Need help, computer freezes after 20 seconds

[mikelin83]

Hi guys, wondering if anyone can help me.
Just today my computer started freezing up after loading windows.
It freezes up after about 30 seconds, no matter what I do.

Usually I start the computer and it loads windows to the start up screen, I type in my password, and it loads windows in my user profile.

Just today, after it froze and I restarted (had to power off because control-alt-delete didnt bring up anything), it started the above 'symptoms'.

The mouse icon remains as whatever it was before the 'freeze' takes place, and I can still move the mouse around, but cannot click anything.

No keys work, including when I press ctrl-alt-del.

Sometimes at the start up screen if I am quick to click one of the profiles that does not need password to load, it will start loading windows normally, and freezes again. It appears the freezing takes place 20-30 seconds after windows has loaded.

The only thing I can think of that has changed is that I recently tried to update ZoneAlarm, the firewall that I use. It didn't update properly, and so I deleted it and left it for a while.
Today I tried to install an older version of ZoneAlarm, which was working fine before. Installation froze, and I force quit it. The computer then worked fine until it suddenly ground to a halt, everything froze, and the only thing I could to was to move the mouse with no clicking function.

I have a laptop that runs windows XP. Recently added extra 512mb of ram to it (tried pulling the new chip out to see if it was a bad strip, but same problem still), and had worked better with the extra ram.
Unfortunately I spilt some beer on the keyboard about 6 months ago so the up/down arrow doesn't work (the computer was fine until just about 30 min ago). The up/down arrow not working means I cant select "Start windows in safe mode" after I press F8 during start up.


I've tried to be as detailed as I can, ask if any questions.

Anyone know what to do?

[KDLA]

I suggest you reformat the hard drive. the problem could be attributable to a number of things, from registry errors/corruption (from all the install/uninstall you've been doing lately) or a user profile corruption. I suggest you also scan the disk for errors, to see if there are any bad sectors out there. If there are, that could be a sign that your hard drive is going bad.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315265

KDLA

[mikelin83]

I have scanned the C: drive, it does have some bad sectors but it hasn't increased drastically. I have had this laptop for 3 years and I think it is expected that there are a few bad sectors.

Reformatting the harddrive: I can't get into windows/MS prompt to reformat, also I still have things on my hard disc that I want to keep so that is out of the question at the moment. I just want to be able to run the OS again...

Thanks for reply tho. Anyone else?

[bathurst_guy]

try booting in safemode and then uninstall zone alarm. You can boot into safe mode by pressing F8 during the boot process after the dos screens but before windows starts to load. Then select to boot in safe mode.

[EricG1793]

If you can't even click anything, then probably the best approach would be to get a new hard drive and install it on the computer, install Windows fresh, and then take the old hard drive to a computer professional and have then copy important data on to a CD, and you can load it back on to the new hard drive on your laptop.

That's probably the most data-safe approach. Although probably the hardest and longest... but you'll still have your data. :D

[Sunny G]

If the up/down keys are being funky, then try using an external keyboard to go to Safe mode.

In fact, I had the same trouble when I updated ZoneAlarm free on my family's computer. (Or something similar). It'd boot so far, then go kaput.
It it helps, try using Comodo (http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/). It works just as well (if not better in some regards, that is if you're using ZoneAlarm Free)

As for the bad sectors, (once it all works again) I'm sure you can run "check for errors" and Windows will try to save the data there, and seal the sectors off so they can't be used again. Maybe that'll help?

Anyways, good luck and let us know how it goes.