My computer randomly freezes up...help!

[Rig]

And no, it's unrelated to porn. ;)

I'm not even sure how long it's been, but usually at least once per night my PC will freeze up. I cannot push anything, no mouse control, and no Ctrl-Alt-Del action either. I have to hold the power button in to shut it down. It seems to do it mainly at night. I usually turn my PC on around 9:00 AM and shut it down between 2:00 and 3:00 AM on most days.

I recently installed a wireless Internet PCI card, but these freezes were happening before I installed it. That's the only hardware I've recently installed.

I have McAfee fully updated and in use, Spybot, Ad-Aware, Spywareblaster, and Spy Sweeper all in full effect, and they never find anything.

I'm totally at a loss. I ran a log of hijackthis, and here's what it came up with:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 11:08:37 PM, on 10/6/2006
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)
Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\LEXBCES.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\LEXPPS.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Browser Mouse\Browser Mouse\1.1\MOUSE32A.EXE
C:\Program Files\Network Associates\Common Framework\UpdaterUI.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\UpdateService\issch.exe
C:\Program Files\Network Associates\VirusScan\SHSTAT.EXE
C:\Program Files\Webroot\Spy Sweeper\SpySweeperUI.exe
C:\Program Files\CyberLink\PowerDVD\PDVDServ.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Media Connect 2\WMCCFG.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\AIM\aim.exe
C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\msnmsgr.exe
C:\Program Files\WallpaperToy\Wallpapertoy.Exe
C:\Program Files\Cisco Systems\VPN Client\cvpnd.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Network Associates\Common Framework\FrameworkService.exe
C:\Program Files\Network Associates\VirusScan\mcshield.exe
C:\Program Files\Network Associates\VirusScan\vstskmgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Detto\Pre-Empt\qfloadsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\tcpsvcs.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\snmp.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Webroot\Spy Sweeper\SpySweeper.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wwSecure.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Program Files\Webroot\Spy Sweeper\SSU.EXE
C:\DOCUME~1\Greg\LOCALS~1\Temp\Rar$EX03.281\Hijack This.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://www.ivnet.com
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://google.com
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://google.com
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.cheapassgamer.com/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://www.ivnet.com
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://google.com
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://google.com
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.ivnet.com
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = about:blank
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch = about:blank
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,(Default) = about:blank
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page = about:blank
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page = about:blank
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Window Title = Provided by IV Net
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: PCTools Site Guard - {5C8B2A36-3DB1-42A4-A3CB-D426709BBFEB} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYWAR~1\tools\iesdsg.dll (file missing)
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {656EC4B7-072B-4698-B504-2A414C1F0037} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O2 - BHO: FlashFXP Helper for Internet Explorer - {E5A1691B-D188-4419-AD02-90002030B8EE} - C:\PROGRA~1\FlashFXP\IEFlash.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LWBMOUSE] "C:\Program Files\Browser Mouse\Browser Mouse\1.1\MOUSE32A.EXE"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [McAfeeUpdaterUI] "C:\Program Files\Network Associates\Common Framework\UpdaterUI.exe" /StartedFromRunKey
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ISUSPM Startup] "C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\INSTAL~1\UPDATE~1\ISUSPM.exe" -startup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ISUSScheduler] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\UpdateService\issch.exe" -start
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ShStatEXE] "C:\Program Files\Network Associates\VirusScan\SHSTAT.EXE" /STANDALONE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Pre-Empt User Interface] "C:\Program Files\Detto\Pre-Empt\qfui.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SpySweeper] "C:\Program Files\Webroot\Spy Sweeper\SpySweeperUI.exe" /startintray
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RemoteControl] "C:\Program Files\CyberLink\PowerDVD\PDVDServ.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Windows Media Connect 2] "C:\Program Files\Windows Media Connect 2\WMCCFG.exe" /StartQuiet
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Microsoft Works Update Detection] c:\Program Files\Microsoft Works\WkDetect.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Spyware Doctor] "C:\Program Files\Spyware Doctor\swdoctor.exe" /Q
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [AIM] "C:\Program Files\AIM\aim.exe" -cnetwait.odl
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [msnmsgr] "C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\msnmsgr.exe" /background
O4 - Startup: Wallpaper Changer.lnk = C:\Program Files\WallpaperToy\Wallpapertoy.Exe
