Two problems with my computer...

[Link1990]

[EDIT] Please read the edits! Even though the two problems listed in this post (post #1) are fixed, I still have a couple other problems I want to address before I close this thread. Those other problems are listed in post #4.

Hi everyone. I have a couple questions.

1) Why can't I delete old restore points?
I have unchecked the boxes next to my C:\ and D:\ drives, but nothing happens. I tried using "Clean up..." in the "More Options" tab of Disk Cleanup, and it appears to work, but the old restore points are still there. How can I fix this problem? (I know that there was another thread about this issue and read it. I tried what was said and Tuneup worked. I no longer use Tuneup, however.) I do not want to download a program to get my computer to function properly! I shouldn't have to do so.

2) Why does my computer occasionally freeze when I am using Internet Explorer 8?
When I am browsing on Internet Explorer 8, every once in a great while my computer will freeze. I cannot use the mouse or keyboard at all, and I'm forced to hold in the power button to shut my computer down. This happens most frequently when multiple tabs/browsers are up. It also happens when one window with one tab is up, though. Is there anyone else who has experienced this? Is this fixable?

Any and all replies are greatly appreciated. Thank you for your help! :D
Additional information: I am running Vista Home Premium 64-bit on a Dell Studio 1555.

 

[whs]

You can definitely get rid of your restore points if you resize the shadowstorage. Note though that 300MB is the minimum you must allocate. See here how: http://www.downloadsquad.com/2007/0...k-space-used-by-windows-vista-system-restore/
PS: when you unchecked C: and D:, maybe you forgot Apply, OK - because generally that should work too.

 

[stoneys-nutz]

Hello Link1990,
When using IE8 go to tools > Manage Add-ons, and take a look at what is running, look also at "all add-ons", i suspect that it could be one or more of these causing the lock-ups.
I would disable all of them and try it, if all is well, enable them one at a time and see which one is causing the problem.
Do you have any extra tool /search bars installed ?, these will some times cause this too.
If all else fails you can reset IE8, go to tools > Internet Options > Advanced > reset, from there you can reset IE8.
Hope this helps, good luck and post your results.

 

[Link1990]

Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention that when my computer comes on after hibernation or from a screen saver, sometimes I cannot get my wi-fi radio to behave. I click on "Enable" to get it to find my printer, but sometimes it doesn't do anything. The button stays on "Enable" instead of becoming "Disable" and finding my printer. I guess I needed a reminder (I turned on my computer from hibernate).

Also, if I use "Switch User" or "Log Off", a black screen comes up instead of the log on screen, and I can't do anything. I have to shut down my computer by holding in the power button. Is this because I only have one user on this computer? Can this be fixed?

 

[Link1990]

PS: when you unchecked C: and D:, maybe you forgot Apply, OK - because generally that should work too.

I thought I clicked both "Apply" and "OK" after unchecking. Maybe I did it so many times I forgot to do that minor step. It worked when I did it this time.

You can definitely get rid of your restore points if you resize the shadowstorage.

This will help so I don't have to delete the old restore points as often. I have resized my shadow storage. Thanks for your help!

I wonder why Microsoft got rid of the slider from Windows XP to Windows Vista... That would make things a lot easier!

 

[Link1990]

Do you have any extra tool /search bars installed ?, these will some times cause this too.
If all else fails you can reset IE8, go to tools > Internet Options > Advanced > reset, from there you can reset IE8.
Hope this helps, good luck and post your results.

I just clicked to have my Internet options reset, so I hope that will fix this problem. Since the lock-ups are sporadic, only time will tell. I do have toolbars like Google toolbar and MSN toolbar, but I never use any of them.

 

[stoneys-nutz]

The reset may do it, if not, then try the other options i gave you.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.

 

[Link1990]

The reset may do it, if not, then try the other options i gave you.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Thanks for the advice. If it still freezes, I'll try the other options.

[EDIT] My computer just froze up again at 5:55 pm CT on Oct. 27, 2009. I had one window up with one tab. The website I was on was different from the last time it froze. I reset Internet options again. This might have happened because I changed the options from when they were reset. Maybe I'll try getting rid of the toolbars even though I do not use them.

[EDIT] Also look at post #4, I have a few other problems I want to fix. The problems are described there.

[EDIT] My computer just froze recently (around 12:30 am CT on Oct. 28, 2009), and I wasn't even on the internet! I might be working my computer too hard (little time to cool down)... or maybe there's something else wrong with it. Any ideas?

 

[Link1990]

This is a little off topic, but I think I know what's going on with people's history problems in Internet Explorer 8. I completely uninstalled IE8 (so it was reverted back to IE7) and reinstalled IE8 from the Microsoft website. After doing so and testing the auto delete history function, it worked properly. Immediately after installing new updates about an hour after reupgrading to IE8, I tried the automatic history delete checkbox again, and after checking it and hitting "Apply" and "OK", it once again doesn't work. This suggests that there is no problem with Internet Explorer, but rather there is something going on with Windows Update that affects automatic history deletion, even when checked and all settings except "Preserve Favorites Website Data" are checked in the popup when you click on "Settings...". Maybe I should send this to Microsoft to see what they think of it.

[EDIT] If you have this issue, check this page of the forums out. http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/94183-internet-explorer-browsing-history.html. Maybe Windows Update unchecks this when it does its thing... I don't know for sure. Look at Method 2: The Automatic Way. It explains the steps clearly and easily. Hope this helps!

