Everything was going great untill...

[Guest]

I have reinstalled everything on my comp over the past 2 days. Everything was
going great for one day. Now my %temp% files folder wont empty unless I
highlight one file at a time and it takes at least 2 to 5 minutes for it to
do that. The add/remove programs file takes 1 to 2 minutes to load as well..
This was not the case yesterday. Everything was running smoothly. I have run
an antivirus scan and found nothing. Have deleted all temp internet files,
cookies and folders. rebooted 3 times. Am using Mcafee. Does ActiveX cause
these problems? Is there a rouge Microsoft program running around? This is
one of the reasons I had everything reinstalled in the first place. Now do I
have to do it again?

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I have reinstalled everything on my comp over the past 2 days. Everything was
going great for one day. Now my %temp% files folder wont empty unless I
highlight one file at a time and it takes at least 2 to 5 minutes for it to
do that. The add/remove programs file takes 1 to 2 minutes to load as well..
This was not the case yesterday. Everything was running smoothly. I have run
an antivirus scan and found nothing. Have deleted all temp internet files,
cookies and folders. rebooted 3 times. Am using Mcafee. Does ActiveX cause
these problems? Is there a rouge Microsoft program running around? This is
one of the reasons I had everything reinstalled in the first place. Now do I
have to do it again?

Use System Restore to go back well before the problem
became apparent. I also recommend that you compose a
meaningful Subject line for your next post, to attract the
attention of the best experts on your topic, e.g. "Windows
running very slowly".

 

[Guest]

Sorry for not putting a better title to my issue. I tried a system restore to
a previous time but Windows is not able to restore my computer to a previous
time, Ive tried twice. Yesterday and the previous day when I got it fresh
from the shop who reinstalled Windows and when it was running fine. Any other
suggetions would be helpful.

 

[Ron Martell]

Sorry for not putting a better title to my issue. I tried a system restore to
a previous time but Windows is not able to restore my computer to a previous
time, Ive tried twice. Yesterday and the previous day when I got it fresh
from the shop who reinstalled Windows and when it was running fine. Any other
suggetions would be helpful.

If your computer is infested with a Norton/Symantec product try
turning it off temporarily or even better permanently uninstalling it.

A number of Norton/Symantec products (and also some Internet Security
packages from other companies) have been shown to interfere with the
operation of System Restore.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

No need to apologise for the the Subject line - it is in your
own interest to make it problem-specific.

Assuming that a "rogue" Microsoft program causes your
machine to go slow won't get you anywhere. It would have
been detected and eradicated a long time ago. It is something
you installed that is causing the problem.

Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to launch the Task Manager, then
click the Performance tab. What is the usual CPU loading?
Click the Processes tab, then click the CPU column header
until the process with the highest CPU loading floats to the
top. What is it, and how much is it.

Lastly: Click Start / Run / msconfig {OK}, click the Startup
tab, then remove all ticks and reboot the machine. Does this
fix the problem? Note that doing this may disable your virus
scanner, so disconnect the machine from the Internet until
you have re-activated it.

 

[Guest]

CPU loads at near 3 to 7 %-- Ive got Intel dual Core II and no games. In
processess System Idle Process is at 99%, under that is hpost08.exe at 00%
next is rundll32.exe at 00%. Even tried unclicking all startups with the
msconfig you suggested but still the problems exist.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

The figures you quote are normal.

You started this thread by reporting that it takes a long
time to empty your temp folder. Let's put your complaint to
the test. Put the Task Manager with its performance display
into the top right-hand corner of the screen so that you
can see it at all times, then do this:
- Click Start / Run / cmd {OK}
- Type the following commands:
cd /d "%temp%" {Enter}
for /L %a in (1,1,500) do @echo. >%a.tmp
(This command will create 500 small files)
How long does this command take to run?
del *.tmp {Enter}
How long does this command take to run? Does
the CPU loading change noticeably?

 

[Guest]

It only took a split second for that program to run and the performance meter
bairly registered a small hump on the scale. Also when I typed -- del *.tmp
-- then pressed Enter I received an access denied message.

 

[Guest]

I have also gone and uninstalled all of the programs I had reinstalled over
the past 2 days one by one -- restarting the comp each time to see if any one
particular program was at fault. Nothing yet.. the only program left is
Windows Office XP and Media which required current downloads for the most
recent security updates. The Office Disk I have is 2002 issue.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Mmh. In your first post you said that it took ages to clear
the temp folder and now you say it takes only a split
second to populate and to empty it. I'm trying to reconcile
the two reports, without much success . . .

