Computer Freezing (Neither Mouse Nor Ctrl-Alt-Del Work) Yet No Critical Event Log or Memory Dump

Azaz129

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May 30, 2017
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Over the past two weeks, every other day my computer is freezing, neither moving the mouse nor pressing ctrl-alt-del does anything. I've installed Malware Bytes on top of Norton and even after removing a few bits of malware, the problem continues.

The freeze occurs when I try to upload a photo to a site such as facebook, as soon as the upload folder pops up, the entire computer freezes and the only way to correct the issue is a hard reboot. I've looked through the events log and find nothing relating to the time of the freeze, no memory dump is being created making me think the computer isn't treating this as a crash. I'm not sure what to think at this point quite frankly.
 
Solution
If you have Norton already installed and you already ran scans with MBAM, then I am pretty sure that you don't have a virus.

The computer freeze symptoms that you described can be related to an overload either on your memory or CPU. It might help if you could post your specs, motherboard, CPU processor, memory ram, etc. Your problem could be a number of things like having to many startup items and services running in the System Configuration that are overloading your CPU to where it will just freeze. Even some programs that you have installed could be eating up your memory and CPU usage. The simplest way to monitor the problem would be to keep your task manager/processes tab opened and then just do what you normally do like Facebook...

RALPH50

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May 29, 2017
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Sounds like a browser problem, probably Adobe Flash plugin container or something. Before going on Facebook, open your Task Manager and keep the processes window opened. Then go to Facebook and scroll around and see if the flash plugins start. They try to upload a pic and see what happens. I am assuming your using Firefox. This usually never happens with Internet Explorer. For Firefox, it's best to not use Adobe Flash at all. Too many problems.
 

Bee_Dee_3_Dee

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Have you tried CCleaner?

Or have you manually cleaned-up Temp files and folders?


 

Azaz129

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I am using Firefox (wouldn't shock me if it was the issue..), however, the flash plugin container doesn't start when I open the image uploader. As far as reproducibility, the strange part is this isn't a one for one, open facebook - computer crashes. Instead, it's every other day (I upload 1 image per day to a facebook page).

@Bee_Dee_3_Dee

I've had CCleaner for years, wiped the temporary files and cache a week ago and noticed no results related to this particular issue, unfortunately.
 

Bee_Dee_3_Dee

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cool. had to start there.

Next, i just noticed that u said "...installed Malware Bytes on top of Norton". Do u mean, Malware Bytes, on top of Norton Antivirus?





 

Azaz129

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May 30, 2017
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I use Norton for antivirus protection and installed the premium trial version of Malware Bytes for malware scanning when I figured it was a malware problem.
 

Bee_Dee_3_Dee

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i'm not comfortable saying that it is safe to run both at the same time let alone having both installed at the same time. If ur prob description and symptoms seem remain unchanged, then it might appear to not have any effect when in fact if isn't an exact science and can't be used as a way to confirm it is ok. GID or testimony from THG users would be more advisable. What i have always advised is to have AV software installed but don't run or scan constantly in the background. And never install more than one. (I have "COMODO Cleaning Essentials" installed but never run it other than occasionally manually updating the Virus definitions and checking to see it works. i think that because it has an additional scanner u can manually run at Boot Time, is a main insentive for choosing it over several other free AV programs.)

Try uninstalling both along with saving all settings for ur browser and uninstalling and re-installing browser and do it in such a way as to restore browser settings. (Note: no matter which browser u use, thousands of ppl google all the time "how to uninstall my [Name] Browser and save all settings". There's endless ways and utilities but be careful of utilities and use a step by step protocol instead.)

And "chkdsk" is a very good start too for Computer Freezing. Use it but only to check for errors. Don't fix them until u know they exist. Because if problems exist a Full Backup of all data and OS settings is always advised due to the actual result of fixing damaged files is a big lottery. Checking if disk errors exist is always a good idea whenever strange symptoms occur.

And realize that RAM can also be at fault and may need to be cleared. If a PC acts funny i always "restart" or "shutdown" to be more precise: Realize that restarting a PC may not fully clear RAM. Whereby shutting down a PC for at least 50 to 60 seconds will clear the RAM. So shutdown is for 50 sec is a better option.

And running a utility to check RAM can always be advised.

GL

 

RALPH50

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May 29, 2017
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If you have Norton already installed and you already ran scans with MBAM, then I am pretty sure that you don't have a virus.

The computer freeze symptoms that you described can be related to an overload either on your memory or CPU. It might help if you could post your specs, motherboard, CPU processor, memory ram, etc. Your problem could be a number of things like having to many startup items and services running in the System Configuration that are overloading your CPU to where it will just freeze. Even some programs that you have installed could be eating up your memory and CPU usage. The simplest way to monitor the problem would be to keep your task manager/processes tab opened and then just do what you normally do like Facebook and stuff, but occasionally check it, especially by clicking on the CPU column and see what the percentages are. That's also why I mentioned before the Flash player plugins for Firefox. When they run, they eat up a lot of CPU usage to where the PC will get stuck and freeze.

P.S> If your memory or CPU gets overloaded again and you get stuck and the PC freezes, it would be better to just wait a few minutes to see if the CPU can resolve itself. That is also why I think you're not getting any errors in the event viewer, because overloading is not an error. Your PC just can't handle everything that's being thrown at it. Either you have an old PC with old hardware or you have good PC hardware that is just being overloaded with too much stuff.
 
Solution