View Full Version : Netbook crashing issue
Evening All
I'm hoping some of you computer gurus can shed some knowledge, my missus netbook (From pcworld)She wouldn't have anything better because she wanted a white netbook!
Specs - basic
Intel atom processor 1.6ghz i think,
1gb ram,
250gb HDD
Windows 7 starter edition.
It has hardly anything installed at all. MS office, MS security essentials, Malwarebytes IE9 (she won't use anything else) No games/nothing, no itunes, only used for assignments, internet browsing.
Now it is always crashing and locking up when browsing the net, just random times, or loads sites, have to wait like a couple on mins then it will come back to life and unfreeze itself. It's not even a year old! lol
I have use disk clean up, disk defrag, checked for viruses using everything, from avg, avast - (including boot time scans) MSE, all found nothing at all! Used malwarebytes still found nothing. I have checked in the event viewer but nothing at all.
I can't clean install windows because it's not got a disk drive, or have I got the windows disc.
Anyone any suggestions, will be massively award with rep!
thanks tom
Have you checked the CPU usage? I know it's only a year old so that shouldn't be the problem, especially since there's not much running on the machine, but worth a look (just to eliminate that). My old lappy's CPU would max out as soon as I opened IE and would seem frozen, but then work....very slowly.
Have you checked the CPU usage? I know it's only a year old so that shouldn't be the problem, especially since there's not much running on the machine, but worth a look (just to eliminate that). My old lappy's CPU would max out as soon as I opened IE and would seem frozen, but then work....very slowly.
thanks for the reply, +rep for ya troubles, what's the best way to observe cpu usage?
Try chrome, usuallymkuch more efficient, also remove some startup prorams that arent required, then remove anything you dont need from the HDD, programs ec, then use GameBooster to disable unneessary services, saving RAM etc, also if there is a second slot why not add some more ram, one gig is definetly not enough for windows 7 or just change the current one (if there is only one slot) for a 4gb stick
Best way to observe CPU usage is through task manager under the proceses tab
If i had 30mins on this thing i could easily do it no problem but its a lot harder typing
Try chrome, usuallymkuch more efficient, also remove some startup prorams that arent required, then remove anything you dont need from the HDD, programs ec, then use GameBooster to disable unneessary services, saving RAM etc, also if there is a second slot why not add some more ram, one gig is definetly not enough for windows 7 or just change the current one (if there is only one slot) for a 4gb stick
well I have tried chrome and firefox, my bad for not mentioning it, they were both the same, kept crashing etc. my missus will only use IE9 now.
I have just checked the start up programs, only programs that are there are windows programs.
I have no idea how many slot there is available on the netbook, its tiny! But to be honest i will be pretty annoyed if I have to upgrade the ram, due to the fact that there is nothing on it. I shouldn't need to upgrade it, if ya get what I mean.
Thanks for the reply +rep
Well you might have to, what size is it a 7"?
Try gamebooster and you can choose which services you do not want, it alsoremoves programs from startup if you dont need them. Have yu checked drivers etc?
Well you might have to, what size is it a 7"?
Try gamebooster and you can choose which services you do not want, it alsoremoves programs from startup if you dont need them. Have yu checked drivers etc?
its 10.1 inch.
Will look into gamesbooster.
Would like to reinstall windows, but cant lol
If its under 1 yr you could phone for a disc then get an external optical drive or borrow one
thanks for the reply, +rep for ya troubles, what's the best way to observe cpu usage?
As Wozza said, CTRL+Alt+Delete to bring up task manager then look under the 'Performance' tab to see a graph of the cpu usage or 'Processes' tab to see a breakdown of how much cpu each program/service is using (click on the 'Memory' heading to arrange the programs in most to least usage).
thanks gents, got windows task manager open now, with the performance bit open, netbook is doing nothing. lol
Memory used 643mb!
Use gamebooster and it should bring it down a bit, thats not much really considering when mine is idle with no browser or major programs it uses just under 1gb and i always turn off services/ unncessary programs
What happens when you open up a web page, does the cpu spike to 100%?
Couple of things to try.
In system configuration(type msconfig),tick selective startup/click on startup tab/untick everything except antivirus program,
on the services tab,tick "hide all microsoft services"then untick any services you think you dont need.
Also might be worth running ccleaner http://download.cnet.com/ccleaner/ to fix any registry problems.
Failing that,have you an option to restore factory settings from the boot menu.
What happens when you open up a web page, does the cpu spike to 100%?
