computer time out

[beo47]

I'm having a bit of trouble with my computer. It seems to want to go narcoleptic, for want of a better term, now and again. Every few files I open offline or web pages online the computer just stops for up to 2 minutes then resumes working just fine. It doesn't matter whether I use dial-up connection, DSL or
work offline.

I'm running a PC based computer with Windows 98SE, an AMD Athlon 2100processor with 256 MB of Kingston memory. I have a Seagate 80GB hard drive which I keep defraged and a ATI All-in-wonder 128 PCI video card. The system has acted this way ever since I had a friend put it together.

I am not running any PC based firewalls or anti virus programs, I am using MSN and their tools. I have checked the system for trojans etc. with ad-aware.

[ukulele]

Do a viris check online, install some AV software and get a fire wall. Ad aware only looks for spyware.

[beo47]

Thanks, I have already done a full anti virus scan with Norton and still nothing has changed.

beo47

[ukulele]

Well the next thing to do would be to post the system specs. Check the device manager and look for any driver problems. Where the motherboard drivers all installed? Is there any programs running that don't need to be in the startup folder? The usual cause for a problem like you are experiencing are do to either improperly installed drivers or software that is running in the background that is hogging the CPU or loading up the ram. 2 minutes is a long time to process anything with that system.

[lptech]

beo47-

Do you have many programs running in the background? If you do, then it probably is causing the slowdown since they all take up memory when running in the background and Windows 98SE is not the most efficient OS when it comes to memory management.

Also, remember to POST your system specs since that is important in order for us to get a more accurate picture of your system.

LPTECH

[beo47]

Thanks, all the drivers for the motherboard are installed. I try to keep the number of programs running in the background to a minimum. I ran config utility and unchecked everything I don't need from the startup menu.

What exactly are you looking for when you ask for system specs?



beo47

[BipolarBill]

http://download.com.com/3000-2144-10...age&tag=button

http://www.avup.de/personal/en/avwinsfx.exe

Scan with both please.

Update your sound and video drivers. Uninstall and reinstall YOUR antivirus program.

Scan your hard drive for surface errors - thoroughly. Be sure your hard drive is not close to full.

[beo47]

Bipolarbill,

I scanned with both and nothing was reported out. I do run ad-aware on a regular basis. Video and audio drivers are up to date. I have 58.6 GB of free space on the 80GB hard drive. Anti-virus software is up to date and shows no viruses.

There is one glitch however, I ran disk defrag. as well and thorough scan disk and was not able to get through each in one go. It had to restart itself a few times. I don't think that is normal. I'm wondering if there isn't something mechanically wrong with the hard drive?

beo47

[BipolarBill]

Why do you think I suggested scanning the drive? Run Scandisk in Thorough mode.

[Rocketmech]

Since its W98 , run scandisk and defrag in Safe Mode. This will prevent anything from interupting the process.
I recommend Diskeeper Lite instead if the MS Defrag utility. Its a better defrag utility and can run at anytime.

[beo47]

After running everything that BipolarBill suggested the system seems to be running better. I will download diskeeper lite and then repeat scandisk and defrag in the safe mode.

[beo47]

a thourough scan disk is safe mode yielded zero errors. After running both that and defrag. system is running much better with fewer delays. I put those down to 98SE needing a little time between commands.

Thanks to everyone.