Need help pinning down conflict

Hi all,

I’m experiencing, what I can only assume to be, a conflict after a recent round of XP (SP2) updates in combination with updating to the latest version of Avast. I am experiencing complete system freezes (although the mouse will still move sometimes) requiring reboot. This happens most often while either running a full screen app (detect full screen turned on in avast, pop up window turned off) or navigating control panel. I hadn’t updated windows in quite awhile, so there were a fair amount of updates (meaning I can’t easily pinpoint which one may have caused the problem). I do not have any other virus scanners installed. Disabling on-access protection eliminates these freezes, but that is obviously not a solution. Right clicking doesn’t cause the problem, so I don’t think it’s a shell extension issue (but I’m far from an expert). Any suggestions on where to start?

XP home edition (sp2)
Avast 4.8.1386

Thanks in advance!

  1. Do you have the latest version of Avast updates? If not, do a manual update.
  2. You said you have the latest version of Windows Updates, yet you are still running XP SP 2. You should update to SP3.
  3. You should at some point also install an on demand malware scanner like Malwarebytes Anti-Malwarebytes [MBAB] (you get get it from www.filehippo.com), which doesn’t conflict with anything. It’s very possible you may have malware causing your problem and MBAB does a great job in picking things up that other software doesn’t.

In between all of the above, you should be rebooting your machine TWICE.

Do you have something to clean your machine of junk (e.g. cache, temp. internet files, etc.)? I might suggest CCleaner, which uses little memory and does a great job (also found at www.filehippo.com).

If you still have problems, you may need to go into Safe Mode, but before you do that report back here after doing the above.

Hi SafeSurf,

I have manually updated Avast (both AVS and program) to be sure.
I’ve been hesitant to update to SP3 as it is known to cause conflicts with some software I use, so would like to keep that as a last resort.
I do have MBAM and use it regularly
Ditto for CCleaner (have cleaned all the junk and done registry checks)

What other programs are you using that you thing would conflict with SP3?

The big one is Second Life (an MMOG) - other users have reported issues with it.

According to the Second Life Library, these crashes (and mouse problems) appear to be a widespread problem (https://jira.secondlife.com/browse/VWR-6389). Have you attempted any of their suggested fixes or their suggestions that refer you to MS suggestions for fixes? It may not be a Windows or XP problem. It looks to me like it is a Second Life software problem.

:slight_smile: Hi :

Should be extremely careful on “upgrading” to SP3; heard it is mainly a bunch
of Updates !? In the Past I have recommended people read the excellent
Windows Secrets article “Dont let XP SP3 Hose your System” available at
http://WindowsSecrets.com/comp/080911 . I have no idea IF the problems
mentioned in that article and others like it have been “fixed” .

One of the Items that should be done PRIOR to “upgrading” an Operating
System is to check the manufacturer of your computer’s website for
Possible Driver “Updates”; have you done that ?

SecondLife isn’t actually my problem, just the reason I don’t want to get to SP3 (along with other things like those mentioned in the article SpiritSong linked - I have an AMD board being just one of them). In evaluating the potential benefits do not seem to outweigh the potential headaches when it comes to SP3. In any case, Second Life is not the crashing issue. Full screen apps/games (windowed ones like Second Life are fine) and navigating throughout control panel are the two big ones guaranteed to cause a system freeze at some point. As I said, turning off On-Access Protection stops these freezes, so something is conflicting somewhere.

What sensitivity levels are your Avst providers set to?
I suggest “normal” rather than “high”, setting them high has been known to produce similar reported symptoms.
You can get SP3 as a standalone. It’s a big file, about 90Mb, and if there are problems following the install (and, I’ve found, at least two reboots to let things stabilize and bed in) it is possible to uninstall it.
I’m using an AMD processor and had no problems with SP3. I believe most of those problems were to do with certain HP machines using AMD processors.

Yep, all drivers are up to date - although I did have an issue with the latest driver for my network adapter - had to roll it back as it completely stopped functioning. Not sure if that could have anything to do with it, but after a rollback it’s (obviously since I’m online) functioning fine.

Standard set to normal
IM set to high (was not using any IM program when the crashes happened)
Web set to high (but again, wasn’t web browsing at the time)
P2P set to custom (only scans uTorrent - but, once again, uT was not active at the time)
The other 3 are off as I have no need for them

Open taskmanager and leave it on, click the “cpu” column, so the highest number is at the top. Minimize it to the system tray.
Replicate the issue, and each time things go slow, or start to freeze, make a not of which process is using the highest cpu, and for how long this goes on.
It may provide the answer. It may provide enough info that I (or someone better versed in the WoW) can make a reasonable guess at the answer, or at least suggest a way to proceed.
What is your RAM and CPU?

Problem is when these freezes happen I can’t even open task manager. I have to do a hard shut down via the power button.

RAM is 2 gigs
CPU is Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 4600+

Open it before the freeze, under “options” tick “always on top”, and just leave it there. It will, of course, be in the way a bit, but for the purpose of testing the issue it should be manageable.
Then, when it freezes, the info is right there.
For info, normally “system idle process” takes a high amount of cpu, unless other processes are working hard, such as when a program is first opened. Or, for example, a new tab opened in a browser.