Major start-up scare

[PaulFXH]

Hi
My computer is a Dell Desktop with 2.53GHz CPU and 512MB RAM running on
WinXP SP2 fully updated and well-protected.
The machine operates well, is virus- and spyware-free and is normally
ready to operate 70 seconds after switching on.
However, this morning when I switched it on, it got to the blue Windows
is Starting Up page as normal but then it stayed on that page for what
seemed like forever.
After 5 minutes, I switched off the power and tried again but in Safe
Mode. No change, still a major delay after reaching the Windows is
Starting Up screen.
Tried again in Normal Mode but did not switch off. After about 10
minutes the Windows is Starting page was finally followed by the Log-On
page.
After logging on, however, it got as normal to the Desktop but then
stayed with just the Desktop visible for about 4 minutes after which
the icons on the desktop and notification area appeared.
After that everything was perfectly normal with no speed abnormalities
at all.
Having gone through a repeat of this rather frightening episode just
to confirm that it wasn't just a one-off, I did a System Restore which
brought everything back to normal.
So, what did I do yesterday that might have caused this? And is there
still something lurking in the bowels of my computer that may cause a
recurrence?
The only thing out of the ordinary that I did yesterday (that I'm aware
of) was to disable the performance counters as recommended as point #3
in this site:
http://www.connectedinternet.co.uk/blog/_archives/2005/12/3/1433325.html

This operation required me to download Exctrlst.exe from MS Windows.
However, although the above site is aimed at providing WinXP advice,
the download site for the Exctrlst.exe file refers only to Windows 2k3.
Nevertheless, I went ahead and disabled ALL of the performance counters
found by this tool.

Could this have been the cause of the major scare I suffered this
morning or is there something else amiss?
Note that no error messages are registered in the Event Viewer and no
hardware malfunction are indicated in Device Manager.

Any comments will be much appreciated
Paul

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Your video adapter drivers are probably corrupt.
Download the latest drivers, uninstall the current drivers,
then install the new ones.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| Hi
| My computer is a Dell Desktop with 2.53GHz CPU and 512MB RAM running on
| WinXP SP2 fully updated and well-protected.
| The machine operates well, is virus- and spyware-free and is normally
| ready to operate 70 seconds after switching on.
| However, this morning when I switched it on, it got to the blue Windows
| is Starting Up page as normal but then it stayed on that page for what
| seemed like forever.
| After 5 minutes, I switched off the power and tried again but in Safe
| Mode. No change, still a major delay after reaching the Windows is
| Starting Up screen.
| Tried again in Normal Mode but did not switch off. After about 10
| minutes the Windows is Starting page was finally followed by the Log-On
| page.
| After logging on, however, it got as normal to the Desktop but then
| stayed with just the Desktop visible for about 4 minutes after which
| the icons on the desktop and notification area appeared.
| After that everything was perfectly normal with no speed abnormalities
| at all.
| Having gone through a repeat of this rather frightening episode just
| to confirm that it wasn't just a one-off, I did a System Restore which
| brought everything back to normal.
| So, what did I do yesterday that might have caused this? And is there
| still something lurking in the bowels of my computer that may cause a
| recurrence?
| The only thing out of the ordinary that I did yesterday (that I'm aware
| of) was to disable the performance counters as recommended as point #3
| in this site:
| http://www.connectedinternet.co.uk/blog/_archives/2005/12/3/1433325.html
|
| This operation required me to download Exctrlst.exe from MS Windows.
| However, although the above site is aimed at providing WinXP advice,
| the download site for the Exctrlst.exe file refers only to Windows 2k3.
| Nevertheless, I went ahead and disabled ALL of the performance counters
| found by this tool.
|
| Could this have been the cause of the major scare I suffered this
| morning or is there something else amiss?
| Note that no error messages are registered in the Event Viewer and no
| hardware malfunction are indicated in Device Manager.
|
| Any comments will be much appreciated
| Paul
|

 

[PaulFXH]

Carey
Thanks for your comments.
I must admit, however, to being surprised at your conclusion about the
video drivers. However, I have had many surprises in my life.
Nevertheless, I have taken out the (possibly corrupted) existing driver
and replaced it.
I still am inclined to believe that the problem was more to do with
something unhelpful getting into the registry or boot file or something
similar. Otherwise, why would a system restore have gotten things back
to normal?
Paul