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General => Technical Help => Topic started by: LizzieW on Friday 19 April 13 16:58 BST (UK)
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For a few weeks now, my laptop has started freezing, particularly if I try to view a pdf, but often just on sites that I've used hundreds of times before, like FindMyPast and Ancestry. Yesterday I bought a new car insurance on line and it was suggested that I look at their terms and conditions etc. before I completed the purchase. I clicked on the first pdf file and it promptly froze. I had to turn off the laptop and then turn it on again. Of course when I went back to the insurance co web page, it showed I was out of time, so I had to re-enter everything again. I didn't try to open the pdfs again, just bought the insurance. It's a well known company that I've been insured with before, so I wasn't worried about not having read everything beforehand.
It's just happened again. A rootschatter started a topic called Kirkheaton project www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=644102.new#new with a link to a site about Kirkheaton graveyard in which I was interested. I've tried twice to get to the site suggested and both times as soon as the site came up, my laptop froze. This was not even pdf.
I use Mozilla Firefox so, fortunately, it will restore to anything you were doing before it froze. I unticked the offending site and got back on here without having to re-type everything.
Is it Mozilla that's the problem? We changed our ISP yesterday but it can't be that as I've had this problem for a few weeks now.
Any help gratefully received, I'm getting rather fed up with having to keep turning my laptop off and on again.
Lizzie
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What operating system do you use?
And what version of Adobe Reader?
And what version of Firefox?
I use XP, Adobe Reader X 10.1.6, Firefox 20.0 and I don't appear to be having problems.
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Hi
Adobe Reader X (10.1.6)
Mozilla Firefox 20.0.1
and Vista
I've just downloaded Chrome as people seem to like that, but I can't work out how to put up the toolbars that I like without having to download them all again, i.e. Manchester & Lancs FHS, Roboform, Google toolbar - I know I've loads of them, but that's how I like to be organised.
Lizzie
ps. As I was closing Chrome, it also crashed ::)
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I've got to go out, one of our sons has just rung to ask if I'll babysit for a while, as his son is being "Invested" into Beavers. Good job we weren't doing anything as it's short notice - he used to ask his F.I.L and M.I.L as they live 5 minutes away from him, but she has got dementia (not yet 60) and so they can't babysit now.
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Help, I'm getting desperate now. Has anyone else got any ideas. My laptop has frozen 3 more times, twice last night and once this morning. This morning I had changed my e-mail address on my on-line bank and then logged out again. As soon as the home page of the bank came up, the laptop froze again.
Other times it seems to be if I click on a link from either an e-mail or on a website, such as Roots. It's getting beyond a joke now.
Is my laptop coming to the end of its days? It's about 3 years old, surely not old enough to be giving up the ghost? And the thought of having to transfer everything again to another laptop fills me with dread.
Lizzie
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I'm wondering if it's something to do with the battery. There's a vague memory of reading about this before somewhere. Take the battery out, and see what happens when you use the laptop just using the mains.
(I'll have a google)
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Silvery - I always use the laptop plugged into the mains, should I take the battery out and leave it out? I read somewhere that it should be allowed to run right down, and then be re-charged so I do that occasionally, but as I say, I actually use the laptop plugged in.
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Hi Lizzie :)
I am no expert on the innards of computers or lap tops ;D .... my first lap top (I am on my third) started to freeze all the time, like you was always turning it on and off, until it finally gave up the ghost and it was only about a couple of years old.
A friend of ours reckoned it was caused by over heating, as they noticed when they called in, my lappy was always sitting on the armrest of the chair. Since he suggested I put something under it, like a piece of board to help the air circulate I have had no more trouble with my lap tops freezing.
Mind you, I am not suggesting that is your problem, but just what I experienced. :)
Cheers
KHP
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Hi KHP - I did wonder about overheating, but this morning when it froze, I'd only just turned it on. I have a desk bureau, the type where the front drops down to form a desktop and it sits on there. Feeling the wooden desktop, that is barely warm, although the side of the laptop where the fan is, is quite warm.
As we've had builders in and everything else is full of dust, I wonder whether I should get the vac and just try to suck any dust out from around the fan. I've looked on the user guide and under the heading "What should I do if my computer or software stops responding" it suggests the usual ctrl, alt, delete, but if that doesn't work to turn the computer off in the normal way, but that doesn't work either (as everything is frozen), so the final suggestion is press and hold the power button until it turns off, which is all I can do. Then they suggest remove the AC adapter and battery pack ??? and reinstall the software, but which software? Is it a Mozilla fault, which I can easily uninstall and reinstall, or is it a computer fault?
Lizzie
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Hi Lizzie,
Then hit F8 when you switch it back on, especially when you have to use the off switch button, then go into Safe Mode - I think it is. I don't think it is a Mozilla fault, as I use Mozilla all the time ... the experts on here will know better than me ........ after all I am better for chasing mousies ;D
I will sit here quietly as it is a learning curve :D
Cheers
KHP
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KHP - no it's not Mozilla, I just tried to go to the site about Kirkheaton (see my OP) using IE and it froze again. :'(
Like you I'm waiting for an expert.
