Help to fix SLOW WinXP bootup

[Robert Macy]

This problem was posted earlier with no resolution for the problem,
maybe this time...

Apologies for having to post this problem from memory:

The symptom is slow bootup, approximately 10 minutes, slow application
startups, and slow internet access, approx 5 minutes+ to log on, if at
all.

This has been my MANUAL wrokaround:
If during bootup, I run Task Manager and kill the CPU hogging svchost;
the bootup is extremely fast, like normal. All is well until I try
internet access, so to speed that up I go to Control Panel and under
Services STOP DND Automatic, then access to the internet is 'normal'.


The whole problem may be caused by a multiple situation, the event
record during bootup shows that a driver, aic78xx.sys failed to load.
followed by a ?? hang. Both copies of aic78xx.sys, the one in
System32/Drivers and the one in *.cab/Driver Cache compare as
identical, which means the file itself is probably not corrupted?
Something else must be wrong. Trying to find alternative form of
aic78xx.sys proved fruitless.

Using Command Prompt Tasklist /svc and comparing the list to where
svchost was not killed to the list where svhost was killed, showed
that the 'offending' svchost was associated with DNS Cache.

The problem possibly is in a network configuration that no longer
exists. but how to fix my WinXP?

Questions:

1) Is it catastrophic to have a driver fail to load? especially
aic78xx.sys?

2) How can I set up my machine to do AUTOMATICALLY what I have been
doing MANUALLY to get the WinXP back to normal operation?

Regards,
Robert

 

[Unknown]

What steps have you taken so far? Did you run disk cleanup? Did you defrag
your hard drive?
Did you shut down virus scanning programs? Did you configure what you wanted
to run at startup?

 

[Unknown]

He'll be here soon enough to ask for it.

You forgot to ask:

"Did you send a copy of your defrag report to Gerry for him to
analyze?"

 

[rickhead]

Unknown:

He'll be here soon enough to ask for it.

often do this because of all the pirated apps I run on this machine.
Works well for me every time.

 

[Robert Macy]

What steps have you taken so far? Did you run disk cleanup? Did you defrag
your hard drive?
Did you shut down virus scanning programs? Did you configure what you wanted

I replied to your email, but do not see it posted here ?!

How do I configure what I want to run at startup?

 

[Unknown]

As a test or diagnostic click start --run--type in msconfig click startup
tab and uncheck items not to load.
Most programs will have a means to load at startup when you click on them.
Others have a setting in the
registry that can be changed for startup. Msconfig can be used as a
diagnostic.

What steps have you taken so far? Did you run disk cleanup? Did you defrag
your hard drive?
Did you shut down virus scanning programs? Did you configure what you
wanted

I replied to your email, but do not see it posted here ?!

How do I configure what I want to run at startup?

 

[Randem]

If the driver is failing just uninstall it or delete it so that it will not
attempt to load.

 

[Robert Macy]

As a test or diagnostic click start --run--type in msconfig  click startup
tab and uncheck items not to load.
Most  programs will have a means to load at startup when you click on them.
Others have a setting in the
registry that can be changed for startup. Msconfig can be used as a

How do I configure what I want to run at startup?

Thank you for your reply. msconfig and the startup tab only shows 7
items.

Note: Is UniBlue Registry Booster good, or bad? In the throes of
floundering around I loaded that and scanned, thinking I was looking
for the aic78xx use, and instead got over 300 registry items that were
'wrong' The details of each looked innocuous so I've ignored that
scan until later. Did NOT take any action. Remember vaguely that it
is not good to muck about in the Registry, so have left until much
later. Should I uninstall UniBlue, or follow its Registry Cleanup
steps?

The items are:
qttask
nidevmon
Reader_sl
RegistryBooster
Microsoft FindFast
Microsoft Office
Office startup

I just 'deselected' Registry Booster. Don't know what else to
deselect? I don't know what is asking for aic78xx.sys driver. Might
be that National Instruments HW Config nidevmon.exe, but honestly
don't remember what that thing is.

Should I deselect Findfast? I know it used to slow down Win98.

Regards,
Robert

 

[Robert Macy]

If the driver is failing just uninstall it or delete it so that it will not
attempt to load.

Thank you for the suggestion. Sadly, I don't know how to uninstall
this driver because it does not seem to appear in any recognizable
application to uninstall. Or did I miss something?

I have deleted a driver once, only to get nagging messages from MS OS
during bootup saying it kind suchandsuch driver ok? which essentially
hangs a boot up until the question is answered. Also, the driver
appears in the System32/Drivers folder *and* in the Driver cache.cab
files. so if I delete it WinXP will just go get it again [I think]

Any ideas on how to find out WHAT application asked for that driver?

Regards,
Robert

 

[Randem]

the aic78xx driver is for a SCSI controller. Are you using any SCSI devices?
If not you can well do without it. If you are very much unsure about it you
can just turn off Windows File Protection then delete this file to see if
your system will boot with out it and it should. If it does then you need to
delete the file from the dllcache\driver folder also.

