Need help with major slowdown opening documents

[Don Burnette]

I tried posting this to the Office General group, did not get a lot of
feedback, so thought I would try here , as I know there are a lot of
knowledgeable folks that read this group.

First off, I am running Windows XP Pro SP2 with all updates. I also have
Office XP with all updates for it as well.

The issue, seems to be related to being able to open documents by double
clicking on them, and related to MS Word primarily.

My system is an Nforce4 based socket 939 mb, with 2gb ddr ram, and 7200 rpm
wd sata hard drives. My video card is a Radeon X850XT PCIe, with latest
Catalyst drivers. My cpu is an Athlon X2 4400+

The issue:

When I go into My Documents, and double click on a word document to open it,
there is a very long delay in actually opening the document. I am talking
minutes here, can be as long as 5 minutes or more before it actually opens.
I also notice, there is a delay in closing a window, and the icon on the
task bar actually closing, which I find unusual. That delay, is usually a
few seconds.

If I have Word set as my email editor, when I compose and then click send,
there is a very long delay in the spell check launching. To prevent this, I
currently have Word not set as my email editor.

Now, I can launch the Word program by clicking on it in start-programs, it
launches right away, and I can even click on a document in history in the
right hand pane of the Word window, and it opens instantly, however if I
double click on a Word document, then it takes several minutes to open.

The feedback I got in the Office General group, was related to adware. I do
not believe my system is compromised, I regularly ( weekly ), run Ad Aware
SE, Spybot Search and Destroy, and CCleaner. I also have Spywareblaster
installed. I also keep these programs updated. I also run AVG7.1 anti virus.
I have also run a chkdsk on my C drive. I also routinely defrag my hard
drive.

At this point, I am considering one of the following:
Uninstall and reinstall Office XP ( I already tried a detect and repair)
Do a SFC scan now
Do a repair install of XP Pro

The only thing I can think of, is occasionally I do use CCleaner, to find
and fix any registry issues, and I did not always back up any that it fixed.
Perhaps it deleted, an essential file that is causing this issue...

Any advice, would be greatly appreciated!


Don

 

[JS]

Ran a series of tests, was able to confirm that when double clicking on a
word document MS Word did take slightly longer to open (about an extra 5
seconds on a 500KB file). During this time my AV software kicked in while
the word document was still being loaded, this caused the extra delay in my
case.

I used Process Explorer from SysInternals to confirm that my AV software was
at least part of the additional delay:
http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/ProcessExplorer.html

JS

 

[Don Burnette]

Thanks JS,

But I do not believe that is my issue.
I can see, where I open a word document, where it requests a virus scan. The
slowness appears to be happening, long before it gets to that point. The
virus scan certainly does slow it down a little, but that I could certainly
live with. It is the long wait, after double clicking, but before the
document even loads that is killing me.

What is wierd, is the slowness appears to get progressively worse, the
longer my machine is on. It is at it's best, upon a reboot.

I have monitored my performance in task manager, and nothing really appears
out of ordinary. Cpu useage is low, page file useage is low, I am
approaching nowhere near peak memory useage.

 

[V Green]

Are you on a network?

If so, Word may be fishing for the network printer that was set
as default when you composed the doc and not finding it.

 

[Don Burnette]

No, good thought, but I am not on a network.

It is the craziest thing, any word doc, from double clicking, experiences a
long delay before actually opening.
This is from either double clicking on the actual document, or from opening
word and clicking the " open " icon to browse for and open a document. The
longer the system is up, the worse it gets, eventually getting to the point
it just freezes the system up.
Now, I can open word, and click on a document listed in the history on the
right hand pane, and it opens instantly.

I know what I am saying at this point is redundant, but I am just stumped on
this one.


Thanks,

 

[Don Burnette]

Ok, this appears to be a complicated one.

I have noticed, that this slowness is not just on word documents, the
behaviour is the same on Excel documents as well.
It appears to be related to Office XP.

I don't know if there is a damaged file involved, or what.

I think , the first thing I am going to try, instead of going to the extreme
of an sfc scannow, or a repair install, is to uninstall and reinstall my
complete Office XP program, and see if that resolves anything.

Any other ideas or suggestions would certainly be appreciated!


Thanks,

Don

 

[Malke]

Ok, this appears to be a complicated one.

I have noticed, that this slowness is not just on word documents, the
behaviour is the same on Excel documents as well.
It appears to be related to Office XP.

I don't know if there is a damaged file involved, or what.

I think , the first thing I am going to try, instead of going to the
extreme of an sfc scannow, or a repair install, is to uninstall and
reinstall my complete Office XP program, and see if that resolves
anything.

