After SP2, XP hangs 1:30 min after login !

[Malescot]

Goodnight everybody,

I've installed SP2 over my XP Pro SP1 + all updates system. The problem I
have is when I start up the computer or when I reboot, I can see the
"Welcome" screen and I can hear the usual start music, but then my computer
shows the wallpaper for at least 1 minute and a half without looking like
working ! Afterwards the icons and the task bar appear, and everything works
perfectly and fast.

In addition, it doesn't hang at all when I exit from hibernation or when I
turn off and on my session. It only happens when I start up or when I reboot

Do you have an idea or a solution ? Have you encountered the same problem ?
Thank you !

MALESCOT
XP Pro (SP2 newly installed)
PIII 1 GHz
1 Go SDRam
Panda Platinum (Antivirus + Firewall) -> SP2 firewall disabled
Geforce FX5200
Plenty of free disk space

 

[SlowJet]

backup and then do a defrag to order the disk files.
Then re-boot about 3 times 30 min apart.
Then let it run for 24 hour or more, reboot,
let it run 24 hours.
The next reboot should faster - if not before this one.



SJ

 

[francis gérard]

Goodnight everybody,

I've installed SP2 over my XP Pro SP1 + all updates system. The problem I
have is when I start up the computer or when I reboot, I can see the
"Welcome" screen and I can hear the usual start music, but then my
computer shows the wallpaper for at least 1 minute and a half without
looking like working ! Afterwards the icons and the task bar appear, and
everything works perfectly and fast.

In addition, it doesn't hang at all when I exit from hibernation or when I
turn off and on my session. It only happens when I start up or when I
reboot

Do you have an idea or a solution ? Have you encountered the same problem
?

check the system event log, see what's happening during that time the
explorer shell is frozen.

i've seen this behaviour on systems that have either wireless and/or 2 or
more NICs installed. the shell is being blocked by an inter-dependent
process during startup, that process eventually times-out waiting for some
event to occur, then the shell continues to load. this is a common issue
with Windows.

tell us more about your network setup... be specific.

 

[Malescot]

Thanks a lot, I solved the problem.

Thanks to the event log, I could see that at each startup, XP was waiting
for the Windows Image Acquiring (WIA) service to launch. This service was in
MANUAL. I put it in AUTO : same problem. I disabled it : it works !

I cannot see any difference in the use of my computer now that this service
is disabled (my webcam is OK, my scanner as well, I can still plug my camera
via USB and look at my pictures in the explorer, and so on....).

Thanks again and good day to you,

MALESCOT.

 

[Tricia]

Thanks a lot, I solved the problem.

Thanks to the event log, I could see that at each startup, XP was waiting
for the Windows Image Acquiring (WIA) service to launch. This service was
in MANUAL. I put it in AUTO : same problem. I disabled it : it works !

I cannot see any difference in the use of my computer now that this
service is disabled (my webcam is OK, my scanner as well, I can still plug
my camera via USB and look at my pictures in the explorer, and so on....).

Thanks again and good day to you,

MALESCOT.

Hi how do you access the event log. I cannot find a file called event.log on
my computer. My computer always takes about a minute to shut down from when
I click shutdown.
Thanks Tricia

 

[Malescot]

Hi how do you access the event log. I cannot find a file called

event.log on my computer. My computer always takes about a minute to
shut down from when I click shutdown.
Thanks Tricia

I access the event log by control panel / administration tools (only on XP
Pro I believe) / Event log (or Event Observer, if I translate it basically
from my French XP).

Regards,

MALESCOT.

 

[francis gérard]

Thanks a lot, I solved the problem.

Thanks to the event log, I could see that at each startup, XP was waiting
for the Windows Image Acquiring (WIA) service to launch. This service was
in MANUAL. I put it in AUTO : same problem. I disabled it : it works !

I cannot see any difference in the use of my computer now that this
service is disabled (my webcam is OK, my scanner as well, I can still plug
my camera via USB and look at my pictures in the explorer, and so on....).

the Windows Image Acquisition service provides a software layer for
applications to import digital data from scanners and cameras, if disabled,
those devices may cease to work in certain applications, although you may
still be able to copy files from a camera, but i doubt if your scanner will
continue to function properly.

let me guess... you have an HP scanner/printer, right?

assuming an HP product, continue reading... else stop now.

