Win XP Sloooooow Start/Shut Down

Hi folks!

I have a Dell Dimension 8300, P4, 60 G HD and 512 and am running Win XP Home.

Some of you might remember my post from Feb 7 re: Adobe Reader not loading properly...we got that figured out and the conversation veered off into the fact that my system was taking a long time to boot after a shutdown/restart.

Yesterday I had to call Dell about something and while I was on the phone made the mistake of asking them what to do about the slow startup - go into msconfig and disable (almost) everything.

Thank you soooo much While I sort of understand the logic behind that, I'm thinking that with my specs, even with everything enabled, I still shouldn't be able to turn my PC on first thing in the morning, go to the bathroom, make coffee, feed the dog, get the paper, get dressed, sit down with coffee and still not have my desktop loaded.

I'm ready to get my hands dirty! Someone suggested that I get "Hijack This" so that I could post a screen shot of my start up list, but I before I do that, I have a quick question - I'm running the Zone Alarm Pro/Pest Patrol bundle - and am wondering if the Hijack This is going to conflict somehow with the latter, because their basic function sounds the same (to me!).

Thanks muchly!
Janet/Shihlhasa

 

Yeppir, ... welcome back, Shihlhasa, and let's get that thing starting up right.

You're in great hands with robo's instructions.

When you've used at least MOST of the SAFE settings Blackviper recommends, and you've killed all running APPLICATIONS first and then you've shut down to see whether shutdown speeds up noticeably (I'm getting seasick from all these ups and downs!), then come on back with a report AND the HijackThis! list of Startups (I told you how to make it yesterday in my PM to you).

 

Hi there....hokay! Way we go!!

First....when I did th Ctrl+Alt+Del thing, I was at my desktop, with nothing open. It didn't show any apps running. Did I miss something?!

Secondly, yes, I've made most of the changes suggested by Blackviper.

Neither of the above made a difference in shutdown/startup time. WAAAAAH!

Here's the info:

StartupList report, 15/02/2004, 10:43:58 AM
StartupList version: 1.52
Started from : C:\Documents and Settings\Janet Pal\Local Settings\Temp\Temporary Directory 1 for hijackthis.zip\HijackThis.EXE
Detected: Windows XP SP1 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
Detected: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP1 (6.00.2800.1106)
* Using default options
==================================================

Running processes:

C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\CTsvcCDA.exe
C:\Program Files\Canon\MultiPASS4\MPSERVIC.EXE
C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\MsPMSPSv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Canon\MultiPASS4\MPDBMgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Dell\EUSW\Support.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\DSentry.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\CTHELPER.EXE
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe
C:\WINDOWS\BCMSMMSG.exe
C:\Program Files\Dell\Support\Alert\bin\NotifyAlert.exe
C:\Program Files\ScanSoft\OmniPageSE\opware32.exe
C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\RUNDLL32.EXE
C:\Program Files\Webshots\WebshotsTray.exe
C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Janet Pal\Local Settings\Temp\Temporary Directory 1 for hijackthis.zip\HijackThis.exe

--------------------------------------------------

Listing of startup folders:

Shell folders Startup:
[C:\Documents and Settings\Janet Pal\Start Menu\Programs\Startup]
Webshots.lnk = C:\Program Files\Webshots\WebshotsTray.exe

Shell folders Common Startup:
[C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup]
CorelCENTRAL 10.lnk = ?
Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\OSA.EXE

--------------------------------------------------

Checking Windows NT UserInit:

[HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
UserInit = C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,

--------------------------------------------------

Autorun entries from Registry:
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

DwlClient = C:\Program Files\Common Files\Dell\EUSW\Support.exe
UpdReg = C:\WINDOWS\UpdReg.EXE
NvCplDaemon = RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\System32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
DVDSentry = C:\WINDOWS\System32\DSentry.exe
CTHelper = CTHELPER.EXE
ccRegVfy = "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccRegVfy.exe"
ccApp = "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe"
BCMSMMSG = BCMSMMSG.exe
Omnipage = C:\Program Files\ScanSoft\OmniPageSE\opware32.exe
Zone Labs Client = C:\PROGRA~1\ZONELA~1\ZONEAL~1\zlclient.exe
PestPatrol Control Center = C:\Program Files\PestPatrol\PPControl.exe
PPMemCheck = c:\PROGRA~1\PESTPA~1\PPMemCheck.exe
CookiePatrol = c:\PROGRA~1\PESTPA~1\CookiePatrol.exe

--------------------------------------------------

Autorun entries from Registry:
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

msnmsgr = "C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe" /background
NvMediaCenter = RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\System32\NVMCTRAY.DLL,NvTaskbarInit

