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

[Magdelaine]

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!

 

[schwarzwolf]

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.

 

[bruce2]

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.

 

[garysgold]

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. http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76905-system-restore-how.html

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:

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/72293-superfetch-memory-prefetcher.html

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/108833-superfetch-change-preload-data.html

Hope this helps.
Gary

 

[schwarzwolf]

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.

 

[Magdelaine]

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?

 

[sjb007]

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)

 

[coolnewyorker]

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

 

[Magdelaine]

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?

 

[pooch]

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

 

[Magdelaine]

Thank you! Drive was re-imaged last night, so this morning I'm starting fresh. I'm crossing my fingers this was software related. I'll post back when I've got everything back up to speed to the point where I can be confident one way or the other.

 

[Magdelaine]

Ok, I have everything re-installed, including Zune, and I've seen nary a freeze or error message. Whether it was a virus or something I did to myself with a registry cleaner, I don't know, but it seems to be fixed now!

BTW, in the past I've had to reinstall XP at least once a year because of how crapped up it would get. Is Vista the same in this regard?

 

[Dzomlija]

Ok, I have everything re-installed, including Zune, and I've seen nary a freeze or error message. Whether it was a virus or something I did to myself with a registry cleaner, I don't know, but it seems to be fixed now!

BTW, in the past I've had to reinstall XP at least once a year because of how crapped up it would get. Is Vista the same in this regard?

With regards to re-installing Vista, it all really depends on how much of a "tinkerer" you are. But Vista is far more stable than XP ever was, and reformatting and reinstalling isn't all that necessary.

I got Vista x64 in February 2007, and re-installed in April 2008, but only because I was forced to replace the motherboard after an electrical storm. The Vista installation moved from the old hardware to the new without any problems, and the reload was more a choice than a necessity.

This is also what I have generally done over the years. Once a year at around Christmas time, in addition to my regular backups, I commit all important data to a more permanent media (such as DVD), then I format all my hard drives and re-install the OS and all programs. This I do not to fix the OS, but to remove all the rubbish that I myself have gathered over the previous year.

 

[coolnewyorker]

Psst...Peter,

I have always thought of doing exctly that but I have always wondered how many times can it be done. I have this unsettling feeling that motherboard(whatever she is) gets pissed each time she is so tweaked. There must be a reason why that part of PC has such gender.

 

[Dzomlija]

Psst...Peter,

I have always thought of doing exctly that but I have always wondered how many times can it be done. I have this unsettling feeling that motherboard(whatever she is) gets pissed each time she is so tweaked. There must be a reason why that part of PC has such gender.

The answer is simple:

Computers are like women. Treat them with honor, dignity and respect, and you'll be fine. One false move and you have [INSERT COLORFUL EXPLETIVE HERE] for life!

Back on topic. If you mean reloading Vista, then you can do so as many times as you like, even once a day if you're mad enough.

If you have an OEM Vista, you technically cannot move the installation to another computer, although there are some loopholes (such as hardware failure) that can be exploited.

If you have a retail version of Vista, the EULA says you can move the license to another computer as often as you like, provide that the installation is totally wiped from the previous (older) computer.

Or so I believe...

 

[Magdelaine]

This I do not to fix the OS, but to remove all the rubbish that I myself have gathered over the previous year.

I understand this completely! I can't resist a fresh install...

 

[Magdelaine]

If you have an OEM Vista, you technically cannot move the installation to another computer, although there are some loopholes (such as hardware failure) that can be exploited.

I've heard an OEM version can be transfered to new hardware with a call to Microsoft; but that's only if you have an OEM disk to install with. Transfering an OEM version that comes with a typical pc/laptop (like mine from HP) can be difficult to impossible because of the fact that you get restore disks that reimage the drive rather than just the OS. But I'm hoping I won't have to deal with that issue!

 

[pooch]

If you have an OEM Vista, you technically cannot move the installation to another computer, although there are some loopholes (such as hardware failure) that can be exploited.

I've heard an OEM version can be transfered to new hardware with a call to Microsoft; but that's only if you have an OEM disk to install with. Transfering an OEM version that comes with a typical pc/laptop (like mine from HP) can be difficult to impossible because of the fact that you get restore disks that reimage the drive rather than just the OS. But I'm hoping I won't have to deal with that issue!

True but you could then use any OEM install disk with your key and a phonecall