HP drivers are infamous for screwing-up the system. it amazes me how people
tolerate this crap from HP.

anyway, this is a known issue with HP drivers and the WIA service. if you
happen to have an HP printer/scanner that has messed up the WIA service, the
recommended solution is to turn OFF the printer/scanner, *completely
uninstall* the HP driver software using the 'uninstall software' utility on
the Hewlett-Packard program menu, then download their 'scrubber/cleanup'
software (available at http://hp.com/) to remove the junk that the HP
uninstaller leaves behind.

next, set the WIA service to *Automatic* (this is important, do not set to
disable or manual), restart the system

then download the latest drivers for your HP product (do not use the ones on
the cdrom, burn that disc), run the *new* driver installer (that you
downloaded), but do NOT allow it to install anything, simply allow it to
extract the driver package to the hard drive (it will prompt you where to
unpack the files, remember that directory, *write it down*). so, what
you're gonna do is launch the downloaded installer package (which may be
huge, btw) then press [Cancel] when the HP driver setup screen appears. the
idea here is to bypass the HP installer, since it screws-up the WIA service
among other things, and we get Windows to install the drivers instead. so
next thing you do, after extracting the drivers and aborting the
installation, is turn ON the printer (remember, for this to work, you must
have turned OFF the printer beforehand, and completely wiped-out the old HP
drivers from your system), Windows will immediately detect the presence the
HP printer/scanner and within seconds prompt you for drivers (since the old
ones are now gone), at that point you will want to select the second radio
button (on the found new hardware wizard dialogue) that says 'Install from a
specific location...' (not the first option, install automatically). press
the [Next] button and then uncheck the box 'search removeable media', then
check the box 'Include this location...', press the [Browse] button and
locate the extracted HP driver files in the directory where they were
extracted (you wrote it down, remember). simply select that directory and
the [OK] button will become available, press [OK] on the browse for folder
sub-dialogue, then press [Next] on the found new hardware dialogue. Windows
will read the .inf installer files in that directory and automatically
install the drivers, then press [Finish] when the hardware wizard completes.
if you have an all-in-one HP printer/scanner, you may be prompted a few
times for the location of the drivers (for each device), simply repeat the
process above, ie, when the hardware wizard pops-up, select install from
specific location, browse for the new drivers on the hard drive (the ones
you extracted), and press OK, then Next, then Finish. be patient, wait for
the wizard to complete the driver installation for each device, press
Finish, then continue with the next dialogue that pops-up, always specifying
the same directory where you extracted the new HP driver files. at the end,
it may prompt you to restart the system. the HP drivers should be properly
installed now, there should be no more conflicts with the WIA service (check
the system log for new events). keep in mind, there is an HP service that
upon startup communicates with the printer/scanner (checks ink levels, and
god knows what else), but that service spikes the cpu at 100% for about 30
seconds, which causes a slight delay during logon, as the shell is loading.
unfortunately, only HP can fix that by coding better drivers, which they
consistently refuse to do. one workaround is to launch the windows task
manager at startup, locate the offending HP process that's hogging the CPU,
right-click on it, Set Priority to Low, the shell immediately comes back to
life and loads normally. there is a way to get the HP driver to load with
low priority at all times, but that may be beyond the scope of your
abilities and this discussion... which has now grown to lengthy proportions.

enough said
need more help... just ask

 

[Peter]

hmmm Francis...you should have started with "PRINT THIS" !! LOL

--
Peter.
Toronto, Canada.
Windows XP Home SP2.
Pentium4 Dual HT @ 3.0ghz, 160gb HD, 1gb DDR.

Thanks a lot, I solved the problem.

Thanks to the event log, I could see that at each startup, XP was waiting
for the Windows Image Acquiring (WIA) service to launch. This service was
in MANUAL. I put it in AUTO : same problem. I disabled it : it works !

I cannot see any difference in the use of my computer now that this
service is disabled (my webcam is OK, my scanner as well, I can still
plug my camera via USB and look at my pictures in the explorer, and so
on....).

the Windows Image Acquisition service provides a software layer for
applications to import digital data from scanners and cameras, if
disabled, those devices may cease to work in certain applications,
although you may still be able to copy files from a camera, but i doubt if
your scanner will continue to function properly.

let me guess... you have an HP scanner/printer, right?

assuming an HP product, continue reading... else stop now.