--------------------------------------------------

Shell & screensaver key from C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.INI:

Shell=*INI section not found*
SCRNSAVE.EXE=*INI section not found*
drivers=*INI section not found*

Shell & screensaver key from Registry:

Shell=Explorer.exe
SCRNSAVE.EXE=C:\WINDOWS\System32\MARINE~1.SCR
drivers=*Registry value not found*

Policies Shell key:

HKCU\..\Policies: Shell=*Registry key not found*
HKLM\..\Policies: Shell=*Registry value not found*

--------------------------------------------------


Enumerating Browser Helper Objects:

(no name) - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3}
(no name) - c:\windows\googletoolbar_en_2.0.107-big.dll - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7}
NAV Helper - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll - {BDF3E430-B101-42AD-A544-FADC6B084872}

--------------------------------------------------

Enumerating Task Scheduler jobs:

Norton AntiVirus - Scan my computer.job
Symantec NetDetect.job

--------------------------------------------------

Enumerating Download Program Files:

[Checkers Class]
InProcServer32 = C:\WINDOWS\Downloaded Program Files\msgrchkr.dll
CODEBASE = http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary/msgrchkr.cab

[SysProWmi Class]
InProcServer32 = C:\WINDOWS\System32\Dell\SystemProfiler\SysPro.ocx
CODEBASE = http://support.dell.com/systemprofiler/SysPro.CAB

[Microsoft Office Template and Media Control]
InProcServer32 = C:\WINDOWS\Downloaded Program Files\IEAWSDC.DLL
CODEBASE = http://office.microsoft.com/templates/ieawsdc.cab

[PCPitstop Utility]
InProcServer32 = C:\WINDOWS\DOWNLO~1\PCPITS~1.DLL
CODEBASE = http://pcpitstop.com/pcpitstop/PCPitStop.CAB

[Shockwave ActiveX Control]
InProcServer32 = C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\Macromed\Director\SwDir.dll
CODEBASE = http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/director/sw.cab

[PPSDKActiveXScanner.MainScreen]
InProcServer32 = C:\WINDOWS\Downloaded Program Files\PPSDKActiveXScanner.ocx
CODEBASE = http://www.pestscan.com/scanner/axscanner.cab

[YInstStarter Class]
InProcServer32 = C:\WINDOWS\Downloaded Program Files\yinsthelper.dll
CODEBASE = http://download.yahoo.com/dl/installs/yinst.cab

[Office Update Installation Engine]
InProcServer32 = C:\WINDOWS\opuc.dll
CODEBASE = http://office.microsoft.com/officeupdate/content/opuc.cab

[OPUCatalog Class]
InProcServer32 = C:\WINDOWS\System32\opuc.dll
CODEBASE = http://office.microsoft.com/productupdates/content/opuc.cab

[Microsoft Office Template Downloader]
InProcServer32 = C:\WINDOWS\Downloaded Program Files\msotd.dll
CODEBASE = http://office.microsoft.com/ca/TemplateGallery/msotd.cab

[CScanner Object]
InProcServer32 = C:\WINDOWS\Downloaded Program Files\ppctl.dll
CODEBASE = http://www.pestscan.com/scanner/ppctlcab.cab

[HouseCall Control]
InProcServer32 = C:\WINDOWS\DOWNLO~1\xscan53.ocx
CODEBASE = http://a840.g.akamai.net/7/840/537/2003120501/housecall.antivirus.com/housecall/xscan53.cab

[AV Class]
InProcServer32 = C:\WINDOWS\Downloaded Program Files\PAV.dll
CODEBASE = http://pcpitstop.com/antivirus/PCPAV.CAB

[MessengerStatsClient Class]
InProcServer32 = C:\WINDOWS\Downloaded Program Files\messengerstatsclient.dll
CODEBASE = http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary/MessengerStatsClient.cab

[{8EDAD21C-3584-4E66-A8AB-EB0E5584767D}]
CODEBASE = http://toolbar.google.com/data/GoogleActivate.cab

[mhLabel Class]
InProcServer32 = C:\WINDOWS\Downloaded Program Files\mhLbl.dll
CODEBASE = http://pcpitstop.com/mhLbl.cab

[Update Class]
InProcServer32 = C:\WINDOWS\System32\iuctl.dll
CODEBASE = http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/CAB/x86/unicode/iuctl.CAB?37779.5610763889

[Shockwave Flash Object]
InProcServer32 = C:\WINDOWS\System32\macromed\flash\Flash.ocx
CODEBASE = http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab