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Silvery - I always use the laptop plugged into the mains, should I take the battery out and leave it out? I read somewhere that it should be allowed to run right down, and then be re-charged so I do that occasionally, but as I say, I actually use the laptop plugged in.
Yes, as I said, take the battery out, and use it just plugged into the mains. With no battery in it. And then see what happens.
Is the fan noticeably loud? No harm in dusting it out anyway.
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Silvery - I hadn't noticed that the fan was noticeably loud, I suppose I've got used to it, but my OH was on the 'phone to one of our sons the other day and he asked what the noise was!! I think it must be the fan that's the problem, as listening to it now it does seem to be working hard and whining a bit. ???
I'll get my OH to take the battery out for me - then if it breaks it's his fault - and see what happens. What effect does it have not having a battery in, for instance does it lose the date, time, location - that is UK, GMT times etc.
My OH has just said I need a new laptop as this one is about 5 years old- at least I can copy everything to an external hard drive we have and then copy it on to a new one. I just need to make a note of all the software I've got downloaded as I will have to download them again (at least last time I did, but last time the old laptop (which was actually only a couple of months old, so I got this as a replacement) just stopped working and everything I'd not previously saved disappeared.
Built in obsolescence?
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Just a thought, when I get my new laptop, will I be able to copy everything on this one straight over to the new one rather than having to copy it to an external hard drive and then back again from there?
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Most of the new lap tops, have a Windows Easy Transfer Program which you can transfer things from the old to the new lap top .... but I think you need an extra cable or something to do it and call one the old and new computer. I know I have one of this lappy.
Cheers
KHP
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Thanks - I decided to check on new laptops and guess what - it froze again. It seems whenever I go to a site, even ones I've used before but only occasionally, it freezes. Roots seems to be OK, almost as if the laptop knows it's an old friend
What I'll need to do is copy all the folders I have in my inbox for e-mails I want to keep, to My Documents, then everything else should be OK.
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I've decided to call this topic completed. I've shaken dust out of the laptop and it has worked for a couple of hours, then froze. Now my problem is that all the new laptops are Windows 8.
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Lots of dust in the house because of builders, fan making loud noise, laptop warm underneath, locks up frequently. These are all classic indications of overheating.....
The laptop would need to be stripped down and cleaned out of dust & fluff etc. - particularly around the fan and CPU heatsink. This is an hour of labour for someone who has the skill - local PC shop perhaps, if there is one that you know and trust ? - but don't go near large chain PC store.
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Before you put your laptop into a skip, have you tried blowing the dust out?
Whilst holding the laptop clear of anything easily marked, use what I call 'air duster', (compressed air in a can).
Blow air into the 'air intake' then blow air into the 'air exhaust', if your laptop has a separate graphics card rather than integrated graphics the exhausted air becomes very warm. (Over a certain temperature the computer will switch off, but if just below 'critical temperature' this is when you get noticeable problems.
Brian
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Thank you Brian and greenrig. I'll definitely take your advice and find a local pc shop. Just been to look at new laptops in PC World to check out Windows 8. It seems it isn't compatible with most software - apart from games! I did say that was ridiculous and what was the point of a computer that people couldn't use, then I said I'd wait until so many people complained that Microsoft updated. At which point the guy in the shop said "Yes up to Windows 9, which will be an update of 7!".
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You can still get Windows 7 laptops, there just aren't that many still about. You won't find them in the retail shops but online with companies like ebuyer.com. It's worth a look if you are considering upgrading but probably sooner than later since they'll likely be the last available as the manufactuers are now installing with Windows 8 ... no doubt to keep Microsoft happy. Obviously you have to do more "legwork" looking at what you're going to get spec wise and Windows 7 Home is usually cheaper than Windows 7 Pro, but it's still better than Windows 8.
All I would say about purchasing from an online retailer, is google reviews on them first. I've used ebuyer for years so can vouch for them, but some of the other online retailers aren't the best.
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Thank you for that Smudwhisk, I had wondered about going for a Windows 7 or 7 pro as I saw some for sale on line, but my OH thought it was better to go straight to 8 - but that was before we went to PC World to look at them and try them out. ::)
I'll take a look at ebuyer, it's always useful to know that someone has had a good experience of an online retailer. When I'm buying small items I usually just take a chance and things seem to work out OK, but I wouldn't want to do that for an expensive item.
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To no-one's surprise the guy at PC World was wrong ::) I checked out Legacy, Roboform, Foxit, Irfanview, Skype, QuickTime player etc. and they are all compatible with Windows 8, although I found a site that said that Windows 8.1 is on the way with a start button, as most people don't like not having one. Oddly the one thing that you can't use on Windows 8, is Windows Media Center.
In the meantime, I'm going to find a local PC man/woman to see if my laptop can be fixed.
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Well, I got a a local PC engineer to come to service my laptop. He took the whole thing apart, and cleaned an inordinate amount of dust from the fan and something else near the fan and then cleaned everything else that couldn't be taken out of the laptop. It is now running much cooler, but guess what it froze again.
