Gateway Parts

Computer Locks up!!!!!! PLEASE HELP!!?

Ok. I fix computers for a living, but I can't figure this one out for the life of me!!! Actually, I really doubt that anyone else will be able to figure it out either...but I'm all out of ideas. I gues you could consider that a challenge. So here is what happens.... It's a laptop (Gateway s-7410M). It is running windows xp pro service pack 2. The computer is part of a domain...however, recently, I had to create a local user ID and removed it from the domain because the user needed to work outside of the office. That is when the problem happens. It will just randomly lock up at any given time with absolutely no rhyme or reason! After bringing it back to the office it worked fine. Conclusion: If the laptop is plugged into the network at the office, you'll have no troubles at all....for days! However, if you unplugged the ethernet cable, it will lock up at some random time. Sometimes it will go for hours before it locks up and sometimes only 5 minutes. it's completely random. what's the deal? If anyone could help, it would be great! I'm pulling my hair out with this one!!! .......Thanks ahead of time! 1st of all, the server is running Server 2003 and yes, it is running active directory. I deleted the profile and deleted all profiles off the laptop. Except of course 'guest' and 'administrator' then I re-added the laptop to the domain. Problem still here. As long as I'm hooked up to the network via ethernet cable then it's fine. But as soon as I unplug the cable, it's bound to lock up at random.

Public Comments

1. Are you running active directories or an old NT domain? Active directories you need to check the users profile and watch how they log in. Some setups allow the user to logon as if they are still part of the domain. It uses a cached profile. The cached profile came some times cause problems or corrupt the active directories profile. Simple test of the profile is have someone else use the system while it is on the company network. If it does not follow the user the delete both local and active dir profile from the laptop. another quick check is have the user of the laptop use a different system on the company net. If the problem follows him it's his company active dir causing the problems. Again delete and create him a new one. There is a way to fix it but it takes so long and does not always work that I just delete the profile (just save off any critical data before doing this). As a stand alone laptop you can also try to turn off the network port. This would stop most of the processes that are looking for the company net when in stand alone mode. You also can change if you are logging in as part of the domain or stand alone. Check the option tab at login time to see what domain he is connecting to or local system. Without really getting to poke around on the system it is hard to say what is really wrong with it. Also, look for other software that they have installed on the system or if they have changed anything. Almost all users say they have not changed anything but 90% of the time they did. Once someone installed Spy-Bot on the system. Sounds reasonable except that a process called teatimer was also installed. It is part of Spy-Bot but at random times it goes out and searches the registry of the computer for unauthorized changes. From a security stand point this is great but as a user it stinks as the system goes to 100% CPU and some times 100% memory and the system appears locked up until the scan is complete. Depending on the system this can take minutes or hours. Good luck.