[IMDownloader Class]
CODEBASE = http://www2.incredimail.com/contents/setup/downloader/imloader.cab

--------------------------------------------------

Enumerating ShellServiceObjectDelayLoad items:

PostBootReminder: C:\WINDOWS\system32\SHELL32.dll
CDBurn: C:\WINDOWS\system32\SHELL32.dll
WebCheck: C:\WINDOWS\System32\webcheck.dll
SysTray: C:\WINDOWS\System32\stobject.dll

--------------------------------------------------
End of report, 8,380 bytes
Report generated in 0.078 seconds

Command line options:
/verbose - to add additional info on each section
/complete - to include empty sections and unsuspicious data
/full - to include several rarely-important sections
/force9x - to include Win9x-only startups even if running on WinNT
/forcent - to include WinNT-only startups even if running on Win9x
/forceall - to include all Win9x and WinNT startups, regardless of platform
/history - to list version history only

Thank you, ladies and gentleman!

Janet/Shihlhasa

 

FYI...Just thought of something that *may* be pertinent - I've clearly added a lot of programs since I purchased the system which may be contributing to the problem - BUT the slow shutdown/startup has been a problem since the getgo and was what prompted a call to Dell within a week or so of taking delivery.

Janet

 

If you UNinstall NAV, does the problem go away?

EDIT to add the UN

 

No, you didn't miss anything. Everything problematic is running in the background, not as a windowed application, and much of the problem with startups is too many scans and checkups running every boot, and much of the problem with shutdowns is too much stuff that doesn't have its Options settings quite right, and ... you get my drift.

Hafta thinkabouddit ferrabit.
BUT... Firrrrst:

You're on cable or DSL, right? NOT dial-up, right?

There are so many potential conflicts in your list that it's kinda hard for me to believe your computer is starting at all, actually.

NORTON is the major problem, and we can move on from there. Nearly everything is potentially in conflict with anything NORTON, and NORTON doesn't play nice with much of anything that tries to get into its territory.

And Webshots is AWFUL stuff to have on your computer, anyway! But we'll overlook that.

I'll sorta think about a plan of action and get back today after lunch (Eastern).

robo may sweep in here and fix the whole thing while I'm gone. That would be Grrrreat!

EDIT: I didn't know all of you other guys were in here. I'm a slow typist. Pls keep up the good work. Back inawhile.

 

ok just to add a couple of things i cant see anything in the thread saying how the system performs in safe mode
also i was wondering wether using bootvis may reveal anything
available here
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download664.html

just my 2 cents ill step out again now guys

 

I wonder if Norton and Zone Labs could be tangling up. And I agree Wiz, Web Shots is an awful thing. Might want to shoot the messenger too. I'm sure between you and GLS and Robo she'll be flying right real quick

 

Update...

Hi everyone - just wanted to give an update to answer some of the questions that have been posed....

Zone Alarm is a new addition to my system.

The shutdown is a bit faster in Safe Mode, but otherwise there is no difference.

I've uninstalled Webshots and Yahoo Messanger (what's wrong with Webshots?!) and set MSN Instant Messanger to NOT load on starting Windows.....no change.

This wasn't asked, and I don't know if it makes a difference, but I use RegScrubXP on a fairly regular basis and *always* after uninstalling something.

Norton. Hmmmm. As I said, the slow startup has been a problem since the getgo and Norton was one of the first programs that I added. I haven't tried uninstalling it recently, but I did in the beginning and I don't recall it making a huge difference. I've heard before that Norton doesn't play nice though and has the potential to conflict with most everything - what do you folks recommend as AV protection?

Thanks as always,
Janet

 

I see you're there. hang in there. I'm back and I'll try to get together all the ideas. These people are terrific.

 

Did you answer about dial-up/cable/DSL?

 

Someone link Janet to the Verisign/Norton issue

Im currently predisposed to search for it atm

 

Team,
I dunno, but Janet says she's had this startup/shutdown prob since the beginning with this machine, so ...
I've been looking at my list of things she can shut down completely and things she can TRY shutting down, and what I'm thinking is that if she shuts down everything in msconfig/startup, she might STILL get this bad stup-shdn action, which wd mean ???

What to do if all the shutting and stopping leaves her with no change, as did Safe Mode starting and stopping?

I'm going to give her a startup manager to use (no install; no load at boot) and get her to try a lot of things, but I'm thinking she's right from the start: if the machine were working properly, she shd be able to start and stop a LOT faster than she can, even WITH all this baggage.

Comments, please.