Any other ideas or suggestions would certainly be appreciated!

JS suggested that your antivirus might be the problem and you said it
wasn't. Did you check? If your av has an Office plugin - NAV does for
ex. - then try disabling it.

Malke

 

[Don Burnette]

JS suggested that your antivirus might be the problem and you said it
wasn't. Did you check? If your av has an Office plugin - NAV does for
ex. - then try disabling it.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Hi Malke,

The reason I do not believe it is the problem, is I can see when it requests
the virus scan of the document, and it does not appear to do so until the
document loads, and there is a very long delay between the time I double
click the document, and it actually loads up.

However, I realize this may not be the case. I am running AVG Pro 7.1 anti
virus. I have gone through it's settings, and do not see an option related
to disabling an office plug in.
I did try, quitting control center, and opening a document without it
running, but that did not make a difference...


Thanks,

Don

 

[Bruce Remick]

Ok, this appears to be a complicated one.

I have noticed, that this slowness is not just on word documents, the
behaviour is the same on Excel documents as well.
It appears to be related to Office XP.

I don't know if there is a damaged file involved, or what.

I think , the first thing I am going to try, instead of going to the extreme
of an sfc scannow, or a repair install, is to uninstall and reinstall my
complete Office XP program, and see if that resolves anything.

Any other ideas or suggestions would certainly be appreciated!


Thanks,

Don

I'm following your thread here as I have a similar delay problem opening Word
documents and I also use AVG. My own problem arose soon after I uninstalled a
pesky Norton Antivirus and installed AVG which some people here seem to
recommend. About the same time I started getting an [End Program-SVC Host]
window which I have to end (or wait for) before the computer shuts down. I also
noticed the little green drive light on the CPU runs/flickers more often. I
checked task manager but didn't see anything unusual running. Hopefully you'll
find a solution to your dilemma. Maybe it will work for me, too.

Bruce

 

[Don Burnette]

Ok, this appears to be a complicated one.

I have noticed, that this slowness is not just on word documents, the
behaviour is the same on Excel documents as well.
It appears to be related to Office XP.

I don't know if there is a damaged file involved, or what.

I think , the first thing I am going to try, instead of going to the
extreme of an sfc scannow, or a repair install, is to uninstall and
reinstall my complete Office XP program, and see if that resolves
anything.

Any other ideas or suggestions would certainly be appreciated!


Thanks,

Don

I'm following your thread here as I have a similar delay problem opening
Word documents and I also use AVG. My own problem arose soon after I
uninstalled a pesky Norton Antivirus and installed AVG which some people
here seem to recommend. About the same time I started getting an [End
Program-SVC Host] window which I have to end (or wait for) before the
computer shuts down. I also noticed the little green drive light on the
CPU runs/flickers more often. I checked task manager but didn't see
anything unusual running. Hopefully you'll find a solution to your
dilemma. Maybe it will work for me, too.

Bruce

Hi Bruce,

That is interesting. Makes me wonder, if an avg update has somehow caused
this.
I too, get a strange end program message when I try to shut down now, not
everytime, but sometimes. It flashes by quickly, and ends itself, but I
think it says something like " ending rcldmwind ". I tried a good search ,
but nothing came up on that.

I have been running AVG for some time now, at least 3 years, and never had
an issue with it.


Don

 

[Malke]

I'm following your thread here as I have a similar delay problem
opening
Word documents and I also use AVG. My own problem arose soon after I
uninstalled a pesky Norton Antivirus and installed AVG which some
people
here seem to recommend. About the same time I started getting an
[End Program-SVC Host] window which I have to end (or wait for)
before the
computer shuts down. I also noticed the little green drive light on
the
CPU runs/flickers more often. I checked task manager but didn't see
anything unusual running. Hopefully you'll find a solution to your
dilemma. Maybe it will work for me, too.

Bruce

Hi Bruce,

That is interesting. Makes me wonder, if an avg update has somehow
caused this.
I too, get a strange end program message when I try to shut down now,
not everytime, but sometimes. It flashes by quickly, and ends itself,
but I think it says something like " ending rcldmwind ". I tried a
good search , but nothing came up on that.

I have been running AVG for some time now, at least 3 years, and never
had an issue with it.

Maybe it has nothing to do with AVG, maybe it does. Take the machine off
the Internet and do clean-boot troubleshooting. Something you are
running is interacting negatively with Office programs. As an aside, do
you have the Google Desktop installed (or other Desktop search
program)? If so, disable those before doing anything else and see if
that helps. I have found the Google Desktop to be problematic in
clients' machines and it also caused my son's Office 2003 programs to
not work at all. In his case, uninstalling Google Desktop brought
Office back to full functionality.

