Vista - constantly freezes/locks up

OK, after a week of trying I finally got Vista installed on my PC!
at the moment I only have my graphics card, monitor, keyboard (PS/2) and
mouse (USB) plugged in

in safemode I've managed to install the drivers for my motherboards chipset,
the onboard audio card and my graphics card.

When in Vista it keeps freezing, sometimes as soon as it loads the desktop
sometimes after 2 minutes (that's the longest it's gone for!), and sometimes
(but not often) it freezes on a black screen just before the desktop loads.

does anyone have any ideas?

it doesn't freeze in safemode, just when it boots normally

I managed to have it on for long enough to do the auto updates but it still
locks up

My system:
Foxconn motherboard 945P7AA-8EKRS2 (tried an old BIOS flash and the latest,
same results)
WinFast GeForce 7950GT 256Mb with latest Vista 32 bit drivers (from link on
this form)
generic TFT monitor
Samsung SpinPoint 200Gb hard drive (IDE)
Sony BWU-100A blu-ray writer (IDE)
2Gb DDR2 RAM (2x 512Mb & 1x 1025Mb)
Microsoft PS/2 keyboard
generic USB mouse

done the usual (and combinations of):
tried less memory (1x 1024 as well as 1x 512)
tried taking out the BD writer
tried an older GeForce 7300 graphics card
tried a PS/2 mouse that I borrowed for the night
tried turning off USB, Firewire, SATA etc in the BIOS

Nice system Maff.

I'd try to tacks--repair and maximize cpu efficiency.


*Repair:

SFC: Windows Key +R>type in cmd>hold down CTRL+SHIFT on your keyboard and
then press Enter>type sfc /scannow at prompt.

Startup Repair, System Restoer and other Win RE Tools:

How to use the Bootrec.exe tool in the Windows Recovery Environment to
troubleshoot and repair startup issues in Windows Vista
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927392/en-us

A Stop error occurs, or the computer stops responding when you try to start
Windows Vista
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925810/en-us

I'd deploy these if replacing the driver (provided you can boot) doesn't
solve the problem:

You run the startup repair tool this way:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925810/en-us

How To Run Startup Repair In Vista Ultimate (Multiple Screenshots)
http://www.windowsvista.windowsreins...rtup/index.htm

Note The computer must be configured to start from a CD or from a DVD. For
information about how to configure the computer to start from a CD or from a
DVD, see the information that came with the computer.
2. Restart the computer. To do this, click Start, click the arrow next to
the Lock button, and then click Restart.

This usually means that you enter bios setup by whatever key or keys
(sometimes there is more than one key that will do it for your model--go to
pc manufacturer site) and configure CD to be first in the boot order.

See for ref:
Access/Enter Motherboard BIOS
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

Note If you cannot restart the computer by using this method, use the power
button to turn off the computer. Then, turn the computer back on.
3. Set your language preference, and then click Next.

Note In most cases, the startup repair process starts automatically, and you
do not have the option to select it in the System Recovery Options menu.
4. Click Repair your computer.
5. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click the operating system
that you want to repair, and then click Next.
6. In the System Recovery Options menu, click Startup Repair to start the
repair process.
7. When the repair process is complete, click Finish.

Additional References for Startup Repair With Screenshots:

How to Use Startup Repair:

***Accessing Windows RE (Repair Environment):***

1) Insert Media into PC (the DVD you burned)

2) ***You will see on the Vista logo setup screen after lang. options in the
lower left corner, a link called "System Recovery Options."***

Screenshot: System Recovery Options (Lower Left Link)
http://blogs.itecn.net/photos/liuhui...4/500x375.aspx

Screenshot: (Click first option "Startup Repair"
http://www.leedesmond.com/images/img...SysRecOpt2.bmp

How To Run Startup Repair In Vista Ultimate (Multiple Screenshots)
http://www.windowsvista.windowsreins...rtup/index.htm

3) Select your OS for repair.

