Vista Keeps Freezing, Searched For Solutions to No Avail

Hello everyone! Recently, I have been having problems with my Dell Vostro 220 desktop computer. I am running Windows Vista Home Basic 32-bit with, 3GB of memory, Intel(R) Core (TM)2 Duo CPU E7400 @ 2.80GHz 2.79GHz, and an ATI Radeon HD 4350 video card (I'm assuming this is a video card).

The problem is simple: my desktop freezes to the point that I cannot move my mouse or perform the Ctrl+Alt+Delete option. Usually, I have to wait several minutes before it begins to work again however, sometimes I have to shut the computer down and restart it.

I have checked to make sure my drivers were up to date on the ATI Radeon HD 4350 (which it was) and I am on the Service Pack 2 for Vista. I have also scoured the internet for solutions but either I don't understand them (too technical) or it doesn't work.

If someone could please help me out it would be greatly appreciated because as a college student, I depend on my desktop for the majority of my work.

Thank you in advance for your time and help!

While I prepare other suggestions
Run a full anti virus scan
Download Malwarebytes and make a full updated scan
Perform in safe mode is necessary.
Report back

If you do work in safe mode, try a clean boot.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...ation-conflicts-performing-clean-startup.html
Windows 7 Freezes Up - Windows 7 Forums

richc46 said:

While I prepare other suggestions
Run a full anti virus scan
Download Malwarebytes and make a full updated scan
Perform in safe mode is necessary.
Report back

Click to expand...

I performed Malwarebytes (Full Scan) in SafeMode (I did notice it froze but for only a few short minutes). There were no malicious objects found. I will now perform the clean boot in Safe Mode and report back to you.

Take your time. If clean boot works, we have this licked.

richc46 said:

Take your time. If clean boot works, we have this licked.

Click to expand...

I followed the steps in the Clean Boot and then restarted the computer regularly. I went ahead and started playing Counter-Strike on Kongregate.com and my desktop froze. The only thing I noticed differently is that the time it took to unfreeze was considerably less than in the past.

What is the next step and have we been able to find out what the issue may be? Once again, thank you for your continual support!

Go to the website of your hard drive manufacturer and test the hard drive.

richc46 said:

Go to the website of your hard drive manufacturer and test the hard drive.

Click to expand...

I have a Hitachi hard drive and I don't have a floppy drive so I'm unable to perform their test. I tried this: How to Test Hitachi Hard Drive | eHow.com but it says "Invalid Parameter" so I'm not sure what to do.

If you pass, this test is not as accurate as the other, but if you fail, there are problems.
Make sure that you check both boxes as shown. The test will take at least an hour or more
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67612-check-disk-chkdsk.html

richc46 said:

If you pass, this test is not as accurate as the other, but if you fail, there are problems.
Make sure that you check both boxes as shown. The test will take at least an hour or more
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67612-check-disk-chkdsk.html

Click to expand...

I'm guessing I passed the test as the chkdsk did not return any errors and seemed to run smoothly. I just wish Hitachi had an easier way to test the hard drive than what's currently available.

Did you have both boxes checked as shown in the tutorial?

richc46 said:

Did you have both boxes checked as shown in the tutorial?

Click to expand...

Yes, I followed the instructions and selected both boxes. I also want to mention that in the past I used to receive an error saying that, "display driver has stopped responding and has recovered" or something along those lines.

Also, I still haven't adjusted my settings from the clean boot (not sure if this needs to be changed). I also plan on using IE and seeing if that makes a difference and that the freezing may be attributed to Firefox?

I doubt if its your browser.
Go to search by the start button, type device manager.
In device manger look for any small yellow marks, indicating that the driver must be updated. If none, update graphics, driver.
Do all of the steps that I gave you in my early post.

So far I have not experienced any freezing. I'm going to keep using IE and see if I can get it to freeze (LOL). I will post if I see anything unusual or the problems persist and if you find any new solutions or tests, please continue to advise.

Thank you for your timely responses and support, I'm very grateful to have found this forum and you are an asset here!

I thank you for your kind words. Someone will always be here if you have additional problems.

richc46 said:

I thank you for your kind words. Someone will always be here if you have additional problems.

Click to expand...

So the message that stopped pooping up is now back. I'm going to force myself to use IE and see if the problem occurs again. If so, I guess the problem is not the browser and something else. It just sucks that there are no definite solutions.

We will find the solution, but its hit or miss.

richc46 said:

We will find the solution, but its hit or miss.

Click to expand...

Hope so. I went ahead and downloaded the "new" Catalyst Control Center or whatever its called. Let see if this does the trick.

Thats probably for Graphics, it may be the cause.