Re: Aghhh my pc keeps freezing
 

well now you know the error of your ways lol

A repair install may well be all thats needed as you get a whole new explorer which could well be whats causing the problem in the first place

Re: Aghhh my pc keeps freezing
 

Well I hate system restore. It is so pointless, only real use is as an undo button for Windows, and it is so over-used **especially amongst people at previous place of work** where hardware diags, recovery, msconfig, could be more useful. It gives no information about what's different, and if a wanted change is rolled back could cause no end of work. With the infrequency that I would use it on this PC, it would be a hog of x% disk space.

The only things that really could be causing this is software problems, a bad HD or RAM, or a corrupt driver. OP could try updating gfx or chipset drivers but neither is likely to be the cause; a reformat will install kosher drivers, and at the same time freshen the machine up and fix any software problems. RAM has already been eliminated and a bad HD will probably have other symptoms especially as event viewer has been checked.

All points to a reformat though OP could also try safemode and diag startup from Msconfig (remembering to go offline before doing so) to try and point it further.

Re: Aghhh my pc keeps freezing
 

I disagree with the definate need for a format I would go with a repair install first. A system restore could have cured the fault its always worth ago if you have no ghosting software. Switching it off just loses you a chance

Re: Aghhh my pc keeps freezing
 

Depends how much time you've got. 10 mins for a system restore plus up to 40 for a repair install, a reformat could be faster, and is more likely to work.

Re: Aghhh my pc keeps freezing
 

yeah reformat find new drivers and software re installs that all could be avoided if your willing to take a chance. Sometimes problems can be fixed without formats you know anyone would think your on the pcworld helpline. reformat cluck cluck reformat (mimicking the chickens in the "wont keep you a moment" add )

Re: Aghhh my pc keeps freezing
 

I agree (but I don't work on PCW helpline any more, and incidentally some of the users have had PCs for years but don't know where the CD ROM drive or start button is; I kid you not) - without spending a while faffing with various fixes none of which the user is going to appreciate and will take eons to apply, you can often fix a problem faster by reformatting than finding out the real problem and directly fixing it. It is substantially different fixing a PC that is in front of you compared to one that is over the phone, or over the internet when you can't remote desktop in.

[That, and the PCW helpline is a hardware line, where the priority has to maintain the hardware - you can either test first and if they're clear then recover, or the other way round. Remember it takes about five minutes to initiate, and about 15 minutes to run automatically, a hard drive based recovery, but a software fix that is by no means guaranteed is more open ended. If problems persist after a reformat and no additional changes have been made to the S/W build then it is H/W related and can be addressed.]

Re: Aghhh my pc keeps freezing
 

well its upto the op he could waste an hour or save 2 deoending on if a repair works which it does have a fair chance to or he could just go whole hog and format and never know if he could have saved a couple of hours lol

Use a ghosting program in future and take regular back ups saving heaps of time next problem :)

Re: Aghhh my pc keeps freezing
 

Yeah, agreed.

More than one way to approach a problem, it's always a trade off anyway.

Re: Aghhh my pc keeps freezing
 

Got a few ghost images of windows but almost always ends up doing a fresh install. Doesn't make too much diff for me though as at least its a custom built install of Windows using nLite.

PS - with the custom built versions I use I can get rid of all that activation cack as well!

Re: Aghhh my pc keeps freezing
 

Yeah, i'd Ghost, but the only time I tend to reinstall is when I change mainboard anyway.

Re: Aghhh my pc keeps freezing
 

Yeah I'd tend to agree I'd probably do the same, but when you know windows is screwed, i've just that compulsion to do a fresh install and take hours over getting everything updated and up and running perfectly - even ensuring that all unnecessary junk is removed from my windows folder, even thought you know you've got a perfect working copy all ready to go stashed away...

Re: Aghhh my pc keeps freezing
 

Thanx for the replies guys, have been meaning to do a format for a while anyway, just didnt wanna spend the time. :tu:

Re: Aghhh my pc keeps freezing
 

And don't forget, one you've installed, downloaded all updates and installed everything you need, do a full harddrive image (ie use norton ghost)...

Re: Aghhh my pc keeps freezing
 

or partition magic pro :Yes: :tiptoe:

Re: Aghhh my pc keeps freezing
 

Got that, I only use it for manipulating Partitions, didn't think it could be used for creating disc images?