What a pain! Trying to overcome unknown issues.
Have been having chronic problems, probably with Norton AV. Stalls then freezes computer.
Last night it froze again. Restarted, but it would not reboot. Instead it offers choice of start windows regularly or run the repair app. Ran that. It took about 5 minutes to get to the utility. I ran it overnight. When I awoke, the activity crawl was still crawling. Initial message was that problem could have been caused by a recent update or a hardware issue. Had Win7 updates, Norton update, and l think a Java 51 update this week. Only other anomoly has been a chronic dialog box from java 51 about notifications for changes. Played with options to no avail, could not prevent the dialog in IE11.
Now in midst of memory check.
BTW, this is pasty white guy. My PW is locked on frozen computer.
Help! TIA.
Coming to you from my own sign in.
Machine is Dell Inspiron laptop running Win7, latest updates and service pack. Let me know if you need more info.
Can you boot to Safe Mode? From there you can select a System Restore point prior to the date where the system started freezing or either Norton and see if that solves the problem. Actually, if you are able to do that, I'd suggest also uninstalling Java. I looked at the installed programs from your log here (http://www.landzdown.com/analysis-and-malware-removal/unwelcome-pop-ups-and-ff-windows-and-tabs-opening/) and it doesn't appear as though you have programs installed that require Java. Even if you do, you can always reinstall it later.
Restart your computer in
SafeMode by doing the following:
- Restart your computer
- After hearing your computer beep once during startup, but before the Windows icon appears, press F8.
- Instead of Windows loading as normal, a menu should appear
- If you want to uninstall Norton (and Java) select the first option, to run Windows in Safe Mode.
- To run System Restore from a Command Prompt, select Safe Mode with Command Prompt.
Note: To run System Restore from a Command Prompt, at the command prompt, type
rstrui.exe, and then press Enter. (If you use System Restore when the computer is in safe mode, you cannot undo the restore operation. However, you can run System Restore again and choose a different restore point, if one exists.)
NG. All safe mode options reboot and bring me back to the same two other choices. Repair or start normally.
If it won't start normally, you'll need to run Repair. In fact, as I understand it, System Repair often needs to run three times in order to complete the repair.
-- The first time you run it, it attempts to repair any system level corruption via SFC /SCANNOW (this is also why sfc /scannow cannot be run directly and has to be run offline if a startup repair is still pending).
-- The second time it runs, it checks the hard disk for bad sectors and a corrupted file system. This is usually the longer of the three runs.
-- The third time it runs, it tries to use a system restore point to replace a possibly damaged registry. Generally it is at least the second or third run that it also runs the bootrec.exe tools.
The repair function cycles and just runs and runs. It doesn't seem to come to an end. I've run it literally for hours and not gotten past the scrolling activity bar. :(
Hi PastyWhiteGuy,
It appears that Dell computers ship with a utility partition on the hard drive that contains the Dell Diagnostic Utility. It is much easier to provide the link to the instructions than it would be to paraphrase them for you. Please see link below:
How to Run the Dell 32-bit Diagnostics Utility (http://www.dell.com/support/troubleshooting/us/en/19/KCS/KcsArticles/ArticleView?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&docid=DSN_A9E3A15597A04AFBB02EE16785D39C5C)
Follow the instructions in the link to access the Dell Diagnostic Utility. We need to eliminate the possibility of any hardware problems. I think it might be best to run the Extended Test in your situation.
If you have any questions or concerns, please ask. Let us know the results of the test, good or bad.
Thank you,
Donna
:(
ran the diagnostic. Error code 2000-0146. Says drive 0 Has previously detected errors. Doesn't say what the errors are.
Hm. Ok. Don't fret just yet... :wink:
I pasted the error code that your received into the Dell Interactive Support Agent found here (https://www5.nohold.net/Dell/ukp.aspx?pid=3&ruleid=2591&login=1&donelr=1). It appears that merely resetting the BIOS to the defaults may correct the problem. You may paste those numbers into the search field as well to see the results.
Go back to my previous post above and click on that Dell link again. Scroll way down to the bottom of the page and click on the link titled How to restore BIOS(System Setup) to Default Settings on a Dell Computer?
Hi PastyWhiteGuy,
I keep getting errors when I click on the 1st Dell link. Do you? I wanted to verify that the instructions for resetting the BIOS was in the first link, though I have a feeling it will only be found on the Dell Interactive Support Agent support page found in this (https://www5.nohold.net/Dell/ukp.aspx?pid=3&ruleid=2591&login=1&donelr=1) link and you will have to paste the two sets of four digits into the search field which will then display the results and guide you to the link further down that page.
I do apologize for the oversight.
NG. First, this is a laptop, so this set of instructions doesn't fit anything l see.
I have a "load defaults" button. Nothing about BIOS. Went and found extra keyboard, but scroll lock doesn't light up. So instructions for altF then altB shortcuts don't work.
Do I load defaults??
