Programs go white/ computer freezes

Have a Toshiba Satellite from 2010.
Programs are freezing and am getting white, blank screens on the programs.

Programs often "blend into each other." That is, may have Firefox open and a Word document blends into the browser.

The computer freezes and can't do anything, so have to force shut down.

Also, short after starting programs after start-up, often get "program not responding."

Wanna find a way to stop this erratic behavior.

Toshiba Satellite L305,
Intel Pentium Dual CPU T3400 @ 2.16GHZ,
2.0 GB RAM,
32-bit operating system.
Windows Vista, service pack 2.

Kept getting this message:
"Logon process has failed to create the security options dialogue. Failure- security options."

Also these messages:
A problem has been detected and windows has been shut down...

IRQL_not_Less_or_Equal


Downloaded SpeedItUp Free to optimize hard drive and defrag, but it never makes it through the 3 hrs. of scanning before getting runtime errors, and the program shuts down.

After running Spybot Search & Destroy in Safe Mode, was able to complete it.
And have run since.
No issues found.

Also ran the defragging that comes with the laptop.

Am running Windows Defender now.

Have also ran AVG Antivirus.


Any ideas would be appreciated.

Hi DougOh,

Let’s try few troubleshooting steps to check if issue gets resolved:

1. Try a clean boot to check if it would work, providing the link to do a clean boot for reference: How to perform a clean boot to troubleshoot a problem in Windows Vista or Windows 7
2. Go to safe mode and check if you get same error message. Please use the following link for detailed instructions to go safe mode: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/123496-safe-mode.html
3. Also follow the steps in the below given link and check if it helps: Log on process has failed to create the security options dialog - - Microsoft Community
4. You can configure the windows to ensure that minidump files are created, please follow the steps mentioned in the link: Dump Files - Configure Windows to Create on BSOD - Windows 7 Forums
5. With this information we can help: http://www.vistax64.com/crashes-debugging/282419-blue-screen-death-bsod-posting-instructions.html
6. Also, run the built-in diagnostics provided by the manufacturer on the computer to check if the hardware is working fine.

Please post back the results.

Madhur B said:

Hi DougOh,

Let’s try few troubleshooting steps to check if issue gets resolved:

1. Try a clean boot to check if it would work, providing the link to do a clean boot for reference: How to perform a clean boot to troubleshoot a problem in Windows Vista or Windows 7


Please post back the results.

Click to expand...

Thanks for your help here.
I read the article in Point No.1.
However, it doesn't say how to perform a "clean boot."
Can you tell me how?
Thanks.


EDITED IN:
Figured it out. Started pressing f8 as restarted laptop.
Another site says press f12...

Clicked on Last Known Good Configuration, which seems to be working okay @the moment.

Hi DougOh,

Please scroll down to “More Information” on the link and then click on Plus sign (+). Under “More Information” there are steps to perform Clean Boot.

For any clarifications feel free to contact me.

Figured it out. Started pressing f8 as restarted laptop.
Another site says press f12...

Clicked on Last Known Good Configuration, and the laptop seems to be working okay @the moment.