T43 semi-freezes

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justlevine · #1 Post by **justlevine** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 3:01 pm

Every so often, randomly, my t43 will become semi-unresponsive. While i can switch between windows using alt+tab, see the volume bar when pressing the respected buttons, and open up the security menu (ctrl+alt+del), nothing else works, and when I return to the desktop (either by hitting cancel on the security menu, or clicking task manager), the task bar disappears completely, and the icons on the desktop.
After a random amount of time (20 seconds to 10 minutes), the computer becomes responsive again, resuming any tasks that it was in middle of before the freeze, and even during (ex. if i hit the task manager option in the security menu, it will open up when the computer resumes).
A while ago, i added 1 gig of ram to the existing 512, but i do not remember if this problem was occurring beforehand.

Any suggestions?

#2 Post by **Harryc** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 3:29 pm

Any errors red flagged in the system log? Does it fail in safe mode? Remove the new RAM as a test.

#3 Post by **richk** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 10:37 pm

I agree with Harryc's suggestions, but also, if you have wireless, try turning it off (FN + F5). Also, run a drive fitness test.

justlevine · #4 Post by **justlevine** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 7:31 am

So I removed the RAM, and it turns out the problem still occurs, and there are no errors logged. I have yet to run a drive fitness test (all the ones ive seen available require a floppy disk, and there is no floppy drive on my t43.
however, it turns out that my problem is not so random: it mostly occurs when i connect/disconnect to the internet (either via the builtin Intel2200BG card or my external Netgear WPN111 adapter). I am running the most recent drivers, and have completely uninstalled the thinkvantage access connections (it would bring the cpu usage to100% and sometimes cause the laptop itself to crash).
any other suggestions?

#5 Post by **Harryc** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 8:51 am

Try rebuilding your TCPIP stack -

http://support.microsoft.com/default.as ... us;q299357

Also, what happens if you bypass wireless and connect to the router directly via hard wired ethernet?

justlevine · #6 Post by **justlevine** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 1:22 pm

hmmm.. tried your suggestion. It has thus far had no effect (in fact, it seems that the lag time is even longer now, but that might just be coincidence).
I will not have a way to test for a while to be certain, but if my memory serves me right, the problem occurs even when connecting via an ethernet cable

justlevine · #7 Post by **justlevine** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 9:47 am

@harryc: i did try it via an ethernet cable, and the same problem occured.

suggestions anyone?

#8 Post by **Harryc** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 12:59 pm

Boot up a knoppix CD to see if the problem is with windows or hardware. Run Pc-Doctor tests (all of them) on the entire machine.

http://www.knoppix.net/
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 56222.html

justlevine · #9 Post by **justlevine** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 12:22 pm

so i passed all the pc doctor 5 tests...
what do you mean by use knoppix? how will running a linux dist help windows xp from freezing when i connect to the internet?

davidspalding · #10 Post by **davidspalding** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 12:23 pm

I think Harryc is suggesting you boot from a "live" Linux CD and run for a while to see if you get similar lock-ups ... that would elminate the Windows XP operating system and point to hardware fault(s).

I had similar symptoms when I was running BitDefender Plus on my XP system. Using SysInternals' Process Explorer, I determined that two items were frequently slowing the system down considerably: Windows Update Automatic Updates (WUAU) and BitDefender. WUAU would do it after login, BitDefender had some random delay or logic that defined reason -- my entire session would go 98% modal for 20 to 60 seconds. I wrote scripts to terminate (with extreme prejudice) the WUAU processes. BitDefender sent me a free update to resolve a known bug. I've sinced dumped the product for a nearly-free copy of McAfee (combination of rebates).

I suggest you use Process Explorer or another 3rd party task manager to examine what's going on with your CPU and threads. You may find that something you're running is hijacking cycles, as BitDefender and WUAU were for me.

justlevine · #11 Post by **justlevine** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 3:42 pm

hm.. ran processexplorer, and it showed the normal levels that Task Manager showed... all is normal... (fluctuating no higher than 20, depending on what programs i had running before i connected to the internet.

in 2 weeks (when im back home), ill pick up a blank cd, and put knoppix on it... any ideas that dont involve that?

T43 semi-freezes

T43 semi-freezes

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