 

I mentioned what I said because of this:

 

@wizewiz
the start-up manager sounds good
ive had a look through the log again and a couple of things ive seen
this
Shell folders Common Startup:
[C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup]
CorelCENTRAL 10.lnk = ?
Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\OSA.EXE

corel central is not pointing to any directory has this been uninstalled

also as noted before quite a few things scheduled like this
PPMemCheck.exe i dont know much about pest patrol but is this and a couple of other PP exes scheduled to run on boot up

also does anyone else think bootvis may be worth a shot

also on the slow shutdowns is it worth checking out event viewer to see if theres any mention of hanging apps or processes

 

Adryn & GLS:
Yes, I too think Norton's probably the culprit, Adryn. My ploy is going to be to STOP it entirely instead of uninstalling it, just to see.
MS now says that XP does everything that bootvis can do, but does it over a few days, General, so MS took it down and no longer offers it. Trick is, if she's had this prob for a long time and bootvis OR XP could fix it by themselves, it would be fixed, yes? We've kicked bootvis around a lot on my other forum (TweakXP), and we think MS is right. Bootvis didn't solve anything that XP couldn't by itself.
OK, so I think you're right on with the Corel and the OSA, General, and she has the messenger service disabled now, so I'm going to go for the Dell support files (3 of them) that probably all call home every boot and maybe every shutdown, and CTHelper is support for SoundBlaster that seems to be unnecessary but slow, and BCMSMMSG looks to be support for a dial-up modem, and she's on cable, and she's dumped Webshots (but I'll bet it's still in there!),, SO...
I'm gonna start on the list with Janet. Unless you guys want to jump in (please do, if so.)

 

Janet, aka Shihlhasa,

You can't print the screen of the StartupMgr (it's an old app, like its authors), so come back and tell me whether you can see these things when you open it:
CTHelper.exe
Support. exe
Updreg.exe
BCMsMMSG.exe
ANYTHING Webshots
NotifyAlert.exe
DSEntry.exe
PPControl.exe
PPMemecheck.exe
Cookie Patrol.exe
OSA.exe
CORELCENTRAL

Just tell me which ones in that list you DON'T see

 

I do NOT see:

Support.exe
Anything Webshots
NotifyAlert.exe
DSentry.exe (altho DVDSentry.exe is there)
OSA.exe

 

Support, Notify, and DSentry are DELL startups that porobably call home.

OK, in Startup Manager, click
CTHelper.exe
then clcik the red X at the top of the window (we're just making it not start up at next boot; it's still going to be there when you want it)
do the same (click it then click red X) for
Updreg.exe
BCMsMMSG.exe
PPControl.exe
PPMemecheck.exe
CORELCENTRAL
AND
Cookie Patrol.exe

Then close StupMgr, open INternet Options (In Control Panel or in IE Tools), go to Advanced tab, scroill way down to near bottom, UNcheck "Check for publisher's certificate revocation. Apply. OK.

Close everything

Reboot and come back and report.

 

Coffee anyone?!

As in....I brewed a pot while I was waiting for it to reboot

The desktop itself did load faster without Webshots, but if asked I will deny that I admitted it

Janet

 

this is tricky waiting for reboot was it the shutting down process or the starting process that took a long time
just wondering if my suggestion earlier to check the event viewer for anything hanging on shutdown

 

It's the startup that's painfully slow. I'm sitting here for a good 2 minutes plus with nothing but a flashing cursor on a blank screen AFTER the Dell startup info flashes on the screen (you know, the one where it gives me the option of going into Setup etc.).

Janet

 

Ok, you can go back in to StuMgr and select each of the ones you red-X'd and give each one a green check. Dangit.

And so, we're left with Adrynalyne's hypothesis that it's Norton all by itself, UNLESS ...

After you finish re-enabling all in StupMgr,
Can you find
Dell DwlClient
Dell UpdReg
ccRegVfy
ccApp (you may have to pull the right border of the StupMgr window as far as poss to the right to see everything for a startup line)

and how about nVidiaMedia Center?

If youcan find any of those, let's disable them and try the reboot again (after you've re-enabled those others that didn't change anything)

We haven't tried anything with Zone Alarm because you told us it's a recent addition.
================
If there's nothing dramatic this time, the last resoort will be UnInstall NAV (all of the NAV set) and run RegScrubXP to get all of it out of there and then reboot and IF that works, we'll get you a new anti-virus in a twinkling, before you can get anything.

Sorry. I was hoping for dramatic whoopees, not coffee offers.

OHyeah: GLS's suggestion is great: check the event viewers-- System and Application -- to see whether there are any warnings. They'll stand out and you can double click to read what it says. Get to event viewers easily: right click My Comp, Manage, clcik Event Viewre, then open Application and System in turn.

 

I hafta run guys but . . . if nothing else is working I'm thinking that maybe walking her through Black Viper and applying any needed tweaks might help. Also another horrid thought occurrs: Could this be bios related -- as in flash it and see if new drivers are needed?

 

Those two scheduled tasks: NAV scan my computer and SymantecNetDetect --- are they by any chance scheduled to run at every start of Windows?

Thanks, bill. We'll consider that re BIOS. Yes, she took care of BV's recommendations. Thanks again.

 

More coffee?! Waaaaaaah!!

This round I disabled Dell DwlClient, ccRegVfy, ccApp and nVidia Media Centre.

So, I guess I'm off to uninstall NAV and do a scrub down. Antything special I need to know before I do that?

Janet

 

Yes. Make sure you are ina normal startup when you uninstall.

 

Damn, double damn, and dee-double damn.

Best go back in StupMgr and re-enable all.
And what about the scheduled tasks: every startup? Can they be disabled to test?

You have your Norton registration #'s recorded somewhere so you can re-install later if this doesn't work?

Well, Norton is notoriously difficult to get to let go, so first use Add-Remove programs and Remove all.
Then find the old Norton folders and empty all and dlete the folders.
The run RegScrubXP and let "RegScrub find problems" first, then run User Determines button, and look for Norton in the Main key and the far right columns (I forget: it's been six months since I used that one).

Then, of course, reboot, and come back, and if you have nothing to celebrate about, break it to us GENTLY.

EDIT: What Adryn SAID! We want all your stuf re-enabled before you reboot and do the uninstall. OK?

 

well ive just spent about half hour in the dell support forums(man that server is slow) and this is a real common problem and most of the problems seem to be with norton or the YAHOO dsl browser stuff
so looks like norton has got to be an issue looking at the log i can only see one reference to yahoo so im not sure if thats a problem or not guess wed better wait and see what the results of the norton uninstall brings

 

Ummmmm......okay. Have a seat everyone.

I got rid of everything Norton. (Everything Yahoo, too, but I scrubbed that earlier this aft.).

And, Houston, we still have a problem.

Janet

 

Well, you might as well put Norton back or get AVG from Major Geeks and install that.

I am so sorry none of this fixed the problem.

Please put it back in normal order now as you wish, and mebbe we can kick ideas around here tomorrow. I'll start a new thread then (hafta go for the evening -- sorry), and we'll look into the possible firmware or BIOS thing (see billH above) and see whether anybody thinks up NEW questions or sees NEW things in the log you posted.

It's a clean log, just crowded.

You've been a real trooper, my friend. That was a LOT more work for you than for me (us). Wish we'd found the culprit. Just the fact that the General could say this bothers me:
"ive just spent about half hour in the dell support forums(man that server is slow) and this is a real common problem ..."
Whoa! TERRIBLE shutdown and startup times are "a real common problem" on the Dell forums????
And Dell offers you nothing in tech support that will fix it????

Tomorrow, then, come on back in the afternoon or evening and see whether there's anything for you in a new thread I start then.

Very, very best regards,

Ww.

 

You know, this might be one of those times Remote Assistance comes in handy.

One of these guys could RA into your machine and have look.

I'm at work, so I can't.

 

Guys....I'm sorry too - I was hoping we could all celebrate tonight!

I want to thank *everyone* for their time and energy today - I really, really appreciate it.

I'll check back tomorrow (Monday) late afternoon/early evening.

Have a great evening and thanks again



Janet

 

Just a shot in the dark but old drivers could make it start up slowly, or perhaps a network config thats not set up properly, or maybe a printer or somthing.

I cant quite see what the slow part is, is it the bit while windows is loading, or the bit just before windows starts to load? Perhaps she needs to set the BIOS up manually rather than automatically detect anything? or maybe its checking the ram? bad battery?

Just a few hints.. im not all here so i wont try to help directly

 

This is just so dumb I'm almost afraid to post it, but have you defragged lately? Also a deep scan with RegSupreme might help <shrug> boy this is a tough one

 

Trust me, I've seen dumb today, and that is definately not dumb.

People overlook that all the time.

 

You could give these reg tweaks.

Start up and Shutdown tweaks XP


Note: I provided the link, because I don't like to pawn off other's ideas. I like to give credit where it is deserved.

 

Just passing through, and thot you might like to notice that the *dumb* you saw today no longer resides on this board. Thank goodness. (Well, and the admins.) Well done; good riddance.

Now back to the topic.

You guys are coming up with good ones. If this dies because Janet has shut down for the night, we'll revive it tomorrow, OK?

 

I'll stop by, this is eddifying fer me