One of the projects I have so far managed to put off this summer is writing a book about troubleshooting Microsoft Windows. I have a publisher and a contract and if I'd turn in a first chapter they'd even send me a cheque. Finish the book and I'd collect royalties.
So why haven't I started the book? Probably because of the futility I sometimes feel when troubleshooting my own Windows systems. I've always been able to make things better, but often I can't say for sure what fixed the problem or even what the exact trouble was in the first place.
For most Windows users, fixing their computer's brain is a lot like human psychopharmacology: We know things that can help, but darn if we know how and why they work. Take two paracetamol or a copy of Norton SystemWorks, and call us in the morning.
One example of this is the computer I am working on right now. Recently it started freezing up, for no particular reason, at least no reason I've been able to figure out. I'd be working in an application and the machine would just seize up. I couldn't use the mouse and keyboard. The only way to get control of the computer was to hold down the power button until the machine restarted.
It even froze in the diagnostic Safe Mode, which is supposed to be so safe that in it nothing can bomb the operating system.
Sounds like a hardware problem, doesn't it? Maybe even bad memory.
So how would I recommend readers of my would-be book solve such a problem? Well, since the machine froze sort of randomly, regardless of what I was doing, I doubt the Windows XP help system would have done much good.
I tried the System Restore feature, but for me that didn't help. I rolled the machine back a whole month, just in case any recent software installations were causing the problem, but it kept freezing up.
New in XP, System Restore is supposed to remove all the changes that have been made to your OS and configurations back to a day and time you specify. If your computer is working and immediately after you install something it stops working, System Restore will generally fix the problem. You can find the System Restore option by going to Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools.
Talkback
Actually - Microsoft did produce a little bit of software to 'fix' the registry of corrupt keys etc. HOWEVER...on some machines where I've tried it - it's ended up requiring a complete rebuild afterwards as it's practically destroyed it! :o)
Yes! I've been having the same problem on my win2000 machine - it locks, freezing the screen and keyboard, and I have to power down to clear it. Happens a couple of times a day, and I have NO idea why. Windoctor doesn't fix it.
Yes, I agree with you - why should I have to diagnose their problem? Or take 2 days to clear my machine, and rebuild and configure it again (with no guarantee that that would fix it either).
Another 6 months to the traditional rebuild to overcome the creeping death of windows...
Get over it.
I am absolutely sick of hearing all this dissing of Windows. (no I am not in any way affiliated to MS sales or anything like that)
Any OS can break, I have tried them all. most of the time it is user ignorance that makes it all seem worse than it is.
if you don't like it, don't use it.
if you use it, accept that things happen.
THANKS FOR YOUR COMMENTS, DAVID, I FIND REINSTALLING SOFT WARE A HELP, STILL HAVE WINDOWS 98, STILL HAVE NORTON UTILITIES, AND WINDOCTOR IS VERY USEFUL, I KEEP A FILE ON MOST OF MY ERROR MESSAGES, BUT TO SORT THEM OUT WOULD TAKE TOO LONG, SO RELY ON NORTON TO KEEP PC GOING.
Thank you for the article it was really very informative. But I want to know if I can get the email of This person Ms. Susan ?? As my errors have shown up but i dunno where to go from there...all the comp. techs. keeping asking me to reformat my hard disc which i don't want to as i have a lot of info i'll have to backup & will have to add in all over all my softwares....i have a feeling there's another way out to this !!!
Hello David,
Im facing the same prob with u! I got Win Xp SP2 on Amd Xp 2400+.
My system frozeramdomly (no mouse , no keybaord working) specially when i play dvd or game even idle.
I tryed WinDoctor, Tune up utilities but nothing still.
I changed motherboard and the problem remains.
PLSSS HEEEELLLPPPP!