Startup Delay

Hi, when i startup WindowsXP Home Edition, every seems normal, until 3 seconds in...
i'll explain.

Windows loads, mIRC loads, a few other processes load... but then everything just stops for a minute or two.
i can still move the mouse, but when i try to open any program, folder or process etc.. it just starts and immediately freezes that program..

then about a minute later, everything ive loaded starts to load as normal.. such as..

MSN Messenger, The windows startup sound, Norton AntiVirus, Norton Firewall.

My bootlog is here:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/john.fitch7/ntbtlog.txt

and these are my msconfig startup processes:

SysTray
CTHELPER
NvCpl
nwiz
ccApp
ccRegVfy
MsgPlus
point32
realsched
LVCOMS
ISStart
LogiTray
MsgPlus
msnmsgr
Logitech Desktop Manager
DVB-Data Control
mIRC
optimize
BackWeb-8876480
P2P NETWORKING
qttask
sqstart
StyleXP

here's my system.ini from C:\WINDOWS
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/john.fitch7/system.ini

My Network settings are like this:


there are 4 PCs on my LAN.
3 have Windows XP Home, including mine (the main pc with the router underneath the desk), and 1 has Windows 98SE.

if there is any more info that can help..
just ask

Please help!!!

Regards
Andy

 

You have several things on there that I don't like. Based on the timing of the delay, you could be seeing problems from the Logitech Desktop Manager and BackWeb both phoning home during startup and hanging things until they finish. I'd strongly suggest removing both of them. Add/remove should have entries and allow that.

They were both probably bundled with the PC and aren't purely classed as spyware but they can both certainly perform that function as well as slowing down your startup and probably your web browsing.

There are more things you probably don't need running at startup so a look at Black Viper's XP startup list would be time well spent.

Also if you don't already, downloading and running the latest version of Ad-aware and Spybot to remove spyware (and it looks like you do have some) would be a great idea. Links to both apps in my signature.

If none of this gets you starting and running normally, post back.

 

It's no wonder there's a startup lag!
Do you regularily USE all those programs the moment you start the computer? I doubt it. You may use one or two right away, the other 20 later.
I have 3 things in my msconfig startup, and 14 services (XP Pro), and my system runs very quickly. From button push, to useable desktop is less than 30 seconds.

 

I pressed Ctrl+Alt+Delete whilst the idle minute was taking place, and also opened the services box, and took a screenshot:



there's 5 SVCHOST.exe's - hmmmmm

anyone can spot any problems?
this is becoming frustrating.

Regards
Andy

 

As we can only see the bottom 18 of your total 32, and CPU usage is 1%, I would suggest that the "idle" time you are experiencing, is something trying to access the internet.
It's not a program loading, although 32 services, and 23 applications is serious overloading anyhow.

Put a tick mark in "Show processes from all users ", and see what's really going on.
5 SVCHOST is normal for broadband internet systems on XP.

From what I can see, you do NOT need P2P Networking, even if you're on a LAN.
What is NISUM?
Real schedule is a definite nono. There are much better options than Realanything. Realplayer/jukebox are horrible apps.
Do you have more than one user on this computer? If not, you can remove Winlogon by opening User Accounts in Control Panel, select Change the way users log on and off, and disable Fast User Switching, then open Services.msc and disable it.
Point32 is probably a mouse driver.

What else have you got in there?

 

The version of KaZaA I use needs it, apparently.

Norton FireWall 2003.

Yes, but I frequently want to view .ram files and RealOne is the only one that supports it.


..and, well in relation to my problem.. due to constant fiddling.. i have now found the culprit.

Symantec (Norton).

Run... "º msconfig "º Services "º 'Symantec Event Manager'.

thats the problem.
when unticked, everything works as normal, no delay.

...everything that is, except Norton AntiVirus, Norton Firewall and MSN Messenger.

