then clicking yes to confirm. As far as the same version that I need, I assume it is the professional version, not the home version. If this is true, please clarify. Or did you mean the service pack version? I tried to look up to see if microsoft has windows xp professional cd's for sale, but they currently do now. If I wanted to buy a new windows xp professional cd, do any of you windowsbbs staff/routine people have a recommended site that sells legitimate copies of windows xp professional? If so, please provide the site for me, so I can review the option of buying a new windows xp professional cd.

Other than that, I will do the instructions that were previously posted.

 

They do not have an actual physical microsoft windows xp professional. Service pack 2, is on my grand parents pc. I have service pack three on my room pc, and on my laptop I have windows 7 home premium.

 

The version you require e.g. Home, Professional, etc, must match the version written on your Product Key sticker on the PC you are going to use it on. It must also be at the same Service Pack level or higher.

You can use a borrowed disc and make your own copy slipstreamed with SP3.

If you choose to buy a new disc try to get one that already has SP3 on it.

The most important criteria is to be certain the borrowed or bought disc matches the version name on the Product Key sticker attached to the PC. Service pack levels can be slipstreamed onto a burned copy which we can give you a guide for.

I am in Spain so cannot help point you towards a local supplier.

Repairing your file system needs to be done before moving on, as the sfc process called for the disc many times then there must be a lot of damaged files. The system will not function 100% until these files are repaired and you cannot do that without the disc.

You may like to consider a clean install of the OS to get everything back to normal but that will whipe everything else off the hard drive.

 

The task manager fix program ran as if there were no problems. I then ran the process explorer program, and I took screen shots of what were available within that program. If you guys see anything that I need to address from the process explorer programs, please let me know.

http://img573.imageshack.us/i/screenshotofwindowsbbsi.jpg/
http://img408.imageshack.us/i/screenshotofwindowsbbsi.jpg/

 

By version, do you mean something like the following? I get the following info from the properties window when I right click on "My Computer ". "Microsoft Windows XP Professional Version 2002 Service Pack 3 ". So, I'm suppose to look for a Microsoft Windows XP CD, that is Professional Version 2002 for the Version?

I do I find, from within the pc, the Product Key? Where do I go from within the pc to find that info?

I know Service Pack 3 is the highest that came out for Windows XP Home/Professional. If I find a Service Pack 2 Full Version CD, would that Suffice?

What do you mean by "slipstreamed with SP3 "?

If I can not find a cd with SP3 on it for a decent price, would finding a cd with SP2 will do (key words are "decent price ")?

I assume I do not have to worry so much about the Service Pack level, huh? If this is not true, then please elaborate.

As far as the assumption of "a lot of damaged files ", I might have to agree with you. My grand parents pc is really slow. I know it is an old pc, with an old case, but after all of the cleaning and stuff, it shouldn't be as slow as it is. For example, when going to regular sites, there is a pause, when loading, rather than an immediate load of the commonly viewed web pages.

If I would consider a whipe of the hard drive, which I know all to well would delete all files on my grand parents pc, I would rather prefer to fix this pc, then look online for a good deal on a new pc. Whiping the drives doesn't solve the problems of the pc; all it does is say that I give up, and want to start a-new. That is never something that I accept to do.

 

Two things:

1) Was the computer Home Built or Store Bought? If Store Bought there's a Recovery Partition that will help with a Repair Install.

2) A loooong time ago I had ZoneAlarm (v.3, I think) and had problems with certain apps freezing due to ZA's settings.

And, C) Take a look at msconfig: Start > Run > type in (or copy and paste) msconfig and click OK. In the next window click on the Startup tab. From what I'm seeing it looks like theres a bunch of stuff you don't need — although I'm not sure if any of them would freakout the TaskMangler — that will slow down the computer.

You must have the correct SP Version to run sfc. Do you have your XP disk? You don't need Product Keys or anything else to do a sfc.

Also, you said that they have SP2 and then you said they have SP3. Which one is it?

Finally, if you do do a reinstall, first copy all the programs, pics, etc., to CD\DVD so they won't be lost.

 

You need to obtain Windows XP Professional. Just try to get one with the highest SP level you can.

Your product key will be on a sticker somewhere on your PC which will also have the version of Windows printed on it. If it is not there let me know as there is a small free software program that will find it for you.

Service Pack at any level will bo OK but SP3 is preferable. You can do a clean install with any level but a repair install will need SP3.

Slipstreaming is the process of making a new copy of the XP disc with the Service Pack added to it.

As you prefer to run a Repair install we can instruct you on how to make a disc with SP3 so that this can be done. Lets see what SP level you manage to obtain and we will go from there.

If your grandparents PC is still on SP2 an SP3 disc will still be OK for running a repair. An upgrade to SP3 after repair is highly advisable as microsoft no longer support SP2, this could be the reason why that PC has got infected.

Could you tell us the details of your grandparents PC, make and model number.

 

SP3, I checked earlier. I was mistaken before.

 

Please provide that program that will find the product key on the pc. I can not find that product key sticker; not on the back or front of the case.

 

As far as your last question, I posted this earlier as requested in the malware thread for my grand parents pc. I will put the quote in here now.

 

http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

This will find your product key, there are some instruction on the site.

The link you gave for the PC specs just took me to the page to upload files

 

I'll re-do that link tomarrow. I'm getting tired now.