It does jump to high 70's when loading the pages, thats only from me loading up this site lol, so with loads of pages up, it must be because it can't load it all fast enough.
Couple of things to try.
In system configuration(type msconfig),tick selective startup/click on startup tab/untick everything except antivirus program,
on the services tab,tick "hide all microsoft services"then untick any services you think you dont need.
Also might be worth running ccleaner http://download.cnet.com/ccleaner/ to fix any registry problems.
Failing that,have you an option to restore factory settings from the boot menu.
doing now, thanks dude, plus rep! After clicking hide all windows programs, I stopped all programs that i thought i'd need to run, there was only a few really.
Dealmaster13
08-08-11, 09:34
This isn't of much help, but I just thought I'd share that I had a similar crashing problem with my PCS laptop, that I solved:
http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?8055-System-restore-hangs&p=72304&viewfull=1#post72304
This is a bargain if you are considering replacing ram although the high speed probably wont be compatible with your current stick, will be ok on its own though and you should experience less crashing
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-CMSO4GX3M1A1333C9-DDR3-Laptop-Memory/dp/B002YU83YO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=computers&qid=1312796213&sr=8-1
UndeadJack
08-08-11, 09:49
You should tell her to get off of IE9 as it is for old, stupid people (I keed). But chrome, Firfeox or Opera are much much better to use and look nicer
you an option to restore factory settings from the boot menu.
Vanthus, how does restoring factory settings differ from a re-install? Is it that you don't get all your docs wiped off?
Restoring to factory settings is only an option on certain computers,like some Dell computers for example.
It restores the system to how it was when you bought it,so yes you still lose everything.
You should tell her to get off of IE9 as it is for old, stupid people (I keed). But chrome, Firfeox or Opera are much much better to use and look nicer
It doesn't make a difference which browser is being used, it still locks up and crashes.
You clearly need more available ram, try gamebooster to free up some of your current and if that fails get a 4gb stick and you should no longer have any problems
UndeadJack
08-08-11, 11:31
Restore to factory gives it the bloatware the computer came with. A fresh install is clean.
Restore to factory gives it the bloatware the computer came with. A fresh install is clean.
That's true,but you would only need to use the option (if available) if an OS disc wasn't supplied,which is usually the case,hence the option.
I only mentioned it,because he doesn't have an OS disc,or even an optical drive.
You clearly need more available ram, try gamebooster to free up some of your current and if that fails get a 4gb stick and you should no longer have any problems
I just checked its win7 32bit, I thought ram couldn't be upgraded?
thanks for the replies guys, might have to do a system restore.
Supports up to 4gb, may be worth getting a 4gb stick then :)
Supports up to 4gb, may be worth getting a 4gb stick then :)
yeah it will, have to open the bottom up, and check what size is in there.
I get that upgrading the ram could help, but if she is only checking her mail/facebook it shouldn't really be crashing or locking up for a few seconds.
On average my faebook tab uses at least 300mb compared to an average of 50mb
Have you done gamebooster yet? Definetly worth a try, i freed up 50mb on mine, and tat was after i disabled a lot of thrm myself through control panel etc, so you could end up saving at least 100mb
I think its definetly worth getting a 4gb stick considering its only £20
yeah going to look into the gamesbooster and the 4gb ram,
Shes usein it at the moment so i can't get near it, lol think im going to break it! dunno why she would think that?
Dealmaster13
08-08-11, 13:15
If you have a Windows disk (you could obviously even use Ubuntu), how about partition the hard drive into two parts and install a fresh OS on the newly made partition?
That way, you'll have the new and old OS.
If you have problems with the new OS, then clearly there is a fault with the hardware; not simply that you don't have enough.
I use this sort of method on all of my computers, as imagine one day you do have a problem that doesn't even allow you to use your operating system at all? Having a second OS already in place serves as a nice pseudo-backup tactic.
1gb is not enough to run windows smoothly, although it should be ok on ubuntu, you could try that
Dealmaster13
08-08-11, 13:19
Almost all netbooks come with 1GB of RAM, and run Windows 7 Starter (have a look in PC World for verification).
It is clear that at least Windows 7 Starter was fully designed to run on 1GB of RAM and should therfore not exhibit any minimal-hardware-based crashes whatsoever.
To drive the point home even further, my family's laptop is 7 years old, has 768MB of RAM and runs Windows 7 Ultimate.
Edit: I am not suggesting you should not upgrade RAM for up to £20!
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.1 Copyright © 2013 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.