Norton AntiVirus 2003 and Norton FireWall don't even attempt to load up.
MSN Messenger loads up, but will not sign-in - saying "We were unable to sign you in to the .NET Messenger Service, possibly because of a problem with your Internet connection. Please try again later. 0x81000370 "


It does seem, though, that Norton AntiVirus and Norton FireWall can be opened manually, but when opened - they dont appear in the system tray and they look like this:



I have now re-enabled 'Symantec Event Manager' so that I can continue using my Virus checker and Firewall, but consequently, I have a delay of a minute on startup.

So it seems there's a problem with Norton, not spyware.

Any further help is much appreciated, and as soon as I submitted this reply I started writing an e-mail to Symantec.

Thanks
Andy

 

Well, there are good alternatives to everything.
First, get the RealPlayer alternative here: http://a1.edskes.com/r/realalt111.exe
How about some other antivirus, and firewall?
There's a ton of posts on this board about the alternatives, where to get them, and how to set them up.
How about Kazaalite K++? No need for that p2p thing.
MSN messenger is an easy fix if you decide to rid yourself of the norton bloatware.

 

MSN Messenger is trying to access the net, and Norton is trying to load, and it is taking a minute to sort itself out. Disable MSN Mess from start up, and click on the icon when you are ready to use it. I am surprised Spyot didn't zero in on Backweb, and that Kazaa is not disrupting things. It is never wise to be online withou a firewall. If you disable Norton, be sure to go offline.

HTH
Johanna

 

I disabled MSN on startup, unticked 'Symantec Event Manager' and rebooted, MSN didnt load and neither did Norton AV or Norton FW.

this meant that when i manually opened MSN, it still wouldn't/couldn't connect.

ideally, I would like to keep Symantec Event Manager ticked, and just get rid of the 1 minute startup delay..

instead of unticking Symantec Event Manager, and having everything else working okay - which still doesn't seem to be possible anyway.



in reply to reboot:

thanks for the realplayer alternative - a useful subtraction and addition to my pc - much appreciated.

as for KaZaA Lite K++, that's the one i'm already currently using, and that's the one which installed P2PNetworking.exe in the first place.

as for the Norton alternative, i'm going to:

1) try a re-install
if not..
2) try an upgrade to Norton Antivirus Pro
if not..
3) try alternative software.

unless Symantec can get off their arse, sort this Certificate stuff or provide an upgrade which fixes this bug.

*sigh*

all help still much appreciated

Andy

 

Strange. My K++ does not require P2P loading...
Fix MSN by removing it, and reinstalling, done via add/remove programs in control panel, Windows Components.
Go back to MSN, and download/install the latest (version 6 I think).
Do this while all your Norton stuff is disabled.

On a personal note, Norton has only one good piece of software, and that's Ghost. Everything else is **** (IMHO) since Peter Norton sold out to Symantec. I never will own any Norton/Symantec stuff, except Ghost, and never will install it on any of my system's. There are some excellent, free, alternatives, that work better, take up less room, smaller footprint, less hassles, no registration, no paying for upgrades/updates, no memory hogging, ad infinitum.

Check out Sygate. Great firewall.
Check out AVG or any other free Anti-virus.

While we're at it...go here: http://home.hccnet.nl/h.edskes/mirror.htm and get the Quicktime alternative as well, then uninstall Quicktime player.

Get Nod32 antivirus as well

 

could you post me a link to the version of KaZaA Lite K++ that you have? that would be great.

everything, including MSN loads absolutely fine, when I have Symantec Event Manager enabled.

it's just that when I have Symantec Event Manager enabled, when I log-on to my WindowsXP, it takes a minute delay before everything gets into motion.

its just like starting windows up without any problems except for it freezing for a minute once you've clicked your User Name on the Log-on screen.

 

www.k-litesite.tk

I have a feeling you're going to have to live with the delay, if you choose to live with symantec.

Edit: changed link to the right one, sorry.

 

much appreciated

no P2PNetworking stuff any more - thanks.


my pc still hangs on startup though
when Symantec reply, i'll let you know.

 

well thanks guys.. it seems that it was norton..

i re-installed windows xp then uninstalled norton, rebooted, then installed Norton AV 2004 Professional

all seems fine now.



cheers for all the help