# Help with computer freezing **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 3, 2001, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-computer-freezing/91327 "2001-11-03T17:53:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MIKE\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@MIKE\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MIKE_P)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2001, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-computer-freezing/91327/1 "2001-11-03T17:53:17Z")
Well,I installed Optimum online but for some reason it keeps freezing my computer. I know the cable modem is involved because whenever I plug it into my computer,it freezes every 2-5 minutes. I can’t access the ctl+alt+del panel either,I have to unplug and plug in the computer. The modem is a Motorola Surfboard SB4100 Cable Modem. I have a 1.1 GHz AMD Athlon with 128mb memory. It has Windows ME installed.(I know,but ME came with it) I have plenty of Disk space left,so thats not the problem. I use AOL on Optimum Online because the rest of my family can’t use anything else. Can anyone help me? ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2001, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-computer-freezing/91327/2 "2001-11-04T02:11:41Z")
Do you have enough fans? Heat usually causes this but it could be other things. ---
**Author:** ![SoulFrost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f07891/32.png) [@SoulFrost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoulFrost)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2001, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-computer-freezing/91327/3 "2001-11-04T02:48:21Z")
Are you using the new AOL 7.0? I’ve heard a horror-story or two about it overwriting network adapters, which may explain at least part of the problem. Try reinstalling the drivers and network adapters for your cable setup…might help. Good luck, David ---
**Author:** ![MIKE\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@MIKE\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MIKE_P)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2001, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-computer-freezing/91327/4 "2001-11-04T03:46:46Z")
SoulFrost: Yes I’m using AOL 7.0,but I dont have a network adaptor,I’m using the USB port on my computer. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2001, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-computer-freezing/91327/5 "2001-11-04T14:57:06Z")
Look around in System Properties to make sure there aren’t any '!'s on any of your stuff. Also, try some of the AOL newsgroups, & ask there, there are a lot of em. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2001, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-computer-freezing/91327/6 "2001-11-04T18:07:43Z")
Have you installed a new driver for your video card without removing the old one? Apparently this is in Microsoft FAQ’s; solution they suggest: format hard drive. I wish I had more info, but I only know this because my mate had the same problem and that was the advice given to me by a guy who builds computers. He also tells me that if you have 512Mb of RAM and Windows 98 and ME (I think it was those two OS’), your computer is fooled into thinking you’ve only really got 1Mb! So what do Microsoft say about this in their FAQs? ‘Remove the extra RAM’. …Genius. ---
**Author:** ![BoiToi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d26b3c/32.png) [@BoiToi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoiToi)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2001, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-computer-freezing/91327/7 "2001-11-04T18:19:39Z")
From what you’ve said so far, it sounds like all devices are external? So you didn’t add any new adapters internally? I’m going to assume that you have some knowledge with installing stuff so tell me if I get ahead of you. Check your System/Properties in the control panel as **handy** suggested. In the network section also check to see if you have any existing network adapters, like built-in ethernet and IEEE1394/firewire network adapters. You can use their Properties panel to disable them without removing them from the system. Your AOL software may be trying to bind to some of these adapters, locking up the network functions which can cause the system to hang. ---
**Author:** ![MIKE\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@MIKE\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MIKE_P)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2001, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-computer-freezing/91327/8 "2001-11-07T19:22:08Z")
I tried disabling all the network adapters,but when the cable modem is plugged in,it freezes. Also,the screen gets kind of wavy when the modem is plugged in. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2001, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-computer-freezing/91327/9 "2001-11-07T22:56:59Z")
If you have ME, you can reinstall it on top. Thats what I might try, as it keeps all your old applications, don’t do this if you only have a Me restore disk though. ---
**Author:** ![MIKE\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@MIKE\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MIKE_P)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2001, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-computer-freezing/91327/10 "2001-11-07T23:00:37Z")
I only have the Compaq quick restore disk which restores it to factory specs. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Gazoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@The\_Great\_Gazoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Gazoo)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2001, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-computer-freezing/91327/11 "2001-11-07T23:05:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fiendish Astronaut \* > \*\*Have you installed a new driver for your video card without removing the old one? > > Apparently this is in Microsoft FAQ’s; solution they suggest: format hard drive. > > I wish I had more info, but I only know this because my mate had the same problem and that was the advice given to me by a guy who builds computers. > > He also tells me that if you have 512Mb of RAM and Windows 98 and ME (I think it was those two OS’), your computer is fooled into thinking you’ve only really got 1Mb! > > So what do Microsoft say about this in their FAQs? > > ‘Remove the extra RAM’. > …Genius. \*\* Wait, let me get this straight… Microsoft’s solutions from their FAQ are: 1. Format your hard drive 2. Remove the extra RAM MS FAQs are pretty useless, apparently. What do they charge for a phone call these days? Not that tech support is much help - if you can get through, they are likely to get their answer from the FAQs.