Vista - What is normal? (Do I have a virus?)

Do I need to reinstall is really my question.

I have an HP dv5-1000us running Vista Home Premium 64, and I've had it for several months. Recently it has developed a tendancy to randomly freeze solid (no control alt delete, no coming back from being frozen, must hard restart). It got much worse when I tried to install the new Zune update (3.1); now it will freeze like clockwork about 3 minutes after I open Zune. If I don't open Zune, it's much more random but it still happens. Another symptom is that I started getting a message that my sound driver software had to close due to a "problem". Sound still works, I just get the annoying message. Nothing I do seems to fix it, including Bios flashing, driver/device install/reinstall, etc.

I was really surprised when I looked at the system monitor. I have 4 gigs of RAM installed, and it runs at a steady 1.7gb usage with no programs open. I have disabled the animation stuff, too. When I open Zune it shoots up to around 2gb. The processor varies between 4 to 20% with no programs open, and is at 95-99% when Zune is open. As I'm typing this, I have flock, skype, and outlook open, the processor is running at about 30% and the RAM usage holds at a steady 1.76gb. Question: Is this normal? Or is it time (already) to bust out the restore disks?

Thanks!

I don't think It's normal, there are many reasons why a computer freezes, It's weird because if it freezes may be due to a processor problem, but what about sound driver? yeah it may be a virus you can get antivirus online help:

ActiveScan 2.0 - A second opinion on the security of your PC
Kaspersky Online Scanner 7.0

Malwarebytes is a good program too:

Malwarebytes.org

Try using it on Safe mode with net functions

If that doesn't help try fixing you system with the CD/DVD included with you HP Computer, even tho you problem might be internal, you may bhave hardware problems and you must have your warranty still so call HP.

Hi Magdelaine, welcome to the board.

Beside running a virus test as suggested by schwarzwolf, you should open the case to check to see if all parts and connectors are set and secure. It is usual that something gets knocked loose during shipping. Restoration should fix any virus and software problems; if problem persists you should start looking into hardware or process a return or replacement from HP.

Good luck and post back.

Hello Magdelaine and Schwarzwolf,

Welcome to the forums.

The random freezing is not normal. Unfortunately I know nothing about the Zune software, so maybe someone else here can help you with that. Have you tried doing a system restore to a point before the problem started? Info here if needed. System Restore - How to

As far as the 1.76 GB of used RAM, this is normal. This is superfetch loading programs that you use most often into ram so that they are available much faster when you open them. If you need the ram for other uses, then it is made available for that use. More info here:

Superfetch (Memory Prefetcher)

Superfetch - Change Preload Data

Hope this helps.
Gary

Also, be careful when you open your case, first if there're hardware problems maybe something may be burned, your processor fan may not be well set (that may be a reason why it's freezing) nor your wires, but here we got a problem if her's something burned and you open your case you'll have to buy that part of the computer and if you still got HP warranty they will change that part so first make sure that those are not software problems and after call HP if you still got the warranty, if you don't well just don't use anything that may cause static (like nylon clothes or opening your case on a carpet).

Good luck.

Thanks for the responses! I actually did a restore of sorts; we just recently got an HP MediaSmart server so I wrote over the C drive with an earlier backup. It may not have been a backup that went back far enough, however, because that did not resolve my issues. I'm willing to try a system restore too. Out of curiosity, are there any viruses/trojans that aren't written over in a system restore?

I'm really nervous about opening the thing up, although it very well may be hardware related. The first one of these I got I had to send back because it kept freezing...it never worked from the start. This one has been fine until the last couple of weeks; and I got it in July.

I've posted on Zune forums too, in case this is Zune related, but I don't see a lot of other people with this problem. Interestingly, it froze after I opened Windows Media Player, too, so I don't think it's 100% Zune. *sigh*

By the way, if I do have to do a reinstall, is there some way to get a text based list of all the installed programs?

Hi there

To get a list of installed programs

I would use ccleaner, although it is designed to shift general crap off your computer it will also generate an uninstall list

Download CCleaner Slim

(If you wish to remove system junk then before first use, select Options > Advanced and UNCHECK "Only delete files in Windows Temp folder older than 48 hours" )

To get an uninstall list...

Click on Tools in the left hand column
Select the option uninstall (should be selected by default)
If you wish to save the list to file then select "Save text to file" button (bottom right)

Recovery Manager has a list of programs factory installed. Any one of them can be recovered and re-installed.

Thanks sjb007, that was just what I was looking for! I use Ccleaner anyway; I just never noticed that option.

Ok, update:

I decided to restore the computer to a month and a half ago using WHS. After everything updated, the system seemed to be running smoothly... Except I got the same message as before about "c-major audio needing to close" as before, and I haven't tried to install the newest Zune software. Also, while trying to to a manual backup to WHS, my system froze (again).

So, I'm running CHKDSK on all my drives and trying to find out if my current problem is a WHS problem, and then I will install Zune 3.1 and see if I can get it to crash again like it was before.

By the way, my system is a laptop which is why I'm really reluctant to pop it open and start wiggling wires. However, if a complete reinstall doesn't solve my freezing issue, it's pretty guaranteed it's a hardware issue right?

Hi Magdelaine,

I would not recomend opening up your Laptop, it is unlikely to help and you are probably not sure what you are looking for.

A complete Reinstall might be the answer, Don't forget to back up your data though.

If after a complete reinstall you still have problems. I would say to take the lappy back to the Dealer as it is still under warranty and let them fix it.

I hope this helps

Pooch