The problem seems to be if I got to a site and then click on a link to another site. As soon as the 2nd site opens, it freezes. Is the problem Mozilla? Or is it the end of the laptop?
Lizzie
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Did you ever try running it without the battery in it?
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Not since the engineer's been. I'll try that now, but don't understand why it would make a difference. Just realised it's not Mozilla, because the same thing happened when I tried using IE.
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You've done the right thing in getting it cleaned out.
Possibly, the constant overheating that happened before has permanently damaged something in the cooling system, or CPU or other circuitry.
Next time it locks up... are you able to use CTRL-ALT-DEL keys to get to the Windows task manager? Or has the WHOLE PC frozen (not just the browser).
If the whole PC has frozen and it's been cleaned, then, sadly, it may be time to look at a new PC as the repair may not be economically justified.
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greenrig - No the whole PC freezes. Since it started I've never been able to use CTRL-ALT-DEL keys. I'm going to ring the man who cleaned the laptop yesterday to see what he thinks. As you say, it's not worth paying out for more repairs if the laptop is at the end of its life. I've had it since 2008 and do use it a lot, for transcribing, and of course doing family history research. The first problem is that because of the transcribing I do, I need a 17.3" laptop and, of course, they are more expensive than smaller ones. My OH has a PC with a 23" screen but, of course, he uses that quite a lot so it's not available when I need to do the transcribing. The second problem is that unless I find a laptop on line, they are all Windows 8 now, which I think will need quite a steep learning curve.
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I agree - if it's the whole PC that locks up by all means try your PC man again - it's good to have someone who you can TRUST to look at a PC rather than the cowboys.
If it were ME, the next action would be a complete reinstall of Windows (no need to lose any data). This assumes you have the restore/recovery media (could be a DVD or CD, could be on the hard disk in a hidden partition). Ask your PC man for his opinion on this....
If, after that, it still locks up then it's time to say goodbye - and look for a good buy! Good Luck!
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I spoke to the PC guy, he said it could be Windows that's causing the problem He reckoned about £85-90 for the work. That's £55 for him to come to look at it - minimum charge, then charged by quarter hour. He also said the RAM might need changing.
My OH says we've got a CD of Windows Vista as when I first got the laptop we were told to make a copy of it, in case of future problems. If we try to re-install ourselves, how do I not lose all my data, word documents, Legacy, Roboform where I have 100s of passwords stored (slight exaggeration but at least 200 as every website I use has a separate password) etc. etc. I can copy them to a hard disk, but I've done that in the past when my old laptop packed up and it was a pain copying everything back, in that I had to download again, Legacy, Roboform and other software I use.
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One belated word Lizzie, after my experience with this machine; all documented on a much earlier thread I would never ever touch PC World again not even with a 50 foot pole and a clothese peg on my nose!
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Roger - I wouldn't ever get anything from PC world either. The staff don't know anything, I feel sorry for the people who don't use computers very often who go there when they have a problem, because they think it's the only place to go.
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They only sell stuff don't they. I wouldn't think any of them are any good with after sales.
I got my netbook from 'em last December when I was having my laptop fixed (but being fixed by my pc bloke). I got it with fifty quid off because they were more interested in selling tablets and it had been on display and wasn't absolutely pristine. But it was the exact one I wanted.
My first laptop, a medion, had also been on display in Staples, got a massive reduction on it, and lasted ten years. I was sorry to see it go.
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Roger - I wouldn't ever get anything from PC world either. The staff don't know anything, I feel sorry for the people who don't use computers very often who go there when they have a problem, because they think it's the only place to go.
At least they manage to get their vests on with "Tech Guys" on the front, looks good if nothing else!
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I know this is a bit late, but I had exact same problem running Windows 7, Firefox and IE10.
1. I uninstalled IE10 - made my machine go a little slower, but less freezing.
2. I followed this link to make sure Firefox had correct permissions to access machine.
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/configure-windows-firewall-allow-firefox-access#w_configuring-windows-7-firewall
3. and last thing was to re-install Firefox. That fixed it weeks ago and is still working fine.
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/forum-response-clean-reinstall
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Having now bought a new laptop - well my other one was 5 years old - I've now found out that the possible culprit was Foxit PDF reader, which I've now uninstalled from my old laptop and not installed on my new laptop.
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Has this fixed the problem Lizzie? I ask because I use Foxit for its free PDF facilities and it has given be no trouble whatsoever since I installed it on this laptop 3 years ago.
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I don't know Roger, I've not used my old laptop to search other websites. I'll give it a go next week and let you know. For interest, on this new laptop I've installed a pdf reader called Sumatra which is also free and had good reports.
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Thanks Lizzie, I'll bear that in mind if I have any bother with Foxit.Does it allow you to edit and creat PDFs?
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No, it's read only but that's what I want most of the time. I've still got Adobe if I really want to get creative, but I doubt I ever will.
I've got Sumatra pinned to my desktop bar and what I have found useful is that if I click on it, it shows the last few pdf files I've read, so it saves me having to go searching for them to check something.
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Thanks for that Lizzie.