REMEMBER to turn Windows File Protection back on after fixing the problem.

--
Randem Systems
Your Installation Specialist
The Top Inno Setup Script Generator
http://www.randem.com/innoscript.html

If the driver is failing just uninstall it or delete it so that it will
not
attempt to load.

Thank you for the suggestion. Sadly, I don't know how to uninstall
this driver because it does not seem to appear in any recognizable
application to uninstall. Or did I miss something?

I have deleted a driver once, only to get nagging messages from MS OS
during bootup saying it kind suchandsuch driver ok? which essentially
hangs a boot up until the question is answered. Also, the driver
appears in the System32/Drivers folder *and* in the Driver cache.cab
files. so if I delete it WinXP will just go get it again [I think]

Any ideas on how to find out WHAT application asked for that driver?

Regards,
Robert

 

[Unknown]

I wouldn't let UniBlue anywhere near my computer. What good is it?

As a test or diagnostic click start --run--type in msconfig click startup
tab and uncheck items not to load.
Most programs will have a means to load at startup when you click on them.
Others have a setting in the
registry that can be changed for startup. Msconfig can be used as a

How do I configure what I want to run at startup?

Thank you for your reply. msconfig and the startup tab only shows 7
items.

Note: Is UniBlue Registry Booster good, or bad? In the throes of
floundering around I loaded that and scanned, thinking I was looking
for the aic78xx use, and instead got over 300 registry items that were
'wrong' The details of each looked innocuous so I've ignored that
scan until later. Did NOT take any action. Remember vaguely that it
is not good to muck about in the Registry, so have left until much
later. Should I uninstall UniBlue, or follow its Registry Cleanup
steps?

The items are:
qttask
nidevmon
Reader_sl
RegistryBooster
Microsoft FindFast
Microsoft Office
Office startup

I just 'deselected' Registry Booster. Don't know what else to
deselect? I don't know what is asking for aic78xx.sys driver. Might
be that National Instruments HW Config nidevmon.exe, but honestly
don't remember what that thing is.

Should I deselect Findfast? I know it used to slow down Win98.

Regards,
Robert

 

[Unknown]

As a test, you can deselect all. If and when you want to run a program then,
such as Internet Explorer simply double
click on it. Remember, you are trying to find what is causing your problem.

As a test or diagnostic click start --run--type in msconfig click startup
tab and uncheck items not to load.
Most programs will have a means to load at startup when you click on them.
Others have a setting in the
registry that can be changed for startup. Msconfig can be used as a

How do I configure what I want to run at startup?

Thank you for your reply. msconfig and the startup tab only shows 7
items.

Note: Is UniBlue Registry Booster good, or bad? In the throes of
floundering around I loaded that and scanned, thinking I was looking
for the aic78xx use, and instead got over 300 registry items that were
'wrong' The details of each looked innocuous so I've ignored that
scan until later. Did NOT take any action. Remember vaguely that it
is not good to muck about in the Registry, so have left until much
later. Should I uninstall UniBlue, or follow its Registry Cleanup
steps?

The items are:
qttask
nidevmon
Reader_sl
RegistryBooster
Microsoft FindFast
Microsoft Office
Office startup

I just 'deselected' Registry Booster. Don't know what else to
deselect? I don't know what is asking for aic78xx.sys driver. Might
be that National Instruments HW Config nidevmon.exe, but honestly
don't remember what that thing is.

Should I deselect Findfast? I know it used to slow down Win98.

Regards,
Robert

 

[Robert Macy]

the aic78xx driver is for a SCSI controller. Are you using any SCSI devices?
If not you can well do without it. If you are very much unsure about it you
can just turn off Windows File Protection then delete this file to see if
your system will boot with out it and it should. If it does then you needto
delete the file from the dllcache\driver folder also.

REMEMBER to turn Windows File Protection back on after fixing the problem..

Thank you for the suggestion, but how do I turn off the Windows File
Protection? Where is that option?

Regards,
Robert

 

[Robert Macy]

As a test, you can deselect all. If and when you want to run a program then,
such as Internet Explorer simply double




Thank you for your reply.  msconfig and the startup tab only shows 7
items.

Note: Is UniBlue Registry Booster good, or bad?  In the throes of
floundering around I loaded that and scanned, thinking I was looking
for the aic78xx use, and instead got over 300 registry items that were
'wrong'  The details of each looked innocuous so I've ignored that
scan until later.  Did NOT take any action.  Remember vaguely that it
is not good to muck about in the Registry, so have left until much
later.  Should I uninstall UniBlue, or follow its Registry Cleanup
steps?

The items are:
qttask
nidevmon
Reader_sl
RegistryBooster
Microsoft FindFast
Microsoft Office
Office startup

I just 'deselected' Registry Booster.  Don't know what else to
deselect? I don't know what is asking for aic78xx.sys driver.  Might
be that National Instruments HW Config nidevmon.exe, but honestly
don't remember what that thing is.

