Laptop freezes all the time

Hi,

I just got a laptop from my uncle (the laptop is pretty old, but other than the freezing problem I will talk about now, the laptop is in good condition, and we just re-installed windows).

The problem is, the screen randomly freezes, which is over when I shake the laptop a bit. This is very annoying, because it happens every 5 seconds.

Does anyone know how to fix this? I think it's a hardware problem, because even the mouse freezes at the same time.

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Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/Nibgames

Re-seat your memory. It sounds like it is loose.

Thanks, I'll try that, I'll keep you informed.

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Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/Nibgames

Are you sure the laptop isn't an Etch-A-Sketch? be sure to check the sides for a brand-name logo

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Blog: www.playingarchitecture.net
LinkedIn: Eric Lancon
Twitter:@Riven202

mmm unseated RAM would cause more blatant issues, like sometimes the computer not posting, or getting blue screens.

What are the specs on the computer. What operating system are you running? If its a Pentium 3 with 128mb of RAM id say that would be your problem right there. 5+ year old hardware wasn't designed to run a modern day operating system (Even XP SP3 way too much for that).

But if its not that old, freezing could be due to a bad driver, bad RAM, bad hard drive.

Next time you have the computer up and running right click on the My Computer and go to manage. Check the windows log for any errors. Most errors can be ignored, but look for disk errors, memory faults.

Next to test the hardware you may need to bring it to professionals. But I know us forum people are too good to bring it to geek squad/firedog, but they have the tools to test these things. But for home use I can give you a few suggestions.

Hiren's Boot CD:

http://www.hirensbootcd.net/

Download it and burn it to a CD (on another computer preferably).

Next boot to the CD (much like you would a windows XP CD), Go to testing tools, and select PC Doctor 2004; From there run a hard drive test. If it comes back with any bad sectors then there is your answer, you need a new hard drive. Take it to your local computer shop and have them clone your failing drive to a new one.

Next if your hard drive passed all of its tests then look at RAM, reboot the computer and boot to hiren's boot CD again. This time go to testing tools, and select memory tests and run a memtest 2.26+ (I forget the version), let it do a few passes, if you get any red, well you have bad RAM.

Try updating drivers, every driver even printer ones. Sometimes an outdated / corrupt driver can cause issues like this. You can download them from the manufacture's web site.

If your still having the issue, then its the operating system. I know you said you reinstalled the OS, but are you installing it from a recovery partition? The recovery partition could be corrupt, reinstall from fresh media (aka: CDs / DVDs with windows on it), then download the latest drivers from the internet and go from there.

BTW I do this for my job while I pay for school. I know what im doing ;P

The fact that it resumes after you shake the laptop points to a physical (hardware) problem and suggests that it's not related to software (drivers, operating system etc). From that information alone I would say that it's likely your hard drive because it contains moving parts. I don't see how shaking the laptop could fix a problem that is related to ram or any other part of the computer.

It's also worth noting that you're not getting the blue screen so you could knock off a few possible issues right there.

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Aaron's Stuff

I tried reseating the memory and the hard drive, but no result.

It doesn't matter anymore actually. I have another (better) laptop where the inverter is broken, but I found the same inverter on the internet, so I'm about to buy one of those and replace it with the broken one.

@omegaslayer: If I can't get a new inverter for the other laptop, I'll definitely try this.

Thanks alot everyone!

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Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/Nibgames

blue screens only get caused by vga cards or memory, so its not the memory or vga module then. Have you got any friends who are good with disasembling pcs etc.?

It might be nice to take it apart, perhaps something has come loose on the inside, a cable most likely.

My friend used to have a faulty IDE flat cable in his desktop pc, he had to shake his pc to get it to boot sometimes :P.

Laptops are a bit sketchy to disasemble though with the cable under the keyboard and all, so if you're plannign on doing it yourself i'd check the manufatuers website for instructions on how to open it / remove the keyboard (cable attached to bottom of it so need to be cautious)

: hirens boot disk will probarbly come up with 0 results on this one since if an actuall hardware item is broken, the problem would be more persisten / not fixed with a shake.
But it might still be nice to run it to check everything since the scans are pretty speedy.
and please please, read the info on the screen verry carefully on this boot disk, you dont want to end up low level formatting ur hdd or something ^^

i think it's cableing that mgiht have come loose. but i'm not too pro with laptops mate sorry, if only u had a proper pc :P then i coudl seriously help you.

Some additional hitns that might help you if you can't open your pc to check if everythings connected properly:

• Shake the laptop gently, do you hear any sounds on the inside? somethign rattling or clicking perhaps, might be an idication something has come loose.

• I'd not bet on it being your OS so dont bother reinstalling untill you've triend all other options.

freezes are generally (in my experience) caused mostly by:

-fauly ide/sata cables

• broken hard drives
• broken mainboards
• registry problems (try scanning your pc with cccleaner if you can get into windows long enough)

Now i'd rule out the latter 3 due to the descriptions of the problems, the first you'd need the check in the laptop itself.
If its not that, hirensboot disk can help you to rule out the other 3.

The ram thing..

I have a HP laptop.. I recently had an issue just like his.. I was told to re-seat the memory, and that fixed it. 2 weeks later the laptop video died, it was still under warranty, and HP sent me a empty box, I boxed it up and sent it back out with the driver ( FEDEX ) That was on Monday, Friday I had my laptop back and it worked great. Best damn tech Service out there.. oh and it my Laptop.. you cant mistake mine for any other unit... trust me.