Quizzes & Puzzles11 mins ago
Frozen Laptop
I have a Sony Viao Laptop running Windows 7.
A few days ago I allowed a friend to play around with it and he did a big defrag which took 24 hours!
Since then I have been unable to use the laptop without it freezing up.
I have difficulty opening Microsoft Outlook and once open I can sometimes use it but suddenly it all stops and I cannot get into any other programmes so have to force a shutdown. This then means that It can take 30 minutes for Outlook to open up and the cycle begins again. Any programme I get into says "Not responding".
What is the best proceedure to solve the problems. Or should I just take it to PC World?
A few days ago I allowed a friend to play around with it and he did a big defrag which took 24 hours!
Since then I have been unable to use the laptop without it freezing up.
I have difficulty opening Microsoft Outlook and once open I can sometimes use it but suddenly it all stops and I cannot get into any other programmes so have to force a shutdown. This then means that It can take 30 minutes for Outlook to open up and the cycle begins again. Any programme I get into says "Not responding".
What is the best proceedure to solve the problems. Or should I just take it to PC World?
Answers
Best Answer
No best answer has yet been selected by ask100. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.
For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.Check your drive for errors:
Open 'Computer'
Right-click on the icon for your hard drive
Select 'Properties'
Click on 'Tools' and then on 'Check Now'
Ensure that both the options are ticked
Click 'Start'
You'll be told that Windows can't run a check because the drive is in use
Click 'Schedule disk check' (which tells your computer to run the check the next time that your computer is started)
Restart your computer
If that doesn't fix the problem, try running System Restore (from Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools)
Open 'Computer'
Right-click on the icon for your hard drive
Select 'Properties'
Click on 'Tools' and then on 'Check Now'
Ensure that both the options are ticked
Click 'Start'
You'll be told that Windows can't run a check because the drive is in use
Click 'Schedule disk check' (which tells your computer to run the check the next time that your computer is started)
Restart your computer
If that doesn't fix the problem, try running System Restore (from Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools)
btw I am not sure why you let him do a defrag but to be honest defragging a hard drive will not give you much of an improved performance (if that is why you did it).
Another suggestion, go into the Advanced Start Up options for Windows (press F8 on startup) and run Repair Your Computer.
Here is how you can do that
http:// windows .micros oft.com /en-gb/ windows /advanc ed-star tup-opt ions-in cluding -safe-m ode#1TC =window s-7
Another suggestion, go into the Advanced Start Up options for Windows (press F8 on startup) and run Repair Your Computer.
Here is how you can do that
http://
One other thing to consider.
You MAY recover from this problem you may not, so as a matter of urgency I would back up ALL your personal files now to an external hard drive (or other media or location). More than one backup if possible.
I have heard of situations where a person took a computer to PC World and they did a reinstall of Windows and lost ALL the personal files on the disk.
A "proper" local PC support person should not do this (which is why I say don't take it to PC world) but whoever tries to fix it MAY delete personal files so best to have them backed up.
You MAY recover from this problem you may not, so as a matter of urgency I would back up ALL your personal files now to an external hard drive (or other media or location). More than one backup if possible.
I have heard of situations where a person took a computer to PC World and they did a reinstall of Windows and lost ALL the personal files on the disk.
A "proper" local PC support person should not do this (which is why I say don't take it to PC world) but whoever tries to fix it MAY delete personal files so best to have them backed up.
Thanks Buenchico, I have tried the disk check route and this has definitely improved the situation, but not completely. But I now have some control over my laptop and managed to download emails and look online for a while. Then it froze again.
I will now try the System Restore that you suggested. Will keep members informed.
I will now try the System Restore that you suggested. Will keep members informed.
Outlook comes bundled with most editions of Microsoft Office. (See here for which ones: https:/ /en.wik ipedia. org/wik i/Micro soft_Ou tlook#V ersions ). So you'll need to get hold of a suitable copy of Microsoft Office if you want to reinstall Outlook (which could be expensive!).
