Screen Freeze ...

Once in awhile when I click on my dial-up icon for a connection to my ISP the screen freezes and the cursor will not move. This happens about 1 out of every 10 times I try and connect. Any idea why this happens and what I may be able to do about it?

I am running XP on a toshiba laptop.

John

Freezing is generally a hardware issue.

Often due to graphics cards and also often due to heat.

Do you have the latest drivers for your graphics card?

Well that's a good question. Normally when I had desktops, it was easy to see the graphics card. With this laptop, I'm not wanting to rip it open. I will look at the documentation I got with it and see what it is. Is there a way to determine what card I have via something in my computer?

A dxdiag log provides us with your system information. From what part you have in your system to the system manufacturer, it contains the information needed to help you fix your problem.


Click Start -> Run and type "dxdiag" without quotes. Push OK
The DirectX Diagnostic Tool will launch
In the lower right hand corner, push the button that says "Save All Information"
Wait while it gathers your system information and exports it to a text file. Save the output file as "DxDiag.txt" to your desktop.
Option 1: Upload the exported file to an upload site
Option 2: Open up the saved file
Copy the text from the first line to where it has the words "Video Accel:" Paste the text here. it should look something like this:

Here it is, I hope. By the way, in looking around on the net, I keep coming across sites that have a registry cleaning program. They start off saying it is free but after you run the thing and get a number of problems displayed like 345, you find out that they will only fix 15 and you have to send money to get them all cleaned. I don't mind sending money but which one is good. Any suggestions? John

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 11/15/2007, 18:16:56
Machine name: JOHNSCPU
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_qfe.070227-2300)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: TOSHIBA
System Model: Satellite A105
BIOS: BIOS Version 2.00
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU T5500 @ 1.66GHz (2 CPUs)
Memory: 1014MB RAM
Page File: 649MB used, 1794MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.2180 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Music Tab: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.
Network Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D: 0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: Mobile Intel(R) 945GM Express Chipset Family
Manufacturer: Intel Corporation
Chip type: Intel(R) Calistoga Graphics Controller
DAC type: Internal
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_27A2&SUBSYS_FF101179&REV_03
Display Memory: 128.0 MB
Current Mode: 1280 x 800 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Default Monitor
Monitor Max Res:
Driver Name: ialmrnt5.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.4436 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 11/27/2005 22:12:08, 36990 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
VDD: n/a
Mini VDD: ialmnt5.sys
Mini VDD Date: 11/27/2005 22:20:20, 1353820 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B78E66-64E2-11CF-9D63-1ADFA2C2CB35}
Vendor ID: 0x8086
Device ID: 0x27A2
SubSys ID: 0xFF101179
Revision ID: 0x0003
Revision ID: 0x0003
Video Accel:

Toshiba lists quite a few versions of Satellite A105. Any idea what your specific model is?

http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/t..._sc_modSel.jsp

I just looked at a few and did not see the Intel(R) Calistoga Graphics Controller.

What I did see was all @ 12/05 which is similar to your date.

If it were a heat issue some suggest placing the laptop at an angle to the desk or table top so the bottom gets more air flow.

As to the registry cleaner do not buy any. More details in my next post.

The Registry is constantly changing as you use your computer. Many temporary settings are recorded so having a recurrence of errors is not uncommon. Rather it is common. Unused file extensions or MRU entries will always recur.

That being said: the first time that you ever use a cleaner you will probably get several hundred hits.

If you cleanup regularly you will always find some.

Cleaners vary on how deep they dig.

I use this freeware which is a moderate digger:

RegSeeker

A deep digger is jv 16 PowerTools

The current version needs to be purchased but you can still get the old freeware version here:

http://www.oldversion.com/program.php?n=jv16

Before using any cleaner you should back up your registry.

ERUNT is a great free tool for that:

[ERUNT] Registry Backup and Restore for Windows
http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/


[ERUNT Download URLs]
http://www.aumha.org/downloads/erunt.zip
http://www.aumha.org/downloads/erunt-setup.exe


[Installing & Using ERUNT]
http://www.winxptutor.com/regback.htm
http://www.silentrunners.org/sr_eruntuse.html
http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-on...runt/erunt.txt


Hope this helps.

My model # is PSAA8U-1L 502K

Above that number is Satellite A105 - S4384

I hope this helps.

Curious... Toshiba only lists Vista drivers for that model:

http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/t...ceghdgngdgmm.0

I bought it right before Vista came out. I was told that it was Vista ready and that all I had to do was make a call and get Vista for free. I did that and have it here in a drawer. I have been told that I shouldn't install it until at least the first service pack is released. I guess problems abound. I use Excel, Wordperfect, frontpage, thunderbird and firefox. One of the guys at CircuitCity even told me once that all the Microsoft software I had will not work on Vista. He said I had to buy all new Vista ready software. That scared me but I really don't believe it. Or should I?