I have no experience with Dell's but hopefully Donna can answer your question. However, I did search Error code 2000-0146 and it appears that it means hard drive failure. :(
Error Code 2000-0146 - Desktop General Hardware Forum - Desktop - Dell Community (http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/desktop/f/3514/t/19342733.aspx)
Dell error code 2000-0146 - Fixya (http://www.fixya.com/support/t9066821-dell_error_code_2000_0146)
What model number is this Inspiron? Depending on the BIOS, you may have to press a key listed at the bottom of the screen to load default settings. On the Inspiron N5110 you press the F9 key.
Does your Num Lock, Caps Lock and Scroll Lock keys on your laptop keyboard light up when you press them on? I don't see how it would make a difference if this is a laptop or desktop as long as those keys light up, turn on.
I have a feeling that Corrine is correct in her findings. I assumed the same, but wasn't sure. My Dells are a bit older and not set up so I can't access them to experiment with at this moment.
On that Dell Diagnostic Utility, which test did you choose? I wonder if the Custom Test will tell us anything more since you should be able to test just the Hard Drive itself and not all the devices that are installed.
Is that load defaults button on the BIOS window? If so, I want to say that it is to reset the BIOS to default settings though I will look around a bit to make sure. I don't see how anything could be harmed at this point if you choose to click it. If it is the Hard Drive gone bad, resetting the BIOS should make no difference.
Inspiron 1545.
Again, there IS no scroll lock button or scroll light. Because it's a laptop, there IS no num lock key. The laptop has NO lights at all. Cheapo laptop, no frills. F9 did not help, it circled me back to the original choices.
Ok. Did you try the custom test discussed in the Diagnostics Utility?
I searched all over for info on how to reset the BIOS on an Inspiron 1545 and found nothing, so I'm not sure it can be accomplished. Personally, I would either contact Dell Technical Support (http://www.dell.com/support/contents/us/en/19/category/Contact-Information/Technical-Support?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19) or follow the instructions here (http://www.seagate.com/support/internal-hard-drives/consumer-electronics/ld25-series/seatools-dos-master/) to create a bootable disk that will check the health of your drive.
Well, I contacted my repair guys and the news is grim. Seems that this is typical behavior in their experience. Not only that, but the report is that once it reaches this point, the machine will continue eating drives every 2-6 months in their experience. :(
They are fairly confident that they can recover data. More when I know more.
Quote from: PastyWhiteGuy on March 03, 2014, 05:59:11 PM
Well, I contacted my repair guys and the news is grim.
They are fairly confident that they can recover data. More when I know more.
Darn! I'm sorry to hear the bad news. I do hope they will be able to retrieve your data.
Quote from: PastyWhiteGuy on March 03, 2014, 05:59:11 PM
Not only that, but the report is that once it reaches this point, the machine will continue eating drives every 2-6 months in their experience. :(
Hm? :shocked: I've never heard of that before. I replaced the HDD in my Gateway just over 2 years ago now and I have had no problems what so ever.
How well do you know these people? They wouldn't tell you this just to try to sell you a new computer would they?
Sorry if I seem paranoid, but it happens all the time.
They have been very honest with me and others I know. Brutally honest, actually. They don't want to waste their time or my money. Would do the work but warn frankly what their experience has been. So, a new Windows 8.1 Lenovo has come to live here, with full warning of the steepness of the learning curve.
As always, thanks for the help.
Hi, Dean.
Congratulations on the new computer! Lenovo has an excellent product. However, please be very alert when updating Lenovo drivers, power management software, etc. as I understand that they are experimenting with unwanted and unnecessary "extras". See, for example,
-- Re: Registry Reviver - Recommended by Lenovo - Lenovo Community (http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/ThinkVantage-Technologies/Registry-Reviver-Recommended-by-Lenovo/m-p/1419191#M24511)
-- Ads in Lenovo Solution Center 2.4.002 Revision 190... - Lenovo Community (http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/ThinkVantage-Technologies/Ads-in-Lenovo-Solution-Center-2-4-002-Revision-19058/m-p/1463953#M24785)
-- Lenovo's Windows 8 PCs to bundle SweetLabs' Start menu replacement, app store (http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/22/lenovo-windows-8-devices-to-bundle-sweetlabs-pokki/) (Note: Pokki includes a Conduit toolbar, which you do not want. http://www.systemlookup.com/search.php?type=name&client=malwaresearch-ff&search=Pokki)
-- https://twitter.com/syl20j/status/440837594159411200/photo/1
Unfortunately, uninstalling the Lenovo utility (LSC) that notifies the owner when it's time for hardware scans, OS updates, and Lenovo-specific updates such as drivers, BIOS etc. would make it difficult to locate those updates.
Thanks for the heads up on Win8.1. more things to watch like a hawk.
Heard more from my tech guys this afternoon, just before work. It was the guy actually doing the work, calling from his bench. "Good news and bad news". Seems the actual hard drive is in stellar condition, absolutely usable. Bad news is that the controller for the drive(s?) is blown. Repairs would be a new motherboard plus installation. Solution is to put hard drive in an external box to be used with new machine. He says should be piece of cake. We'll see. :look: