Taskbar Help

[Firstmate]

I recently got my sister's old laptop. Its decent, but the problem is the taskbar keeps freezing up randomely. I can' click the start button, any of the quick launch items, any open windows, or anything in the tray. Although I can use Alt-Tab to switch between existing tabs, get to the desktop and launch a program somehow from the files, its too much work...
I got Windows Vista, 1GB RAM, 80GB HD

I should note that it freezes, and then everything I did with it (click firefox in quick launch or right clicked on taskbar) will all happen like 5-7 minutes later...

[nivek_hcerg]

With that PC hardware I wouldn't dare using windows Vista. I even wouldn't like to use it on my 2GB ram, q6600 quad-processor and 400Gb HDD space especially on laptops. Also, maybe because it heats up and so the cpu would slow down to cool and when it's cool enough goes full speed again

[utkarsh30june]

Use and scan your PC with an Updated Antivirus. Alternatively, you can Update or Reinstall your Graphics drivers. If needed, do install Windows Xp ;) and check if the problem still persists. You may also try Formatting your System and Installing Windows Vista (if you have its DVD :P).
According to me, most probable cause is the Corrupt and buggy Graphics Drivers. Please Try Updating your Drivers first by downloading them from the Internet.
Your problem should be solved.If not, please consult us again.:)

[Polkadot]

It does sound like an overheating problem to me also. It could also be too many processes running in the background. Does your sister have lots of Google gadgets and/or other stuff. Even though you may think that they are doing nothing, they are filling up RAM and often have services in the background. Try killing some processes and see if there is any improvement. If they are 'auto-starts, they will just restart on next boot.

[Odie]

I think Polkadot is right. Have a look at the services, you will probably find that the indexing service is eating a lot of your resources.

[Firstmate]

Her comp has been overheating for a while, thats true. But it's less now that she gave it to me. I've taken out many services/startup items that would slow down the overall performance of this system.

I have a ubuntu on a CD, i put it somewhere, I might find it and overwrite the vista files witht he Linux ones, but havn't completly decided if I want to do that, since my dad would probably kill me :P

[utkarsh30june]

Well, now it seems to be an overheating problem

[terrydman]

You can try Speedfan to check the temperature of the HDD - in any case I would just "clean up" the PC, get rid of everything not absolutely necessary - and defragment.

[tangomouse]

just to end the 1gig vista wont run rite!!.... its codswallup! my system is 1gig amd 64 3400, running vista "ultimate" no problems what so ever!!! "even with aero" , yes its recamended that vista has 2gb or more but ive installed vista on laptops with 512mb and ran it fine! ,and i know what am talking about i just happen to work for stationxmedia.com as there field engineer!

ok! if its slow its proberly full of the normal crap ,first id run a spyware/virus scan ,then clean all the crap off ,clean reg and defrag it... or the easyer option is fresh Os install!!! as for overheating theres speedfan but lol it comes with a warning that it can blowup u hd "apprantly it happend to one guy who was using speedfan at the time and killed him ,ask me hd was faulty to begin with" anyway am rambling here!.. or u can use everest to get system temps