Reboot and press F12 before xp starts to load. Run all the diagnostics tests including RAM, CPU, hard drive, and fan. Memtest86+ (updated version of memtest86) is also a useful memory test.

Since this is a random hang, it could be lots of things. You can open the case and carefully blow out all the dust bunnies with canned air. (A household vacuum cleaner can cause static discharges.)

Run windows system file check:
click start>run
type in: sfc /scannow
(space between sfc and /)
click ok
Insert XP CD if sfc requests it and reboot when it's done.

Ron

I have successfully run SCANNOW, which did require inserting the Windows XP CD. No errors were reported. I have discovered Windows Memory Diagnostic which I understand will test RAM. This program seems to favor creating a floppy disc. Unfortunately my Dimension 3000 lacks a floppy drive. I downloaded the installation file (mtinst.exe) to the desktop. I successfully transferred mtinst.exe to a CD. I restarted selecting (F12) 4. IDE CD-ROM Device but I ended up with a normal restart. What am I missing?

Why mess with all that? Reboot, press F12 before XP starts to load and run Dell's memory tests right from your hard drive.

Ron

For RoHe Regarding the Dell Diagnostics I figured out that on a restart pressing F12 even before the Dell screen appears will get you to a Boot Device Menu. For the sake of other readers note that this menu does not give you a "Dell Diagnostics" option. You can select Item 6. IDE Drive Diagnostics which gives you a test process for your IDE drives. In my case this was the main hard drive. If you choose Boot Device Menu Item 7, which is labeled "Boot to Utility Partition" you will find yourself with a screen labeled "Hardware Diagnostics". This screen gives you four choices. Anyone with a Dimension desktop would do well to get familiar with these options. In my case I ran several tests and found nothing wrong. My problem, "application hangup" could have many causes but according to the Dell Diagnostics the problem is not hardware. I added the program "Ad-Aware SE" from Lavasoft. This programs identifies and quarantines software that has been pumped into your computer from various websites you have visited. I have had a hangup incident in spite of this. However, adding a "spyware" fighter program is worthwhile in any case. Most recently I have deleted and reinstalled the Firefox program. I use Firefox constantly. It is far superior to Internet Explorer. I will report later whether this latest change has done the trick as far as eliminating the "hangup" problem.

With my last post I reported reinstalling Firefox. Since then I have had two hangups. One was with a website. The second and most recent was Excel with no internet involvement. I have had other Excel hangups in the recent past. With hardware apparently ruled out someone suggested reinstalling the operating system (Windows XP Home edition). Does this sound like a logical next step? Should I transfer my post to the software forum?

Open XP Event Viewer. Click Appications. Look for error messages at the time of the crashes. Read each one to see what it says. It may indicate which app or module caused the crash. If there's a link to a MS site, log onto the net and follow the link to see if it offers any solutions.

Also click System in Event Viewer and see if there are any recent error messages that may point you in the right direction.

Scanned for malware lately?

Ron

Event Viewer, Application, reports only the 1001/1002 event combination. I have found hardly any useful information on what might be done to cope with these events.

As for malware I have McAfee as installed by Dell. I see that McAfee offers an extra (SideAdvisor +)for $20 a year. But it says nothing about "malware". Google reports a number of sites with malware related messages.

What is the best way to cope with potential malware?

Doesn't the Event Viewer say what application or module caused the error?

Unless you have the entire McAfee suite, you don't have malware protection. I may be wrong, but last I saw, Dell was only installing VirusScan which only protects agains viruses, but not against spyware and other nasty stuff.

Go to www.lavasoft.com and download free Adaware.
Download free Spybot Search & Destroy from www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html

Run full scans with each of them. Hopefully they'll remove any malware from your system. They both update their scanning files every couple of weeks so be sure to keep them up to date and run scans regularly to keep your system free of harmful stuff.

If either of these reports malware they can't remove, you can get HijackThis (also free) and post your log file in Dell's HijackThis forum for help from the experts over there on removing it. Be sure to read the FAQs at top of that forum's homepage before running HJT and posting the log files.

http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board?board.id=si_hijack

Ron

Message Edited by RoHe on 04-12-2007 10:43 AM

Event Viewer--Application has a "Source" column. Unfortunately in the case of hangup events it reports only "Application Hang".

I had installed and ran Adaware earlier. It quarantine quite a number of files. But I had hangups since that application.

Yesterday, April 12, I went the whole day without a hangup. First time in quite a while.

This morning I installed and ran Spybot. It reported a number of problems and now reports that they are fixed.

I have bookmarked the safer-networking url and Dell forum for future reference. Hopefully I will continue to run without hangups.

Thanks, RoHe, for your help.

Glad things are settling down. Sure sounds like you need a better firewall and better antiviral software. Keep Adaware and Spybot up to date, and run them regularly to find and fix problems.

For Spybot, when you're at the main Spybot screen, be sure to click Immunize button on the left side and then click green + at top of next screen. That will block your system from getting to websites known to be malware.

Then click Tools button in lower lefthand corner of the Spybot screen. Click System Internals on the list that appears along the left and then click Check at top of the screen. That will do a limited scan of your Registry for potential problems and offer to fix them. It's safe..

Then click IE Tweaks and put check in Locks Hosts and Lock Start Page to prevent malware from changing your start page or redirecting you to bad places.

Ron