Control panels disappear after 10 seconds

[Guest]

When I access many of the control panels (from the start menu or from a
windows explorer window) the control panel will show up for about ten seconds
then disappear. Examples: 1) I open Display to change the settings and in the
middle of changing, it just closes with no error. 2) I open Add/Remove
programs and try to remove a program, but window and anything that I am doing
closes down, again with no warning or error.

Makes it very hard to make any changes to the computer...

Any suggestions?

 

[Elmo]

When I access many of the control panels (from the start menu or from a
windows explorer window) the control panel will show up for about ten seconds
then disappear. Examples: 1) I open Display to change the settings and in the
middle of changing, it just closes with no error. 2) I open Add/Remove
programs and try to remove a program, but window and anything that I am doing
closes down, again with no warning or error.

Makes it very hard to make any changes to the computer...

Any suggestions?

Run your antivirus software in Safe Mode and see if it finds anything.
While in Safe Mode, see if the CP applets will remain open; some malware
won't run in Safe Mode.

 

[Guest]

I think I found the cause, but I'm not sure why it's causing the problem. I
have a 300GB USB hard drive (an diskGO by Edge) connected to my computer.
When I unplugged the USB drive from the computer (removing it safely, mind
you) the problems went away. If I connect the drive back up, the problems
come back. I didn't have time to check into drivers yesterday, but I will
work on that today hopefully. Any thoughts on why that would cause the
problem?

 

[Elmo]

I think I found the cause, but I'm not sure why it's causing the problem. I
have a 300GB USB hard drive (an diskGO by Edge) connected to my computer.
When I unplugged the USB drive from the computer (removing it safely, mind
you) the problems went away. If I connect the drive back up, the problems
come back. I didn't have time to check into drivers yesterday, but I will
work on that today hopefully. Any thoughts on why that would cause the
problem?

No, but here's help with USB drives:

Troubleshooting for USB drives
http://www.uwe-sieber.de/usbtrouble_e.html

Other USB Help sites:
http://www.usbman.com/WinME USB Guide.htm

General USB troubleshooting in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310575

 

[BT]

I had the same problem except that after I connected the drive back up
again the problem didn't return. Weird!!!!