Some good information. Right off the bat, the True Vector Engine error
waves a red flag. That's a core of the Zone Alarm firewall. Before you do
anything else, try removing it, you'll need instructions from Zone Labs to
be certain you've removed it all. Because this actually starts before you
load the system, it can cause a slow boot and may well be the source of the
slowdown.
www.zonelabs.com
Zone Alarm is an excellent firewall but on some systems it can be
problematic. If this is the free version, try Sygate Personal Firewall,
www.sygate.com, it's much lighter on the system and every bit as good as
Zone Alarm and it might not cause you the same issues. However, before
installing another firewall, check your system after removing Zone Alarm to
see if you notice any boost in performance. I do recommend you find another
free firewall because it's clear Zone Alarm is conflicting with something on
your setup and that ACPI error sends a strong message, Zone Alarm may well
be the source of your problems. It's possible, once it's removed and you
reboot, rebooting is important here, then you may be able to resolve memory
card reader issue, in fact, it may even come back to life. If not, check
the reader manufacturer's web site for updates and/or new drivers for your
reader and be sure it is compatible with XP.
LOL, sorry about the Upgrade Wizard, usually I mention it's a big download
and if you have access to a broadband connection you might want to wait and
download through that. I apologize. Nonetheless, if it finds any issues,
it will be well worth the time invested.
As far as I know, the nVidia Desktop Manager is nothing more than a central
location wherein you can make display setting adjustments and I'm not sure
there's anything it does that can't be done in Display in Control Panel
though you have to go jump through a few more tabs to get to the settings in
Display. However, before focusing on that, I'd start with Zone Alarm. A
lot may clear up when that is removed.
--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org:
http://www.dts-l.org/
smitten said:
whoa...some of this has confused me but I am trying my best. I am actually
pretty savvy when it comes to following directions so I have tried a few
things you have suggested here.
I am currently downloading the Compatibility utility (I use
dialup...talk
to
you next week about that...LOL!!) I have however, looked at the event log
and I see the same error happening over and over in certain areas. It says
I have errors....
Under Application: True Vector Engine Source of Error
Under System: ACPI Source of Error
This system I am using is not quite 2 years old, came with XP Home Edition
preinstalled with version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 1 Build2600, its a HP
Paviolion 7955 with an X86 Family 15 Model 1 Stepping 2 Genuine Intel
Processor 1495Mhz. Phoenix 6.00 BIOS version date 21.09.2003, SMBIOS
Version 2.31. Physical Memory is 256, available physical memory is 68.50,
total virtual memory 494.48. Page File space 624.81mg and Page File
C:/pagefile.sys.
Through browsing through things I have found under System Information under
Problem Devices it says~
OnSpec USB MMC/SD Reader/Writer Id# etc This device cannot start.
hmmmm... When I try to troubleshoot it, it does nothing so I've try to
update it with the wizard but it cannot update.....where do I find an update
on the web?
I have downloaded a Windows update awhile ago...the NVIDIA Nview Desktop
Manager (whatever that does) but this problem seems more recent.
I surely do thank you for your assistance and hope that this information I
have provided helps you help me more!
Ciao,
Marlene
Michael Solomon (MS-MVP Windows Shell/User) said:
In addition to the cleanboot troubleshooter in this thread, place the
XP
CD
in the drive, when the setup screen appears, select "Check System
Compatibility." Even though things were working fine, if you had any
hardware or software that was borderline, system updates, driver updates,
etc. can push such items over the line so it wouldn't hurt to run it. If
you have a recovery cd as opposed to the XP CD, you can download this
utility from the following site:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/upgrading/advisor.asp
Also, you might want to have a look at event log and see if you have any
recurring errors that might be the cause of the problem. Open Control
Panel, open Administrative Tools, open Event Viewer. If you find any
recurring errors, double click, the information contained within might give
a clue as to the source of the problem.
Be sure your drivers are up to date, check device manufacturer
websites
for
any updates and you might want to run a defrag on your system. Also,
if
you
have set minimums and maximums for the pagefile you might want to try
letting the system manage it. Open Control Panel, open System, go to the
Advanced tab, click Settings under Performance, go to Advanced, click Change
under Virtual Memory, select System Managed Size, click Set and OK.
It might help if we knew a little more about your setup, was this a clean
install of XP or was it over a previous OS? What about your hardware,
processor type and speed, memory type and speed, hard drive size and how
much free space, where is the pagefile located on the default system drive,
another partition or another hard drive, how much free space is
available
on
that drive, are you overclocking, do you have USB devices, if yes what are
they. If you have a broadband connection are you using a USB modem or is
the modem connected to an Ethernet card?
--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org:
http://www.dts-l.org/
I have up to date virus software and am virus free and I also use adaware
and spybot on a regular basis.....doesn't appear to be anything
there
