Programs "Not Responding" - HELP!!!

I'm using Vista Home Premium SP1 and in almost all my apps I gave a "xxxx not
responding". I have to wait a minute or two before the white screen allows
me to continue.

Can anybody HELP me before I throw my laptop out the window or throw
Microsoft VISTA out the door????
--
Thanks

Joe

Harleymon wrote:

> I'm using Vista Home Premium SP1 and in almost all my apps I gave a "xxxx
> not
> responding". I have to wait a minute or two before the white screen
> allows me to continue.
>
> Can anybody HELP me before I throw my laptop out the window or throw
> Microsoft VISTA out the door????

I'm sympathetic with your frustration but you haven't given us anything to
work with. All you've told us is "it's broken" and that's not enough to do
focused troubleshooting.

The First Question Of Troubleshooting: what changed between the time things
worked and the time they didn't?

The Second Question of Windows Troubleshooting: what is the malware/virus
status of the machine? If you think it is clean, what programs (and
versions) did you use to determine this?

Be sure the computer is clean:
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/...moving_Malware

If this is a sudden change, you can try a System Restore to when things
worked. To run System Restore, go to the Start Orb and in the Start Search
box type "System Restore" without the quotes. System Restore will appear in
the Programs result. Click on it, allow the UAC prompt, and follow the
wizard.

These links will show you what details to include in your next post so you
can get the help you want:

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Usenet
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375 - How to Ask a Question

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
Don't Panic!

Malke

As ever I admire your targeting the problem.

My only comment is that, using Vista, I have tried a number of times to use
System Restore. About 75% of the occasions, it refuses to restore. I don't
understand why thiss should be so. Do you have any general advice on this
subject?

"Malke" wrote:

> Harleymon wrote:
>
> > I'm using Vista Home Premium SP1 and in almost all my apps I gave a "xxxx
> > not
> > responding". I have to wait a minute or two before the white screen
> > allows me to continue.
> >
> > Can anybody HELP me before I throw my laptop out the window or throw
> > Microsoft VISTA out the door????
>
> I'm sympathetic with your frustration but you haven't given us anything to
> work with. All you've told us is "it's broken" and that's not enough to do
> focused troubleshooting.
>
> The First Question Of Troubleshooting: what changed between the time things
> worked and the time they didn't?
>
> The Second Question of Windows Troubleshooting: what is the malware/virus
> status of the machine? If you think it is clean, what programs (and
> versions) did you use to determine this?
>
> Be sure the computer is clean:
> http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/...moving_Malware
>
> If this is a sudden change, you can try a System Restore to when things
> worked. To run System Restore, go to the Start Orb and in the Start Search
> box type "System Restore" without the quotes. System Restore will appear in
> the Programs result. Click on it, allow the UAC prompt, and follow the
> wizard.
>
> These links will show you what details to include in your next post so you
> can get the help you want:
>
> http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Usenet
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375 - How to Ask a Question
>
> Malke
> --
> MS-MVP
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> Don't Panic!
>

Tony UK wrote:

> Malke
>
> As ever I admire your targeting the problem.
>
> My only comment is that, using Vista, I have tried a number of times to
> use System Restore. About 75% of the occasions, it refuses to restore. I
> don't understand why thiss should be so. Do you have any general advice on
> this subject?

I'd look on MVP Bert Kinney's site to see if anything there is applicable to
your situation.

MVP Bert Kinney on System Restore - http://bertk.mvps.org/html/vista.html

Problems caused by Symantec - http://bertk.mvps.org/html/symantecdoc1.html

System Restore - Error Messages in Vista -
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/eerrormsgsv.html

Missing Restore Points/Shadow Copies in Windows Vista -
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/missingrpv.html

Or if you have a Gateway - Can't use System Restore with Gateway Computer
(Jill Zoeller, MS) - Go to System in Control Panel and open the System
Protection tab. Do you see a drive called "Missing"? Selecting C:\ and
deselecting "Missing" will allow the system to take restore points
normally. Note that you will not have any restore points to restore to
until a new restore point is made.

Or you could post in the System Restore forum on AumHA:
http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=54

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
Don't Panic!

Thanks Malke. I have read through the links.

I suspect the likeliest cause is Norton Internet Security 2007. The only
reason I like that edition (and they did issue a Vista version) is because,
in accessing a website that carries advertisements flashing all over the
place, NIS 2007 add-on pack has a web advert blocker that is reasonably
efficient. I suspect they were "persuaded" to not include it in the 2008
edition.

I have also checked through your website which has much of interest to me.

"Malke" wrote:

> Tony UK wrote:
>
> > Malke
> >
> > As ever I admire your targeting the problem.
> >
> > My only comment is that, using Vista, I have tried a number of times to
> > use System Restore. About 75% of the occasions, it refuses to restore. I
> > don't understand why thiss should be so. Do you have any general advice on
> > this subject?
>
> I'd look on MVP Bert Kinney's site to see if anything there is applicable to
> your situation.
>
> MVP Bert Kinney on System Restore - http://bertk.mvps.org/html/vista.html
>
> Problems caused by Symantec - http://bertk.mvps.org/html/symantecdoc1.html
>
> System Restore - Error Messages in Vista -
> http://bertk.mvps.org/html/eerrormsgsv.html
>
> Missing Restore Points/Shadow Copies in Windows Vista -
> http://bertk.mvps.org/html/missingrpv.html
>
> Or if you have a Gateway - Can't use System Restore with Gateway Computer
> (Jill Zoeller, MS) - Go to System in Control Panel and open the System
> Protection tab. Do you see a drive called "Missing"? Selecting C:\ and
> deselecting "Missing" will allow the system to take restore points
> normally. Note that you will not have any restore points to restore to
> until a new restore point is made.
>
> Or you could post in the System Restore forum on AumHA:
> http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=54
>
> Malke
> --
> MS-MVP
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> Don't Panic!
>