my computer is so slow to start

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Ken

SMSsystemAnalyzer = System Mechanic!

The second reply to your post, which obviously you have not seen!

Thanks, Gerry.

Yes, System Mechanic would be a very good think to get rid of. Getting
rid of it might or might not help him with his current problem, but
getting rid of it would certainly help prevent future problems.

And yes, System Mechanic, and all such programs, are nothing but snake
oil. They do nothing useful and are far more likely to hurt you than
help you.

 

[Gerry]

Gerald

Try Ctrl+Alt+Delete to select Task Manager and click the Performance
Tab. Under Commit Charge what is the Total, the Limit and the Peak?

I would be interested in seeing a Disk Defragmenter report. Open Disk
Defragmenter and click on Analyse. Select View Report and
click on Save As and Save. Now find VolumeC.txt in your My Documents
Folder and post a copy. Do this before running Disk Defragmenter as it
is more informative.

Are there any yellow question marks in Device Manager? Right click on
the My Computer icon on your Desktop and select Properties,
Hardware,Device Manager. If yes what is the Device Error code?

Try this approach?
How to configure Windows XP to start in a "clean boot" state
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353/en-us

The underling principle on which this method is founded is that you
restrict what loads when you restart your computer adding back one item
at a time until the error occurs. The last item you add back is the
application causing the problem. This approach may not reveal the cause
of the problem as not all start up items are revealed by msconfig. If
this arises there is a further programme which can be used but let's see
if clean booting identifies the problem application.

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Gerald S]

Gerry,

you must have the patience of a saint.

Total.528016
Limit. 1528284
Peak. 578416

There are no yellow question marks in device manager.

I have done the clean boot method also followed step for of that and un
checked "Load System Services"

My disc deframenter keeps giving me the message that is is not responding. I
am unable to give you that report.

from all my restarts on following these instructions, I have checked the
error logs and i have posted these below, if they shed any light on the
problem.

cor I will be an expert of finding my way round a computer before long, if I
wasnt so long in the tooth.

Event Type: Warning
Event Source: Userenv
Event Category: None
Event ID: 1517
Date: 29/07/2008
Time: 19:39:28
User: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
Computer: MR-08408BD18B88
Description:
Windows saved user MR-08408BD18B88\G Stubbs registry while an application or
service was still using the registry during log off. The memory used by the
user's registry has not been freed. The registry will be unloaded when it is
no longer in use.

This is often caused by services running as a user account, try configuring
the services to run in either the LocalService or NetworkService account.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

Event Type: Error
Event Source: Application Hang
Event Category: None
Event ID: 1001
Date: 29/07/2008
Time: 19:15:28
User: N/A
Computer: MR-08408BD18B88
Description:
Fault bucket 126818269.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
Data:
0000: 42 75 63 6b 65 74 3a 20 Bucket:
0008: 31 32 36 38 31 38 32 36 12681826
0010: 39 0d 0a 9..

Event Type: Error
Event Source: Application Hang
Event Category: (101)
Event ID: 1002
Date: 29/07/2008
Time: 19:15:12
User: N/A
Computer: MR-08408BD18B88
Description:
Hanging application mmc.exe, version 5.1.2600.2180, hang module hungapp,
version 0.0.0.0, hang address 0x00000000.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
Data:
0000: 41 70 70 6c 69 63 61 74 Applicat
0008: 69 6f 6e 20 48 61 6e 67 ion Hang
0010: 20 20 6d 6d 63 2e 65 78 mmc.ex
0018: 65 20 35 2e 31 2e 32 36 e 5.1.26
0020: 30 30 2e 32 31 38 30 20 00.2180
0028: 69 6e 20 68 75 6e 67 61 in hunga
0030: 70 70 20 30 2e 30 2e 30 pp 0.0.0
0038: 2e 30 20 61 74 20 6f 66 .0 at of
0040: 66 73 65 74 20 30 30 30 fset 000
0048: 30 30 30 30 30 00000 Event Type: Error
Event Source: Application Hang
Event Category: None
Event ID: 1001
Date: 29/07/2008
Time: 19:14:13
User: N/A
Computer: MR-08408BD18B88
Description:
Fault bucket 126818269.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
Data:
0000: 42 75 63 6b 65 74 3a 20 Bucket:
0008: 31 32 36 38 31 38 32 36 12681826
0010: 39 0d 0a 9..
Event Type: Error
Event Source: Application Hang
Event Category: (101)
Event ID: 1002
Date: 29/07/2008
Time: 19:13:58
User: N/A
Computer: MR-08408BD18B88
Description:
Hanging application mmc.exe, version 5.1.2600.2180, hang module hungapp,
version 0.0.0.0, hang address 0x00000000.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
Data:
0000: 41 70 70 6c 69 63 61 74 Applicat
0008: 69 6f 6e 20 48 61 6e 67 ion Hang
0010: 20 20 6d 6d 63 2e 65 78 mmc.ex
0018: 65 20 35 2e 31 2e 32 36 e 5.1.26
0020: 30 30 2e 32 31 38 30 20 00.2180
0028: 69 6e 20 68 75 6e 67 61 in hunga
0030: 70 70 20 30 2e 30 2e 30 pp 0.0.0
0038: 2e 30 20 61 74 20 6f 66 .0 at of
0040: 66 73 65 74 20 30 30 30 fset 000
0048: 30 30 30 30 30 00000


