Windows hangs when accessing start menu...

[Fraser]

(This problem doesn't occur in safe mode)After windows is
loaded when I try to access the start menu I see that the
eggtimer is active when the cursor is over the whole of
the taskbar. Then when I click on the start menu I can
access the programs menu and then the application menu's,
then the system hangs. I do recall that this problem
started when I tried to access the file manager and it
didn't come on screen.

I have rebooted several times and gone in and out of safe
mode but cannot stop this??

Any help will be extremely appreciated.

Thanks,

Fraser

 

[Mark-Allen]

Sounds like a service is hanging on load and won't give the Desktop control.

The only way I have cleared this is, after you get the never-ending hourglass, press Ctrl-Alt-Del, select Task Manager, File, Run and then type "%SystemRoot%\system32\services.msc /s".

This may get you to Services, where you might see if there is a service that is "starting". Try to set this to Manual or Disabled.

Have you installed any new apps or updates lately?

--
Mark-Allen Perry
ALPHA Systems, Switzerland
mark-allen AT mvps DOT org

(This problem doesn't occur in safe mode)After windows is
loaded when I try to access the start menu I see that the
eggtimer is active when the cursor is over the whole of
the taskbar. Then when I click on the start menu I can
access the programs menu and then the application menu's,
then the system hangs. I do recall that this problem
started when I tried to access the file manager and it
didn't come on screen.

I have rebooted several times and gone in and out of safe
mode but cannot stop this??

Any help will be extremely appreciated.

Thanks,

Fraser

 

[Tim Judd]

(This problem doesn't occur in safe mode)After windows is
loaded when I try to access the start menu I see that the
eggtimer is active when the cursor is over the whole of
the taskbar. Then when I click on the start menu I can
access the programs menu and then the application menu's,
then the system hangs. I do recall that this problem
started when I tried to access the file manager and it
didn't come on screen.

I have rebooted several times and gone in and out of safe
mode but cannot stop this??

Any help will be extremely appreciated.

Thanks,

Fraser

This is a possible corrupt user profile. Can you login as somebody else?
Can you create another account?

Right-click "My Computer" and select Manage.
Select Users & Groups from the left. double click on users on the right.
right click anywhere on the right side in the blank and choose new user.
create one with same rights and permissions to the user.
you <WILL> need to set preferences, desktop settings, screen saver, etc all
back again..do ***NOT*** copy the profile!

If this new user can successfuly deal with the start menu, then I suggest
killing the old one, and then you can rename the "new" one to the old name,
but you will <STILL> need to establish preferences.

Outside of this recommendation, a service hanging (such as other's poster
suggestion) is good to check.

Good Luck...

 

[Mark-Allen]

Excellent post, Tim. I forgot about that a bad profile can have the same symptoms. This suggestion has been placed in my brain now.

--
Mark-Allen Perry
ALPHA Systems, Switzerland
mark-allen AT mvps DOT org

(This problem doesn't occur in safe mode)After windows is
loaded when I try to access the start menu I see that the
eggtimer is active when the cursor is over the whole of
the taskbar. Then when I click on the start menu I can
access the programs menu and then the application menu's,
then the system hangs. I do recall that this problem
started when I tried to access the file manager and it
didn't come on screen.

I have rebooted several times and gone in and out of safe
mode but cannot stop this??

Any help will be extremely appreciated.

Thanks,

Fraser

This is a possible corrupt user profile. Can you login as somebody else?
Can you create another account?

Right-click "My Computer" and select Manage.
Select Users & Groups from the left. double click on users on the right.
right click anywhere on the right side in the blank and choose new user.
create one with same rights and permissions to the user.
you <WILL> need to set preferences, desktop settings, screen saver, etc all
back again..do ***NOT*** copy the profile!

If this new user can successfuly deal with the start menu, then I suggest
killing the old one, and then you can rename the "new" one to the old name,
but you will <STILL> need to establish preferences.

Outside of this recommendation, a service hanging (such as other's poster
suggestion) is good to check.

Good Luck...