Advice Needed

HP G60-235DX Laptop. Windows Vista.

I ran a routine scheduled antivirus scan with Avira. Before doing it, I turned off my Comodo software firewall (both the firewall and the DefensePlus). I am not behind a router. Forgot to turn firewall back on and used the computer the entire day without realizing it. I am not sure if this is part of the problem. I include this information in order to provide a complete report.

Then, programs started to stall. Windows would give a message at the top of the window, "(Not Responding)". This would last for one to three minutes.

Then had a very difficult time connecting to wireless and any software I would run -- my browser, word processor, etc, -- the software would stop responding and I would get the same message at the very top of the window -- (Not Responding). Realizing something was awry, I decided to back up important data onto a USB flash-drive via WindowsExplorer, using drag and drop method. The copying process would reach 10 to 20 percent and the process would lockup. Then got a Windows pop warning window -- "GfxUI has stopped working." Then this one -- "Explorer has stopped working."

Backup was slow, and eventually stalled on a pdf file, with this message: "Error oX8007045D: The request cold not be preformed because of an I/O device error." I skipped this file and backed up what I could.

I then ran the Windows memory Diagnostics Tool. No memory problems were reported, but did report that hardware problems were detected and to contact the manufacturer.

I then ran Chkdsk /r. Stages 1 through 4 went without a hitch. On stage 5 ("Verifying file data"), however, it would pause for approximately 15 minutes, and report that Windows replaced bad clusters in a file. This went on for the next three to four hours, eventually stalling on file 19,909 out of like 176,000 for 1/2 hour. I shut down the computer, rebooted, and went through Chkdsk /r again. This took approximately 12 hours with windows replacing bad clusters in scores of files.

Then, while trying to back up other data with a program, the software could not process the data and returned the following error message: "the process cold not be executed. This may be due to a memory problem or it could be due to a bad disk block. A bad disk block can be corrected with third party software. Chkdsk cannot correct it because it works only at the file stream level."

Now, all software programs stall as (Not Responding) for two to three minutes at startup and periodically throughout use.

I am almost positive this is not malware. I run realtime Avira, Comodo Firewall, I surf only with my browser open in Sandboxie, I use Firefox with NoScript, I run regular antimalware scans. I have autoruns turned off. And I use a restricted user account for all computer activity. I only logon as an admin if I have to install important software. In other words, I practice the safe usage techniques I learned here and of which I am greatly appreciative.

Anyone have any idea what this could be?

 

I would say dying hard drive,almost positive,get the name and model of your hard drive and run their diagnostic software on it.

I'm guessing its a laptop? You could try updating your video card driver but I doubt the driver is the problem its will most likely be the hard drive.

Go to control panel,admin tools ,event viewer and see if there are any 'errors' that share a common theme,post the name of any major ones you had in the last couple of days.

 

I agree 100%. I think it was just coincidence that the HD failed after turning off Comodo and when running an Avira scan.... most HD makers have a free diagnostic utility you can download from their web site. Download the bootable CD version and create the disc as per their instructions (usually involves burning an ISO image file to a CD; for best results, use ImgBurn; it's free and easy to use). Then boot to the burned CD and run the extended/advanced test to check your hard drive's integrity.
Good luck! Let us know if you need more help or if there's any questions!
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