What causes programs to "not respond"

[Richard Sinkler]

What is the likely cause for programs to "stop responding" on a PC. I have numerous problem an both my desktop running Xp and my laptop running Vista. It happens many times EVERY day. And it is not limited to just one program. On my desktop, it hits with MS Word, Cyberlink DVD Pro (almost every time), Adobe Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Bridge, etc... and even Windows Explorer, and other random programs, even internet browsers. The same is true on my laptop.

If I try to close the "non responsive" programs, they just sit there looking stupid at me and don't close, even using task manager (sometimes when a program is not responding, task manager won't even start up for me to use). I end up having to use the power switch to power off and re-boot (not something I like to do and have been lucky that everything comes back up OK).

This has been going on for a long time and just thought I would troll for info and maybe some help.

[Wiz Feinberg]

It sounds like your computer is failing, or has become corrupted. Below is a list of things you can do to try to improve what time is left on the XP computer.

1. Unplug the power cord, open the case and vacuum out all hair, fur, dirt, feces, etc.
2. Shine a bright light on the motherboard and inspect all electrolytic capacitor cans for evidence of bulging and leaking of fluids.
3. Wiggle the heatsink under the CPU and see if it has become loose on the motherboard.
4. Press all power and signal connectors firmly into their receptacles, both on the main-board and on drives.
5. Ensure that the tower has adequate air flow on all sides, reinstall the side cover and plug in the power cord.
6. Boot into Windows in Safe Mode (tap F8 as she boots) and log into your Windows account.
7. If you have a Windows XP CD, with the current service pack files (SP 3), insert it. Click on Start > Run and type in the following command then press ENTER:
8. SFC /SCANNOW
9. If the PC asks for the location of the Windows files, use the Browse button of the popup dialog box to point it to the optical drive containing the XP disk.
10. When the System File Check has completed, download CCleaner from http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner and install it.
11. Close all browsers and open files, then click on the button to "Run CCleaner." It deletes all temporary files it finds. Let it identify safe cookies and delete the rest.
12. Next, click on the Registry button on CCleaner, uncheck "Unused file extensions" - then click "Scan for issues." Once the scan halts, leave everything checked, then click on the button on the bottom right: "Fix selected issues"
13. Go to "My Computer" and right click on its icon. Choose Properties from the drop-down list. From the Computer Properties, locate the System Restore tab. Move down that page until you find the checkbox for turning on/off System Restore. Turn OFF System Restore and click Apply, then OK.
14. Download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and install and update it, then let it do a Quick Scan for problems. Have it remove all threats it locates.
15. Reboot your computer and see if things have improved.

[Wiz Feinberg]

There is more that needs to be done after all of the above steps have been taken. First, you should close all applications, then go to Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools. > Disk Defragmenter. Click on Defragmenter and select the C drive, then start it defragmenting. It is important that all [programs are closed while you defrag the C drive. Go for beers and watch TV or practice playing for your weekend gig.

When the defragging is completed, schedule a Check-disk scan on the next startup. Do this opening My Computer, then right click on the C drive icon. From the flyout menu, select "Properties." When the C drive Properties box opens, click on the TOOLS tab. Under the TOOLS tab is a section to check the disk for errors ("Error checking"). Click on Check Now.A dialog box will appear with two check-boxes. Select at least the top option to "Automatically fix file system errors" then click Start on that box. Another dialog box opens, telling you that the disk cannot be scanned or locked while in use. It will offer to schedule a disk check upon the next reboot. Allow it do schedule the scan.

Restart the computer as soon as you have scheduled CheckDisk (Start > Shutdown > Retart). Do not touch any keys as the PC reboots, or the disk error check will be canceled.

The deleting of temporary files and obsolete Registry entries, followed by a malware scam, coupled with a disk defrag and ChkDsk scan may help your PC get back a little more liveliness.

Other factors at play include a failing hard drive, failing RAM, leaking motherboard capacitors, a weak power supply, a spambot rootkit, or a bootkit.

[Jack Stoner]

Along with everything Wiz has posted, how much memory do you have in each PC? And, how much free space on the hard drives?

XP, you need bare minimum of 512KB and even with that you won't be able to open many programs at the same time. Vista at least 1GB. Windows uses space on the hard drive for various operations and a low disk space can also cause your problems.

