PC crashes every time I use it

[The Archangel]

My PC hanges and/or crashes EVERY time I use it. I'm using Windows 98. After about 10 minutes use mainly on the internet but it happens at other times too, the windows will break up or the screen freezes or hangs and the only way to proceed is to switch off at the mains to re boot (even the mouse doesnt work). When I think I've got away with it and have had a succsessful time on the internet I shut down and then it wont go off but just hangs at the 'windows is now shutting down' screen and again I have to switch off at the mains. When I switch on, before it boots up Nortons jumps in and I get 'Error on hard disc 1, an extended partition is invalid, the following files have allocation erors \Windows\internet~1\tvdebug.log' " do you want to correct thse errors" I then go through Nortons rigmerole to 'uncrash' it, but hey ho, another 10 minutes and it does it again. This is SO frustrating. PLEASE can any one help me. Is this an easy problem for me to fix or will I have to get an expert in. My computer literacy is about I supose is a little below average

[Dark Nova]

Ok, first try booting it in safe mode to see if it crashs. try an anti-virus (avg and avast are free on the internet) and anti-spyware (spybot is free on the internet).

[TwoRails]

Sounds like you may have more than one problem. tvdebug.log is a Zone Alarm log file, and can (and does) often gets corrupted with improper shutdowns in Win 98.x. It is a file you can safely delete, but you may have to go into Safe Mode to do so. "Norton" is pretty generic... which Norton programs do you have running at startup? Also, what have you done so far? Like have you run a full antivirus scan? A Scandisk? Surface scan? etc...

[jayb1234]

Two things to check. Dust buildup in the case and loose CPU heatsink. IF it's dusty, blow it out with canned air. If it's a loose heatsink, you need to figure out why it is loose, and get it reseated properly. Reapply thermal paste or thermal pad if you have to remove it. Also unplug everything attached to the computer from the wall and hold the front power button in for several seconds to discharge any residual charge before you touch anything in the case. Watch out for static. use a wriststrap or touch a metal part of the case before touching the internal components. That also applies to blowing out the dust.

[glc]

It could be faulty ram or a failing hard drive. Both can be diagnosed with free utilities - memtest86+ and a diag from the hard drive manufacturer.

How about some system details?

[The Archangel]

Hey guys, thanks for the suggestions so far. I have AVG which runs at boot up, antivirus was the first thing I sorted. I've also done all the spyware (Spybot etc.) checks which come up clean. I cant run the scandisk accessory coz I start it running, come back to the computer after a time and a dialgue box says that scandisc restarted 20 times (whatever), because a programme was trying to write to the disc or some such wording - even in safe mode where I understand not many programmes apart from essential ones run, I cant think of any other prog to try to close.

System info: Windows 98, second edt., 248MB of ram,AMD athlon(tm) processor.

Thinking about it, I did upgrade ZoneAlarm a few weeks ago, it could have been from then that all the trouble started. Would it be worth uninstalling it to get rid of tvdebug.log and reinstalling it. I read somwhere that somone tried to delete that file and the computer wouldnt let him for some reasong but if I uninstalled and reinstalled do you think that would do the trick??

Thanks for all your suggestions guys.

[The Archangel]

Its Nortons disk doctor that runs on boot up.

[The Archangel]

Hey - response to TwoRails. I just found tvdebug.log and it wont let me delete. The message I get is Access is Denied. Even when off the internet and I disable ZoneAlarm. Shall I uninstall it and download it again. And yes it did crash between reading your last answers and typing this!!!!!!!!!

[glc]

I would uninstall both Zone Alarm and anything Norton on there and see what happens.

Done any diags yet?

[The Archangel]

GLC - I will uninstall/reinstall ZoneAlarm and let you know how I get on tomorrw. The trouble with Nortons is its an old version and I dont really want to uninstall it especially as its that programme that is repairing all the damage

[glc]

I did not say REINSTALL Zone Alarm. You need to see if removal fixes the problem, reinstalling will prove nothing.

Suit yourself, but Norton System Works is a major source of instability with Win9x. It's just getting in your way, of course there will be corruption when Zone Alarm crashes, but plain old Scandisk from DOS will clean that up.

[The Archangel]

if I uninstall Zonealarm do you know of another firewall that is as good. I didnt know Nortons was unstable on 98, I will uninstall that and see how I get on

[The Archangel]

would dissabling Zonealarm be a good enough test or will that not do the trick. If I dissable it and it doesnt crash I could uninstall it then. I'm frightened of leaving my computer unprotected

[TwoRails]

What you are trying to do is diagnose the problem. Uninstalling ZA is just a step in the process. Don't be online when doing this, but you need to do such things to figure out what's wrong. Norton is not well like 'round here, but I use it. I never had a problem with it running on Win 98, but then I also did Not install a lot of the included applets and components.

Have you tried going into Safe Mode to delete the tvbug file?

[The Archangel]

ITS ZONE ALARM! - I booted in safe mode and deleted the tvdebug file like you said, only to find when I booted normally Zonealarm was recreating it (I did this three times). I took the risk of disabling ZA and did 5 mins trawling the internet and collecting emails from Outlook. I shut down and not only did it (for the first time in weeks) close down properly but it took literally way less than half the normall time to do it. I was well pleased. I re booted and took it a stage further and trawled the internet for ages, well over an hour this time with ZA enabled but I disabled it just before I shut down and again it switched off like a dream. Obviously its ZA to blame. I cant remember to disable ZA every time though so I must find another firewall, preferably free like ZA (if you know of one please let me know) but if I have to pay it will be worth it. Thanks for your help. If I get any more problems I will post them soon.Cheers!

[TwoRails]

Glad it's working for you. I may have missed it above, but which version of ZA were you running? Just a suggestion, but you could try version 6 and see how you like it. It's easy to install and uninstall.

[The Archangel]

hey bud - i opened ZA to try to find out what version I had for you, discovered there was a ZA user forum similar to this one. After a few minutes in the general section I discovered there were four posts with EXACTLEY the same problems that I've been posting on here for the past few days, but to date there have been no official ZA solutions. I've learned a bit more about the way firewalls work because in reading them they talk about programmes which are slow to open and printing which takes a lot longer to load and print than before, problems which I too have got but didnt think of connecting them with the same problem. Since disabling what I am begining to think is the biggest load of rubbish on my PC, most programmes and applications are running SO MUCH FASTER, its like a different machine. I'm going to register on their forum when I get the time to add my experiences to the list and wait for somebody to answer.

[glc]

Try version 4.5. It's old, but stable and not as intrusive as the newer versions.

ftp://ftp.bbscomp.com/pub/zlsSetup_45_594_000.exe

[TwoRails]

Thanks for the tip, The Archangel: I didn't know they had a forum. I might have to check it out...

[The Archangel]

hey guys - thanks a lot for all your help. I'm downloading ZA 4.5 now. The ZA forum is interesting but not as good as this one.
The coments are in the 'General' section and to date NO advise seems to be posted on a solution