Windows programs slow to start

Good morning Geeks... Wonder if you can assist. I've been having some problems with a slow pc for a little while. It was identified that I need extra RAM and I have now added 512mb, giving me a total RAM of 768mb, on a HP Pavilion 472.uk, 2gz Pentiium 4. Operating system Windows XP. The extra RAM has certainly increased the overall speed at which the pc runs. However, when starting up the pc (which starts pretty quickly now), I still have problems initially getting any windows based program to run. i.e. the main things I use are IE v6.0 and OE v6.0. When trying to start either of these, there is a long initial delay. Also when trying to raise Task Manager, the same delay. I can start any user installed program immediately, with no problem or delay. Once started, everything seems fine. I've run AdAware, Microsoft Spyware, I used AntiVir as Virus protection. I also have Winpatrol installed. All are up to date, and nothing untoward is found when I scan my system. I'm assuming there's a windows file corrupt or something, but in honesty, i'm not IT literate to know what could really be the problem. a little while back when I'd asked for help on here, a Hijack this log was posted, and nothing major in there either - i had been running patchou(?) messenger plus, but got rid of that on advice. I'm not aware of any 'dodgy' sites that have been visited, but it's not an impossibility - the pc is used by all members of the family. The only known recent download to have taken place is for messenger 7.0 - but the problems existed before then too. If you can be of any assistance, i'd be eternally grateful (and it'd save me buying a new pc... )

Many thanks in advance - you guys do a super job...

 

Forgot to add, I have all Microsoft updates too

 

Thanks for responding. I have de-frag'ed, i regularly clear out temp stuff, and temp internet files and cookies. I'm not familiar with reg stuff. But have checked my start up files (msconfig) and there is nothing unnecessary in there. I run this pc as a server with only one other pc networked through it. Any thoughts?

 

The other pc is a laptop, and isn't always turned on, in fact rarely, unless there's more than one of us that want the intetnet at any one time. In my system tray, i've got running in background, winpatrol, speedtouch ADSL modem, Antivir Guard, NVIDIA media centre, safely remove hardware icon, volume icon, microsoft antispyware and the belkin wireless adapter, wireless network connection. That sounds a lot, but most of them run out of necessity don't they?

 

oops sorry, forgot the task manager processes....

Am i right in just listing the 'owner' processes? These are...
taskmgr.exe (thought i'd list everything)
winpatrol
iepxlore
gcasDtServe.exe (don't know what that is)
hpsysdrv.exe
rundll32.exe
AVGNT.exe
gcasServ.exe
dragdiag.exe
Mouse32A.exe
tfswctrl.exe
opware32.exe

Just in case it helps, the 'system' processes are as follows:

svchost.exe
spoolsv.exe
svchost.exe
svchost.exe (again?)
lsass.exe
services.exe
winlogon.exe
csrss.exe
sychost.exe (and again?)
smss.exe
tcpsvcs.exe
nvsvc32.exe
WLanCfgG.exe
AVWUPsrv.exe
AVGUARD.exe
System
System Idle Process

only other items are

alg.exe (local service)
svchost.exe (local service)
svchost.exe (network service)
wdfmgr.exe (local service)
svchost.exe (network service)

Out of interest i'd like to know what svchost.exe is too - as it runs many times?

Thanks again

 

gcasDtServe.exe = microsoft antispyware beta

Well, first off, svchost is a group of core windows processes and is listed multiple times on a normal system. In short, svchost is not a virus. From looking at your task manager log, I do not think that there is any virus or spyware slowing you down. You are obviously taking the right steps in taking care of your PC with running antivirus /antispyware programs so I think the spyware / virus thing is out of the question.

With that said, this could be a problem that could prove to be very difficult to nail down the root cause. I've troubleshooted otherwise healthy windows machines that are acting "funny" to no avail and wasted a lot of hours on it in the meantime. I spent days on machines that had some unusual symptoms and hours on the phone with tech support only to realize that there is no known solution. My thoughts are to backup your favorite files to that laptop and do a reformat. I hope you have a restore cd or windows xp somewhere over there. Reformatting is something I personally don't do unless it is the only option. In your case without actually working with the machine it seems as though you have one of those problems that does not have an easy fix.

Besides... windows runs much much better when you periodically reformat.

 

Thanks for your help again. I haven't got a recovery cd, but ive been thinking of buying a new set of XP anyway. The pc is coming up for 3 years old, and it's in the back of my mind to just hang on till I do that anyway, mainly coz it's such a pain having to reload all the ISP and networking stuff (which took me ages to get working). In all honesty I was just wondering if there was something easy for an expert to find that'll solve the issue till I get a new pc. It's not amajor problem, once it's up and running I tend to leave it, and I've got into the habit of starting it up 10 mins before I need it anyway. Thanks to all those that took the time and trouble to try and help.


Flooz

 

Hi Halo. Thanks for your help. Indeed I may have found the problem area (although don't know what precisely is wrong...). I had disabled AntiVir and Winpatrol, restarted in diagnostic (hope same as 'safe mode') and then normal, all seemed ok. Then restarted AntiVir, again, no noticeable difference and the same with Winpatrol.

Finally, with everything running again, and restarting normally, came to post on the thread. I started speedtouch connection this time before opening IE or OE and low and behold, had to wait several mins before either prog would open. So, I think it's something to do with this, problem is, I've not a clue as to why. Any ideas?