Should I deselect Findfast?  I know it used to slow down Win98.

Regards,
Robert

Thank you for your reply. I became concerned with UniBlue's veracity
when in spite of my specifically asking for it NOT to do things, it
still does. For one example, I asked it to NOT be part of my Startup,
in spite of that request it has made itself part of my startup! Makes
me nervous when software doesn't do what I ask, uses so many
'emotional' words, and insinuates itself into my system.

I may be back for help to 'uninstall' it.

Robert

 

[Randem]

Look here http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm for item 127.

--
Randem Systems
Your Installation Specialist
The Top Inno Setup Script Generator
http://www.randem.com/innoscript.html

the aic78xx driver is for a SCSI controller. Are you using any SCSI
devices?
If not you can well do without it. If you are very much unsure about it
you
can just turn off Windows File Protection then delete this file to see if
your system will boot with out it and it should. If it does then you need
to
delete the file from the dllcache\driver folder also.

REMEMBER to turn Windows File Protection back on after fixing the problem.

Thank you for the suggestion, but how do I turn off the Windows File
Protection? Where is that option?

Regards,
Robert

 

[Randem]

ANY software that does not do what you ask it to do and then it goes off and
does what it wants to SHOULD be uninstalled. After all it is your computer
not theirs!!!

--
Randem Systems
Your Installation Specialist
The Top Inno Setup Script Generator
http://www.randem.com/innoscript.html

As a test, you can deselect all. If and when you want to run a program
then,
such as Internet Explorer simply double
click on it. Remember, you are trying to find what is causing your




Thank you for your reply. msconfig and the startup tab only shows 7
items.

Note: Is UniBlue Registry Booster good, or bad? In the throes of
floundering around I loaded that and scanned, thinking I was looking
for the aic78xx use, and instead got over 300 registry items that were
'wrong' The details of each looked innocuous so I've ignored that
scan until later. Did NOT take any action. Remember vaguely that it
is not good to muck about in the Registry, so have left until much
later. Should I uninstall UniBlue, or follow its Registry Cleanup
steps?

The items are:
qttask
nidevmon
Reader_sl
RegistryBooster
Microsoft FindFast
Microsoft Office
Office startup

I just 'deselected' Registry Booster. Don't know what else to
deselect? I don't know what is asking for aic78xx.sys driver. Might
be that National Instruments HW Config nidevmon.exe, but honestly
don't remember what that thing is.

Should I deselect Findfast? I know it used to slow down Win98.

Regards,
Robert

Thank you for your reply. I became concerned with UniBlue's veracity
when in spite of my specifically asking for it NOT to do things, it
still does. For one example, I asked it to NOT be part of my Startup,
in spite of that request it has made itself part of my startup! Makes
me nervous when software doesn't do what I ask, uses so many
'emotional' words, and insinuates itself into my system.

I may be back for help to 'uninstall' it.

Robert

 

[Robert Macy]

ANY software that does not do what you ask it to do and then it goes off and
does what it wants to SHOULD be uninstalled. After all it is your computer
not theirs!!!

--
Randem Systems
Your Installation Specialist
The Top Inno Setup Script Generatorhttp://www.randem.com/innoscript.html











'emotional' words, and insinuates itself into my system.

I may be back for help to 'uninstall' it.

Robert- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Three updates:

1) Of my two original problems, I found that SSDP Discovery Service
can be disabled, so I don't have to manually stop it right after
bootup just before I connect to the internet. I tried the MS version
of adding a value in the KEY Registry and setting it to 2, but that
did not work. I guess if I put in a new card, I'll have to turn the
SSDP Discovery Service back on.

2) Just as I said, Registry Booster still appears in the STARTUP list
of msconfig !! It does NOT appear as a program that can be
uninstalled?! So, I'm back here to find out how to get it OFF and out
of my machine.

3) Somehow after mucking around in the machine it now tries to
initially log me in as 'macy' instead of the old 'rmacy' [I'm the
only user on this machine] So instead of being whisked away to my
normal screen at bootup, I get a prompt that the log on has failed for
'macy', have to add the single letter, and bootup proceeds as normal.
How do I change that power up log on back to my original?

Score card: had two 'nuisance' problems. Now one is solved, but
problems have been replaced with two NUISANCE problems. Not making
much headway.

Regards,
Robert

 

[Daave]

Just as I said, Registry Booster still appears in the STARTUP list
of msconfig !! It does NOT appear as a program that can be
uninstalled?! So, I'm back here to find out how to get it OFF and
out of my machine.

What happens when you uninstall it via Control Panel | Add or Remove
Programs? Are you saying it doesn't appear in the list?

 

[Robert Macy]

What happens when you uninstall it via Control Panel | Add or Remove
Programs? Are you saying it doesn't appear in the list?

yes

 

[Daave]

yes

When you go to its folder in C:\Programs, do you see an uninstaller? Or
is it possible you manually deleted the files in that folder? If so, it
might be easier to reinstall, then uninstall.