Windows XP Profile Problem - Taskbar locks up and shutdown slow

[RSS]

I am running Windows XP SP2 fully updated. 2GB RAM, Duo Core Pentium,
Radeon X1800 graphics card.

For about 3 months I have had a problem where I start up the computer
and it boots normally until it gets to the desktop, but then the
desktop temporarily hangs in an intermediate state as shown below:

https://home.comcast.net/~r.silverst/screencaps/before.jpg

None of the icons in the task bar are available at that time, and I
cannot launch applications. This lasts up to a minute, and then the
screen finally becomes normal:

https://home.comcast.net/~r.silverst/screencaps/after.jpg

SOMETIMES, instead of it hanging at the desktop, it will hang right
when I click on my profile at the login screen - in that case, the
minute passes on that screen, and then the desktop comes up as shown
in the "after.jpg" screen. It is about 75%/25% as to which way things
occur.

In the past few days, I have developed a further problem of extremely
long shutdown times. Longer than a minute to get the Windows Shutdown
Screen after choosing Start --> Shut Down. And then at least another
minute or two for it to power down.

Interestingly, if I log in using one of the other profiles on this
computer (which are typically never used), I have NONE of the above
problems.

Are there any obvious explanations for this phenomenon?

Thanks!

RSS

 

[C J.]

I am running Windows XP SP2 fully updated. 2GB RAM, Duo Core Pentium,
Radeon X1800 graphics card.

For about 3 months I have had a problem where I start up the computer
and it boots normally until it gets to the desktop, but then the
desktop temporarily hangs in an intermediate state as shown below:

https://home.comcast.net/~r.silverst/screencaps/before.jpg

None of the icons in the task bar are available at that time, and I
cannot launch applications. This lasts up to a minute, and then the
screen finally becomes normal:

https://home.comcast.net/~r.silverst/screencaps/after.jpg

SOMETIMES, instead of it hanging at the desktop, it will hang right
when I click on my profile at the login screen - in that case, the
minute passes on that screen, and then the desktop comes up as shown
in the "after.jpg" screen. It is about 75%/25% as to which way things
occur.

In the past few days, I have developed a further problem of extremely
long shutdown times. Longer than a minute to get the Windows Shutdown
Screen after choosing Start --> Shut Down. And then at least another
minute or two for it to power down.

Interestingly, if I log in using one of the other profiles on this
computer (which are typically never used), I have NONE of the above
problems.

Are there any obvious explanations for this phenomenon?

Thanks!

RSS

R...
Baring any problems with malware on your PC, it sounds to me like it could
be something in your User Profile that isn't quite right or damaged. My
screen sometimes resembles before.jpg at startup as well - only with no hang
up.

Take a look in your Event Viewer for any /!\ Warning Event ID: 1517 -
Source: userenv items. ( Control panel, performance and maintenance (if in
category view), Administrative tools, Event Viewer, click on Applications.)
If this item is present in the Event viewer, and is related to the problem
\User profile, we're talking about here - then you can download
UPH(UserProfileHive)Cleaner and see if this utility helps clear up the
problem with unloading what ever isn't freeing up your user registry at
shutdown. Generally any problem UPHCleaner finds, is remapped (corrected.)

 

[Rock]

I am running Windows XP SP2 fully updated. 2GB RAM, Duo Core Pentium,
Radeon X1800 graphics card.

For about 3 months I have had a problem where I start up the computer
and it boots normally until it gets to the desktop, but then the
desktop temporarily hangs in an intermediate state as shown below:

https://home.comcast.net/~r.silverst/screencaps/before.jpg

None of the icons in the task bar are available at that time, and I
cannot launch applications. This lasts up to a minute, and then the
screen finally becomes normal:

https://home.comcast.net/~r.silverst/screencaps/after.jpg

SOMETIMES, instead of it hanging at the desktop, it will hang right
when I click on my profile at the login screen - in that case, the
minute passes on that screen, and then the desktop comes up as shown
in the "after.jpg" screen. It is about 75%/25% as to which way things
occur.

In the past few days, I have developed a further problem of extremely
long shutdown times. Longer than a minute to get the Windows Shutdown
Screen after choosing Start --> Shut Down. And then at least another
minute or two for it to power down.

Interestingly, if I log in using one of the other profiles on this
computer (which are typically never used), I have NONE of the above
problems.

Are there any obvious explanations for this phenomenon?

If you haven't do a thorough check for malware.

Create a new profile and test with that.

What happens in Safe Mode? If it starts normally do some clean boot
troubleshooting:
Clean Boot Troubleshooting

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

How to perform a clean boot in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310353