Solved IE is freezing my computer for 30-60 sec...

[HowardWoodard]

Sometime over the past few months, when using IE [now 11] my computer started randomly and suddenly freezing for about a minute - nothing will free it up - and then just as suddenly it will continue with no error or other indication. Nothing is written to an event log. I've disabled every add-on and it has made no difference.

Chrome doesn't do it. FireFox doesn't do it. Safari doesn't do it. In fact, except for when you are in IE it never ever happens.

As I said, I've disabled all of the add-ons. I've also run every single FixIt solution that seemed even vaguely related to no effect. I updated my nVidia display driver. I removed that graphics card and driver and installed a different one. Nothing changes the symptom of the PC randomly locking up when running IE. I didn't really expect it to since it never occurs when running any other browser or program.

Does this issue ring a bell with anyone? Better yet, does anyone know how I can fix it - other than just never using IE?

Thanks in advance...

 

[UsernameIssues]

What antivirus app/suite are you using?

Have you tried another (fresh) Windows user account/profile?

Did you ever solve this issue:
http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/282310-desktop-icons-play-hide-go-seek.html
Maybe try Desktop Restore.

 

[HowardWoodard]

I am using The Norton Security Suite (N360) provided by our cable provider.

As for the icon problem, I'm sorry that I never updated that thread. The icon saver/restorer worked but I didn't want to have it do auto saves and I kept forgetting to save after making changes so I eventually quit using it. Now I just put things back in the order that makes most sense to me at the time.

 

[HowardWoodard]

I've been pretty sure that creating a new account would "fix" it but I haven't done that because I don't know what it would tell me if it worked or didn't.

I'd like to know why it is having this issue and fix it in place.

 

[UsernameIssues]

Just as a test...
...completely uninstall Norton 360
...restart the computer
...then test IE.

If you want, you can install MSE while testing for this freeze.
(It all depends on how long it takes for the freeze to happen.)

 

[UsernameIssues]

I've been pretty sure that creating a new account would "fix" it but I haven't done that because I don't know what it would tell me if it worked or didn't.

I'd like to know why it is having this issue and fix it in place.

If IE freezes while using a new account, then we know it is something common to the entire computer (like your antivirus app). If IE does not freeze while using a new account, then we would need to look for an issue with your current account, perhaps an app or a gadget that you load, but the new account did not.

 

[ThrashZone]

How did you enter No add-ons mode ?
Try this method,
Add the Run box to the Start menu list,
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/559-start-menu-add-run-button.html
Open the Run command and Paste this into it and Okay,
"C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe" -extoff
There's also activating EPM although Norton has made a version that they believe is compatible with the 64 bit version so EPM might not work,
Activate Enhanced Protection Mode to use all 64 bit Processes,
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/280434-internet-explorer-10-enable-32-bit-64-bit-ie10-windows-7-a.html#post2312336

 

[HowardWoodard]

Thanks. I'll follow the steps you describe in the above note but wanted to respond to your question about how I ran IE without add-ons right away.

I used to be able to start IE without add-ons but can't find it or just don't remember how. At any rate, what I did was to start IE and go into Tools/Manage add-ons/All ad-ons, then hi-light all of the entries and click on Disable all. Then I would exit and restart it.

 

[ThrashZone]

Okay that's the way you would trouble shoot your existing listed add-ons,
You can verify if you had it "Show all add-ons" when you disabled them,

The second best way to open No add-ons mode is with the Start button search or go directly to it Start/ All programs/ Accessories folder/ No Add-ons.

Please post any different results,
Cheers.

 

[HowardWoodard]

Thanks for your time and all the good info. I went out Christmas shopping today and just returned about an hour ago. After getting home I removed N360 and could not get IE to freeze the computer. I only tried for about 10 minutes but that has been more than enough time for the problem to show up. Then I downloaded and installed a clean copy of N360 and ran IE through its paces for a few minutes.

So far, so good. If it doesn't freeze this evening or tomorrow morning I'll figure that you fixed it for me and will come back and update and mark as solved this thread.

Fingers crossed...

 

[UsernameIssues]

If IE does freeze again while Norton 360 is installed, then you might be able to turn off the feature that is causing the issue or pick another antivirus app.... or wait for Symantec (Norton) to fix their product.

 

[HowardWoodard]

Well, it hasn't gone this long without freezing since it started doing it. I'm pretty sure the problem is resolved.

Thanks for all your help and Merry Christmas.

Howard
Redmond, WA

Note: It is curious that it would be the antivirus software yet not show up on any of the other browsers; only IE.

 

[ThrashZone]

It's actually pretty common,
Uninstalling the AV and re-installing with the new browser version will usually straighten out any conflicts,
Internet explorer adds new security features with every version and most the time they conflict with existing AV's features,
Cheers.