Windows: Which services do I actually need? Because they're causing problems.

Step by Step explanation of what occurred, and what I did.

The computer: a 4 month old Acer Aspire, 5742-6823, Windows 7 Home Premium. Intel Core i3-370M. Intel HD graphics. 4 gigs DDR3 memory. 640 gig harddrive.

10:00 PM, Monday December 12th: Playing Skyrim. Hit CTRL+Alt+Arrow key by accident. This flips the windows GUI upside down
Begin searching for solution on that computer by turning it upside down physically.
Power Cable comes out.
Laptop shuts down, despite having full battery.

Search for solution on old laptop; a 4.5 year old Dell Inspiron 1501 with a boatload of problems, including spontaneous shut downs and battery issues. Has been recently reformatted.
Find solution
Turn on new Acer.
Acer runs fine until it gets to the Windows screen. From "Welcome, please wait", to me typing in my user password, to me seeing my desktop takes approximately 20 minutes.

Once in Windows, runs incredibly choppily.
Try running in Safe Mode. Continues to run incredibly choppily.
Speak with Acer Support.
They suggest I use a restore point.
I slowly inch my way towards a system restore. There is one. It is for 6:36 PM, Monday December 12th. The laptop was closed but not off at that point.
I do a system restore.
The system restore proves ineffective.


I turn it on. It crawls into windows.
Upon being turned on, both my Wireless Card and Avast Anti virus are disabled.

I re-inable avast and my wireless card.
I download Malware Bytes Trial version.
I run a full scan with Malware Bytes Trial version.
It detects nothing.
I run a full scan with Avast.
It detects nothing.

During one of the many crashes and restarts here, I get a message in the bottom right: Windows 7, Build 7601; this copy of windows is not genuine is in the bottom right of my screen.
This is either false, or the Staples where I purchased did something crazy. I suspect the former.

It told me to validate using this URL: https://www.microsoft.com/genuine/v...300.1.0.003.09.1033&GenuineInfo=00000000&ls=0
I attempted to validate windows. It told me "This update is not available on your computer."

I download and run CCleaner. It runs and deletes ~30-40 megabytes of cookies and other garbage.
I run MSConfig and Turn everything all services except Avast and Malwarebytes, on the premise that important stuff would be retained.
It prompts me to restart my laptop
I do
It restarts and loads in within 25 seconds, as per usual!
Success!

Now the problem: Most of the basic windows functions are turned off; Sound control, power control, my touchpad has reverted to default settings and it won't let me fix those, internet, etcetera.
I attempt to turn on ~30 windows utilities on the basis of "That kinda sounds important."
The problem reappears.

I try to run Windows Update.
It requires me to turn on something specific.
I turn it on.
There are 9 important updates.
It downloads two of them
It gives me an error for the other 7 downloads.
My computer restarts.
I am now unable to find Windows Update to turn it on.
I am now no longer able to turn on the internet.
I am uncertain which Windows services need to be on or off.

 

I would suggest turning off all programs/services in your start up list and enable them one by one to find the culprit that is causing the long boot time, then you will have more info about the issue and be able to find the fix that is needed to resolve it.

 

It would be more convenient for me to back up all my data and do a reformatting of Windows, and thus, I will try that suggestion before yours; either one won't be accomplished for a few days, however.

The "Windows 7, Build 7601; this copy of windows is not genuine" in the bottom right of my screen thing has come back and then vanished again.

 

Ok! a bit dramatic to format and re-install windows!! but it is a sure way to get a stable system again .
As long as you have your windows key dont worry about the genuine error message, this can be remedied easely by phoning MS.
Let me know how you get on with the new install, if any issues arrise post back and we'll see if we can sort them .