The Scenario: Copying from some of a stack of CDs, or sometimes encountering a file that has been partially copied and canceled halfway through for whatever reason. In either case the problem appears when the offending file/files are merely selected.
The Symptom: A sudden freezing of the mouse and all other observable processes on the computer (drive accessing ceases). After about 10 seconds mouse control resumes, only to cease again within 2-3 seconds; other processes do not revive. Powering off the computer is the only way to revive.
Additional Information: When reproducing the incident with the task manager active the explorer.exe task consumes 99% of CPU capacity, and by using the 2-3 second gap before total death the offending task can be killed (usually). This will seemingly revive the computer, but the problem will resurface shortly afterward even though every window is set to run using a different task.
I have run every applicable Norton tool from WinDoctor to AntiVirus, and I have updated Windows with every recommended patch available. I am running Windows XP Professional… I don’t know what else to include.
The Question: What is causing this? How do I make it stop? Why is there no error message instead of the “Blarg, I die!” reaction?
Have you attempted the same procedures with Norton Antivirus disabled or uninstalled? (Antivirus programs are notorious with interfering with the processes of other programs; my personal experience with Norton is that it interferes less than its major competitors, but other people have claimed the opposite.) My first thought in mysterious freezes is to always disable the antivirus software.
That said, what other programs do you have running in the background? If you have any type of disk tools programs going, I’d disable those, too. Check your Start | Programs | Startup folder for a list of programs that may be starting up when your system boots.
Warning: do not delete anything from the registry unless you know what you’re doing! This includes making a backup first!
You can also check hidden startup items by looking at your registry:
1.) Click on “Start”
2.) Click on “Run”
3.) Type “regedit” in the command line.
4.) Expand HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
5.) Expand Software
6.) Expand Microsoft
7.) Expand Windows
8.) Expand CurrentVersion
9.) Click on Run
In there you’ll find programs that will start up when your system boots. You can delete these values from the registry, but be careful if you do. If you’re not sure what each value is, make sure you ask someone who does know before you delete it.
An excellent suggestion; disabling Norton Anti-Virus Auto-Protect did the trick! I would have thought that the Norton task would have manifested the symptoms instead, but live and learn. Alas, this is one idiosyncrasy I can’t blame on Gates (or can I?).
I’ve had some experience with Norton and other AV products doing this. It’s particularly clear when you’re trying to access large zip files and the scanner is set to investigate compressed files - it’ll try to decompress the whole thing and scan every file it contains. Most of the time these virus scanners like to run on a privileged (system) account at high priority - hence the locking up of the machine while it does its work.
My current workplace has their virus scanners set to maximum paranoia. If you hit a web page with a java applet on it the whole machine siezes up for anything between three and ten minutes. It can be very annoying.