So I've read so many pages all around the web about this problem, with no
explainable reason (no updates or installations) I booted up yesterday to
find that after login my desktop was black with only my cursor visible. I
wait some 5 or 6 minutes and the desktop appears but explorer.exe is slower
than slow and takes the same amount of time to action any click.

Painstakingly, I went through msconfig and disabled everything, one by one I
re-enabled each item, rebooted and tested the results. Rinse and repeat for
every process. All worked fine until I came across 'Shell Hardware Detect'.
If this process is enabled then I get the error described above.

So a cursory search around the web doesn't seem to yield many resolutions to
this problem. I only seem to be able to find similar issues on Win XP SP2 -
however i'm running Vista Premium X64 SP2.

I'm angling towards SP2 as ever since I installed it I've noticed a few
bugs. Typically, searching on Microsoft's support website the term Shell
Hardware Detection yields nothing whatsoever.

Anyone have any ideas how I can get this process functioning properly again?
Thanks in advance.

"m3tallica" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:73B848F0-67D6-4500-BFA8-(E-Mail Removed)...
> So I've read so many pages all around the web about this problem, with no
> explainable reason (no updates or installations) I booted up yesterday to
> find that after login my desktop was black with only my cursor visible. I
> wait some 5 or 6 minutes and the desktop appears but explorer.exe is
> slower
> than slow and takes the same amount of time to action any click.
>
> Painstakingly, I went through msconfig and disabled everything, one by one
> I
> re-enabled each item, rebooted and tested the results. Rinse and repeat
> for
> every process. All worked fine until I came across 'Shell Hardware
> Detect'.
> If this process is enabled then I get the error described above.
>
> So a cursory search around the web doesn't seem to yield many resolutions
> to
> this problem. I only seem to be able to find similar issues on Win XP
> SP2 -
> however i'm running Vista Premium X64 SP2.
>
> I'm angling towards SP2 as ever since I installed it I've noticed a few
> bugs. Typically, searching on Microsoft's support website the term Shell
> Hardware Detection yields nothing whatsoever.
>
> Anyone have any ideas how I can get this process functioning properly
> again?
> Thanks in advance.


Just an FYI in case it helps to know:

Shell Hardware Detection Service provides AutoPlay notifications.

Disabling this service will keep CD-ROMS/DVD-ROMS and other such devices
from automatically working.

"Rich." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
newsHwum.140959$(E-Mail Removed)...
> "m3tallica" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:73B848F0-67D6-4500-BFA8-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> So I've read so many pages all around the web about this problem, with no
>> explainable reason (no updates or installations) I booted up yesterday to
>> find that after login my desktop was black with only my cursor visible.
>> I
>> wait some 5 or 6 minutes and the desktop appears but explorer.exe is
>> slower
>> than slow and takes the same amount of time to action any click.
>>
>> Painstakingly, I went through msconfig and disabled everything, one by
>> one I
>> re-enabled each item, rebooted and tested the results. Rinse and repeat
>> for
>> every process. All worked fine until I came across 'Shell Hardware
>> Detect'.
>> If this process is enabled then I get the error described above.
>>
>> So a cursory search around the web doesn't seem to yield many resolutions
>> to
>> this problem. I only seem to be able to find similar issues on Win XP
>> SP2 -
>> however i'm running Vista Premium X64 SP2.
>>
>> I'm angling towards SP2 as ever since I installed it I've noticed a few
>> bugs. Typically, searching on Microsoft's support website the term Shell
>> Hardware Detection yields nothing whatsoever.
>>
>> Anyone have any ideas how I can get this process functioning properly
>> again?
>> Thanks in advance.
>
>
> Just an FYI in case it helps to know:
>
> Shell Hardware Detection Service provides AutoPlay notifications.
>
> Disabling this service will keep CD-ROMS/DVD-ROMS and other such devices
> from automatically working.
>

I think the OP may have a malware... I seem to remember running into one
that uses hidden autorun.inf to spread it's mischief.

Start Windows Explorer
Tools -> Folder Options -> View Tab
Enable Show hidden files and folders
Maybe even uncheck Hide protected operating system files.

Check for hidden autorun.inf file on your hard drive(s).

Stopping the Shell Hardware Detection maybe just keeping it dormant.

Thanks for the messages.

No viruses or malware i'm afraid. Tried 3 different reputable scanners and
autorun.inf isn't proving fruitful.

I know what the service does and that it's not really needed, but ideally
you'd want it working if it was working properly.

I might have to consult Microsoft tech support directly I think. Jump
through a few hoops over a week or two before getting to someone in the know,
no doubt.