Serious issues (WLAN, sound, freeze) with ASUS F3JC

Hi everyone,

Tried searching this forum, but I couldn't find what I was looking for. I have three major problems, which may be related (hopefully they are).
These problems concern the ASUS F3Jc model. WLAN adapter is an Intel 3945ABG or a Gigabyte GN-WI01GT and the OS is (surprise!) Windows XP Pro.
Here it goes ...

1. The network tango
This problem showed up when I started using the WLAN. Everything works just great for a while, but all of a sudden bad things start to happen. The wireless connection is slowing the whole computer down. When I e.g. enter a web page with a couple of heavy images, e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g is slowing down. Even the mouse starts lagging. It's a BATTLE to get the mouse pointer where you want it.
If I switch off the WLAN on the front of the laptop, it all goes back to normal (except that my network is dead of course). The mouse now moves freely again.
Well ... most of you would probably say: "It's the WLAN adapter".
I say it's not! It's been changed and the problem still remains. And yes, I have tried every driver there is, old and new.

2. Cold, freezing death
This problem is of the fatal kind, and also more common I think. All laptop users have probably experienced a good old deadlock. It's a freeze ... cold as ice. Not one pixel is changing. You cannot use Ctrl+Alt+Del and you cannot wait this one out. Holding down the power button for a about four seconds turns off the machine.
My freezes seems to, once again, happen when the network is somehow involved. E.g.: I was using Photoshop, and had been doing that for quite a while, when I opened MSN Messenger. BANG! It's a freeze, ladies and gentlemen ...
My in-a-row-record is – thank God for that – only two. Tried to open a web page = freeze. Did the power thing and started up again. Tried to open the same webpage = freeze. And no ... haven't tried that since.
The strange thing here is that my friend experiences the same thing. He had the MSN Messenger freeze, just like me. Only thing is ... he hasn't had a single problem with his WLAN otherwise.

3. How does that sound?
My sound is good. Nice bass, fine treble. Just a slight – did I say slight? – problem here though. It's like listening to a radio with really bad reception. You know you c... he... so... words bu... it's not a plec... exper...

Should I paint my lid with the words Lag and freeze you sack of ****, or is there a solution to this tedious problem of mine?
I'm scheduling a reinstallation of XP Pro this week. That is, when I find the time and strength. If such a simple measure fixes my problem(s), no one is happier than me of course. But I'm not quite sure about the odds here ...
Is there anyone out there who's had the patience to read all this crap? Any ideas on this one?

Best Regards
Mattias

 

Virus?
Trojan?
Spyware?
Disc cleanup & defrag?
Reinstall video drivers?
Is your processor running at 100%?

And a mod might want to move this thread here.

 

Format, install XP. Asus are picky with the order that you install the drivers. Start with sound, follow the disk order then.

 

None of the kind. It's a fresh install, barely used.
My only guess (and hope) is a faulty driver somewhere. But I would prefer a more specific guess than mine. Haven't tried changing the video driver though. That's abviously a good idea.
Have also run a memory test, which found no error at all.
If you mean 100% busy, then ... i have to check that. Will run the performance monitor and check.

 

Sound drivers first, OK. And by the disk order I suppose you mean the order in which the drivers are listed in the SETUP.EXE on the included CD? Is the sound driver often inclined to cause trouble?

 

Do these problems occur in safemode?

 

I'm afraid I don't know that, since the problem only shows up after quite a while. That would demand some patience. I'll try to procure some ...

I forgot the following though:

I've felt that if I hibernate or let the computer go to stand by, and then start using it again, it is much more likely to make trouble (i.e. at least the network problem, which has been my main concern).