XP locks up, services not starting, slow logon

[R.K. McSwain]

XP Pro, SP1, Dell 340, P4-2.53GHz, 1GB Ram

Recently XP has started to lock up (about once a day).
What you might call a "soft lock up".
When this happens, almost all programs that are running can still be accessed - in order to save and exit for example. The program with focus at the time of the lock up usually cannot be accessed. But the BIGGIE -> I cannot access Task Manager. Right click on the taskbar | Task Manager does nothing. [Ctrl-Alt-Del] always displays the "Windows Security" dialog, but clicking on "Task Manager" does nothing - just returns to the desktop. [Start | Run | Taskmgr] does nothing either.

End result -> Nothing but a reset via the power switch will restore the computer.

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

Not sure if this is related, after this type of "lock up" happened about 10 times, and I reboot, several services "terminate unexpectedly", most notably the "WorkStation" service. Here is the complete list.


Microsoft TV/Video Connection service
Windows Audio service
Cryptographic Services service
DHCP Client service
Logical Disk Manager service
Error Reporting Service service
COM+ Event System service
Help and Support service
Server service
Workstation service
Task Scheduler service
System Event Notification service
Secondary Logon service
Shell Hardware Detection
System Restore Service
Themes service
Distributed Link Tracking Client service
Upload Manager service
Windows Time service
Windows Management Instrumentation service
Automatic Updates service

These all terminate with error code 7031 or 7034 in the Event Viewer

Many of these then immediatly restart with code of 7035 or 7036 in the Event Viewer.
The WorkStation service does NOT restart. After the Windows GUI comes up - I get a bubble notice from the tray that none of my network connections are available. If I manually restart the WorkStation service, then the network connections work.

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

Last problem, after rebooting, the logon to our Windows domain server takes about 2 minutes. Not sure if this is related also. All the usual things have been checked here (DNS entries, etc).

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

Virus checks have been run - no virus
Adware, Spyware, Malware checks have been run - nothing detected.
All the usual items have been checked - no weird processes running, etc.

I have googled all these problems and tried all the various solutions to no avail.

Just reinstalled SP1 also. No change.

SP2 cannot be installed right now due to application conflict.

TIA

 

[Malke]

XP Pro, SP1, Dell 340, P4-2.53GHz, 1GB Ram

Recently XP has started to lock up (about once a day).
What you might call a "soft lock up".
When this happens, almost all programs that are running can still be
accessed - in order to save and exit for example. The program with
focus at the time of the lock up usually cannot be accessed. But the
BIGGIE -> I cannot access Task Manager. Right click on the taskbar |
Task Manager does nothing. [Ctrl-Alt-Del] always displays the "Windows
Security" dialog, but clicking on "Task Manager" does nothing - just
returns to the desktop. [Start | Run | Taskmgr] does nothing either.

End result -> Nothing but a reset via the power switch will restore
the computer.

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

Not sure if this is related, after this type of "lock up" happened
about 10 times, and I reboot, several services "terminate
unexpectedly", most notably the "WorkStation" service. Here is the
complete list.


Microsoft TV/Video Connection service
Windows Audio service
Cryptographic Services service
DHCP Client service
Logical Disk Manager service
Error Reporting Service service
COM+ Event System service
Help and Support service
Server service
Workstation service
Task Scheduler service
System Event Notification service
Secondary Logon service
Shell Hardware Detection
System Restore Service
Themes service
Distributed Link Tracking Client service
Upload Manager service
Windows Time service
Windows Management Instrumentation service
Automatic Updates service

These all terminate with error code 7031 or 7034 in the Event Viewer

Many of these then immediatly restart with code of 7035 or 7036 in the
Event Viewer. The WorkStation service does NOT restart. After the
Windows GUI comes up - I get a bubble notice from the tray that none
of my network connections are available. If I manually restart the
WorkStation service, then the network connections work.

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

Last problem, after rebooting, the logon to our Windows domain server
takes about 2 minutes. Not sure if this is related also. All the usual
things have been checked here (DNS entries, etc).

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

Virus checks have been run - no virus
Adware, Spyware, Malware checks have been run - nothing detected.
All the usual items have been checked - no weird processes running,
etc.

I have googled all these problems and tried all the various solutions
to no avail.

Just reinstalled SP1 also. No change.

SP2 cannot be installed right now due to application conflict.

TIA

Since you've done all the usual troubleshooting from the software side,
I'd do some hardware diagnosis. Start with a RAM test and if the RAM is
bad, replace it. Follow up with a hard drive test. Here are general
hardware troubleshooting steps - you can choose the ones you feel apply
to you:

1) open the computer and run it open, cleaning out all dust bunnies and
observing all fans (overheating will cause system freezing); 2) test
the RAM - I like Memtest86 from www.memtest86.com - let the test run
for an extended (like overnight) period of time - unless errors are
seen immediately; 3) test the hard drive with a diagnostic utility from
the mftr.; 4) the power supply may be going bad or be inadequate for
the devices you have in the system; 5) test the motherboard with
something like TuffTest from www.tufftest.com. Testing hardware
failures often involves swapping out suspected parts with known-good
parts. If you can't do the testing yourself and/or are uncomfortable
opening your computer, take the machine to a good local computer repair
shop (not a CompUSA or Best Buy type of store).*

* Or in your case, if the machine is under warranty, you should contact
Dell.

Malke