One thing I didn't mention in my original posting and may or may not be related, there are occasions when using the 'sleep' button on keyboard to put pc into standby, I can come back to the pc several hours later only to find it still displaying the blue windows 'windows is shutting down' screen. When this happens (and it's not every time), the only way to close the pc is to physically switch off the power. Do you think there's any relation to the problems I'm having?

Finally, don't know anything about system logs - perhaps you can guide me, and can't remember how to check how much hard drive space i have.

 

thanks again.

On checking the event viewer, nothing is showing in system, but in application it's showing 'error application hang category 101' around the same time as difficulties in opening IE. Sorry, but don't know enough IT to understand any more.

Available HD is showing 26gb out of a possible 33.9gb

My modem is a Thomson 330 - only had it a couple of months, but i've downloaded most up to date drivers from their web site, and updated, but it hasn't made any difference.

 

oh, and yes, the modem is in USB port.

 

Ok, hope this works.

AntiVir I update on a weekly basis. There isn't an update option in winpatrol, I downloaded what was the latest version about 3 months ago, which is v8.1.2.0:8.1.2.0.

 

hmmm, wonder how this attachment thingy works, i can't see any sign of it

 

thanks halo, that's exactly what I did, so don't know why it didn't work. I'll try again on this posting, meanwhile;

couldn't get imageshack to work either - kept just freezing on me, so don't know if it's the same as photobucket, but hopefully it is.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y105/Aflooz/screenshot.bmp

will that link to the pic? I'm not sure. worth a go though.

and i've tried to attach to this too, so it may be here, but then again.....

nope, but at least i know why..... File Too Large. Exceeds PHP's limit of 2.00 MB.

 

tried again, by taking the excess stuff off the pic etc, but it still won't attach, still telling me pic is too large - even though i reduced it. Don't know what problem is with imageshack, When I 'host it', all I get is a blank explorer screen, with the status bar showing 'done', but nothing else..... oh well.. hopefully, the photobucket link will work.

 

Ah ha... the pic was too large for imageShack, so i've made it smaller....
Hope this helps

http://img111.echo.cx/my.php?image=screen23zd.png

 

Hi again. Sorry for the delay in responding, anyway, here's an update....

Ran Housecall, which running, AntiVir through up 2 problems (1) ...temp internet file contains Trojan TR/Dldr.Swizzor.CO (I deleted file) and c:\...program files/Quicktime/QttASK2.exe containes TR/DropAgent.CP (which I 'wiped). These were pulled up by AntiVir, not by housecall which didn't find anything - does that sound right?

Today, on bring pc out of standby, I had major problems on getting IE to work. The event viewer under applications is showing an 'error' event about the same time. in the description box it's telling me (sorry it won't cut and paste) Hanging application iexplore.exe version 6.0.2900.2180 hang module hungapp, version 0.0.0.0 hang address 0x00000000. For more information see, blah blah blah

There is also a 'warning' event, which tells me "windows cannot upload your classes registry file it is still in use by other applications or services. The file will be unloaded when it is no longer in use". and another 'warning' event, which is saying about service still being used during log off.

I restarted the pc to get it running and i think that explains the 'warnings'.

Now i think i've noticed, that it isn't when i start the PC up that progs take ages to respond, it's when I bring it out of standby. Is there something relative there?

 

Hi Halo (we must stop meeting like this

AntiVir = AntiVir Guard - is resident, so should have picked a threat up before now. Interestingly, the latest warnings in event view that show this, were at a time when no-one was on the pc (or perhaps AntiVir was slow to pick them up). Is there anyway of tracing which web site was infected? Having traced as best I can from the event viewer timings etc, It was the night of the elections and only web site open was BBC News?? hmmm But that may be irrelevant if the AV was slow to detect.

As far as the Power management for USB Root Hubs, neither have the relevant box checked.

Had problem again today, there is no error or warning in event viewer under application, but the 'event' listed at the time of problems indicates "wuauclt (3180) the database engine stopped" with the previous event showing "wuaueng.dll (3180) SUS20 Client Data Store the database engine stopped the instance (0)" I have absolutely no idea what it's talking about and is probably completely normal but is the only events listed at time of issues with slow programs starting.

 

Thanks again Halo.

I've downloaded the Spywareblaster and A2. It seems my pc is clean. That's a relief anyway.

Had the reverse problem last night...... clicked on start, turn on computer...... and the pc just 'hung' eventually, got the hump and turned if off at the switch.

I think i've come to the conclusion that i need to at the very least do a clean install, and because of the SP1 SP2 issues, will have to buy a new XP pack. But, as I think I said earlier in the thread, i'm seriously considering a new PC later in the year anyway.

Can't thank you enough for taking the time and trouble to try and help out.

Your a star!

Thanks

 

oops, my typing, that was supposed to be "clicked on start...... turn OFF computer..."

I really should try harder

 

My PC came ready loaded and the recovery disks i've got (7) includes loads of HP stuff which I don't need. I think it may be easier to buy a new version of XP which includes SP2, rather than go through all the issues without it.

I've got windows XP on a separate CD, but cant install without faffing around coz 'you are trying to install a windows version older than that already installed, this procedure will terminate'. Now I'm pretty sure i can get passed that issue by getting the PC to boot from the CD. In all honesty, It's gonna be easier to buy the latest CD available.

Mind you, there goes my network.................... took me ages to get that set up.

Look out for me soon on the networking thread