 

[stoneys-nutz]

Just how hot is this PC getting ?.
Download SpeedFan and monitor your temps, it may be heat related.

Download SpeedFan - Access temperature sensor in your computer

Have you installed any software in the last few days or made any changes to the system in any way ?.
Check your temps and post your results, good luck.

 

[Link1990]

I thought it might be heat. If I am working on my computer for a long time, it gets pretty warm. I have not downloaded software nor made changes to the system, so I'm sure now that heat is the issue. Thanks for your help! My heat ranges from 93°F to 138°F (usually in the 100°-110° range) in the first ten minutes since downloading it, but now that I have it I'll keep an eye on it.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention that when my computer comes on after hibernation or from a screen saver, sometimes I cannot get my wi-fi radio to behave. I click on "Enable" to get it to find my printer, but sometimes it doesn't do anything. The button stays on "Enable" instead of becoming "Disable" and finding my printer. I guess I needed a reminder (I turned on my computer from hibernate).

Also, if I use "Switch User" or "Log Off", a black screen comes up instead of the log on screen, and I can't do anything. I have to shut down my computer by holding in the power button. Is this because I only have one user on this computer? Can this be fixed?

I thank everyone for their help, but no one reads the edits. So I quoted my other problems I have here. Please help with these issues if you can!

 

[sassofalco]

Download SpeedFan - Access temperature sensor in your computer

Can this be used on Notebooks / Laptops [ see my System Specs ] to monitor internal temps?

 

[Link1990]

Can this be used on Notebooks / Laptops [ see my System Specs ] to monitor internal temps?

I downloaded it and it says the temperatures of my Dell Studio 1555 (laptop), so it should work. It is given in Celsius by default, but I changed it to Fahrenheit. If you want to do that, you click to run SpeedFan, click the "Readings" tab, click the "Configure..." button in the upper right corner, click the "Options" tab, and click to fill whether you want Celsius or Fahrenheit in the lower left part of the pop-up. Hope this helps you out!

 

[sassofalco]

Can this be used on Notebooks / Laptops [ see my System Specs ] to monitor internal temps?

I downloaded it and it says the temperatures of my Dell Studio 1555 (laptop), so it should work. It is given in Celsius by default.

Thanks stoneys-nutz for the link to a very smart little tool. :D

I've always wondered what temps. my Laptop was cruising at....a matter of concern given that I live in a tropical climate, without air-conditioning [by choice], but cooled by fans, and the breezes that waft through.

It is also a part of that other civilised world that uses the metric scale for temps. and all other measurements, so there was no need for me to muck around with any of the 'fiddley bits'.

Thanks Mate

 

[Link1990]

It is also a part of that other civilised world that uses the metric scale for temps. and all other measurements, so there was no need for me to muck around with any of the 'fiddley bits'.

I posted that just in case you needed it in Fahrenheit. But yes, this tool is very useful.

I have had a freeze when the temperature was in the normal range though, but the freezes have been occurring less often. I have CCleaner installed on my computer. When I ran the registry cleaner, could it have deleted a necessary registry key, causing the freezes?

 

[sassofalco]

I have had a freeze when the temperature was in the normal range though, but the freezes have been occurring less often. I have CCleaner installed on my computer. When I ran the registry cleaner, could it have deleted a necessary registry key, causing the freezes?

I not sure if the freezes are generated by CCleaner, but somehow doubt it. To avoid any issues that could occur by using the Registry Cleaning function, I always do a backup [after automatic prompt] of the problems found, before continuing on with deletion of those issues.

I rename the Registry backup file using the scan date, and save it to a folder in Documents. You can always recover the registry files if you notice anything untoward happening, subsequent to deleting the problem issues. If after a period of time no noticable effects are detected, then I will delete all but the last two Registry issue backups.

To activate the automatic prompt, in CCleaner select Options>Advanced, then place a check in the box at Show prompt to backup registry issues. It should look like this;



I have never had any problems whatsoever with CCleaner. However, to check if CCleaner is the cause of your freezes, or to recover what you suspect may be a necessary key, I suggest that you uninstall, then reinstall CCleaner v2.25.1025. Just a note of warning though, on uninstall, you will of course lose your Cookies to keep file, and will need to start all over to build it again, on reinstall of CCleaner.

Hope that this helps

 

[Link1990]

I not sure if the freezes are generated by CCleaner, but somehow doubt it. To avoid any issues that could occur by using the Registry Cleaning function, I always do a backup [after automatic prompt] of the problems found, before continuing on with deletion of those issues.

...

I have never had any problems whatsoever with CCleaner. However, to check if CCleaner is the cause of your freezes, or to recover what you suspect may be a necessary key, I suggest that you uninstall, then reinstall CCleaner v2.25.1025. Just a note of warning though, on uninstall, you will of course lose your Cookies to keep file, and will need to start all over to build it again, on reinstall of CCleaner.

I noticed the "automatic fan speed" check box in SpeedFan was unchecked and I checked it, and since I did that it has been behaving (so far). I haven't had a freeze yet, but I did that only yesterday. I don't think it is CCleaner, but thanks for the tip.

Whatever was wrong with my wi-fi seems to be behaving now all of a sudden. Sometimes it would think the radio was off when it was on, but I haven't had that issue the past couple times using hibernate/sleep. Weird, but I'm glad it decided to work properly. One less problem I have to deal with!:D

I still have the "black screen of death" problem (when I use "Log Off" or "Switch User", a black screen comes up and I can't do anything). Can anyone help with this?