 

[Ron Sommer]

Robbywon didn't say populate and empty.
He said the del didn't run because of an access denied message.
--
Ronald Sommer

: Mmh. In your first post you said that it took ages to clear
: the temp folder and now you say it takes only a split
: second to populate and to empty it. I'm trying to reconcile
: the two reports, without much success . . .
:
:
: : > It only took a split second for that program to run and the performance
: meter
: > bairly registered a small hump on the scale. Also when I typed -- del
: *.tmp
: > -- then pressed Enter I received an access denied message.
: >
: > "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:
: >
: > > The figures you quote are normal.
: > >
: > > You started this thread by reporting that it takes a long
: > > time to empty your temp folder. Let's put your complaint to
: > > the test. Put the Task Manager with its performance display
: > > into the top right-hand corner of the screen so that you
: > > can see it at all times, then do this:
: > > - Click Start / Run / cmd {OK}
: > > - Type the following commands:
: > > cd /d "%temp%" {Enter}
: > > for /L %a in (1,1,500) do @echo. >%a.tmp
: > > (This command will create 500 small files)
: > > How long does this command take to run?
: > > del *.tmp {Enter}
: > > How long does this command take to run? Does
: > > the CPU loading change noticeably?
: > >
snipped

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Agreed, but he/she did not say either that it took a long time.
It is normal to have a number of locked .tmp files in the
temp folder. Those that can be deleted will be deleted more
or less instantaneously; the remainder will generate an
"access denied" message. I recommend you give it a try.

The OP should push my test a little further and do this:
1. Create the 500 files.
2. Ascertain that they are there.
3. Delete them.
4. Ascertain that they are gone.

 

[Guest]

sorry for the confusion. It only takes a split second " for there to be a
faint blip on the screen" so to speak, but the files remain---the screen
freezes as it did before-- everything begins to slow down and none of the
files are emptied from %temp% folder and a message/window appears as it has
before saying "preparing to delete"( the folder or folders highlighted). If I
had highlighted one file the process of deletion may complete itself and the
file may eventually be removed but only after a very long time 5 to 10
minutes. If all of the files are highlighted -- the process of deletion does
not complete.

 

[Guest]

I repeated the process you suggested about creating and deleting the 500
files. The 500 temp files were created and deleted in the %temp% folder by
your commands. The other files in the %temp% folder remain.

 

[Poprivet]

I have also gone and uninstalled all of the programs I had
reinstalled over the past 2 days one by one -- restarting the comp
each time to see if any one particular program was at fault. Nothing
yet.. the only program left is Windows Office XP and Media which
required current downloads for the most recent security updates. The
Office Disk I have is 2002 issue.

hmm, I can't help, but I hope you continue to post responses here; this is
an interesting problem.

Dumb Question: Have you checked Event Viewer for Error Messages?
Start; Programs; Administrative Tools; Event Viewer? If it's not there, use
Help & Support to locate Administrative Tools.

Pop`

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Now I'm really confused. Your two most recent replies
say the opposite of each other:

- The 500 temp files were created and deleted in the %temp% folder
- none of the files are emptied from %temp% folder

Do you have an explanation for this contradiction?

 

[Guest]

sorry forthe confusion again--I created and deleted the files you suggested
in the %temp% folder..Your formulas worked well for those. The original files
which could not be deleted remain in the folder. For the past 10 hours I have
wiped my comp clean am reinstalling everything from scratch. My other Comp
crashed as well and I have been doing the same reinstall there as well. I am
currently trying each reinstalled program to see if one in particuar may be
the problem. I have just realized that my laptop which also crashed will not
accept the Flash security update KB923789. This could be the culprit and am
looking into articles to see solutions as well. Pegasus I'de like to thank
you for hanging with me on this issue so far since I havent done that. Thank
You very much

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Thanks for the feedback.

To avoid having to re-install Windows at regular intervals
I strongly recommend the following strategy:
1. Install Windows and your main apps.
2. Create an image of your installation. To do this you either
need a second partition on your disk or an external USB disk.
Use a product such as Acronis TrueImage. The current version
costs some money but Version 7, which is fully functional,
is now free. Register here: http://www.acronis.com/mag/DVhbcjdI.
3. Install all other applications and create another image file.
4. Create a new image before every major installation but at least
once every six months. Keep at least two image files at all times.

This strategy allows you to recover from any disaster within a
very short time. It works best in this environment:
- Drive C: used for Windows & applications.
- Drive D: used for data (including EMail!)