Windows XP startup freezing

Nyku Razvan

Honorable
Aug 15, 2013
3
0
10,510
Hello, I have a problem that's been bugging me for the past couple of months or so. I'm using Windows XP SP3 and somewhat recently I've encountered this annoying problem : my PC keeps freezing at startup (I have to force-restart it 2 or 3 times, probably even more to get it to start). The startup programs don't seem to be able to load. My cursor turns into an hourglass when hovering over the taskbar, and it stays that way unless I restart. I tried several fixes found across Google, but none seem to work. Did someone else ever encounter such a thing before? Thank you. :)

L.E.: Forgot to add PC specs that might be useful to any of you :
Operating System
Microsoft Windows XP Professional 32-bit SP3
CPU
Intel Celeron 326
Prescott 90nm Technology
RAM
3,00 GB Dual-Channel DDR2 @ 199MHz (4-4-4-12)
Motherboard
MICRO-STAR INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD MS-7187 (Socket 775) 49 °C
Graphics
W1946 (1360x768@60Hz)
1024MB AMD Radeon HD 6450 (ASUStek Computer Inc)
Hard Drives
76GB Maxtor 6L080M0 (SATA) 48 °C
Optical Drives
HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-4167B
IDO 4DM7KPURK SCSI CdRom Device
Audio
AMD High Definition Audio Device
 
Solution
get rid of avast, its a system hog. get avg instead, should solve your problem the moment avast is removed.

also run ccleaner registry cleaner between uninstalling avast and sticking on avg.

Nyku Razvan

Honorable
Aug 15, 2013
3
0
10,510
I'm using AVAST Free and I've also tried installing Malwarebytes PRO. I ran a scan with MB Pro and it didn't turn out anything dangerous. Already used CCleaner, but to no use.
Might this Hijackthis log be of any use ?

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.4
Scan saved at 16:42:48, on 15.08.2013
Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP3 (6.00.2900.5512)
Boot mode: Normal

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\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\AvastSvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\RunDll32.exe
C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\avastUI.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Java\Java Update\jusched.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static\MOM.exe
C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static\ccc.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre7\bin\jqs.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe
C:\Program Files\Speccy\Speccy.exe
D:\Programe\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://www.google.ro/ie_rsearch.html
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://www.google.ro
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.google.ro
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = *.local
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In SSV Helper - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre7\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - {DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre7\bin\jp2ssv.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [KernelFaultCheck] %systemroot%\system32\dumprep 0 -k
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Cmaudio] RunDll32 cmicnfg.cpl,CMICtrlWnd
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [avast] "C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\avastUI.exe" /nogui
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [StartCCC] "C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static\CLIStart.exe" MSRun
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Java\Java Update\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O6 - HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbars\Restrictions present
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~1\Office14\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport în Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~1\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O10 - Broken Internet access because of LSP provider 'c:\program files\bonjour\mdnsnsp.dll' missing
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{9E60334F-E82B-4E22-A320-9B357C87EC1B}: NameServer = 193.19.192.15,193.19.192.16
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: Browseui preloader - {438755C2-A8BA-11D1-B96B-00A0C90312E1} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\browseui.dll
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: Component Categories cache daemon - {8C7461EF-2B13-11d2-BE35-3078302C2030} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\browseui.dll
O23 - Service: Ati HotKey Poller - ATI Technologies Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
O23 - Service: avast! Antivirus - AVAST Software - C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\AvastSvc.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\11\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: Java Quick Starter (JavaQuickStarterService) - Oracle Corporation - C:\Program Files\Java\jre7\bin\jqs.exe
O23 - Service: Mozilla Maintenance Service (MozillaMaintenance) - Mozilla Foundation - C:\Program Files\Mozilla Maintenance Service\maintenanceservice.exe
O23 - Service: Skype Updater (SkypeUpdate) - Skype Technologies - C:\Program Files\Skype\Updater\Updater.exe

--
End of file - 4548 bytes
 

Nyku Razvan

Honorable
Aug 15, 2013
3
0
10,510

Will do :) Thank you for your help. I'll post an update as soon as I get it done.

UPDATE: Followed all steps. Got rid of AVAST, ran CCleaner, reboot, installed AVG 2013 (30 days license, for now), and the startup problem indeed seems to have disappeared. Only one symptom left : sometimes (ex. when I ran the AVG installer), I can notice in the Task Manager a CPU 100% usage spike that lasts for like 5-10 seconds, and is usually accompanied by a performance slowdown. Is it a sign that my CPU is going bad? (I think I should change my CPU cooler, it sometimes makes weird noises. Might that be the problem? Note: In Everest I didn't notice any major change in temp. Even after hours of running, the CPU is at maybe 55C max. temp.)

Anyway, thank you again for all the help mauller07 :) You're a lifesaver!
 
you shouldnt be on a 30 day liscence it should be AVG free, think you grabbed the wrong version bud lol.

no its most likely other software on the system that could be causing the slowdown, check what else is running on your system at startup and turn things off and see what stops the performance problem being turned off.

the weird noises sounds like you probably want to oil the fan, if it has a sticker on the front remove it aswell.