computer hangs up after idle for an hour

Question

The computer works fine as long as i do not leave it idle for a hour or so....the mouse will move over the start, internet explorer symbol or the outlook express symbol but nothing happens...i have to turn it off with the power button and after it restarts it is fine until i leave it idle for a while, an hour or so...this just started and I have done the following,    restored to a time when i knew it was working properly.... defragged, ran my Norton anti virus, and other spyware and virus programs.....ran Microsoft update...disk cleanup.....chkdsk with fix and repair...the HD (80gb) is only 1/3 full....   does it hurt to turn the computer off with the power button many many times? At this time this is the only way I have to get it going again after a hang up!   dimension 8400 with 1gb memory windows xp norton internet security suite spyware doctor   Thanks Scott

RoHe · Answer

If this is a USB mouse, open Device Manager and expand list under USB. Double-click each root hub, one at a time, and click Power Management tab. Uncheck the box "allow pc to turn off this device...". Make this change for all root hubs.

Is the PC set to go into Hibernation or Standby? Those don't always work well on desktops and were designed primarily for laptops to conserve battery power. You may want to turn those off and just set XP to power down the hard drive and monitor after a certain length of time.

Do you have the latest BIOS version on the 8400? Version A08 has some improvements for S3 resume timing which impacts power management and probably wake-up out of hibernation/standby.

Ron

RoHe · Answer

If this just started a few days ago, did you install any new software or hardware?
You could run a system file check to see if any XP files are corrupted or you could run a System Restore to date when you know it was ok.

System file check:
Click start>run
Type in: sfc /scannow
(space between sfc and /)
Click ok
sfc will replace any missing/damaged XP system files. Insert the XP CD if sfc requests it. Reboot when it's finished.

System Restore:
Click start>help & support
Click "undo changes..."
Follow the prompts and pick the latest date when you know it was OK. If you do a System Restore, you'll have to reinstall any XP updates and other software that was originally installed after the Restore date, but your personal files won't be affected.

Ron

scott76633 · Answer

No I do not have it set to hibernate or standby....I will do what you recommend....it just started doing this a couple days ago.....if I let it set idle for about an hour it just hangs up and I have to use the power button to shut it down & start it up again....this cannot be good for the computer....I set a screen saver to run after 5 minutes hoping that some activity would keep it live but still hangs up???????

Thanks for the reply......

Scott

scott76633 · Answer

Hi Ron,

Thanks for the reply.....I did what you suggested and picked up the latest BIOS for the 8400 along with the other suggestions USB mouse.....still hanging up......

I have restored back to where i know it was working properly and also have ran the sfc /scannow ...still hanging up after letting it idle for a while....it works just fine as long as I am using it..... it is just when it sits idle for a while.....

the only thing i can figure and I am not that all computer savy is... I live in Central Texas and my wife reminded me that we had a pretty violent lightning storm a few days ago......of course she got up and unplugged the computer and I do have some rather expensive lightning arrestors so maybe that has something to do with it......a couple years ago I got hit and it fried the computer...I guess it is time to take it to the shop......does it hurt to keep on shutting down the computer with the power switch?????

thanks again for the reply....

Scott

mccarthy001 · Answer

Scott, There are software solutions to making the computer think it is 'busy'.  The 'hard kill' of using the power button isn't adviseable, but it's actually a setting in the BIOS.  (In other words, you can have the computer do something other than power recycle when you press and hold the power button.) Try googling 'software avoid idle' and things like that.

scott76633 · Answer

thanks for the reply Bunny...I will see what i can find out with google... Scott

tommyo1954 · Answer

Message Edited by tommyo1954 on 08-07-200601:21 PM

RoHe · Answer

I wonder if some app starts running in the background when the system is idle for a while and then hangs. Maybe an antiviral scan (NORTON?!?) or Windows Indexing Service, etc. You can turn off Indexing Service by start>run>services.msc and setting Indexing Service's properties to 'disabled'.

You might want to boot up, turn off Norton or whatever antiviral app you have and then see if it hangs after being idle. Obviously don't go on line until you reactivate the antiviral software. You also might want to turn off your screen saver and see if the PC is frozen when you come back an hour later.

Also, go into BIOS setup and make sure the power saver functions are set correctly now that you've flashed to A08.

In Display control panel>Screen Saver tab, my 8400 is set for screen saver after 10 min and power off HD and monitor after 20 min. It always wakes up when I move the mouse or press a key. When I click Power button on that page, it's set to Home/Office Desk, and System Standby is set to Never.

You can change function of PC's On/Off button in Display control panel. On Screen Saver tab, click Power button, then click Advanced tab. The options for the power button are at the bottom of that screen. On Hibernation tab, "enable hibernation" is not checked on my system.

Ron

scott76633 · Answer

Thanks for the help.....

