Alright, I need help computer techies.... Windows Taskbar is freezing up.

[SandrA9810]

Ok, so the last time I used my aunt's computer was in May. When she moved into the new house, the internet wasn't set up prior to me leaving. The internet finally got connected, but she never hooked the computer up. So I finally connected the computer to the Internet when I got here. There were a ton of new updates available. Mostly microsoft, adobe, java, the usual stuff. Installed all of that, and after a million restarts, I think everything has been updated.

Now the taskbar freezes on me. Especially if I'm using the internet browser for any length of time. As long as I don't minimize the other programs, I can usually still access them by moving the top one over. If I try opening a new program it'll open it, but it doesn't appear on the task bar.
I did do a google search, and came across one particular update for a similar problem, but it hasn't corrected it. Usually after some time has passed, 15minutes or up to an hour, it'll unfreeze again.

The computer is an old Toshiba Satellite laptop (A135-S4527) with Windows Vista on it. I haven't done anything differently from when it was working in May and prior, except for the updates.

I'd love to be able to backup the hard drive, but my aunt doesn't want to purchase an external hard drive. If I did that, I could reinstall Windows, and start from scratch.

 

[Sosai X]

Run MSCONFIG and uncheck everything in the start-up tab, and then restart.

Or upgrade the ram to 2 GB, and install Windows 7 Home. Vista is trash.

 

[FireDancer]

I am not sure what is causing that issue but if you need to switch between opened programs without using the task bar you can hold down the ALT key and press tab. When you have tabbed to the program you want release both...voila.

 

[SandrA9810]

because the task bar doesn't work, it doesn't allow for the alt tab to work. Sometime it'll send other programs freezing as well, if they're underneath the top program.

So if I'm using google chrome, chrome will continue to work without a problem. If I slide it out of the way to use AIM, aim will freeze up. If I have solitaire open on top, it'll freeze chrome and aim.
Because the top program is working, I don't always realize it's freezing up, until I notice the clock has been frozen.

Sometimes if I open a new program like solitaire on top, it'll unfreeze, but not always.

And even using task manager to shut down the unresponsive program won't do anything to the taskbar, at the same time I can open any program with the task manager and it'll work. It's really bizzare. Like if chrome freezes, I can shut it down, start it again and it works.

And then all of sudden it'll sound like the computer is trying to load a program, and it'll work. Then I've got 20 AIM messages that pop up. And the clock goes to the correct time. And if any programs have opened or close, the tabs will finally show up.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

Does your aunt use the internet, too? Does she not want an external drive or does she just not want to buy one right now? Maybe you could ask her if it would be okay for you to buy one for her/you to use?

 

[mdsoccermom]

YOU want the hard drive; therefore, YOU need to buy it.

 

[mdsoccermom]

YOU want the hard drive; therefore, YOU need to buy it.

 

[Ceila]

Ok, so the last time I used my aunt's computer was in May. When she moved into the new house, the internet wasn't set up prior to me leaving. The internet finally got connected, but she never hooked the computer up. So I finally connected the computer to the Internet when I got here. There were a ton of new updates available. Mostly microsoft, adobe, java, the usual stuff. Installed all of that, and after a million restarts, I think everything has been updated.

Now the taskbar freezes on me. Especially if I'm using the internet browser for any length of time. As long as I don't minimize the other programs, I can usually still access them by moving the top one over. If I try opening a new program it'll open it, but it doesn't appear on the task bar.
I did do a google search, and came across one particular update for a similar problem, but it hasn't corrected it. Usually after some time has passed, 15minutes or up to an hour, it'll unfreeze again.

The computer is an old Toshiba Satellite laptop (A135-S4527) with Windows Vista on it. I haven't done anything differently from when it was working in May and prior, except for the updates.

I'd love to be able to backup the hard drive, but my aunt doesn't want to purchase an external hard drive. If I did that, I could reinstall Windows, and start from scratch.

If your Aunt doesn't want the external drive herself, but you want it, you should be the one to purchase it. Not her.

 

[SandrA9810]

I have no use for a hard drive with all of her files saved to it. She already had one computer stolen from her, so she should know the importance of backing up files to something external. Whether its a disc or hard drive.

If I had an external, then I could save her files to it. Re-install windows and place all of her files back onto the computer. But she really does need a way to save her files off the computer, that's just being smart.

Yes, she uses the internet. She's always had it and paid for it. I don't know why she didn't connect the modem when the service was finally turned on. AT&T was in the process of laying their lines in what used to be verizon only. So she had to wait for the work to be completed before she could use AT&T service, her landline was able to connect through a lease agreement with AT&T and Verizon.

All I did was finally connect the computer to the net. And then it started wanting updates to be installed. All I use is chrome and AIM, two programs perfectly safe and neither one of those programs updated. So it's down to some other update that happened, I don't know which one though, and I made sure they were all programs currently on her computer.
Window, Java, Adobe, her antivirus program were all the ones I can recall.

