Vista freezing during downloading.

[Jigoku]

I've been having this issue ever since I've owned this notebook. After a few hours of use when I go to download

anything my mouse would get really jittery and usually the computer will lock up seconds after. I would have to wait

for the freezing to subside for just a sec and cancel the download and then my computer would work perfectly fine.

afterwords, I could continue to game,multi-task and would run perfectly unless I tried to download something with the browser.

My computer would even freeze before downloading.. o_o as soon as I click on a link and the " save now" dialog box appears it will freeze.

currently using firefox 3.0, It still did the exact same freezing with firefox 2. I tested on ie in order to troubleshoot and it freezes with that browser as well.

Computer Specs:

-GATEWAY P-6831 FX notebook.

-Windows Vista? Home Premium sp1 (32-bit)

-Intel? Core? 2 Duo Processor T5450 (1.66GHz, 667MHz FSB, 2MB L2 Cache)1

-3072MB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM (1-1024MB & 1-2048 MB module)

-250GB 5400rpm Serial ATA hard drive w/ 8MB cache2

-17.0" WXGA+ Ultrabright TFT Active Matrix (1440 x 900 max. resolution)

-Intel? PM965 Chipset and NVIDIA? GeForce? 8800GTS with 512MB of GDDR3 discrete video memory

Isp: verizon fios

I upgraded to vista sp1 in hopes it would fix this issue but unfortunately it hasn't.

notes: rebooting clears the problem for a couple of hours usually.

any help is greatly appreciated as I'm very close to destroying this laptop with a bat. >_> lol

[redvamp128]

Does this happen when you are plugged in? I know that a few laptops have power saver modes when running off battery. Just a thought, an issue that I came across on a Windows 2000 where indexing services was the slow down to save a file when downloading , Not sure if Vista would have that issue or not. Another possible suggestion, goto your download folder and turn the view to Details and not thumbnails, sometimes this slows down the save process on some machines. As well as having a lot of files in that folder.

In Win2k the solution for the indexing issue was as follows.

Goto the run

type

services.msc

then find indexing services and stop the service.

Download file.

then follow the steps and restart the service.

This really had an effect when downloading large files though.

Edited June 28, 2008 by redvamp128

[Jigoku]

yup, I rarely travel with this laptop so It's always plugged in.

-I have windows search (indexing service) disabled on this laptop.

-I always download files straight to my desktop for easy access.

any other questions please feel free to ask, I need to figure out this problem before I

lose my mind. lol

[redvamp128]

Try this for downloading- set FF3 to download not to your desktop- Sometimes that slows things down- Especially if you have lots of Icons. -Make a folder in your My Documents- Save them to there.

I know that in the past if you Had active desktop set for a Favorite Website- It would slow it down. Do you have dreamscapes installed?

I know you may like to save them there- but I know the desktop on a lot of computers is actually a web page- yes strange but true.... Especially if you have a picture as your desktop.

[Jigoku]

yeh, after reading your first reply I setup ff3 and created a 'Downloads' folder on my desktop to check if this would stop.

unfortunately it still does it. =\

-no active desktop and no dreamscapes btw. xD

[redvamp128]

Let us try to take the desktop out of the equation... Make a folder on your C:\ (or whatever drive your Vista is on) then Make that one your default FF3 download location.

I know the desktop behaves differently than a standard folder.

And sometimes computers with lots of Icons/files on the desktop can have an impact on Boot Time - and also accessing things on the desktop.

I know Vista is supposed to handle files better. When was the last time you defragmented your hard drive?

Edited June 28, 2008 by redvamp128

[Jigoku]

Let us try to take the desktop out of the equation... Make a folder on your C:\ (or whatever drive your Vista is on) then Make that one your default FF3 download location.

I know the desktop behaves differently than a standard folder.

And sometimes computers with lots of Icons/files on the desktop can have an impact on Boot Time - and also accessing things on the desktop.

I know Vista is supposed to handle files better. When was the last time you defragmented your hard drive?

I don't think it has anything to do with the download file location.

I forgot to mention that even when taking an internet speed test my computer will freeze up and mouse will be

real jittery until the test is over.

><

[redvamp128]

I think I might know--This may sound crazy--- Your Antivirus software might be the slow down.

Try Disabling it- I know NAV will ask you for a time. Just temporarily disable it- Download your file then restart the antivirus software.. Then after it is done downloading- Have it scan the file you download- I have heard that sometimes it scans them as it comes in (the .part file in FF3) and the (temp) file in IE.

It is the best thing I can come up with.

Maybe it is scanning it while the file is trying to save it.

[Jigoku]

haha I was just going to edit my last reply and tell you about that.

I've already disabled my firewall( zone alarm free ) and a/v( avg free ) in order to troubleshoot

and I still get the freezing.

eh, hopefully we'll find the problem since we're eliminating things one by one. =b

thanks for all the help so far man.

[redvamp128]

You using the touch pad for your mouse? If you have a different mouse- like from a pc- or a marble mouse. Try attaching it. I know sometimes the touchpads can be sensitive. Like the Double tip open.

That maybe the jittery. Or goto the control panel and check out the mouse options. Maybe there is something there.

