Member Avatar for GWats

In Windows XP, the computer works OK when first started but after about 10 or 15 minutes, it partially freezes. This may (or may not) be Limewire related as I was attempting unsuccessfully to connect to Limewire right around the time when things stopped working right.

The partially freeze goes like this: Mouse still works normally. Internet programs freeze. Attempts to open new programs will show hourglass for 20 seconds or so and then nothing. Attempts to shutdown normally go> Start >Turn off computer> hourglass indefinitely.

What I've tried already (with no effect): Uninstalled Limewire. Used System Restore to go back a few days before problem arose. Disk Cleanup. Delete Temp Internet files. Ran AdAware, Spybot, F-Prot, Windows Defender. Swore (more than once). Nothing is having any effect.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

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reported the machine becomes usable for 10–15 minutes and then most apps (network programs, Explorer/dialogs, shutdown) hang while the mouse still moves. ’s Task Manager check was the right first step and ’s advice to inspect the security-suite logs and try disabling modules is also on point. Those observations strongly suggest a third‑party component (real‑time scanner or a shell/network extension) is blocking I/O or waiting on a resource.

Quick, practical next steps:

  • Boot to Safe Mode (press F8 at startup, choose “Safe Mode with Networking”). If the problem disappears, a non‑Microsoft service or startup item is the likeliest cause.
  • Do a clean boot: run msconfig, hide Microsoft services, disable remaining services and all startup items, reboot and test. Re-enable items in small groups to find the offender.
  • While reproducing the hang, open Task Manager or Process Explorer and note which process spikes (and whether it’s CPU, disk or network I/O). Process Explorer shows threads/handles which often point to the underlying problem.

Target the security software carefully:

  • Temporarily stop its service from services.msc or disable shields from the product UI while offline to test. Do not leave protection off while connected to the Internet.
  • If stopping it removes the hangs, uninstall cleanly (use the vendor’s removal tool if available) and reinstall the latest build. Collect logs and Process Explorer output before uninstalling if you need vendor support.

Other checks to run if the above doesn’t isolate it:

  • Inspect Event Viewer (eventvwr.msc) around the hang times for disk, driver or network errors.
  • Run chkdsk /f /r and sfc /scannow.
  • Remove/disconnect any mapped network drives, network printers or stale shell extensions that Explorer might be timing out on.

Start with Safe Mode and the clean boot; those will quickly tell whether Windows or a third‑party component is at fault. If the security product is implicated and reinstall doesn’t help, gather logs and consider vendor support or a temporary alternative AV while troubleshooting.

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Member Avatar for caperjack

alt+ctrl+del, open windows tak manager and go to processes and see if one is using 100%of cpu .system idle process is ok to be using 98%

Member Avatar for GWats

System Idle Process seems to be using 99 most of the time. Is this something I should be checking all the time to see where the draw is coming from?

Member Avatar for GWats

System Idle Process seems to be using 99 most of the time. Is this something I should be checking all the time to see where the draw is coming from?

Also as I look at the "Processes" the file "fssm32.exe" seems to be the only one registering under the CPU column. It goes from 0 to sometimes as high as 50. I searched the files and it is part of my F-Prot Anti-Virus (which I've had for years).

Member Avatar for gerbil

That file showing high CPu time share, being the module manager for F-Secure's Security suite means that a module is working overtime. You could check the logs to see what is happening, maybe turn off individual modules to check, and if you do discover a fault then you are faced with repairing the security suite installaion.

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