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Reader Speed Launch.lnk = C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\reader_sl.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Cisco Systems VPN Client.lnk = C:\Program Files\Cisco Systems\VPN Client\vpngui.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Google Search - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmsearch.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Translate English Word - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmwordtrans.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Add to Windows &Live Favorites - http://favorites.live.com/quickadd.aspx
O8 - Extra context menu item: Backward Links - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmbacklinks.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Cached Snapshot of Page - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmcache.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O8 - Extra context menu item: Similar Pages - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmsimilar.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Translate Page into English - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmtrans.html
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: AIM - {AC9E2541-2814-11d5-BC6D-00B0D0A1DE45} - C:\Program Files\AIM\aim.exe
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {CD67F990-D8E9-11d2-98FE-00C0F0318AFE} - (no file)
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O14 - IERESET.INF: START_PAGE_URL=http://www.emachines.com
O16 - DPF: ActiveGS.cab - http://www.virtualapple.com/activegs.cab
O16 - DPF: {00B71CFB-6864-4346-A978-C0A14556272C} (Checkers Class) - http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary/msgrchkr.cab31267.cab
O16 - DPF: {0E5F0222-96B9-11D3-8997-00104BD12D94} (PCPitstop Utility) - http://www.pcpitstop.com/pcpitstop/PCPitStop.CAB
O16 - DPF: {17492023-C23A-453E-A040-C7C580BBF700} (Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool) - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=39204
O16 - DPF: {2AF5BD25-90C5-4EEC-88C5-B44DC2905D8B} (DownloadManager Control) - http://dlmanager.akamaitools.com.edgesuite.net/dlmanager/versions/activex/dlm-activex-2.0.5.1.cab
O16 - DPF: {4F1E5B1A-2A80-42CA-8532-2D05CB959537} (MSN Photo Upload Tool) - http://spaces.msn.com//PhotoUpload/MsnPUpld.cab
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/wuweb_site.cab?1121562128145
O16 - DPF: {6E32070A-766D-4EE6-879C-DC1FA91D2FC3} (MUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/muweb_site.cab?1130115864484
O16 - DPF: {8E0D4DE5-3180-4024-A327-4DFAD1796A8D} (MessengerStatsClient Class) - http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary/MessengerStatsClient.cab31267.cab
O16 - DPF: {B38870E4-7ECB-40DA-8C6A-595F0A5519FF} (MsnMessengerSetupDownloadControl Class) - http://messenger.msn.com/download/MsnMessengerSetupDownloader.cab
O16 - DPF: {CAFEEFAC-0015-0000-0004-ABCDEFFEDCBA} (Java Plug-in) -
O16 - DPF: {CAFEEFAC-0015-0000-0005-ABCDEFFEDCBA} (Java Plug-in) -
O16 - DPF: {D0B5B58D-8CB9-4EDB-8BB0-9D34AEF727CF} -
O16 - DPF: {F04A8AE2-A59D-11D2-8792-00C04F8EF29D} (Hotmail Attachments Control) - http://by104fd.bay104.hotmail.msn.com/activex/HMAtchmt.ocx
O18 - Protocol: livecall - {828030A1-22C1-4009-854F-8E305202313F} - C:\PROGRA~1\MSNMES~1\MSGRAP~1.DLL
O18 - Protocol: ms-help - {314111C7-A502-11D2-BBCA-00C04F8EC294} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Help\hxds.dll
O18 - Protocol: msnim - {828030A1-22C1-4009-854F-8E305202313F} - C:\PROGRA~1\MSNMES~1\MSGRAP~1.DLL
O20 - Winlogon Notify: igfxcui - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\igfxsrvc.dll
O20 - Winlogon Notify: WgaLogon - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WgaLogon.dll
O20 - Winlogon Notify: WRNotifier - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WRLogonNTF.dll
O21 - SSODL: WPDShServiceObj - {AAA288BA-9A4C-45B0-95D7-94D524869DB5} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\WPDShServiceObj.dll
O23 - Service: Cisco Systems, Inc. VPN Service (CVPND) - Cisco Systems, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Cisco Systems\VPN Client\cvpnd.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\11\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: LexBce Server (LexBceS) - Lexmark International, Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\LEXBCES.EXE
O23 - Service: McAfee Framework Service (McAfeeFramework) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Network Associates\Common Framework\FrameworkService.exe" /ServiceStart (file missing)
O23 - Service: Network Associates McShield (McShield) - Network Associates, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Network Associates\VirusScan\mcshield.exe
O23 - Service: Network Associates Task Manager (McTaskManager) - Network Associates, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Network Associates\VirusScan\vstskmgr.exe
O23 - Service: SQL Server (SQLEXPRESS) (MSSQL$SQLEXPRESS) - Unknown owner - c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Binn\sqlservr.exe" -sSQLEXPRESS (file missing)
O23 - Service: Intel NCS NetService (NetSvc) - Intel(R) Corporation - c:\Program Files\Intel\NCS\Sync\NetSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Pml Driver HPZ12 - HP - C:\WINDOWS\System32\HPZipm12.exe
O23 - Service: Pre-Empt (qfcoresvc) - PivX Solutions, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Detto\Pre-Empt\qfloadsvc.exe
O23 - Service: Webroot Spy Sweeper Engine (WebrootSpySweeperService) - Webroot Software, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Webroot\Spy Sweeper\SpySweeper.exe
O23 - Service: Washer Security Access (wwSecSvc) - Webroot Software, Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\wwSecure.exe

