Windos 98 Freezing

[Kierkegaard]

Lately I have been having a problem with windows 98 freezing up and cant figure out what might be causing it. One thing I have noticed happening before the computer freezes or crashes is that my icons act strange. For example an icon that represents a .jpeg file will change to one that should represent a .txt file. And in extreme cases all the icons are wrong. The files will still open if I click on them, but invariably windows will freeze or crash.

I do have norton crashguard 3.0 running and when windows crashes I press ctrl alt delete and the pop up window displays the running applications. What I get in this window is Explorer (Not Responding) and "Program Manager"

I think the problem maybe something to do with "Program Manager" I don't really understand what this is though.

Does anyone have any ideas? Or can I provide some more information that may lead to the resolution of this weird problem,

Thanks.

[reboot]

Uninstall Norton Crashmenowandoften.
A good running system does not crash, and putting on a piece of software that supposedly stops crashing, is like putting a bandaid on a broken leg.
Get rid of Norton, and fix the REAL problem(s), and you won't have any more crashes.

[Cricket]

Other things you can do is scan for viruses, spyware, malware and trojans.

Limit the amount of background programs running on your computer.

Clean out you temp folders.

Make sure your computer isn't overheating. Run the system with the case open and if the problems go away, you need to improve your case cooling.

Cricket

[mike breck]

What Norton product do you have: Utilities or System Works. What version number?

How long have you had this installation of Windows on the PC - one, two, three years, more? With Windows98, it's a good idea to do a fresh install of Windows every one-two years, as it can really get bogged down debris. A clean install makes it run fast and lean.

I disagree with Reboot (sorry Jim - here we go again) about getting rid of either suite entirely, as there are a few useful programs contained in either e.g. WinDoctor, Disk Doctor, Speed Disk, Disk Optimisation etc.

When did you last run Disk Doctor and Speed Disk?

However, I do agree with Reboot about disabling Crashguard as every Crash Prevention program I've seen tested causes more crashes than it prevents.

The secret for a happy life with Norton suites and Win98 is not to have ANY of the programs (apart from Norton Anti-Virus) set to run when Windows starts. Just untick every other program in the Norton Options section so they don't start automatically.

When you want or need to use a program like Speed Disk, then just start the program from the Start menu.

This reduces the amount of programs running in the background which frees resources and reduces the possiblity of software conflicts.

Remember, the only programs you need to have running in the background all the time are Explorer, Systray, and Anti-Virus.

Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to see what other third-party programs are running.

As I've said, you can stop all the other Norton programs from running by disabling the "Start when Windows starts" in the Norton Options section.

Any other programs, including Windows utilities, can be prevented from running at Start Up by going to Start Menu>Run and typing MSCONFIG.

Go to the Startup tab and uncheck everything else you don't "need" running when Windows starts.

See if that helps your problem first.

[GaryRouth]

I'd type a reply, but I'm hypnotized by my computer's Bios [K's sig ] . . .

I'm kinda interested if our Nordic philosopher actually has the 16-bit version of Program Manager showing up in the Task List. Is that where you saw it running Kierkegaard? . . . that almost sounds like a leftover from a program that didn't finish installing.

Now snap your fingers three times so I can awaken from my trance.
. . . Gary

[... although the icon stuff sounds like a virus ]

[Kierkegaard]

Hi all thanks for your responses. I have read through your suggestions and have tried to act on them where appropriate.

First off three finger clicks for the beneift of Gary ... ... ...

I have Norton Utilities Version 3. I only have CrashGuard running in the background and the three other items you mentioned. I got rid of anything else that was running from advice I recieved on this forum before. I have had Norton CrashGuard since I got my computer, so It's not CrashGuard that is causing these curretn problems. But to check It I have tried running the system without CrashGuard. This didn't help.

Program Manager does not show up in the Task List when the system is running normally, only when it freezes and I press ctrl+alt+del. I don't know how to check if it is the 16 bit version that is showing.

Recently I removed my virus software (AVG) and replaced it with another (Command Anti-Virus) and haven't noticed the problem occuring, so maybe it was AVG that was causing it. I have done a virus scan with a latest update on Command Anti-Virus and nothing showed up so I don't think it is a Virus related problem.

I noticed in CrashGuard there is an option to "Enable 16 bit protection" which I have always had switched on. I don't think I run any 16 bit programs so I might try using CrashGuard now with this option off.

[GaryRouth]

K - Thanks for letting us know how it came out (I'm always curious to hear the end of a story)

Glad it's Ok for now. I've never used Norton Utilities myself - was Windows 98 the original OS for version 3? (or might it be an older Win 3.1/Win 95 program?) Maybe it just couldn't get along with an updated scan engine of AVG, but doesn't conflict with Command?

I'll stay tuned in case there's another exciting episode. And anyone out there also have Norton Utilities 3 and AVG co-existing?
. . . Gary

[. . . and sometimes I lapse into daydreams even without the aid of my trusty computer's Bios! ]