Clean boot in Windows XP - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353
Clean-boot advanced troubleshooting in Windows XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316434
and How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310560

Malke

 

[Don Burnette]

I'm following your thread here as I have a similar delay problem
opening
Word documents and I also use AVG. My own problem arose soon after I
uninstalled a pesky Norton Antivirus and installed AVG which some
people
here seem to recommend. About the same time I started getting an
[End Program-SVC Host] window which I have to end (or wait for)
before the
computer shuts down. I also noticed the little green drive light on
the
CPU runs/flickers more often. I checked task manager but didn't see
anything unusual running. Hopefully you'll find a solution to your
dilemma. Maybe it will work for me, too.

Bruce

Hi Bruce,

That is interesting. Makes me wonder, if an avg update has somehow
caused this.
I too, get a strange end program message when I try to shut down now,
not everytime, but sometimes. It flashes by quickly, and ends itself,
but I think it says something like " ending rcldmwind ". I tried a
good search , but nothing came up on that.

I have been running AVG for some time now, at least 3 years, and never
had an issue with it.

Maybe it has nothing to do with AVG, maybe it does. Take the machine off
the Internet and do clean-boot troubleshooting. Something you are
running is interacting negatively with Office programs. As an aside, do
you have the Google Desktop installed (or other Desktop search
program)? If so, disable those before doing anything else and see if
that helps. I have found the Google Desktop to be problematic in
clients' machines and it also caused my son's Office 2003 programs to
not work at all. In his case, uninstalling Google Desktop brought
Office back to full functionality.

Clean boot in Windows XP - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353
Clean-boot advanced troubleshooting in Windows XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316434
and How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310560

Malke
--

Hmmm, now that is interesting, after an update to Firefox, my Firefox home
page now opens to a google page, never used to do that. It says " Firefox
Start ", and has a google blank to type in.
To my knowledge, I have never installed the google desktop, would that show
up in add/remove programs , or within Firefox?

Thanks,

Don

 

[Malke]

Hmmm, now that is interesting, after an update to Firefox, my Firefox
home page now opens to a google page, never used to do that. It says "
Firefox Start ", and has a google blank to type in.
To my knowledge, I have never installed the google desktop, would
that show
up in add/remove programs , or within Firefox?

If you installed the Google Desktop Search, presumably you would know.
There would also be an entry in Add/Remove Programs. The Firefox
behavior is by design and has nothing to do with your problems. Just
change back to your regular homepage.

Malke

 

[Don Burnette]

If you installed the Google Desktop Search, presumably you would know.
There would also be an entry in Add/Remove Programs. The Firefox
behavior is by design and has nothing to do with your problems. Just
change back to your regular homepage.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Ok, thanks Malke. I did not think I had installed it, and it is not listed
in add/remove programs.

I will try your clean boot troubleshooting and see what it might reveal.

Thanks,

Don

 

[Don Burnette]

I'm following your thread here as I have a similar delay problem
opening
Word documents and I also use AVG. My own problem arose soon after I
uninstalled a pesky Norton Antivirus and installed AVG which some
people
here seem to recommend. About the same time I started getting an
[End Program-SVC Host] window which I have to end (or wait for)
before the
computer shuts down. I also noticed the little green drive light on
the
CPU runs/flickers more often. I checked task manager but didn't see
anything unusual running. Hopefully you'll find a solution to your
dilemma. Maybe it will work for me, too.

Bruce

Hi Bruce,

That is interesting. Makes me wonder, if an avg update has somehow
caused this.
I too, get a strange end program message when I try to shut down now,
not everytime, but sometimes. It flashes by quickly, and ends itself,
but I think it says something like " ending rcldmwind ". I tried a
good search , but nothing came up on that.

I have been running AVG for some time now, at least 3 years, and never
had an issue with it.

Maybe it has nothing to do with AVG, maybe it does. Take the machine off
the Internet and do clean-boot troubleshooting. Something you are
running is interacting negatively with Office programs. As an aside, do
you have the Google Desktop installed (or other Desktop search
program)? If so, disable those before doing anything else and see if
that helps. I have found the Google Desktop to be problematic in
clients' machines and it also caused my son's Office 2003 programs to
not work at all. In his case, uninstalling Google Desktop brought
Office back to full functionality.

Clean boot in Windows XP - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353
Clean-boot advanced troubleshooting in Windows XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316434
and How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310560

Malke

Ok, think we're on to something here. I did not take the machine off the
internet, but I have followed the clean boot instructions.
I ran msconfig, and removed the check from " process system.ini", " process
win.ini", and " load startup items".
I then went to the services tab, put a check to hide all MS services, then
disabled all remaining.
Have rebooted, and system has been up about 15-20 minutes. So far, so good,
my documents are opening instantaneously upon double clicking them!

