Media Center slow to launch

[Guest]

I have been running Windows XP Media Center for almost a year. In the past
week of so, Media Center freezes when I first launch it, then after about
5-10 minutes, it "unfreezes" and seems to work perfectly. I am not
experiencing any other problems with the OS--at least not that I'm aware of!
Any ideas?

 

[Malke]

I have been running Windows XP Media Center for almost a year. In the
past week of so, Media Center freezes when I first launch it, then
after about 5-10 minutes, it "unfreezes" and seems to work perfectly.
I am not experiencing any other problems with the OS--at least not
that I'm aware of! Any ideas?

What is the malware/virus status of the machine? If you think it is
clean, what programs (and versions) did you use to determine this?

Be sure the computer is clean:
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

If the machine is completely clean, then determine what is starting with
Windows:

Clean boot in Windows XP - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353

Clean-boot advanced troubleshooting in Windows XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316434

How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310560

Malke

 

[Guest]

Hi, Malke

Thanks for responding. Well, I followed you instructions and observed the
following:

1) No spyware or malware
2) Clean system; I keep Norton very updated and run it frequently, by the way
3) In Safe Mode, Media Center was functioning normally, except for a message
indicating that I didn't have the correct drives, etc. to run it, however,
once I clicked OK it ran properly. Media Center came with this computer.
4) Once I returned to normal mode, I'm experiencing the same problems with
Media Center, but I don't see that drivers message when I try to load it as I
did in Safe Mode.

What do you think?

 

[Malke]

Hi, Malke

Thanks for responding. Well, I followed you instructions and observed
the following:

1) No spyware or malware
2) Clean system; I keep Norton very updated and run it frequently, by
the way 3) In Safe Mode, Media Center was functioning normally, except
for a message indicating that I didn't have the correct drives, etc.
to run it, however, once I clicked OK it ran properly. Media Center
came with this computer. 4) Once I returned to normal mode, I'm
experiencing the same problems with Media Center, but I don't see that
drivers message when I try to load it as I did in Safe Mode.

What do you think?

1. What changed between the time things worked and the time they didn't?
What happened in the past week? Did you update any drivers or software?

2. Without the exact text of the error message, I can't give you
specific help. Look in Event Viewer for clues as to what is failing
and/or timing out:
Start>Run>eventvwr.msc [enter]

Malke

 

[Guest]

I really haven't done anything, except update Norton.

I looked in the event log. The only thing that seems to relate to Media
Center is: "Initializing the telephony service failed with error 0x80040005."

I'll look in Safe Mode again for the message and then post that, too.

Thanks.

--
James

Hi, Malke

Thanks for responding. Well, I followed you instructions and observed
the following:

1) No spyware or malware
2) Clean system; I keep Norton very updated and run it frequently, by
the way 3) In Safe Mode, Media Center was functioning normally, except
for a message indicating that I didn't have the correct drives, etc.
to run it, however, once I clicked OK it ran properly. Media Center
came with this computer. 4) Once I returned to normal mode, I'm
experiencing the same problems with Media Center, but I don't see that
drivers message when I try to load it as I did in Safe Mode.

What do you think?

1. What changed between the time things worked and the time they didn't?
What happened in the past week? Did you update any drivers or software?

2. Without the exact text of the error message, I can't give you
specific help. Look in Event Viewer for clues as to what is failing
and/or timing out:
Start>Run>eventvwr.msc [enter]

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

 

[Rock]

Hi, Malke

Thanks for responding. Well, I followed you instructions and observed the
following:

1) No spyware or malware
2) Clean system; I keep Norton very updated and run it frequently, by the
way
3) In Safe Mode, Media Center was functioning normally, except for a
message
indicating that I didn't have the correct drives, etc. to run it, however,
once I clicked OK it ran properly. Media Center came with this computer.
4) Once I returned to normal mode, I'm experiencing the same problems with
Media Center, but I don't see that drivers message when I try to load it
as I
did in Safe Mode.

What do you think?

Then do the clean boot troubleshooting as described in the links Malke
provided to determine what is running in normal mode that's causing the
problem.

 

[Guest]

I went through the clean reboot without error or incident. Here is the
message that I receive when I restart in safe mode:

"Your video card or drivers are not compatible with Media Center"

This was all working fine until about two weeks ago. Even though I receive
this message in Safe Mode, when I click OK, Media Center opens and works
properly, even though I can't get a signal. That has to do with Safe Mode,
correct?

 

[Malke]

I went through the clean reboot without error or incident. Here is the
message that I receive when I restart in safe mode:

"Your video card or drivers are not compatible with Media Center"

This was all working fine until about two weeks ago. Even though I
receive this message in Safe Mode, when I click OK, Media Center opens
and works properly, even though I can't get a signal. That has to do
with Safe Mode, correct?

Update the video drivers then. Never get drivers from Windows Update.
Get them from:

1. The device mftr.'s website; OR
2. The motherboard mftr.'s website if hardware is onboard; OR
3. The OEM's website for your specific machine if you have an OEM
computer (HP, Dell, Sony, etc.).

Read the installation instructions on the website where you get the
drivers.

To find out what hardware is in your computer:

1. Read any documentation you got when you bought the computer.
2. If the computer is OEM, go to the OEM's website for your specific
model machine and look at the specs (you'll be there to get the drivers
anyway)
3. Download, install and run a free system inventory program like Belarc
Advisor. The older Aida32 is good for this, too.

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html - Belarc Advisor
http://www.aumha.org/free.htm - Aida32 (hosted on Jim Eshelman's site)

If you have installed drivers from Windows Update, you can roll them
back:
How to Roll Back a Device Driver - http://tinyurl.com/86yb6

Malke