PC Freezing and ctrl alt del not working etc..........

Question

I have Vista on Inspiron 530 desktop. The PC is OK for about an hour then internet gets very slow, finally freezing. When I press ctrl alt del I get message 'Logon process has failed to create the security options dialog' and below this 'Failure - security options' . The only way out of this is to turn off the electricity to the pc. Even if I don't get this error, I am seldom able to 'shut down' the computer. I sometimes get the 'logging off' message which changes to 'shutting down' but even after waiting ages, it does not usually shut down so I just have to switch it off.   I have scanned thoroughly for viruses but have not found any and have virus and firewall programs running at all times.   Any help or ideas would be gratefully received

kkillgasmm · Answer

This seems very similar to the problem with my 530s ! http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=vista&message.id=51164&jump=true#M51164

m_a_rem · Answer

try to do a system restore to a date when u remember the computer was actually working fine..
simpler option to find out if its something that u installed is causing this .

do reply as to wht happened , thanks!

m_a_rem · Answer

a couple of points :
u did not mention if the computer locks up even when u r not connected to the internet . try removing the network cable and then use the computer to see if it locks up even without the internet .

another thing that u can try is this diagnostic step:

boot to safe mode with networking

use the internet for abt an hr so ..until the point or further when u had expected the computer to lock up in normal mode..

if u find everything normal in safe mode than its a problem with any application that is actually running in normal mode and not safe mode:

to check these :

clik start

in the start search box - type msconfig - clik on the result that comes up on the top - system configuration utility window opens up :

check startup tab

look for those applications which actually access the internet ... e.g : itunes , real player updater , java updater , microsoft office updater , google toolbar ( if u have installed ) , roxio updater , limewire , any other programs that might have got something to do with cnnecting to the internet - biecause most of these arent required to run actuallay as soon sa the computer starts - disable them and restart the computer .. ( u can disable them in normal mode or in safe mode - do it in safe mode -0 my suggestion )

look for recurrence of the issue ..

do reply if u noticed anything , thanks!

Hydralisk00222 · Answer

try running performance and reliability monitor and see what errors pile up when this happens   a simple search on google points to a possible hardware failure

wendykf · Answer

Many thanks for your help. I think you were on the right lines with starting up in safe mode - things seemed to work OK when I did this. I tried removing a few programs but did not get to the bottom of the problem so took the bull by the horns and did a reformat and restore to factory settings. This seems to have solved all the problems. I think in future if I get a new machine, I will not use transfer wizards to take stuff from the old to the new computer. Rather do what I have done now and copy files I need and reload just those programs I need. Thanks again for taking the time to give me suggestions W

Windows General

PC Freezing and ctrl alt del not working etc..........

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