Strange slow start up...desktop returned to defult.

[Guest]

System Win XP, SP2

Started computer up as per normal
Got to log in screen
Clicked on username
Instead of password box popping up straight away it took a long time
Then a long time again to bring up desktop
Instead of customised desktop, the default Win Xp desktop appeared
The security centre also popped up, and a message on the lower right hand
taskbar
which my son doesn't recall, but thinks it was something to do with updates.

This computer has always been patched and updated when updates are available.

The computer was restarted, and restarted as normal. No updates were required.

Should we be worried about the other start up? Currently running a full
virus scan, but wondered what the odd start up could mean?

 

[Galen]

In ozegirl <[email protected]> had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:

System Win XP, SP2

Started computer up as per normal
Got to log in screen
Clicked on username
Instead of password box popping up straight away it took a long time
Then a long time again to bring up desktop
Instead of customised desktop, the default Win Xp desktop appeared
The security centre also popped up, and a message on the lower right
hand taskbar
which my son doesn't recall, but thinks it was something to do with
updates.

This computer has always been patched and updated when updates are
available.

The computer was restarted, and restarted as normal. No updates were
required.

Should we be worried about the other start up? Currently running a
full
virus scan, but wondered what the odd start up could mean?

It could have been just a temporary problem, a corrupt file in the profile
that was repaired, a registry setting that had to be automatically fixed by
using an older copy, all sorts of things. Provided it's working well now and
your virus scans (don't forget a spyware scan then there's not much to worry
about other than the normal things.

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx

Galen

 

[Guest]

In ozegirl <[email protected]> had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:


It could have been just a temporary problem, a corrupt file in the profile
that was repaired, a registry setting that had to be automatically fixed by
using an older copy, all sorts of things. Provided it's working well now and
your virus scans (don't forget a spyware scan then there's not much to worry
about other than the normal things.

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx

Galen

--
Signature changed for a moment of silence.
Rest well Alex and we'll see you on the other side.


Thanks - yes I run spyware/adware as well. I was just worried with it taking so long to log in & with the changed desktop whether it could mean system had been hacked/keylogged. I have a firewall.

 

[Galen]

In ozegirl <[email protected]> had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:

Assuming you scanned with the most up to date definitions and in safe mode
and got a clean bill of health then it could have been anything that you
have set to automatically update, Windows Updates (though I think that would
have been already done if it was set to automatic) or the like. Unless you
notice unusual traffic then I'd not worry about it to much but I'd keep
scanning often and keep an eye on it for a while.

Galen

 

[whitebread]

Have had the same problem repeatedly, and attribute it to my system log and
registry being altered, maybe by a malicious client / software. Did all my
scans and system still runs too slowly for good measure.

 

[FM]

When I saw this once, it was a bad disk. Check your event logs to see
if clues are being logged.

--FM /)`