Event Type: Error
Event Source: DCOM
Event Category: None
Event ID: 10005
Date: 29/07/2008
Time: 19:46:37
User: MR-08408BD18B88\G Stubbs
Computer: MR-08408BD18B88
Description:
DCOM got error "The service cannot be started, either because it is disabled
or because it has no enabled devices associated with it. " attempting to
start the service McMSCSvc with arguments "" in order to run the server:
{03082469-BA75-44A5-89CB-D187F313E572}

For more information, see Help and Support Center at
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

 

[Gerry]

Gerald

What is the precise version of McAfee you have? McAfee does require a
fair amount of memory.

You should be able to gather more information from Task Manager. With
the Processes tab open select View, Select, Columns and check the boxes
before Peak Memory Usage and Virtual Memory size. What are the figures
for the 6 processes using the largest amounts?

After trying the Clean Boot method did you reset the system to boot in
normal mode?

Steps to configure Windows to use a Normal startup state
1.Click Start, click Run, type msconfig, and then click OK.
The System Configuration Utility dialog box appears.
2.Click the General tab, click Normal Startup - load all device drivers
and services, and then click OK.
3.When you are prompted, click Restart to restart the computer.

You need to be able to get Disk Defragmenter to work.

Select Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk CleanUp to
Empty your Recycle Bin and Remove Temporary Internet Files. Also
select Start, All Programs, accessories, System Tools, Disk CleanUp,
More Options, System Restore and remove all but the latest System
Restore point. Run Disk Defragmenter.


--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Daave]

Apologies for not supplying enough details.

Windows XP home edition service pack 2 (build 2600)
3.20 gigahertz intel pentium 4
250.05 gb usable hard drive capacity
233.06 gb hard drive free space
antivirus full scan with McAfee today.

McAfee is the reason your PC is slow to start (I'll bet it is configured
to scan certain things every time you boot up). Uninstall it (removing
every trace) and you will notice a big improvement).

And since McAfee tends to keep its hooks in the OS (like Norton), you
will need to run the special removal tool (MCPR.exe):

http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?id=107083&lc=1033

Replace with something much lighter like Avast. Free version available:

http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html

Choose the cutom installation because email scanning (Internet Mail and
Outlook/Exchange) is redundant and resource-consuming.

Good luck.

 

[Gerald S]

Ken / Gerry,

Thank you for this information, I will be dumping the snake in the works and
uninstall system machanic as soon as I get in from work today, however this
had a pop up blocker with it and I never ever got bothered with pop ups, is
there something else I can use to replace it.

many thanks for the support

Ken

SMSsystemAnalyzer = System Mechanic!

The second reply to your post, which obviously you have not seen!

Thanks, Gerry.

Yes, System Mechanic would be a very good think to get rid of. Getting
rid of it might or might not help him with his current problem, but
getting rid of it would certainly help prevent future problems.

And yes, System Mechanic, and all such programs, are nothing but snake
oil. They do nothing useful and are far more likely to hurt you than
help you.

 

[Gerald S]

Gerry,

dfrgntfs.exe 74,464
TeaTimer.exe 33,012
Mcshield. exe 28,340
SkypePM exe 20,728
Skype. exe 31,320
svchost.exe 15,520

I hope these are the fiqures you meant ?

I managed to do a disc deframent even though it did say the volume did not
need doing, however it appears that when I want to veiw the report this is
when the program stops responding, so I am unable to veiw report,s also have
the message some files on this volume could not be defragmented.

The system restore memory got completley wiped when I preformed the clean
boot up yesterday, I did put the settings back to start up in normal mode
after completion of the test.

McAfee. I now have the problem that it is working and protecting, but for
some reason when I try to open it it does not appear, I get the opening flash
shot and then it does not open, so I am unable to give you the information on
which version it is, I know it runs out next month but is fully up to date.

