Suspected Registry / Driver Issue - Vista forever loads

Hi everyone,
When I load Windows Vista normally, when it first gets into Vista it just hangs there and keeps "loading". So much for the fact that I cannot even get into anything because it's lagging so bad.

I'm not a pro like the rest of you but I do know my general way around a computer. So having said that, when I loaded Windows in Safe Mode with Networking, everything works fine and is smooth.

Thanks to assistance from TimW in the malware forum, we determined that this was not a virus / spyware issue, but a software issue.

I am trying to assist in fixing this computer for the family. I believe what happened is someone downloaded a program and because it took so long to install that the user "cancelled" the install by clicking on the cancel button while it was installing. I believe this is where the issue lies, as I think it may have corrupted the registry / drivers. Unfortunately, I'm not a pro in that area.

When I run msconfig and choose "selective startup" and click on the services tab, if I disable them all then restart windows normally. I can get into Windows no problems. The only exception is that I can't use sound, internet, etc making it pretty much useless to the family. Also, all of the startup items are disabled.

Basically I'm at a loss of what to do next. It doesn't seem to me like an earth shattering issue, but to you pros this may be an easy fix. (Here's to hoping)

Any assistance and direction you can provide me with will be greatly appreciated. Note that I can get into Windows Safe Mode with Networking and everything is smooth there, hence why I think it's a registry / driver issue.

Thank you for your help in advance,

CG

 

Hi Tim,

I actually tried that this afternoon. I went and checked off the first 5 choices on the list then rebooted Windows. When I did that, I only got as far as the welcome screen and then it stalled.

Is there any programs or anything else we can do, or do you feel that this is the best way possible to try and sniff out what is wrong.

I'm really starting to get at a loss here.

CG

 

I don't usually deal with services but I want to be sure it is a services problem. So I want to rule out the Startup items.

So, with just the Startup items disabled but all the Services enabled it is still slow, correct?

 

Hi Everyone,

It seems that I have fixed the problem. Earlier I said I checked the first 5 choices off and noted that it didn't load. So I just retried it one by one and on the second item in that list is where it caused the system to seize up.

Turns out once I disabled just that one and enabled everything else, it worked normally.

The culprit turned out to be "Akami Netsession Interface" and I have no idea where that came from, so basically I found out where it was located in the program files and uninstalled it.

Came off the list, then re-enabled a normal boot and no issue.

Thanks for your help and your time, especially to TimW.

CG