computer freeze after closing applications

[aeroguy]

I have a Dell Inspiron 8000 running win ME and just the other day it started freezing whenever I closed an application (games) for about 5 minutes. I kept restarting but finally just left it alone for 5 minutes or so and it came out of it. This happens every time. I've tryed defragging and have run scan disk, as well as a virus check. It started after I downloaded a pinball game I think. I also uninstalled it right away but that didn't help. Does anyone know what could possibly be the problem? You are my hero.

 

[dexmanone]

After removing, degragging (hitting with a hammer sometimes helps HA!) does it still lockup? If so, with the same cycles?

 

[aeroguy]

Yes, still locks up, but like I said, nothing works, not even ctrl alt del, just have to wait for it. Sorry, I don't know what you mean by "with the same cycles."

 

[aeroguy]

Okay, I've figured out part of it, I think it freezes every time I play a game that changes the screen resolution. Every time that I quit, when the screen resolution changes back, the desktop gets half way through refreshing and it freezes, this last time for about 8 minutes, then finishes refreshing and runs fine. Also, it does not freeze when I change the screen resolution manually. Any ideas?

 

[dexmanone]

My guess is it's either your game, maybe compatibility, or your vid card. Seems to me it HAS to be one of these. Do you have another vid card you could drop in to test?

 

[aeroguy]

No, I don't have another video card, besides they are not user replacable (void warranty) on laptops, connected to the mobo blah, blah, blah.

Anyway I fixed the problem. It seems i downloaded a bad file off Kazaa (photoshop 6.0 zip) and it was on my desktop, and everytime i clicked on that it froze for awhile. So I clicked on it, waited 10 minutes, moved it to the trash, waited 10 minutes, emptied trash, and waited 10 minutes. I don't understand why it would do this. It is very perplexing. Thank you for your help though.