Try repairing Outlook first. Scroll down to 'Windows 7' here:
https:/ /suppor t.offic e.com/e n-us/ar ticle/R epair-a n-Offic e-appli cation- 7821d4b 6-7c1d- 4205-aa 0e-a6b4 0c5bb88 b
If that doesn't work, why do you want Outlok on your computer? Unless there are specific functions which you need, that only Outlook can offer, consider switching to Windows Live Mail (which is part of Windows Essentials)
http:// windows .micros oft.com /en-gb/ windows /essent ials
or Thunderbird
https:/ /www.mo zilla.o rg/en-G B/thund erbird/
Try repairing Outlook first. Scroll down to 'Windows 7' here:
https:/
If that doesn't work, why do you want Outlok on your computer? Unless there are specific functions which you need, that only Outlook can offer, consider switching to Windows Live Mail (which is part of Windows Essentials)
http://
or Thunderbird
https:/
Thanks Buenchico.
I'm a bit of an old codger and I like things I'm familiar with. All my devises at home and at work - yes I still work - use Outlook 2003 so apart from this glitch I am happy with it. I'll try the reinstall and hope it doesn't ask for the original disk.
If all fails then I'll look at your other suggestions.
I'm a bit of an old codger and I like things I'm familiar with. All my devises at home and at work - yes I still work - use Outlook 2003 so apart from this glitch I am happy with it. I'll try the reinstall and hope it doesn't ask for the original disk.
If all fails then I'll look at your other suggestions.
Thanks Jomifl and Buenchico, I can use the webmail but I prefer Outlook as I use a number of different email addresses and can have them all together in one place.
I can now open Outlook 20o3 but am getting messages that "Ordinal 298 could not be located in the dynamic link library" so I can't read the messages.
I just tried doing a reinstall using the Buenchico sugestion but can only see Uninstall or Repair not Change so can't do the reinstall. Don't know what to do next.
I can now open Outlook 20o3 but am getting messages that "Ordinal 298 could not be located in the dynamic link library" so I can't read the messages.
I just tried doing a reinstall using the Buenchico sugestion but can only see Uninstall or Repair not Change so can't do the reinstall. Don't know what to do next.
My suggestion was to try repairing Outlook. Since you're being offered that option, without the need to go via 'Change', that would seem to be the one to try!
Incidentally, if you did switch to webmail, many services now have a 'mail collector' facility, that automatically forwards mail from all of your other accounts to the one that they're providing. Despite having email accounts with several providers, I only ever need to log into my GMX account to see all of my incoming mail, since I've configured the 'mail collector' to put it all into one place.
Incidentally, if you did switch to webmail, many services now have a 'mail collector' facility, that automatically forwards mail from all of your other accounts to the one that they're providing. Despite having email accounts with several providers, I only ever need to log into my GMX account to see all of my incoming mail, since I've configured the 'mail collector' to put it all into one place.
I did try the Repair route but it has not had any effect. I can see that I have emails coming in but can't read them in Outlook 2003. i get a message up when I click on an email saying Ordinal 258 cannot be located. I also can't send an email as I get the same message.
I'll look at Sea Monkey, thanks.
I'll look at Sea Monkey, thanks.
Try this, it may or not work. Possible the File System Checker can find a replacement file in an old cache folder.
https:/ /suppor t.micro soft.co m/en-us /kb/929 833
https:/
Thankfully I have now resolved my laptop problem!
So I thought I would let you helpful members know how I achieved it.
Firstly I followed your advise and did a System Restore which got my browsers back working but Outlook did not work.
Then I came across this helpful site:
http:// www.int elligen tanswer s.co.uk /index. php?top ic=6486 .0
One of the contributors had explained previously what to do for a similar problem step by step so it's easy to follow.
Half an hour after I started the scan as instructed I rebooted and every thing was working as it should.
So thanks are due all round to theanswerbank and intelligentanswers.
So I thought I would let you helpful members know how I achieved it.
Firstly I followed your advise and did a System Restore which got my browsers back working but Outlook did not work.
Then I came across this helpful site:
http://
One of the contributors had explained previously what to do for a similar problem step by step so it's easy to follow.
Half an hour after I started the scan as instructed I rebooted and every thing was working as it should.
So thanks are due all round to theanswerbank and intelligentanswers.