It takes minutes on startup before I can click on anything in the taskbar, or system tray and start

[Dan Orth]

Hi-

I am running Windows XP Home and just about a week ago it started to take
literally minutes before I could click anything on the taskbar, system tray,
or start menu when I start the computer. If I move my mouse down there it
just displays the hour glass for a long time. After a few minutes of just
waiting and only being able to click on the desktop, it somehow unfreezes
and I can use it but I cannot see any icons in the system tray. For
example, when I connect to the internet the little computer icon doesn't
show up there and neither does outlook when I minimize it. The only icons
that do show up are Norton AntiVirus and Norton Internet Security. I tried
checking and unchecking the hide inactive icons but that does nothing. I
would REALLY appreciate any help anyone might be able to offer me as I have
no idea what this problem is or how I might do about fixing it or even what
caused it. Thanks in advance-

-Dan

 

[Dan Orth]

Actually, now I see that the icons in the system tray are showing up so the
only problem seems to be that it is taking a very long time to boot up. It
is accesses the hard drive (which I have over 35 gig free) but not maxing
out the CPU. I did a defrag and still no improvement. I don't remember
anything that I installed though it might be one of my 2 daughters though
they both claim they didn't install anything. Can anyone please help me?
Thanks-

-Dan

 

[Rock]

Hi-

I am running Windows XP Home and just about a week ago it started to take
literally minutes before I could click anything on the taskbar, system tray,
or start menu when I start the computer. If I move my mouse down there it
just displays the hour glass for a long time. After a few minutes of just
waiting and only being able to click on the desktop, it somehow unfreezes
and I can use it but I cannot see any icons in the system tray. For
example, when I connect to the internet the little computer icon doesn't
show up there and neither does outlook when I minimize it. The only icons
that do show up are Norton AntiVirus and Norton Internet Security. I tried
checking and unchecking the hide inactive icons but that does nothing. I
would REALLY appreciate any help anyone might be able to offer me as I have
no idea what this problem is or how I might do about fixing it or even what
caused it. Thanks in advance-

-Dan

Have you scanned for malware and viruses using SpyBot S&D, Adaware,
Bazooka spyware scanner, Cwshredder and HijackThis? Used a couple of
the online virus scan engines?

If your system is clean use clean boot troubleshooting to find the culprit:

How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310560

How to perform advanced clean-boot troubleshooting in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=316434

 

[Dan Orth]

Yes, I used Adaware and Norton Antivirus and came up clean. I'll look into
those links. thanks!

-Dan

 

[Rock]

Yes, I used Adaware and Norton Antivirus and came up clean. I'll look into
those links. thanks!

-Dan

Dan, note that it takes more than just adaware and norton to get all the
nasties out there. Here are some tools that you should use regularly

After installing update them, then boot into safe mode and run them.
You should update and run them weekly.

Cwshredder
http://aumha.org/freeware/freeware.php#cwshred

Spybot Search and Destroy
http://www.safer-networking.org

Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner
http://download.com.com/3000-2144-10247783.html

After your system is clean use these programs to help keep it clean:

Spywareblaster
www.javacoolsoftware.com/sbdownload.html

Spywareguard
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sgdownload.html

IE-SPYAD
http://www.staff.uiuc.edu/~ehowes/resource.htm

For Adaware are you using the new SE version?

For viruses in addition to Norton you should run at least two online
scans from the following list:

Panda ActiveScan
http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/com/activescan_principal.htm

Bit Defender Online Virus Scan:
http://www.bitdefender.com/scan/license.php

Symantec Online Virus and Security Scan:
http://security.symantec.com/ssc/home.asp

TrendMicro:
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp

McAfee Online Virus Scan:
http://www.mcafee.com/myapps/mfs/default.asp

RAV AntiVirus - Scan Online
http://www.ravantivirus.com/scan/

F-Secure:
http://support.f-secure.com/enu/home/ols.shtml