Too Many "Not Responding"

[the diff]

I'm running Windows ME and for awhile now, I've been experiencing a huge increase in the number of times various programs (From WORD to Nero) freezing up. I'm tired of this and having to Ctrl-Alt-Delete numerous times in a session at the computer. Of course, there is no set pattern when this will happen. No new programs/utilities have been added.

Course of action?

= Thanks =

[YODA74]

Random freeze-ups are nearly always a hardware problem, often caused bya
dirty or failed CPU or power supply cooling fan, by bad memory modules,a
bad power supply, or other components inside the system failing.

some system specs would help ,how much mem, what type of system, have you added anything, hardware or software?
Of course you are running Me so it's pretty unstable in it's own right.

[Budfred]

Have you streamlined WinME by unloading and deleting unnecessary junk. I use ME, but I run it as lean as I can and generally haven't had a lot of trouble with it. Usually when I do have trouble, it is due to some utility I have installed.

[Whyzman]

I agree, lean and clean with Me...

I religiously use registry cleaners. I use RegClean http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?threadid=22478&goto=newpost and RegCleaner www.jv16.org

To quote the now famous words of mjc, "Your registry is like the junk drawer in your kitchen!"

I have had few problems with Me keeping it lean and clean...;)

[Mark Miller]

Upgrade to XP
M :D :D :D

[the diff]

Thanks all for the input.

Off to d/l the recommended utility, regclean &/or jv16 PowerTools, see what happens. Will consider upgrade to XP.

[Paul Komski]

And don't forget the normal good housekeeping: clearing cache and temp files, scandisk and defrag; and reduce the amount of space reserved for System Restore and Hibernation to reasonable amounts if you have them enabled.

... and never forget to check your system for all sorts of malware.

... AND AND ... if you decide to upgrade to XP .. please do either a clean install or a dual boot and don't choose the upgrade option on screen 1.

[Whyzman]

I would use both of the Registry Cleaners...they address different issues. You would want to use the jv16 first and then Microsoft second...

And definitely, as Paul mentioned specifically and Budfred intimated...you can lean things up by reducing System Restore. I run mine at the bare minimum...