System Mechanic has now been uninstalled as per the recomendations, I try to
listen to good advice and take heed, this used to have a pop up blocker
accociated with it and as I never got bothered with any pop ups I thought it
was good. should I now buy something else to use?

regards

Gerald

 

[Gerry]

Gerald

dfrgntfs.exe -that this should appear in your list with such a high
figure is a surprise. How often do you run Disk CleanUp and Disk
Defragmenter?

Mcshield. exe =McAfee. When the subscription expires I would opt for a
freeware anti-virus with a smaller footprint.

Skype. This could be part of your problem. There are known memory leaks
associated with skype. Stop it loading at start up reboot and observe
for effect.

Autoruns lists additional start-up items to those you have seen in
msconfig.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/ProcessesAndThreads/Autoruns.mspx

With Autoruns you can uncheck an item, which disables it from starting,
or you can can right click an item and then delete it. If you uncheck
you can recheck to re-enable the item. It is a much safer approach than
editing the Registry. Another useful feature of the programme is that
you can right click an item and select Search Online to get information
about the item selected.


--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Gerald S]

Gerry,

Advice noted on the McAfee, and with only 1 month subscription left I will
do it asap. and recomendations on which freeware option to use, AVG ??? maybe.

Skype does not run on start up, I was using it when taking the information
down.

I dont not defrag or clean the disk that often, but have done it a few times
over the weekend while having the boot up problem, and maybe system mechanic
did some of it on a shedule weekly, I am not sure I know I use to see it
doing something weekly, but I have now removed the program all together.

I am not sure what I would un-check even if i were to see it, as I do not
understand what things do or what they are for. but i have saved the link
page you included and I may be brave enough one day to try it. I am a pure
amateur but I do try to sort things out.

kindest regards

Gerald

 

[Olórin]

Gerry,

Advice noted on the McAfee, and with only 1 month subscription left I will
do it asap. and recomendations on which freeware option to use, AVG ???
maybe.

<snip>

On my home PCs I've recently moved from AVG to Avast's and Avira's free
offerings. I didn't like the changes Grisoft brought in in the move from 7.5
to 8.

Having got bitten by a virus that was missed by AVG (just before the move,
which I was going to make anyway), I now also use TotalVirus fairly often -
for free you can upload a file up to 10Mb IIRC and it'll be checked by some
35 up-to-date AV programs. (I checked the offending file and its payload was
missed by quite a few products, including (surprisingly) Eset's NOD32, which
is the one I'd always said I'd get if I ever paid for virus protection.)

<snip>

 

[Gerald S]

Ken,

Many thanks for the advice offered, and I listen to what you say, my
computer runs lovely after it has booted, no real problems to speak of, I was
just concerned about the new start up time as Id never noticed it before, so
now I will switch on THEN go for my coffee and when I leave the pc just put
it in standby mode until bedtime. good advice and I thank you for it

 

[Gerald S]

Gerry,

I would like to thank you for all the advice and information you have given
me over the past few days, I am going to do as Ken suggests and just put up
with the long boot up time as my pc runs perfectly well apart from this.

all you assistance has been much appreciated.

McAfee has gone and I am using AVG. and no more System mechanic.


all the best

Gerald

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Ken,

Many thanks for the advice offered, and I listen to what you say, my
computer runs lovely after it has booted, no real problems to speak of, I was
just concerned about the new start up time as Id never noticed it before, so
now I will switch on THEN go for my coffee and when I leave the pc just put
it in standby mode until bedtime. good advice and I thank you for it

You're welcome. Glad to help.

I have 512 mb ram

It depends on what apps you run, but for most people that's
sufficient, so that's unlikely to be the problem.

this is a new problem, the only thing I have changed is the webcam, but if I
am honest I can not remember if it was slow starting before i added it or
after, I have updated the driver for it, creative vista webcam.

You didn't answer the question "Is it just slow in starting or is it
slow in everything it does?"

My personal view is that the attention many people pay to how long it
takes to boot is unwarranted. Assuming that the computer's speed is
otherwise satisfactory, it may not be worth worrying about. Most
people start their computers once a day or even less frequently. In
the overall scheme of things, even a few minutes to start up isn't
very important. Personally I power on my computer when I get up in the
morning, then go get my coffee. When I come back, it's done booting. I
don't know how long it took to boot and I don't care.

Also tell us *which* programs start automatically.

Note that McAfee, along with Norton, is one of the worst and
worst-performing anti-virus programs that exist. That could be a good
part of your problem.

And you mention scanning for viruses, but you say nothing about what
anti-spyware protection you use. Spyware is responsible for a good
part of the performance problems you se around.