4) Its been my experience that you can see some causes of the crash from
theWin RE feature:

You'll have a choice there of using:

1) Startup Repair
2) System Restore
3) Complete PC Restore

You could also:

Try to F8 to the Windows Adv Options Menu>try 3 safe modes there (I don't
use WGA) and Last Known Good>then I go to Win RE in Vista. That gives you a
choice of Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking,and Safe Mode with Command
Prompt.

These methods are outlined in

A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP/and Vista
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222/

You will need this reference:

How to start the System Restore tool at a command prompt in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304449/en-us

The command to use for system restore at the safe mode cmd prompt is:

%systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe

The reason for doing this is one of these choices may work, when the other
doesn't. My experience is that people do not fully try F8 when they think
or have said they have. It is that they can almost always reach Windows
Advanced Options though.

*CPU Efficiency:

Speed PC and Control CPU Tips/Steps

SPEED AND CPU:

_______________

1) Trim processes you don't need in TM. Google them or "search engine of

your choice them" if you have to.

2) Go to

services.msc in run box and turn off services not needed and there are some.

Vista Services Guide Part 1

http://www.tweakvista.com/article38662.aspx

Vista Services Guide Part 2

http://www.tweakvista.com/article38664.aspx

3) Run System File Checker.

SFC: http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html

In Vista run it from an elevated command prompt. Right click command on

start and run as administrator.

4) Run 3 or so spyware scans Windows Defender, , Adaware, and Spybot

5) Probably the most important for speed consistently and efficient resource

use DEFRAG with www.raxco.com or www.diskeeeper.com with 15% free space on

drive if DK and or >5% if Raxco's Perfect Disk.

http://groups.msn.com/windowsxpcentral/spyware.msnw

Download Adaware and

Spybot from here.

GOOD Overall Review for Defending Your PC:

http://defendingyourmachine.blogspot.com/

MSFT Defense Site MSFT Security:

http://www.microsoft.com/security/default.mspx

Protect Your PC from MSFT Security:

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/secu...t/default.mspx

MSFT Windows Defender

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/secu...e/default.mspx

MSFT MSRT: (Malicious Software Removal Tool)

http://www.microsoft.com/security/ma...e/default.mspx



MSFT "Windows One Care" in Wings (AV and Spyware Scans)

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/p...OneCarePR.mspx

6) Unck items from msconfig start tab you don't need starting and some

won't start--peoiple who think just uncking for many are naive because there

are 12 places things can be started including several reg keys like Run Once

keys and there are serveral.

7) Turn off Messaging service--it's a security vulnerability and it slows

you

8) Defrag very often every other day actually.

9) Turn off indexing.

10) Clear TIF and %temp% files (delete) and go to safe mode to get as many

as u can.

10) Do troubleshooting with msconfig.

11) Do Clean boot with msconfig utility and search for the directions here:

SERVICE CONFIGURATION REFERENCES*

*Vista Services*

Part One

http://www.tweakvista.com/article38662.aspx



Part Two

http://www.tweakvista.com/article38664.aspx

Windows Vista Services Tweak Guide v1.0

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=87443



Vista RTM Tweak Guide (Tweaks to Improve Performances)

http://www.google.com/search?sourcei...tm+tweak+guide



1) Task Manager lists the services on the services tab in Vista.

2) Type services.msc in run box and using the list of services, click the

service and you'll get a description of services.

3) There is a list here of the default services and a description>>click

"default settings for services" in the left pane.

http://technet2.microsoft.com/Window....mspx?mfr=true



4) To view service dependencies

1.

Open Services.

2.

In the details pane, right-click the service that you want to view

dependencies for, and then click Properties.

3.

Click the Dependencies tab.

4.

To view services that are associated dependencies of the selected service,

in the list on the Dependencies tab, click the plus sign next to the

service.

Many of the services but not all in Vista are the same as in XP, so in that

context:

http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/services.htm



Also see the extremely helpful site:

Black Viper's Service List

http://www.dead-eye.net/WinXP%20Services.htm





Black Viper's Site (Many of the same services in Vista)

http://www.dead-eye.net/WinXP%20Services.htm



http://www.z123.org/techsupport/xpservices.htm



http://www.geocities.com/ziyadhosein/xpserv1.htm



http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.php



This will be helpful

http://web.archive.org/web/200411280...servicecfg.htm



______________________________________________________________________________________________

How to troubleshoot by using the System Configuration utility in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310560/



Resources for troubleshooting startup problems in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308041/



How to perform advanced clean-boot troubleshooting in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;316434



How to perform a clean boot in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353/



How to Disable a Service or Device that Prevents Windows from Starting

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310602/



Also ck out these references:

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1558,5155,00.asp



http://www.speedupyourcomputer.windo....com/index.htm

and

http://www.extremetech.com/search_re...app=&site=4P.S.



