computer freezes during scan (be it Windows Defender, Anti-virus, or SFC/scannow)

[Daniel]

This friend of mine has real problem with her laptop (Vista sp1).

it was first noticed when her anti-virus did a scheduled scan. The
anti-virus program hung whilst scanning the System32 folder.

I tried with Windows Defender. Same thing, it hangs after a while.

I de-activated her anti-virus program (forgot the name. Not a well known
brand) and downloaded/installed Avast, to no avail. it also hangs whilst
scanning the System32 folder.

I also tried to scan using SFC/scannow. The PC freezes at 68 % of the scan.

I tried these different manipulation in safe mode. Same results.

and everytime, the PC Freezes and I am obliged to do a hard stop/restart.

I am stuck. I just don't know what to try next, or what to look for.

any clue, suggestion, magic potion ?

[Mr. Arnold]

scan with an online scanner...

<http://housecall.trendmicro.com/>

scan for rootkit...

<http://www.recipester.org/Recipe:Use_Rootkit_Revealer_to_look_for_rootkits_31708842>

I'd like to add - it seems to me there might be a hardware problem -
failing power supply, overheating, failing memory, etc., ad nauseam.

That sort of thing can be hard to exclude or to verify, sadly.

Yes, Gene, I cannot rule out such a hardware problem.

[Daniel]

Many thks, Mr Arnold for your quick answer.
I will try these 2 methods.
(FYI I also tried the Symantec online scan... it also freezes after a while)

[Americano]

Try this:

Pres the Windows KEY + R
Type: -msconfig-
Select the Services Tab
Check the box entitled, "Hide all Microsoft Services"
Click "Disable All"
Click Apply
Go back and uncheck the program you want to scan with or use.
Click OK
Restart the computer.

Try it then...

[Dave-UK]

Is this the same laptop as in the other thread you started ( virus ? nmarta.dll) ?

Do yourself and everyone else a favour and keep to one thread at a time.

It may seem to be no longer appropriate to you because you are sitting in front
of the machine and can see the results of what you have tried.
Everyone else is in the dark as to what's going on.
I suggested running Malwarebytes and you said you would let us know about
the results. Another poster suggested SUPERAntiSpyware, both on-line and off-line,
as well. You said you would try the different suggestions.
I'm guessing you ran them and they found nothing. It would be polite to report
back so that people know what's going on.
Instead of giving us any feedback you start another thread without mentioning
anything about having run Malwarebytes or Superantispyware.
So off we go again trying to second guess what you have or have not done and
what does or doesn't work.

[Daniel]

Yes, indeed, Dave.

I am working on and off on that PC, but I am getting nowhere. I just don't
know whether it is infected or not.

I really do appreciate it. Will try this manipulation, it looks interesting.

I understand. Simply, what I wrote in the object line and the way I
formulated the problem in my first post didn't seem appropiate any longer.
brgds

You are absolutely right, Dave. Not very good from my part. And I do
apologize to those who are so kind as to try to help me.

I don't have access to that PC all the time, and can only "visit" it now and
then, between my appointments. Which is not very efficient, because I lose
track, and my friend cannot really manage with the manipulations.
I need to take a day off to concentrate on this matter.
According to my friend, Malwarebites stalls after a while.

As suggested I went to VirusTotal and had several files checked. They were
OK.

didn't get a chance yet to try superantispyware.

I was suggested to run SFC, before doing anything else, which I did, to no
avail, for it also freezes after a while.

I won't be able to work on it for a few days, and will then definitely try
the other tests Mr Arnold and Americano and yourself suggested.

As a recap, according to what I could see myself, The PC freezes totally and
systematically during a scan (windows Defender, Avast, SFC, and some on-line
scans). Being in safe mode doesn't make a difference.
And, very occasionally, it freezes for no reason, the screen becoming
totally black, except for the pointer, which I can move. Otherwise, all the
applications seem to behave properly, and Internet acces is also OK.

there is no "fancy" software installed. My friend never install anything in
fact, and cannot relate the occurrence of the pbm with anything she could
have done.
There doesn't seem to be any unusual processes running.
This laptop is a Sony VIO something. Sorry, forgot the model Nbr, with Vista
SP1. Seems to start pretty fast, actually.

Many Thanks again Dave, for your time and concern. And your different
suggestions.

I plan to take a day off next week and concentrate on this problem.

I will keep you posted. Although this problem is really interesting, it 's
getting bad for the nerves !

[Dave-UK]

No need to apologise, I assumed you had the machine in front of you.
I too have had computer-induced stress in the past!
As you say, you need to spend a bit of time on the problem.

If SFC is failing to complete it might be useful to run chkdsk.
This may take some time to run.
Also have a look at the Performance Monitor to see if any of the software
hangs have been reported.
Control Panel
System Maintenance
Performance Information and tools
On the left - Advanced tools
Open Reliability and Performance Monitor
Reliability Monitor
Clicking on an item will display details.
Also have a look in the Event Viewer.
Control Panel
System and Security
Admin tools

[Daniel]

just to let you know, I took a day off to deal with my friend's lowly PC.

I tried everything, meaning Mr Arnold's, Americano's and Dave's suggestions,
to no avail. Every single anti-malware tool I used (installed or on line)
failed, stalling during the scan somewhere in the System32 folder. Be it in
normal or safe mode.
Thorough Hardware or disk check didn't give any result.
so, after hours of manipulations, at my friend's request, I decided to
reinstall Vista and everything.
As u can guess, it took a lonnng time...
Everything seems to be OK now.
I am simply frustrated not to know the exact cause of the problem we had.

Thanks everybody again for your time and kind help. This is definitely a
great NG.