So, I guess the way for me to figure out what service or program is causing
this, is to add them back one at a time and test for a few minutes again?
Should I add them back individually, before returning the check to process
system.ini, win.ini, and load startup items?

Sorry, just a little confused here on best way to go about finding out which
service and/or program is causing the issue.


Many thanks,

Don

 

[Malke]

Ok, think we're on to something here. I did not take the machine off
the internet, but I have followed the clean boot instructions.
I ran msconfig, and removed the check from " process system.ini", "
process win.ini", and " load startup items".
I then went to the services tab, put a check to hide all MS services,
then disabled all remaining.
Have rebooted, and system has been up about 15-20 minutes. So far, so
good, my documents are opening instantaneously upon double clicking
them!

So, I guess the way for me to figure out what service or program is
causing this, is to add them back one at a time and test for a few
minutes again? Should I add them back individually, before returning
the check to process system.ini, win.ini, and load startup items?

Sorry, just a little confused here on best way to go about finding out
which service and/or program is causing the issue.

Yes, that is correct. You have to add back one thing at a time and test
after each change. Keep notes.

Malke

 

[Don Burnette]

Yes, that is correct. You have to add back one thing at a time and test
after each change. Keep notes.

Malke
--

Thanks Malke, I will give it a go!

Please excuse my ignorance, but I want to resolve this by doing this
correctly.
Should I return the check to " process system.ini, then process win.ini"
before adding the services I disabled in the services tab?
Or does it really matter, the order in which I return these things that are
currently disabled?

Thanks again, I really appreciate the help!

Don

 

[Malke]

Thanks Malke, I will give it a go!

Please excuse my ignorance, but I want to resolve this by doing this
correctly.
Should I return the check to " process system.ini, then process
win.ini" before adding the services I disabled in the services tab?
Or does it really matter, the order in which I return these things
that are currently disabled?

Start with the services, enabling one at a time. If you aren't sure what
the services are, Google them.

Malke

 

[Don Burnette]

Start with the services, enabling one at a time. If you aren't sure what
the services are, Google them.

Malke
--

Ok, will do, thanks Malke.

I'll let you know how I make out.


Don

 

[Don Burnette]

Start with the services, enabling one at a time. If you aren't sure what
the services are, Google them.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Update:

I have gone through the clean boot troubleshooting steps.
First off, I restored each service ( after hiding ms services ), one at a
time, then rebooting and running my machine for a minimum of 30 minutes.
Each time, I was able to launch my office documents by double clicking, and
they open pretty much instantly.

Once services were restored, I started adding back in startup programs. I
did google each one, and only added back in ones that I felt I really
needed, again, after each one, I would run the machine for a min of 30
minutes to insure the issue had not returned.

Once I got my essential startup programs going, and the machine still
running as it should , I put a checkmark in " process system.ini", then
rebooted. Still, issue had not returned. I then put the checkmark back in "
process win.ini", and so far, the machine has been running about an hour,
and still the issue has not returned. Office documents are opening rapidly
as they should!

Ok so, that leaves the question, what was causing this? I suspect it was in
a startup program that I did not restore in msconfig, and the one I believe
it was is " dllml.exe". The reason I believe this was probably the cause,
is prior to my performing the clean boot troubleshooting, I had a running
process " dllml". This is a process related to , my Creative XFi soundcard.
Before clean boot troubleshooting, this process was using a large amount of
memory shown in task manager, app 44,000K, and my cpu at idle with only my
desktop showing, would hover around 4-5% useage, and page file useage was
close to 300 mb.
After removing dllml.exe from the startup in msconfig, it still shows the
dllml process as running, but now, this process only shows 6608k memory
useage, and my cpu at idle with just desktop displayed, is 0%. And my page
file useage has dropped down to app 220 mb.

I guess to be sure, I could return the dllml.exe to the startup in msconfig,
but, I am very pleased things are working as they should right now, and
after googling the dllml.exe, it doesn't sound like it is essential I have
this load in startup under msconfig. There were some other nonessential
files as well that I did not return, namely related to the XFi soundcard,
that it could have been as well. Come to think of it, this problem seemed to
rear it's ugly head, shortly after I purchased and installed this soundcard.

Anyways, my system seems to be performing very well now, as it should, so I
think I should leave well enough alone.

Malke, many thanks for your help on this, I had been pulling my hair out,
and while this process of clean boot troubleshooting was time consuming, it
was well worth it!! I guess time will tell for sure, but the issue appears
to be gone.

Thanks,

Don