I am going to ask this- but I think I already know the answer- Have you went to the Gateway Site and checked for updated drivers?

Not to mention updates on Windows update?

[Jigoku]

I use a microsoft usb mouse instead of the touchpad.

I just disconnected the usb mouse and it still makes the cursor jittery for the touchpad too. ><

*restarted firefox each time btw

Here's a link to all of the update drivers currently listed for my notebook.

http://support.gateway.com/support/drivers...;param=1015088R

^I installed the new video driver yesterday. Is there anything you think I should

update on that list?

[redvamp128]

Check the date on your SATA drivers that you have installed. That may cause an issue- though SP1 may have upded ones not sure...

http://support.gateway.com/support/drivers...mp;uid=20055050

[StevoJD]

Does it also freeze when downloading from P2P or BitTorrent apps? Also, by any chance when you copy a file does it freeze? Sounds like a hard drive problem, but if it only freezes while downloading and writing to the hard drive by internet it might be your wireless/ethernet drivers causing this. Did you update them by any chance?

[Jigoku]

Check the date on your SATA drivers that you have installed. That may cause an issue- though SP1 may have upded ones not sure...

here's a ss of it.

btw I had this freezing issue before the sp1 update. I was hoping sp1 might of fixed it. =/ lol

Does it also freeze when downloading from P2P or BitTorrent apps? Also, by any chance when you copy a file does it freeze? Sounds like a hard drive problem, but if it only freezes while downloading and writing to the hard drive by internet it might be your wireless/ethernet drivers causing this. Did you update them by any chance?

nup, I can download from torrents without any trouble at all. I'm downloading a video with utorrent right now actually. lol

-just copied a huge file from my video folder to my desktop without and freezing/jittering

I haven't updated any wireless/ethernet drivers afaik. Should I update this driver that is listed for my model number?

http://support.gateway.com/support/drivers...mp;uid=20056002

note: I'm currently using a wireless internet connection.

should I hook up an ethernet cable and see if this problem persists?

[StevoJD]

Try with the ethernet cable.

[Jigoku]

Try with the ethernet cable.

I hooked up the cable and It was still jittering on download so I rebooted. After restart my computer will download files

perfectly fine without freezing for an hour or so.

I will have to wait and see if the ethernet cable fixes the issue. =x

If you guys have any other ideas or questions please feel free to chime in. :)

[StevoJD]

So it didn't freeze at all with the ethernet cable?

I guess we can bring it down to the wireless being the problem.

[StevoJD]

Edit: Double post, damnit.

[Jigoku]

So it didn't freeze at all with the ethernet cable?

I guess we can bring it down to the wireless being the problem.

After I reboot the problem will go away for awhile.. so I had to wait in order to test properly with the Ethernet cable.

edit: I just tested it and it still freezes with the Ethernet cable as well. =[

any other ideas?

Edited June 28, 2008 by Jigoku

[StevoJD]

No clue. I'd try formatting, or try an Ubuntu live CD to see if it's a hardware problem or a software problem. If the problem doesn't persist when using Ubuntu or any other O/S, then we can say it's a driver, software problem. If the problem doesn't go away, even after a format/trying it out on another O/S then it's more likely to be a hardware problem.

[redvamp128]

Can you post a picture of your desktop?... I also want to know do have any RSS loaded in your side bar.

It is possible like for example I have heard of a run away tile . That wreaks havoc on the memory... Which will cause the jittering... as well as the slow downloads. I have also heard of a widget that Shows Stock and weather that can cause similar issues.

[Jigoku]

No clue. I'd try formatting, or try an Ubuntu live CD to see if it's a hardware problem or a software problem. If the problem doesn't persist when using Ubuntu or any other O/S, then we can say it's a driver, software problem. If the problem doesn't go away, even after a format/trying it out on another O/S then it's more likely to be a hardware problem.

nuuuuu! >< haha

I'm gonna keep trying different solutions before going the 'reformat' route. :cry:

Can you post a picture of your desktop?... I also want to know do have any RSS loaded in your side bar.

It is possible like for example I have heard of a run away tile . That wreaks havoc on the memory... Which will cause the jittering... as well as the slow downloads. I have also heard of a widget that Shows Stock and weather that can cause similar issues.

sure, that's not a problem. x)

I don't have anything loaded on my side bar. I've had the side bar disabled ever since I got this laptop. xD I also have all of the visual

settings turned off except for 4 of them. ss below*

visual settings screenshot:

desktop screenshot:

note: I just ran a check disk and It didn't report any errors/bad sectors. ( It took like an hour+ to complete though )

[redvamp128]

Well That rules out my thought about a "Run Away Tile" or a resource hog widget. Or an RSS feed in the Side Bar with the update interval set too frequent.

Cool Desktop BTW.

[CdCViRus]

ha ha, nice desktop

looks like firefox is about to get nuked, lol

[redvamp128]

I know there is a setting in the bios on a Dell Laptop.

But Use the F2 key during boot up.

On a Dell their is a setting for Hard Drive Performance... Usually it is set for Quiet or Acoustic. There may be a setting to change that to Normal or Performance.

This does make the Hard Drive a little more noisy.

But I have noticed some faster file access times.