Even if she was the one that did the updates, she'd still be saying "I need you to come here to fix this". So I'd still be stuck with trying to figure it out. Although it is a bit easier, since I'm the one using it right now, to know that no viruses have been installed or some other bad program. But she also runs her antivirus/malware/spyware programs each time she uses the internet. Yes, she plays solitare for an hour or two prior to shutting down her computer each and everytime.

She doesn't want to spend the money on an external right now. But if she starts using it and freezes like this, she gonna wonder why I never fixed it.
She has full access to her computer whenever she wants to, she just hasn't had the desire to use it. But my primary concern for backing up the files, is she keeps lots of banking information on there, and is particular about keeping that stuff for seven years. And who knows what else she's got on there.

 

[SandrA9810]

I actually don't need an external drive for anything. I have a subscription to an online data back up service until May. I was running out of time, and had to do something to save my files from kari's hard drive before I left Orlando and never see the computer again. So all my stuff is saved in cyberland on another hard drive.

I do NOT want my files being installed on her computer. So I do NOT want to use my subscription back up program.

Once I do reinstall windows, I'm gonna have to go through each update individually to see where the problem lies, so I can get rid of that update. Or maybe it'll work without issue.

 

[SandrA9810]

I was hoping, that some one here would know which update is causing the problem or knows if there is a patch available that I'm not finding.

 

[Magic Mom]

In regards to the ex HD, why don't you get her one as an early Christmas present. She's done a lot for you and that would be a really nice gesture.

 

[SandrA9810]

Because I'm already planning on getting her a blu ray player on Black Friday. So she can start streaming from Netflix, instead of expanding on her never ending collection of DVDs.

 

[kirbsam]

all your threads seem to turn into other issues besides what you ask. for example, you ask for a solution to the freezing up and next thing i know you are buying your aunt a blu ray player that she probably doesnt want or need. why not just suck it up and buy your own lap top. i am sure your aunt would appreciate the fact that you are not bugging her about her computer anymore. hope this helps

 

[allison443]

Because I'm already planning on getting her a blu ray player on Black Friday. So she can start streaming from Netflix, instead of expanding on her never ending collection of DVDs.

Has she said she want to stop buying dvds and start streaming from netflix, or is that something you think would be better for her? Maybe she would prefer a working computer to a blu ray player. You said she does use the internet. Plus couldn't she stream netflix on the computer, if it was working properly? Might solve all the problems.

 

[SandrA9810]

Because every one likes to take my topics completely way out of subject.

I'm not bugging about using her computer, she doesn't mind that I use her computer. She barely touches it. It's hers she has access to it any time she wants to use it.

This isn't about my computer/her computer. It's a computer problem that needs to get fixed. She would have me fixing the problem even if she was the one to download the updates.

I'm asking if any one has a similar problem or would know how to fix the problem. My only solution is reinstalling Vista, but it makes it more difficult when I don't have a way to back her files up. I'm not going to knowingly reformat her computer and delete everything.

 

[AnOtHeRdIsNeYfReAk]

Well, I have two ideas for you. The first is to download the newest version of Ubuntu-which is a free OS, (http://www.ubuntu.com/) burn it to a disc and run it to try to find the problem in there. Just make sure you only run it, not install. If you install it, it will wipe windows. (Though in my experience with Vista, that's not a bad thing )

The second idea is for backing up the files. I'd set up a dropbox account (http://www.dropbox.com/features) for your aunt. Then you could transfer her files to it and re-install Windows. (or Ubuntu if she likes it)

 

[Ceila]

Because every one likes to take my topics completely way out of subject.

I'm not bugging about using her computer, she doesn't mind that I use her computer. She barely touches it. It's hers she has access to it any time she wants to use it.

This isn't about my computer/her computer. It's a computer problem that needs to get fixed. She would have me fixing the problem even if she was the one to download the updates.

I'm asking if any one has a similar problem or would know how to fix the problem. My only solution is reinstalling Vista, but it makes it more difficult when I don't have a way to back her files up. I'm not going to knowingly reformat her computer and delete everything.

Because things go off-topic on the community board regularly. You were the one to mention the external drive. You are also the one who has posted time and time again about your financial woes, your lack of work, etc., so it's not unreasonable for people to remember and comment based on their past reading. And frankly, along those lines,, I don't understand how you can even afford a Blu-Ray player when you couldn't scrape up enough money to get to the airport so recently, but whatever.

 

[hentob]

I'm not bugging about using her computer, she doesn't mind that I use her computer. She barely touches it.

That is probably why she has no interest in purchasing an external hard drive for it

 

[Mimi1965]

And frankly, along those lines,,

I don't understand how you can even afford a Blu-Ray player
when you couldn't scrape up enough money to get to the airport so recently, but whatever.

I'm an older person and I have NO need for a Blue Ray player either?