Computer Freezing & Scanning disk on reboot

#1 jimmy1966

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Posted 01 November 2008 - 03:50 PM

Hello all.

This week my computer kept randomly freezing at different time and the only way to use it again was to switch it off and reboot it. During the reboot I had a message saying it was scanning disk for consistency. Then delete corrurpt attributes, something about orphaned files(?) and other things, and then finallly coming to my usual enter password to access windows.

This happpens repeatedly, and now when it starts up i get a message about riched20.dll couldnt open

Have I got a trojan/virus? Im really new to all this and Im worried my computer of 4 months has broken already!

Any advice is gratefully recieved and apologies if Im posting in wrong forum

This post has been edited by jimmy1966: 01 November 2008 - 03:52 PM

#2 usasma

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Posted 01 November 2008 - 04:18 PM

Are you using Outlook for email? If so, this article may help with the error message: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/291651

- John
**If you need a more detailed explanation, please ask for it. I have the Knack. **

#3 jimmy1966

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Posted 01 November 2008 - 04:22 PM

no - i never use outlook at all. Think it may of been with skype?

But this has only just started happening.

The first problem was the scan disk on reboot

#4 DJBPace07

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Posted 01 November 2008 - 04:23 PM

Anytime your PC is not properly shut down, Windows will run a disk check. This will scan your hard drive for errors that may have happened during a disruptive shut down. Riched20.dll is a file which contains functions for rich text edit control. Typically, this file is often used in Office, Outlook, and other word processing programs for text. Damage to this file may prevent it from opening. What errors are you getting when your PC freezes? Does it just freeze with no message at all?

#5 jimmy1966

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Posted 01 November 2008 - 04:37 PM

no messages at all. It is usually on the internet when it happens..

It doesnt matter what keys i press nothing happens.

ctrl alt delete therefore doesnt work

i just have that blue 'thinking' cursor ring on infront of whatever page i was on

the other occasions when my pc hasnt shut down properly, on reboot i have the open windows in safe mode, and the other 2 options. It never before automatically went to the scan disk

#6 DJBPace07

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Posted 01 November 2008 - 07:45 PM

When a PC freezes like that, it is generally an indication that something is seriously wrong. Whether or not Windows runs a disk check sometimes depends on how the PC froze. A PC I had a couple of years ago would freeze when placed under certain kinds of CPU stress. It would rarely scan the disk, more often, I would return to Windows as though nothing bad happened. Your issue could be hardware related. Have you done anything to the PC such as install new hardware or drivers?

This post has been edited by DJBPace07: 01 November 2008 - 10:55 PM

#7 jimmy1966

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Posted 02 November 2008 - 04:00 AM

i havent installed anything new at all

#8 usasma

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Posted 02 November 2008 - 05:18 AM

Try a hard drive diagnostic. You can find links to the more common manufacturers here: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic28744.html

- John
**If you need a more detailed explanation, please ask for it. I have the Knack. **

#9 jimmy1966

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Posted 02 November 2008 - 02:26 PM

i have a dell inspiron 1525, and Im not sure which one to use. Would i do any damage if i selected the wrong one?

#10 usasma

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Posted 02 November 2008 - 02:59 PM

Select the Hitachi Drive Fitness Test and run it. It'll list a model number for your drive - and that can be googled to find the manufacturer. Go ahead and run the Hitachi test anyway - if it fails your drive that's a good indication that it's dead/dying

- John
**If you need a more detailed explanation, please ask for it. I have the Knack. **

#11 jimmy1966

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Posted 03 November 2008 - 10:14 AM

tried that, when i go to open the download i get this message

C:\\Windows\system\RICHED20.dll is either not designed to run on
Windows or it contains an error. Try installing the program again using
the original installation media or contact your system administrator or
the software vendor for support

Could you please explain that in laymans terms!

I get the same message when i try to open microsoft works

#12 usasma

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Posted 03 November 2008 - 03:49 PM

Try running chkdsk /r again - if it gives errors again I'd suspect your hard drive.
If not, then it's likely a software issue - which could be malware or an OS corruption.

Here's some free, online scanners to help rule out malware: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/blogs/usas...?showentry=1252

- John
**If you need a more detailed explanation, please ask for it. I have the Knack. **

#13 DJBPace07

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Posted 03 November 2008 - 04:10 PM

You could try replacing the Riched20.dll file. Updates and other program modifications may have corrupted that file. You could try downloading a new Riched20.dll file. But, that won't stop your PC from freezing.

#14 jimmy1966

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Posted 03 November 2008 - 07:36 PM

as i couldnt get MS Works to start, i got that rich.dll message, i uninstalled it, then tried to install it again.

On the start up wizard i got this message

error 2894. internal error 2894.193

and it refuses to install