[Richard Sinkler]

On my desktop (Xp Media Center edition), I have the following:

2 Hard Drives
Drive C: 195gb free
Drive F: 303gb Free
3gb RAM

I have replaced the Vista laptop because of a broken display and no problems (yet) on the replacement (Win 7). But here is the info from the old laptop:

1 hard drive and 1 external hard drive
Hard drive : about 2gb free.
USB Hard Drive: More than 500gb free
2gb RAM

[Jack Stoner]

With that, memory and hard drive space would not be an issue.

[Wiz Feinberg]

In order to rule out heat as the culprit, operate your PC with the side cover off for a few hours. If this makes a noticeable difference in your operating experience, heat buildup is causing your lockups. The most likely victim is the RAM modules and hard drives. I have had to replace two year old "Value RAM" (big waste of money) due to heat causing them to become unstable over time. Crucial RAM cost more, but has been stable ever since, for 4 consecutive years.

It is possible that there is a setting in your BIOS to turn on S.M.A.R.T. hard drive monitoring. Do so. This may alert you if one or both of your hard disks is beginning to fail.

[Richard Sinkler]

Thanks guys. I am going to set a day aside this week to go through this procedure.

Wiz. How do you get into the BIOS on a Dell Dimension 9100? Older computers used to display the "press [whatever key] to enter setup", but this Dell gets past that so quickly, you never see it.

[Ray Anderson]

I replaced the memory card in my dimension last week to remedy this problem. Works fine now.

[Wiz Feinberg]

Thanks guys. I am going to set a day aside this week to go through this procedure.

Wiz. How do you get into the BIOS on a Dell Dimension 9100? Older computers used to display the "press [whatever key] to enter setup", but this Dell gets past that so quickly, you never see it.

I believe that you must press F2 at the initial boot screen to enter setup.

[b0b]

Unforeseen conditions cause programs to get stuck in a loop that doesn't have any interaction with the user. The loop could be infinite (no possibility of exit), or simply long enough that the operating system notices the lack of system calls. In either case, the OS reports that the application is not responding.

If the problem loop isn't infinite, the condition can correct itself. Sometimes the loop is polling a piece of faulty hardware and can't get a response. If several programs are running at once, memory can be over-committed. The OS uses disk space as a backup for physical memory. The transfer from disk to RAM and back is slow and tedious, and makes a program appear to be unresponsive.

Increasing RAM, defragmenting the disk, and making sure that you have a large enough disk cache to handle the memory requirements of all open programs - these are the things that you have to be aware of.

The Windows Task Manager is a good viewport into what is actually happening with system memory, the disk cache and processor activity. Right click on the system tray at the bottom of the screen to launch it. Task manager also gives you the capability to kill an unresponsive program. Sounds like you need that.

[Richard Sinkler]

The problem is, I click to start Task Manager, and more times than not, it never comes up. It happens randomly as far as what programs it hits, even get Windows Explorer at times causing me to have to shut down and re-boot. What puzzles me is that was happening on 2 separate computers. When I try to end the program, the program stays open. And, it happens if I only have one program running or 6 programs running.

The worst problem I have is with Cyberlink DVD Pro. On my desktop, it happens EVERY time. I have even re-installed the software. I am not sure where that software came from originally, but it was on both my Dell desk top and Dell Laptop. Maybe part of the Dell included software package or I bought it years ago (it's actually a nice program when it runs). The next biggest offenders are: MS Word 2007, Adobe Bridge, Photoshop, Deamweaver. Google Chrome also has it's moments.

Just last week, I ran Malwarebytes and defragged both hard drives in my desktop. So that shouldn't be an issue.

[Wiz Feinberg]

Richard;
Are you aware of and familiar with the Windows XP in-place reinstall method? This is a Windows setup that reinstalls the operating system, but leaves your data and most existing settings and programs intact. Sometime, a program that relied upon a particular version of a replaced system file will bend or break after a reinstall, but, reinstalling or repairing that program is usually successful.

Google can be your friend, along with the knowledge base on Microsoft for XP users.

[Richard Sinkler]

It is possible that there is a setting in your BIOS to turn on S.M.A.R.T. hard drive monitoring. Do so. This may alert you if one or both of your hard disks is beginning to fail.

I remembered the F2 after I posted my question above. There was nothing similar to SMART hard drive monitoring in the BIOS.

