Computer freezes 2-3 minutes after logging in on one account

[Guest]

I have a custom built computer with an ASUS A8N-SLI SE motherboard, AMD dual
core processor, 2 GBytes RAM, etc. It was running OK until a couple days ago
when it started freezing 2-3 minutes after I log in using my own account.
However, it runs fine when I log in on other accounts. (That is how I am
posting this question.)

I suspect some process or program that is being loaded every time I log in
is crashing the computer.

How do I find out what those processes are and change which ones are getting
loaded?

Also, is there a way to log in as administrator? The computer is set to use
the Welcome screen with names and "administrator: is not on the list. Alt-Tab
doesn't seem to work. When I try to use my account to change this, the
computer freezes before the information can be saved and take effect.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I have a custom built computer with an ASUS A8N-SLI SE motherboard, AMD
dual
core processor, 2 GBytes RAM, etc. It was running OK until a couple days
ago
when it started freezing 2-3 minutes after I log in using my own account.
However, it runs fine when I log in on other accounts. (That is how I am
posting this question.)

I suspect some process or program that is being loaded every time I log in
is crashing the computer.

How do I find out what those processes are and change which ones are
getting
loaded?

Use msconfig. start, run, msconfig.

You may need to log into your account in safe mode to do this - if you
can't, the profile is probably corrupt.

Also, is there a way to log in as administrator? The computer is set to
use
the Welcome screen with names and "administrator: is not on the list.
Alt-Tab
doesn't seem to work. When I try to use my account to change this, the
computer freezes before the information can be saved and take effect.

Is this XP Home or Pro? In XP Home, Administrator is only available in
Safe Mode. If it's Pro, press control+alt+delete, perhaps twice, at the
Welcome screen. Then you can enter the Admninistrator name and pw in the
login dialog.

Also, it is possible that your account profile is corrupt. You may need to
create a new user account and migrate to it.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/811151

HTH
-pk

 

[Guest]

Thank you, Patrick.

I can now login as either Administrator or my own name. I had forgotten how
to get into msconfig, but have been using it to try to find the culprit with
muddled results.
BTW, I have XP Media Center Edition which is mostly XP Pro with some add-ons
and quirks.

I have learned:

1) With all services and startup items enabled, the computer freezes when
I log in as either Administrator or myself.
2) When I disable all startup items, the computer does not freeze. That is
how I am writing this reply.
3) There are 42 startup items under Administrator and another 12 under my
own name. This suggests that one of these items is at fault.

However, the results are inconsistent.
4) When I try to remove individual items (or several at once), the computer
always freezes.
5) When I disable them all and add them back individually or in groups, it
seems to run OK until I get to about 20-25 items. Then it starts to freeze
again.
6) When I try to go back to what seemed to be a "safe" configuration, the
computer freezes again.
7) I can't pin down one item that freezes the computer when it is "on" and
lets it run when it is "off".

This suggests that some common, underlying factor is at fault such as a
corrupted file that keeps track of all these startup items or some sort of
marginal hard disk problem.

What can I try now?

Thanks again for your interest and help.


John H