I only used the screen saver for a couple hours to see if maybe a little actvity might keep it from freezing up but that did not work and I very seldom use a screen saver anymore so i turned that off, I already have the indexing service turned off

the only apps running at startup and I checked msconfig is spyware doctor, which has been doing an excellent job for over a year now, norton internet security, which i have used for several years with zero problems, 'ccapp' which is some part of norton and 'ctfmon' I do not know what that does....should I turn that off? one other app is 'X1' but I only let it index after I have loaded a bunch of music or pictures...I don't think it ever runs unless I ask it to? It does not run at startup.....

I am not sure about what you want me to do with the BIOS.....I did update it yesterday and flashed to A08 as you suggested....I am not sure how to check the power saver functions in BIOS setup so I am afraid to do that without a little more input from you please. I can tell you have a lot of computer experience so I am trustng you all the way and I do appreciate your help.....

What i did last night is interesting.....I left Internet Explorer open all night and so far all night and today it has not frozen once .....does that mean anything to you? the tower is a little confined so I am gona move it out of its place and clan it up inside and see if maybe it is over heating as someone suggested.

Sorry for the long response and it want happen again but i just want to thank everyone for your help...any more ideas i would appreaciate.....

Scott

mccarthy001 · Answer

Scott, I'm actually pretty convinced that your problem is a matter of Windows settings.  This is more conceivable given the fact that IE kept up and running held off the problem.  I'll bet the Web page to which you had it sitting on all night issues web page update like every 10 minutes or so, like many news sites do for instance.

RoHe · Answer

AH-HAH!!!, now we're getting somewhere!
X1.exe
Added by the Troj/SdBot-S worm. When started, this infection will connect to a remote IRC server and wait for commands to execute.
File Location:%System%
Startup Type: This startup entry is started automatically from a Run, RunOnce, RunServices, or RunServicesOnce entry in the registry.

ctfmon
Part of Windows speech and handwriting recognition (Office XP), unless it's somewhere on your PC other than in C:\windows\system32 folder. Then it's spyware! I also see some posts on the net about the real Microsoft ctfmon causing system freezes. Instructions to turn off legit ctfmon are here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;326526

You need to run Spybot Search and Destroy and Adaware (both free) ASAP.. If they can't rid your system of the malware, you need to get HijackThis (free) and post the entire HJT log on Dell's Special Interest-HiJack This forum for the experts over there to help you clean the system.

To look at power settings in BIOS, press F2 before XP starts to load. Click power management.
(http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim8400/SM/syssetup.htm#wp1052361)

Low Power Mode
When Low Power Mode is selected, remote wakeup events no longer power up from Hibernate or Off.
(mine is set to off)

Remote Wake Up
This option allows the computer to power up when a NIC or Remote Wakeup-capable modem receives a wake up signal.
On is the default setting. On w/Boot to NIC allows the computer to attempt to boot from a network prior to using the boot sequence.
NOTE: Normally, the system can be powered up remotely from suspend mode, hibernate mode, or when powered off. When Low Power Mode (in the Power Management menu) is enabled, the computer can only be powered up remotely from Suspend.
(mine is set to off)

Suspend Mode
The options are S1, a suspend state where the computer is running in a low-power mode, and S3, a standby state where the power is reduced or turned off for most components, however, system memory remains active.
(mine is set to S3)

Ron

Message Edited by RoHe on 03-24-2006 05:16 PM

tommyo1954 · Answer

http://www.ewido.net/en/   Scott, the Ewido free scanner is great too. I actually have all three installed here (Spybot, Adaware S.E.; and Ewido).   Guess you can't be too over-protected now-a-days....  Hope you get it all straightened out...   Tommy

tommyo1954 · Answer

Message Edited by tommyo1954 on 08-07-200601:20 PM

scott76633 · Answer

Thanks...the 'X1' I am referring to is a desktop search indexing service but I only run after I download a bunch of photos or music.......I have run spybot, ad-aware, xoftspy, avg (free edition), microsoft anti spyware, bulletproof, and norton internet security.......of course they all find a little something or the other but does not fix my problem...I run these programs often......I am gona try hijack this and send the results to them as you suggested.....

i removed the tower from its place and you would not believe the dust I blew off from inside!!! I just cleaned it about 3 or 4 months ago.....it may have been over heating???????? I could not feel any heat though...

I am gona remove 'CTFMON' and hopefully that fixes it ...thanks to startup cop pro it will be easy....this is by far the best little utility on my computer.

thanks for the suggestion and I have everything set as you do on the power mode......... ....You have very patient with me and very helpful!

Scott

scott76633 · Answer

Thanks Tommy....

I have downloaded 'Ewido' and scanned my computer....it works just fine...thanks for all your help and suggestions...I don't think you can be over protected either....I use 'norton internet security' and 'spy doctor' at startup but still some spyware and other stuff gets thru so I use all the others from time to time....

scott

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computer hangs up after idle for an hour

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