I am not aware of the Install in place option for Xp. I have the install disk that Dell included with the PC. Is this re-install foolproof? I really don't want to have to re-install everything. I will google the error, but my experience in the past has not been very good at finding relevant info (mostly McAfee problems). Or too much generic info that doesn't help much.

[Wiz Feinberg]

Snip
I am not aware of the Install in place option for Xp. I have the install disk that Dell included with the PC. Is this re-install foolproof? I really don't want to have to re-install everything.

Nothing is foolproof these days. The in-place reinstallation is actually a repair installation, where all operating system files are replaced from the CD containing the original setup cabinets. Unless you have a Windows XP CD containing SP 3, it will be rolling you backwards to a previous service pack. This requires numerous visits to Windows Update to get back to the current state of patches.

A repair reinstallation is one step removed from a complete reinstallation of everything.

However, if you use Acronis True Image and have saved older images of your complete C drive to another hard drive, a rollback to a time before the corruption set in may be possible. Ditto for System Restore, if it has old enough restore points listed.

Barring all of the above, you should begin removing as many startup programs and processes as is safe to do. This includes automatic update checkers for various programs.

Also, the question about the state of your PC in regard to Windows updates and patches comes into the forefront. Is the PC fully patched, including all service packs, patches and upgrades from Microsoft?

[Richard Sinkler]

My computer updates frequently with the MS updates. I have to assume since they blast me with several updates pretty much every week, I must be current.

My XP CD is no doubt SP2. I may just live with this for a while and upgrade to Win 7 when I can. It didn't do it a single time today.

[Wiz Feinberg]

It didn't do it a single time today.

Fascinating Captain! Have the computer run a self-diagnostic.

[Niels Andrews]

To minimize computer problems buy an Apple. End of Story.

[Richard Sinkler]

To minimize computer problems buy an Apple. End of Story.

Not even close to being an option.

Wiz... Self Diagnostics? Elaborate. I'm still going to get into the computer and try all the stuff suggested.

[Wiz Feinberg]

To minimize computer problems buy an Apple. End of Story.

Not even close to being an option.

Wiz... Self Diagnostics? Elaborate. I'm still going to get into the computer and try all the stuff suggested.

Just a joke Rich.
Richard: Computer!
Computer: Working
Richard: Computer; run a level 3 self-diagnostic
Computer: Working; please stand by...
Richard: (goes for more beers) .........
Richard: Computer?
Computer:
Richard: Computer; are you still working?
Computer: I am sorry Richard, but my self-diagnostic sub-routine seems to be stuck in an infinite loop due to the convergence of forces beyond my comprehension.
Richard: I see. Then I am going to have to turn you off manually and reboot you.
Computer: I'm sorry Richard, but I can't let you do that.....

[Richard Sinkler]

I figured out the problem. I don't drink at home, so I couldn't go for more beers. I'll have to pick some up tomorrow.

[Jack Stoner]

To minimize computer problems buy an Apple. End of Story

Judging from the number of posts on the gearslutz forum about MAC issues, an Apple is not the panacea you suggest.

[Wiz Feinberg]

I figured out the problem. I don't drink at home, so I couldn't go for more beers. I'll have to pick some up tomorrow.

Follow up on my suggestion to disable some "startup" programs. With CCleaner open this is easy to do. Click on the TOOLS button, then STARTUP. scroll through the list of startup processes and click on various items to highlight them, then click on the Disable button on the right. Reboot and see if the hangups are gone. If so, try enabling those processes one at a time, rebooting after each one. Eventually, you should be able to identify the culprit.

In some cases the cause will turn out to be your anti-virus program. If this is your case, investigate all available settings to see if you can dumb it down a little for behavioral or heuristic scanning in realtime.

[Richard Sinkler]

I thought I had cCleaner, but can't find it. I will get a copy.

I have gone in and disabled some programs in the past from auto starting (like Winamp's resident program to detect when you insert any media that it can play, and other programs), but a lot of the stuff, you really can't tell what it is. Like in Task Manager under processes, half the stuff is too cryptic for the average person to know if you can stop the process or not without screwing something up.

So, now that we know beer should be involved, would it help if I poured a good premium beer onto the mother board?

[Richard Sinkler]

I used to CCleaner the other day and everything seems to be OK, but I haven't really been using the programs that usually stop very much.