I've just bought a new monitor. I use MS XP. When not in use the screen freezes with an egg-timer in the middle. I have to reboot each time in order to free it up. I've checked the power-off in Control Panel - OK. I've down loaded the correct driver. The previous 'older' tube monitor worked fine: problems have arisen since installing this one. Can you help ? Bill
The hourglass / egg-timer you're seeing has NOTHING to do with your new monitor. It is an indication that some program (possibly something NASTY) is running and using the CPU. While the CPU is tied up by the (possibly unknown) program, Windows displays the hourglass so you will know that the system is busy... First, update your antivirus program, then use it to scan your ENTIRE hard drive; this could take HOURS, so you might want to let the AV program work all night. If you don't have an AV program, you can do an online scan of your system in order to find the culprit; open Internet Explorer, then open this link: http://housecall.trendmicro.com Run the FREE online scan; again, this could take HOURS to finish, so you might want to let it run all night to see if the problem can be resolved... There are OTHER types of nasty software ("malware") which could have the same effect on your system, so if you can't find the source of the problem, open these links for more information: http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=35407 http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=44525 I realize that this probably isn't what you expected, but at least now you know what is most likely to be causing this problem, and the links I've posted can help you correct this problem... Lastly, this COULD be caused by a program you (or someone else with access to your system) has intentionally installed, but you didn't mention adding any software recently, and I think it is best to atacck this problem head-on. Best of luck; let us know what you learn...
Free Online Virus Scan Antivirus Software Trend Micro...
HouseCall is free virus scanner...
READ RUN ME FIRST Malware Removal Guide incl spyware...
READ RUN ME FIRST Malware Removal...
How to Protect yourself from malware MajorGeeks...
How to Protect yourself from malware...
Posted on Apr 01, 2007
Moving the mouse keeps the CPU busy updating the position of the mouse pointer (AKA the cursor), which prevents the unknown program from taking control of your system...
Open Control Panel, and click on the Display icon. When the Display Properties open, click on the Screen Saver tab. Next, click on the Power button. Look on the Power Schemes tab; set your system to the "Home/Office Desk" option, then set the "Turn off monitor", "Turn off hard disks", and "System standby" options to "NEVER". Next, click the "Apply" button, then click on the "Hibernate" tab. Make sure the "Enable Hibernation" box is NOT checked; if there is a checkmark in the box, use the mouse to remove it, then click the "Apply" button again, then click the "OK" buttons, and finally, close the Control Panel. Once you're back to the Desktop, test the system to see if the monitor still goes blank, and if the hourglass reappears. The monitor SHOULD remain active, though I suspect you will still see the hourglass... Making these changes will eliminate the chance that Windows itself is responsible for blanking the monitor (for power-saving purposes), though you'll still have to deal with whatever program is causing the hourglass to appear...
Since you've scanned the system with your AV program and found no problems, the odds are that your system is infected with a "malware" program which the AV program cannot detect, which is why I suggested following the steps listed on those MajorGeeks.com webpages to try to disinfect your system. As a general rule, antivirus programs are NOT designed to solve the type of problem you're experiencing, but it was best to begin this process by scanning your computer with an AV program to rule out the worst-case scenario, which you've done.
I hate to tell you this, but I suspect that you're going to have to follow the steps listed on the MajorGeeks webpages here:
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread....
and here:
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread....
to find and eliminate the rogue program (or programS) which are causing the problems you've described. I KNOW that it seems like a LOT of work, but it is the BEST method I've ever found for fixing the types of problems you're experiencing... I get paid to repair computers, and I can attest to the effectiveness of the methods used by the advisory staff at MajorGeeks.com; their procedures are as thorough as any you'll find, and the advice they provide is outstanding. I use their methods to clean (and protect) the infected systems I encounter each week, and I can only hope you'll take my advice here and begin the system disinfection process they recommend, so you will have the peace of mind of knowing that your system has been properly scanned, cleaned, and protected...
Good luck with this; if we lived on the same continent, I'd be more than happy to help you with a housecall, but there are multiple time zones between us, and I regret to say that a personal housecall simply isn't within the realm of possibility...
Best wishes to you from your American cousin, and I pray that the hostages being held against their will in Iran are released soon, so they can return to their loved ones...
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Thanks for your comments. You are clearly correct - it cannot be a monitor matter, the same thing occurred when I reconnected my old one. However, I have run a full virus check with up-to-date checker (Norton 2007), I have cleaned up the HD, got rid of unnecessary files,(I have yet to defrag); I have tried (without success) to restore the system to a point some 2 weeks ago. For some reason it could not do it. So I am still left with the problem.
If the computer is left running for, say, 5-10 minutes, the screen goes blank, the mouse is inoperative, and there is that damned egg-timer in the middle of a blank screen. The only way out of this is to re-boot.
One thing which may help you advise further is that I can forestall the crash by constantly moving the mouse. (I sat and read a book for some 3 hours, with the mouse in my hand !). That way, the system stays 'up'.
Any further ideas, please ?
Hi cousin !
Thanks very much for the careful advice. Much appreciated !
I've done all that and it has cured the screen freeze problem - without any evidence of the egg-timer.
I will go carefully through the Malware procedures as suggested, but it does look very 'techy' so it will be a very careful expedition on my part. I have one further complication which has arisen and which I am negotiating with MS support over. For some reason I am now getting an error message indicating a failure to load document viewer, together with a similar one to do with MS.Net Framework. There is a download dealing (I think) with the latter, but it has failed twice to download successfully - hence the contact with MS Tech Support.
If you have a view on that I'd be interested.
Many thanks
Bill
By the way: when can I (or should I) check the tick box on Hiberation in Control Panel Display ?
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