Defragging with a decent defrag every day will make a huge dent inefficient

resource/CPU use.

Perfect Disk has a 5 month full functionality trial on now for Windows

Vista.

Good luck,

CH



"Maff" <Maff@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:54AEAA52-8AA8-49A7-9F37-3DFCE92EF56E@microsoft.com...
> OK, after a week of trying I finally got Vista installed on my PC!
> at the moment I only have my graphics card, monitor, keyboard (PS/2) and
> mouse (USB) plugged in
>
> in safemode I've managed to install the drivers for my motherboards
> chipset,
> the onboard audio card and my graphics card.
>
> When in Vista it keeps freezing, sometimes as soon as it loads the desktop
> sometimes after 2 minutes (that's the longest it's gone for!), and
> sometimes
> (but not often) it freezes on a black screen just before the desktop
> loads.
>
> does anyone have any ideas?
>
> it doesn't freeze in safemode, just when it boots normally
>
> I managed to have it on for long enough to do the auto updates but it
> still
> locks up
>
> My system:
> Foxconn motherboard 945P7AA-8EKRS2 (tried an old BIOS flash and the
> latest,
> same results)
> WinFast GeForce 7950GT 256Mb with latest Vista 32 bit drivers (from link
> on
> this form)
> generic TFT monitor
> Samsung SpinPoint 200Gb hard drive (IDE)
> Sony BWU-100A blu-ray writer (IDE)
> 2Gb DDR2 RAM (2x 512Mb & 1x 1025Mb)
> Microsoft PS/2 keyboard
> generic USB mouse
>
> done the usual (and combinations of):
> tried less memory (1x 1024 as well as 1x 512)
> tried taking out the BD writer
> tried an older GeForce 7300 graphics card
> tried a PS/2 mouse that I borrowed for the night
> tried turning off USB, Firewire, SATA etc in the BIOS

On Feb 6, 5:27 am, Maff <M...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> OK, after a week of trying I finally got Vista installed on my PC!
> at the moment I only have my graphics card, monitor, keyboard (PS/2) andmouse(USB) plugged in
>
> in safemode I've managed to install the drivers for my motherboards chipset,
> the onboard audio card and my graphics card.
>
> When in Vista it keeps freezing, sometimes as soon as it loads the desktop
> sometimes after 2 minutes (that's the longest it's gone for!), and sometimes
> (but not often) itfreezeson a black screen just before the desktop loads.
>
> does anyone have any ideas?
>
> it doesn't freeze in safemode, just when it boots normally
>
> I managed to have it on for long enough to do the auto updates but it still
> locks up
>
> My system:
> Foxconn motherboard 945P7AA-8EKRS2 (tried an old BIOS flash and the latest,
> same results)
> WinFast GeForce 7950GT 256Mb with latest Vista 32 bit drivers (from link on
> this form)
> generic TFT monitor
> Samsung SpinPoint 200Gb hard drive (IDE)
> Sony BWU-100A blu-ray writer (IDE)
> 2Gb DDR2 RAM (2x 512Mb & 1x 1025Mb)
> Microsoft PS/2 keyboard
> genericUSBmouse
>
> done the usual (and combinations of):
> tried less memory (1x 1024 as well as 1x 512)
> tried taking out the BD writer
> tried an older GeForce 7300 graphics card
> tried a PS/2mousethat I borrowed for the night
> tried turning offUSB, Firewire, SATA etc in the BIOS

Just a suggestion -- I have come through a long story of the same
problem. Use a ps2 mouse and take a read on Knowledge base 321122.
Follow it to the letter and you should be farther ahead.

Regards,
webman777