HP drivers are infamous for screwing-up the system. it amazes me how
people tolerate this crap from HP.

anyway, this is a known issue with HP drivers and the WIA service. if you
happen to have an HP printer/scanner that has messed up the WIA service,
the recommended solution is to turn OFF the printer/scanner, *completely
uninstall* the HP driver software using the 'uninstall software' utility
on the Hewlett-Packard program menu, then download their
'scrubber/cleanup' software (available at http://hp.com/) to remove the
junk that the HP uninstaller leaves behind.

next, set the WIA service to *Automatic* (this is important, do not set to
disable or manual), restart the system

then download the latest drivers for your HP product (do not use the ones
on the cdrom, burn that disc), run the *new* driver installer (that you
downloaded), but do NOT allow it to install anything, simply allow it to
extract the driver package to the hard drive (it will prompt you where to
unpack the files, remember that directory, *write it down*). so, what
you're gonna do is launch the downloaded installer package (which may be
huge, btw) then press [Cancel] when the HP driver setup screen appears.
the idea here is to bypass the HP installer, since it screws-up the WIA
service among other things, and we get Windows to install the drivers
instead. so next thing you do, after extracting the drivers and aborting
the installation, is turn ON the printer (remember, for this to work, you
must have turned OFF the printer beforehand, and completely wiped-out the
old HP drivers from your system), Windows will immediately detect the
presence the HP printer/scanner and within seconds prompt you for drivers
(since the old ones are now gone), at that point you will want to select
the second radio button (on the found new hardware wizard dialogue) that
says 'Install from a specific location...' (not the first option, install
automatically). press the [Next] button and then uncheck the box 'search
removeable media', then check the box 'Include this location...', press
the [Browse] button and locate the extracted HP driver files in the
directory where they were extracted (you wrote it down, remember). simply
select that directory and the [OK] button will become available, press
[OK] on the browse for folder sub-dialogue, then press [Next] on the found
new hardware dialogue. Windows will read the .inf installer files in that
directory and automatically install the drivers, then press [Finish] when
the hardware wizard completes. if you have an all-in-one HP
printer/scanner, you may be prompted a few times for the location of the
drivers (for each device), simply repeat the process above, ie, when the
hardware wizard pops-up, select install from specific location, browse for
the new drivers on the hard drive (the ones you extracted), and press OK,
then Next, then Finish. be patient, wait for the wizard to complete the
driver installation for each device, press Finish, then continue with the
next dialogue that pops-up, always specifying the same directory where you
extracted the new HP driver files. at the end, it may prompt you to
restart the system. the HP drivers should be properly installed now,
there should be no more conflicts with the WIA service (check the system
log for new events). keep in mind, there is an HP service that upon
startup communicates with the printer/scanner (checks ink levels, and god
knows what else), but that service spikes the cpu at 100% for about 30
seconds, which causes a slight delay during logon, as the shell is
loading. unfortunately, only HP can fix that by coding better drivers,
which they consistently refuse to do. one workaround is to launch the
windows task manager at startup, locate the offending HP process that's
hogging the CPU, right-click on it, Set Priority to Low, the shell
immediately comes back to life and loads normally. there is a way to get
the HP driver to load with low priority at all times, but that may be
beyond the scope of your abilities and this discussion... which has now
grown to lengthy proportions.

enough said
need more help... just ask

 

[francis gérard]

hmmm Francis...you should have started with "PRINT THIS" !! LOL

hi peter,

yes, i thought of that after i pressed the Post button... but then i figured
that should be obvious, if the information turned-out to be useful,
especially if you're uninstalling the printer drivers.

good point, thanks

 

[Peter]

I'm just glad I didn't get an HP printer!

 

[francis gérard]

I'm just glad I didn't get an HP printer!

as you should be. sloppy installations and poorly coded drivers are a
systemic problem with HP products, i don't understand why they don't
clean-up their act.

 

[Mike Matheny]

Francis,
Just where is this 'scrubber/cleanup' software on their site - a search
revealed nothing!

--
Mike Matheny

Thanks a lot, I solved the problem.

Thanks to the event log, I could see that at each startup, XP was waiting
for the Windows Image Acquiring (WIA) service to launch. This service was
in MANUAL. I put it in AUTO : same problem. I disabled it : it works !

