System Hangs

Category: Quickies

Q:

My system with a P4 processor and 1 Gig of RAM hangs quite often. I run Task Manager and it shows 100% of CPU use each time it hangs. This usually happens when opening or downloading PPS files. I'm running Kaspersky anti-virus and firewall.



A:

Often these mysteries are caused by a fight between your anti-virus or firewall, and some other running task. In geeky terms, it's known as a "race condition", which can be thought of as two programs running neck-and-neck, each trying to beat the other to a solution (or into submission). Every step by one program triggers a defensive action by the other, and vice versa, ad nauseum, et cetera, film at 11.

I suggest you replace your current anti-virus and firewall software
and see if the problem goes away. I recommend Computer Associates eTrust Antivirus, which you can download and use free for one year.


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Posted by Bob Rankin on October 5, 2005 02:36 PM


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Related Keywords: Quickies   hang   system hangs   crash   virus   anti-virus   firewall   race condition  

Most recent comments on "System Hangs"

Posted by:
Greg
15 Dec 2005

I had a problem like that before and what I did to fix it was task tamer and it is a free program.


Posted by:
pradeep
14 May 2007

I am using win 98, when I open two or more files my system either hangs or restart, I am using 128 MB ram, sometimes when I copy or paste system hangs or when I give a print command my system hangs. Please help me.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Sounds like it's time for a reformat.


Posted by:
phuzzy3d
28 Jul 2007

The only reason my computer ever crashes is due to this. It has been happening a little less lately but it is truly annoying. My system is pretty beefy so i can't imagine it being a performance issue.


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