Win 7 pro x64 locks up computer in media playing scenar

[harioharima]

Background: Currently running Win 7 Pro x64 (installed flawlessly) on Dell zino 3250e processor with 2gb ram, ati 3200 gpu. Computer works fine for browsing etc indefinitely. But when it comes to playing media files, the computer will (about once a day) freeze/lock-up (where nothing can be done except to hard reboot). I am certain there is nothing wrong with my HW. In fact, Vista Basic always worked rock solid on the box with zero freezing issues.

Example of what can cause freezing:
(1) If I start wmc, and try playing a ripped DVD. It will start to play and then just freeze permanently.
(2) If I'm using vlc to play a avi, and in a separate browser window try to play youtube, computer will lock up/freeze. Again only recourse is hard reset.

One can certainly make the case a win 7 video driver might be the culprit or that I am missing some codec -- but my major gripe is that the latest Win 7 OS is unable to exit gracefully. I would not be so annoyed if it just crashed the offending program -- my annoyance is that the whole damn computer has to be hard-reset. (No mouse control, no kb control, no alt-tab to get out of current window, not even Ctl-alt-del).

Any hints/pointers to make the box give me a control to at least get the task manager going (WITHOUT rebooting) would be great. Thanks.

 

[Capt.Jack Sparrow]

Background: Currently running Win 7 Pro x64 (installed flawlessly) on Dell zino 3250e processor with 2gb ram, ati 3200 gpu. Computer works fine for browsing etc indefinitely. But when it comes to playing media files, the computer will (about once a day) freeze/lock-up (where nothing can be done except to hard reboot). I am certain there is nothing wrong with my HW. In fact, Vista Basic always worked rock solid on the box with zero freezing issues.

Example of what can cause freezing:
(1) If I start wmc, and try playing a ripped DVD. It will start to play and then just freeze permanently.
(2) If I'm using vlc to play a avi, and in a separate browser window try to play youtube, computer will lock up/freeze. Again only recourse is hard reset.

One can certainly make the case a win 7 video driver might be the culprit or that I am missing some codec -- but my major gripe is that the latest Win 7 OS is unable to exit gracefully. I would not be so annoyed if it just crashed the offending program -- my annoyance is that the whole damn computer has to be hard-reset. (No mouse control, no kb control, no alt-tab to get out of current window, not even Ctl-alt-del).

Any hints/pointers to make the box give me a control to at least get the task manager going (WITHOUT rebooting) would be great. Thanks.

Hello Welcome to SF,

Could you post us the MSINFO32 file

Please go to Start and type in "msinfo32.exe" (without the quotes) and press Enter
Save the report as an .nfo file, then zip up the .nfo file and upload/attach the .zip file with your next post.

If you're having difficulties with the format, please open an elevated (Run as administrator) Command Prompt and type "msinfo32 /nfo C:\Users\Public\Desktop\TEST.NFO\" (without the quotes) and press Enter. Then navigate to the C:\Users\Public\Desktop directory to retrieve the TEST.NFO file. If you have difficulties with making this work, please post back.

Good Luck,
Captain

 

[harioharima]

Thanks Capt. Cool. Btw, can I assume that this nfo file won't contain sensitive info? (basically passwords, file contents etc) Thanks.

 

[Capt.Jack Sparrow]

No my friend it would have your drivers information startup info etc How to use System Information (MSINFO32) command-line tool switches

- Captain

 

[harioharima]

No my friend it would have your drivers information startup info etc How to use System Information (MSINFO32) command-line tool switches

- Captain

Capt, here is the file. Any pointers would be very helpful. Thanks.

 

[Capt.Jack Sparrow]

No my friend it would have your drivers information startup info etc How to use System Information (MSINFO32) command-line tool switches

- Captain

Capt, here is the file. Any pointers would be very helpful. Thanks.

Hello,

I guess its your Display driver. "ATI Radeon HD 3200 Graphics" is casuing the problem. Becasue the driver seems to be little old. Also reboot the System in Selective Startup disable all the protection then see whether you have the same probelm.

Also Go to Start > CMD > Right Click and Run as administrator > SFC /SCANNOW

Refer this Tutorial for more info http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

Hope this helps,
Captain

 

[harioharima]

No my friend it would have your drivers information startup info etc How to use System Information (MSINFO32) command-line tool switches

- Captain

Capt, here is the file. Any pointers would be very helpful. Thanks.

Hello,

I guess its your Display driver. "ATI Radeon HD 3200 Graphics" is casuing the problem. Becasue the driver seems to be little old. Also reboot the System in Selective Startup disable all the protection then see whether you have the same probelm.

Also Go to Start > CMD > Right Click and Run as administrator > SFC /SCANNOW

Refer this Tutorial for more info http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

Hope this helps,
Captain

Thanks. Will try your suggestions and post results soon.