Problems resolved, please ignore
The first indication that something was wrong came about 2 weeks ago when the latest release of 5eraph’s XP Pro x64 post SP2 update pack wouldn’t integrate using nLite, see here and here, at the time I didn’t think much of it (this bug is readily reproducible).
However about 5 days ago I started getting random but regular system hangs, primarily when browsing the web (about once every 15 minutes) that required a hard reset to clear, most annoying.
After significant trial and error I found that disabling avast! AV solves my stability problems (and the nLite thing).
System Specs:
OS: Windows XP Pro x64 SP2, DEP set to AlwaysOn, user account set to limited
MoBo: Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3R
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450
RAM: 4* 2GB DDR2 800
Vid: Gigabyte GV-R485-512H-B
HDD: 4*1TB SATA2 (RAID 10)
Other Security Software:
Spybot S&D 1.6.2 (Passive, immunization and weekly scan only)
Comodo Firewall 3.14.130099.587 (Firewall only, no D+ or AV)
Full software listing (ignore the “*”, it just means that it it is automated in my setup checklist):
*F6 Intel SATA RAID Drivers
*DirectX redist
*Internet Explorer 8
*.Net 3.5 framework
*Media Player 11
*Intel Chipset Drivers
*Audio Drivers
*Realtek LAN Driver
*Radeon Video Drivers
*Comodo Firewall
*Intel RAID Tool /S
*Dynamic Energy Saver
*Hashtab
*WinRAR
*7-Zip
*Tweak UI x64
*Daemon Tools
*AnyDVD
*Nero DVD Burner (OEM suite + templates)
(3 Updates + Burn rights)
*ImgBurn
*Seamonkey (get Aussie Dictonary & copy, copy backup directory except cache)
*Flash, Shockwave & Silverlight
*Java for i586
*Java for amd64
*Open Office 3.2 (macro security, corner case 2)
*Foxit Reader
*GIMP
*nLite (RunAs Admin)
*WMPslip
*AutoIt
*DOSbox
*Virtual PC 2007 (NIC #2)
*VirtualBox (NIC #2)
*VMware Server
*Google Earth
*Skype VoIP
*Azureus: BitTorrent Client (Speed scheduler - SubInACL)
*K-Lite Mega Codec pack (exit Seamonkey 1st)
*QuickTime Lite
*K-Lite x64 Codec pack
*PowerDVD 5 (No Hardware Acceleration)
*DVDshrink
*Vdownloader
Britannica 2000 (unblock firewall, RunAs Admin)
*Bonic (SubInACL, add to Groups)
*Spybot: S&D (Scan)
*avast! anitvirus (Quick Scan 4:00 Monday, Full Scan 23:30 1st)
Reboot
Backup.bat (4am Tue)
*Disable Autorun
Set default programs
Tidy Menus
Update Windows
boot.ini
Error check & defrag
Subinacl (Change file owner)
Create passwords & set User to limited