computer locking up (desktop, hard drive, operating system, sounds)

[Rtom45]

Just recently we've had issues with programs that won't run. Usually after the computer has been idle (like overnite). Mostly when we want to log onto the internet, internet explorer won't load. Or the national weather service that is running in the background is frozen. A couple times shortcut icons disappeared or wouldn't display. So far, the cure has been to shut down - sometimes we have to pull the plug because the program to shut down won't respond. When we restart we seem to be OK.
So any ideas as to what's going on?
We have been running symantec antivirus and more recently (after we started having problems), we are also running spybot and malwarebytes.

[skel1977]

What operating system are you running? Have you recently installed any new programs or software or updated anything? Have you checked your temperatures? Have you done anything like defrag your hard drive or run any registry cleaners? Are you getting any error messages? What programs are you running in the background? Are certain programs freezing up or just internet explorer and national weather service?
have you tried running scandisk? If not you should start there found in Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/ScanDiskfound in Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/ScanDisk

[Tek_Freek]

Turn off your computer instead of leaving on all the time. A restart will help clear up a number of problems.

[skel1977]

Heh, thats actually a great answer. The only reason I can see you leaving on your computer is if you are downloading something. Why leave it on for such a long time?

[djxpress]

Sounds like there may be memory leaking somewhere, whether it be from a virus or background processes that are running and using up RAM.
I agree with Tek_Freek that you should just turn off your computer at night.
You could also download Microsoft's Process Explorer Process Explorer and Google each process that is running in the background to see if one of them may be something that you didn't know was running.

[Steel Man]

Originally Posted by skel1977

Heh, thats actually a great answer. The only reason I can see you leaving on your computer is if you are downloading something. Why leave it on for such a long time?

Unless you have a slow internet connection, download shouldn't take that long. However, leaving the computer on to do various scans (virus, malware, etc.) on large hard drives would be a good reason.

[kristain]

My friend’s computer boots up but once the desktop appears it seems to lockup. He is unable to open any file. He has installed Windows XP. He defragged it and run a virus check in safe mode.

[skel1977]

Originally Posted by Steel Man

Unless you have a slow internet connection, download shouldn't take that long. However, leaving the computer on to do various scans (virus, malware, etc.) on large hard drives would be a good reason.

Depends on what you download. My computer downlads torrents 24/7 sometimes

[Rtom45]

Originally Posted by skel1977

What operating system are you running? Have you recently installed any new programs or software or updated anything? Have you checked your temperatures? Have you done anything like defrag your hard drive or run any registry cleaners? Are you getting any error messages? What programs are you running in the background? Are certain programs freezing up or just internet explorer and national weather service?
have you tried running scandisk? If not you should start there found in Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/ScanDiskfound in Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/ScanDisk

Running windows Xp. When I look for system tools, its not there, the other programs (system information.....) are there, but not tools. I tried using command prompt, but the command scandisk wasn't recognized. Very little is running in the background, usually just weather service and symantec. We usually shut down the computer a couple times a week so its never running a really long time without restarting. I'm usually pretty good about running internet explorer tools to remove temporary files.

[mensaguy]

Have you tried removing the weather service? SOME weather programs are known for distributing advertising and other less than pleasant offerings.