Freeze On Boot Up

[345138]

I am posting this for my sister.
Alright we both got new computers for Christmas, their Acers.
Specifications:
OS Name Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Home Premium
Version 6.0.6001 Service Pack 1 Build 6001
Other OS Description Not Available
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name ALEC-PC
System Manufacturer ACER
System Model Aspire M5641
System Type X86-based PC
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz, 2403 Mhz, 4 Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date American Megatrends Inc. R01-B4, 11/09/2008
SMBIOS Version 2.5
Windows Directory C:\Windows
System Directory C:\Windows\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume2
Locale Canada
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "6.0.6001.18000"
User Name Alec-PC\Alec
Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 3.00 GB
Total Physical Memory 2.75 GB
Available Physical Memory 1.08 GB
Total Virtual Memory 5.70 GB
Available Virtual Memory 3.51 GB
Page File Space 3.04 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys

That's the spec's of my computer, we have the same computer so it should be the same, but I don't know since her's keeps freezing :P
So, when she boots up her PC, it works but when you try to do something it freezes.
It's really annoying and I have been trying to fix it for so darn long! (I know how to fix XP's and some Vista problems, but not this! )
So, how can I fix this, I know it's not a display driver or sound driver (uninstalled both, reinstalled).
So any suggestions?

 

[smarteyeball]

Has it been freezing since day one, or has it suddenly started to freeze?

Does it always freeze, or does it freeze sometimes and work fine at other times?

What action actually causes the freeze? ie Opening explorer, Browser, particular application etc

It might be worthwhile running a couple of passes memtest to eliminate one possible h'ware issue:

http://www.memtest.org/download/2.11/memtest86+-2.11.iso.zip

If it shows errors, then the RAM is probably faulty. If it shows no errors, then you start looking elsewhere

On the plus side, at least you got the working PC

 

[345138]

It just started to suddenly freeze, and yes it always freezes.
But in safe mode, it's fine so I will put that program on my flash drive and in an attempt to save my sisters computer, try it.
Ill post the results when done.
Also, keep posting in this topic please, because if you think its anything else, I would like to know as quick as possible.

 

[smarteyeball]

If it's suddenly started to freeze and it's not freezing in safe mode, then it could possibly be a driver issue or something she has recently installed.

I assume you've done a Virus/malware scan?

Safe mode loads a simple VGA driver and disables sound, so those drivers are not off the hook yet To eliminate them as suspects, uninstall them one at a time, reboot, do a normal start up and don't let Windows install drivers for them after restarting and see if the freezing continues.

You could also trying disabling start up items in msconfig, to see if any thing she's installed is wreaking havoc.

Also check the task manager / resource monitor for any suspicious looking files or heavy CPU usage.

How long after start-up does it freeze? Seconds, minutes, hours?

 

[345138]

Minutes/seconds, like if I try to do something it freezes up.
Also, I tried unpacking that iso file with my unpacker yet, it did not work.
If I installed on a disk it wouldn't work since all i have is a CD Rewriteable rather than a regular CD.

 

[smarteyeball]

The iso is meant to burnt as a bootable disc. Unpacking won't help. (or work as you discovered ) Alternatively if you have a USB stick, you can boot it from there.

There is the Windows Memory Diagnostics Tool (type memory in the start menu) although, it's not as good as memtest.

You could always try using a restore point. Type> system restore in the search menu. Try selecting the oldest restore point by choosing a restore point:



If it's a software problem, there's no guarantee that whatever's causing the problem isn't included in the restore point.

(make a manual one first, in case it doesn't help. Click on Open System Protection in System Restore )

Has she added any devices recently? ie external HD, Webcam etc

 

[345138]

I tried System Restore before.
No I'm pretty sure that she hasn't added any devices, I will unplug all USB devices except for mouse though.
Also, for the USB stick, would I just put it on there like usual or no?

 

[smarteyeball]

Make sure the stick is empty and just copy the iso onto the stick. You may have to enable boot from USB in the BIOS.

 

[345138]

Alright I will attempt that, any other tools I can use?

 

[345138]

With memtest, no errors found..

 

[smarteyeball]

Since it's passing memtest and it's only recently started freezing, I'd say it's safe to concentrate on it being a software issue.

Have you tried disabling items in msconfig yet? Un-installed sound / video drivers with out re-installing yet?

 

[345138]

Ive uninstalled the drivers yes, so it probably is not a driver problem.
Might be software related, I will ask my sister when she's done work.
Any other ideas while she's gone?
Off-Topic: Did you read my topic that got stickied? xD

 

[smarteyeball]

Either a Windows Update or some app she has installed. You could try checking either event viewer or Problem Reports and Solutions to see if anything has been recorded. I'd start with the event viewer. (type event in search)

EDIT:

I did lead you to the memtest site....

 

[345138]

I know I just used it as an example. XD

 

[smarteyeball]

lol. I'm always an example

Good work on it BTW.

 

[345138]

Thanks still didnt find any things of interest

 

[smarteyeball]

Could you click on the sysinfo link in my sig, download the app and post the results? Having more details about the PC might hopefully give me, or anyone else, something else to go on.

Can your sis remember when it started to suddenly freeze? Any new programs installed , program updates, Windows Update etc?

Has anyone been playing with any BIOS settings?

 

[345138]

Ill do the first one and I'm 90% sure she does not know, and for the BIOS settings, I don't know..If they did, how would I fix that?

 

[smarteyeball]

It's unlikely that anyone's touched the BIOS. It was an outside thought that someone had been playing with RAM timings, voltages etc. (trying to overclock)