That's an insane amount of stuff...does any of it look like it needs to be removed? I still see things (like Pre-Empt) that are no longer on my PC. Why are those still there? :/ Thanks for anything you can come up with.

(Oh, and the the PC is a little more than three years old, if that matters.)

[evilmax17]

Get rid of everything that you KNOW shouldn't be there.

Then google every other process.

[Rig]

Get rid of everything that you KNOW shouldn't be there.

Then google every other process.

Well, that's the thing...I really don't know what needs to be gone. Some of those look kinda strange. Am I safe to delete the ones like Pre-Empt that are no longer used on my PC? And those that say IVnet are odd. That was the name of the dial-up ISP from back home. All of my Internet windows end in: - Provided by IV Net and I've always wanted to get rid of those.

[magikman]

Actually, I had the same thing going on. Very random, but becoming more prevalent over time. I ended up putting a software temperature monitor on called Speed Fan (http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php). I noticed the CPU was running too hot, so I bought a new Heatsink/Fan and some thermal paste from NewEgg. The system is running much cooler now, and it hasn't locked up since. BTW, I am running an AMD Athlon 2800+, and was using the stock retail fan up until the change.

[RegalSin2020]

I have a computer that freezes up lying around the place. This might just be the problem but even when I turn on the computer it freeze up at the startup or after awhile just by being on. I was told this might be a memory problem since no matter what Hard Drive I use the computer just freeze up.

[PawnTakesKing]

I've said it time and time again, but...

Get a Mac.

[CappyCobra]

I've said it time and time again, but...

Get a Mac.
We didn't hear you last time because your head was shoved up your smug ass. j/k:lol:

OP, Crack open the case and look for dust clogging the vents and powersupply. Also see if the fans are running or rattling. Could also be that your CPU needs to have the thermal paste reapplied.

[Rig]

We didn't hear you last time because your head was shoved up your smug ass. j/k:lol:

OP, Crack open the case and look for dust clogging the vents and powersupply. Also see if the fans are running or rattling. Could also be that your CPU needs to have the thermal paste reapplied.

This was my next plan of action, mainly because when I installed that wireless card there was a big collection of dust in there. :(

[paz9x]

im ealing with some system issues currently.
if youre using passive cooling for the cpu id highly suggest changing.
id bet its heat related although you have a huge amount of stuff listed.
does your cpu run above 75% often. thatd do it as well.

[Kayden]

I'd agree with the cleaning statement, that should be done every few months. My old PC was locking up randomly and when I opened it up, everything looked ok, but then I opened up the PSU and the fan was seized.

RegalSin- I'd say memory is a safe bet. Try running it with one stick (if you have two).

Pawn.... Shove it. :-P

[Rig]

Well, it froze up again. I turned it off and back on, and signed into XP, but then the computer restarted itself. :S Signed in again and it had a message saying it recovered from a critical error. So, I'm checking the temperature and checking the fan. Ugh.

EDIT: Well, after downloading SpeedFan, it seems my HDD's temperature has been flucuating:

44C, 46C, 48C, 46C, 50C, 53C, 50C, 49C is how it's went in the last twenty minutes or so. Isn't 50C potentially bad for it? I thought 30-40C was the sweet spot?

And it seems my fan is staying at a constant 29RPM...too low?

[CokeCola]

It kind of depends on the processor, but yeah, 53C is pretty hot. 3+ Ghz Prescotts (like mine) have an operating temperature around 50, but a fan would still be welcome.
And it seems my fan is staying at a constant 29RPM...too low?
Unless you meant 2900RPM... it's running a little slow.

If it's only freezing at night when you're not actually using it, you can probably assume it's your scanners that are heating things up. As long as they never find anything and you're confident that they won't in the future, I'd disable them until you get a cooling solution.