I cannot see any difference in the use of my computer now that this
service is disabled (my webcam is OK, my scanner as well, I can still plug
my camera via USB and look at my pictures in the explorer, and so

on....).

the Windows Image Acquisition service provides a software layer for
applications to import digital data from scanners and cameras, if disabled,
those devices may cease to work in certain applications, although you may
still be able to copy files from a camera, but i doubt if your scanner will
continue to function properly.

let me guess... you have an HP scanner/printer, right?

assuming an HP product, continue reading... else stop now.

HP drivers are infamous for screwing-up the system. it amazes me how people
tolerate this crap from HP.

anyway, this is a known issue with HP drivers and the WIA service. if you
happen to have an HP printer/scanner that has messed up the WIA service, the
recommended solution is to turn OFF the printer/scanner, *completely
uninstall* the HP driver software using the 'uninstall software' utility on
the Hewlett-Packard program menu, then download their 'scrubber/cleanup'
software (available at http://hp.com/) to remove the junk that the HP
uninstaller leaves behind.

next, set the WIA service to *Automatic* (this is important, do not set to
disable or manual), restart the system

then download the latest drivers for your HP product (do not use the ones on
the cdrom, burn that disc), run the *new* driver installer (that you
downloaded), but do NOT allow it to install anything, simply allow it to
extract the driver package to the hard drive (it will prompt you where to
unpack the files, remember that directory, *write it down*). so, what
you're gonna do is launch the downloaded installer package (which may be
huge, btw) then press [Cancel] when the HP driver setup screen appears. the
idea here is to bypass the HP installer, since it screws-up the WIA service
among other things, and we get Windows to install the drivers instead. so
next thing you do, after extracting the drivers and aborting the
installation, is turn ON the printer (remember, for this to work, you must
have turned OFF the printer beforehand, and completely wiped-out the old HP
drivers from your system), Windows will immediately detect the presence the
HP printer/scanner and within seconds prompt you for drivers (since the old
ones are now gone), at that point you will want to select the second radio
button (on the found new hardware wizard dialogue) that says 'Install from a
specific location...' (not the first option, install automatically). press
the [Next] button and then uncheck the box 'search removeable media', then
check the box 'Include this location...', press the [Browse] button and
locate the extracted HP driver files in the directory where they were
extracted (you wrote it down, remember). simply select that directory and
the [OK] button will become available, press [OK] on the browse for folder
sub-dialogue, then press [Next] on the found new hardware dialogue. Windows
will read the .inf installer files in that directory and automatically
install the drivers, then press [Finish] when the hardware wizard completes.
if you have an all-in-one HP printer/scanner, you may be prompted a few
times for the location of the drivers (for each device), simply repeat the
process above, ie, when the hardware wizard pops-up, select install from
specific location, browse for the new drivers on the hard drive (the ones
you extracted), and press OK, then Next, then Finish. be patient, wait for
the wizard to complete the driver installation for each device, press
Finish, then continue with the next dialogue that pops-up, always specifying
the same directory where you extracted the new HP driver files. at the end,
it may prompt you to restart the system. the HP drivers should be properly
installed now, there should be no more conflicts with the WIA service (check
the system log for new events). keep in mind, there is an HP service that
upon startup communicates with the printer/scanner (checks ink levels, and
god knows what else), but that service spikes the cpu at 100% for about 30
seconds, which causes a slight delay during logon, as the shell is loading.
unfortunately, only HP can fix that by coding better drivers, which they
consistently refuse to do. one workaround is to launch the windows task
manager at startup, locate the offending HP process that's hogging the CPU,
right-click on it, Set Priority to Low, the shell immediately comes back to
life and loads normally. there is a way to get the HP driver to load with
low priority at all times, but that may be beyond the scope of your
abilities and this discussion... which has now grown to lengthy proportions.

enough said
need more help... just ask

 

[francis gérard]

Francis,
Just where is this 'scrubber/cleanup' software on their site - a search
revealed nothing!

you couldn't have, in the search box on the lower right corner of
http://hp.com/ type SCRUBBER or CLEANUP, you will find plenty of reference
articles and their associated utilities for cleaning HP drivers and other
junk off the system. obviously the necessity of such a utility speaks to
the fact that HP drivers, particularly the installer software, are a bloody
mess.

anyway, by your interest in the matter, i assume you in fact do have an HP
printer/scanner, so followup with the exact model and i will help you locate
the proper cleanup utility.