Hmm it does sound like a hard drive problem
Could you run windows all in one again but from normal mode this time
Hi
How? If and once I can get in through the Normal Mode, it will eventually freeze up or nothing will work anyhow, but I will try.
Thank you
OK what we can do is run windows all in one using the clean boot method
Step 1: Start the System Configuration Utility
1.Click Start, click Run, type msconfig, and then click OK.
2.The System Configuration Utility dialog box is displayed.
Step 2: Configure selective startup options
1.In the System Configuration Utility dialog box, click the General tab, and then click Selective Startup.
2.Click to clear the Process SYSTEM.INI File check box.
3.Click to clear the Process WIN.INI File check box.
4.Click to clear the Load Startup Items check box. Verify that Load System Services and Use Original BOOT.INI are checked.
5.Click the Services tab.
6.Click to select the Hide All Microsoft Services check box.
7.Click Disable All, and then click OK.
8.When you are prompted, click Restart to restart the computer.
Step 3: Log on to Windows
1.If you are prompted, log on to Windows.
2.When you receive the following message, click to select the Don’t show this message or launch the System Configuration Utility when Windows start check box, and then click OK.
You have used the System Configuration Utility to make changes to the way Windows starts.
The System Configuration Utility is currently in Diagnostic or Selective Startup mode, causing this message to be displayed and the utility to run every time Windows starts.
To return to normal boot once windows all in one has completed
Steps to configure Windows to use a Normal startup state
After you used the clean boot to resolve your problem, you can follow these steps to configure Windows XP to start normally.
1.Click Start, and then click Run.
2.Type msconfig, and then click OK.
The System Configuration Utility dialog box is displayed.
3.Click the General tab, click Normal Startup - load all device drivers and services, and then click OK.
4.When you are prompted, click Restart to restart the computer.
Hi
I’M IN!!! Normal Mode that is after a couple handful of tries. The things that are different now at start-up in Normal Mode is: I go through two Windows Logo screens instead of one (before when I thought it was repaired) and not the first time but the second time and every time after when trying to get in through Normal Mode, my desk top comes up and seconds later it like refreshes it self (disappears and reloads with everything again). I also have my updates yet ready to install.
What do you want me to do first? If it is the All In One, which steps? Or install windows updates? Or both?
Will hang around for awhile.
Thank you
Install the updates first
The run Windows all in one bar the first three ticks resetting permissions
Once done let me know how it is behaving and we will then try to track down what is causing the problem
Hi
Sorry didn’t get to you sooner, farming is very demanding, especially the unexpected. This is what I did today between personal daily priorities.
I don’t recall what icon shows up for busy and working in background, but the ones I have for those two is a “dog w/wagging tail” and the other is a “white arrow with a stationery hour” glass next to it which is windows default.
Also when I say # of syllable noise it is how many times that noise makes consistantly. Here goes.
Installed Windows Updates, restarted computer (to take effect), at start-up, logged in (fast), noise shortly after log-in, got to desktop, not all things loaded in Notificaiton area, move my mouse down to Task Bar and “dog w/wagging tail” - curser showed up. Manually shut down.
Restarted a second time, again quickly typed in my password, desktop came on, refreshed, 2 syllable noise (always comes from modem), started loading icons in Notification area I thought it was good to go and I double clicked on the “All In One” and curser then was dog w/wagging tail mode and stuck. Manual shut down.
Restarted a third time, quickly typed password, desktop w/icons came up, refreshed, 2 syllable noise and stopped loading. No access to Task Manager using the keyboard short cut keys, no icons came up in the Notification area, and then clicked on Start button, that came up with only 2/3 of the information in it. Manually shut it down.
Restarted again fourth time, everything the same as before, brought up Task Manager, as I do this because when I click on the “Users” tab it will show the users, and in most cases including this one, it shows a blank window with nobody in it. So I know nothing else is going to happen and shut it down. So I shut it down.
Restarted a fifth time, everything same as before, but froze right after desktop refreshed. Couldn’t even pull up Task Manager. Manually shut down.
Boy my curser can’t even keep up with my typing.
The sixth thru seventeeen time to summarize what takes place:
- [b]For log-in:[/b] If I type my password quickly (which I part way through the password, Windows hesitates and then
finishes out the password), I can get into the desktop, refreshes and shortly thereafter I get a 1 or 2 syllable noise,
and everything stops or freezes or continues to one of the other happenings listed below.
If I type my password slow or at a steady pace I can't get into the desktop at all.
-[b]Desktop:[/b] Always loads icons and refreshes (reloads icons again), a fraction of a percent of the times it won't
refresh.
[b]Task Bar:[b]Whether we are talking the whole Task bar (Start button, Notification area and in between those two) or
in part (Start button), (Notification area), and in between those two points, it works to a certain point then freezes. The
Start button doesn't ever work when pushing it, except twice on two separate occasions which I used to log off and
these windows popped up;
[b]Ending Program: realplay.exe, Ending Program: ctfmon.exe, Ending Program: nsAppShell: Event Window and
Ending Program: explorer.exe[b]In turn all them ended stating they were not responding.
-Notification area: Either no icons will load with the exception of "Safely Remove Hardware" or only part of them; Avast,
Comodo (firewall), Safely Remove Hardware and Creative Diagnostics Agent. No monitors icon for internet or no
Windows update icon. Not sure if the audio icon was in there too. A couple of times when the computer freezes up the
"clock" actually stopped keeping time.
[b]-Keyboard:[/b]Sometimes the computer recognizes it other times can not, meaning can't use keys to do anything.
[b]-Task Manager:[/b]Sometimes I can access it by keyboard (Ctrl-shift-Esc.) and sometimes right clicking on Task bar.
I think that’s pretty much it when I finally decided I’ll see if I can get into Normal Mode, since installing updates, through “Last Known Good Configuration”. It worked, so I ran All In One, the waiting for it to shut down computer when it was done, and waiting and waiting and waiting. Well then I thought I had to shut it down, I moved my mouse and it moved choppy and slowly kind of like dragging but not leaving tracks if you know what I mean. So I went over to the Start button which took at least a good minute to load all the items in there then I highlighted the log-off which took about 30 seconds before it highlighted so I decided to just click shutdown and after the minutes/seconds process for that to happen, from here I don’t know how long it took because then the dog with the wagging tail came on. The tail alone took 3 seconds one way and 6 seconds the other way to wag. I had to count this manually because I notice then the computer clock stopped. So I just shut it down manually.
Restarted in Normal Mode first try, got to desktop and everything was loading slow but everything loaded. First thing I checked was Task Manager (came up quickly) tabs, user there in that tab and went to Process tab. I don’t know if this has any bearing but since I’m here I’ll throw it in.
Process tab: System Idle Process is at 16K with a 99 under CPU column,
1 Svchost, System is at 25,416K with a 00 under CPU column,
explorer.exe is at 19,196K with a 00 under CPU column, and
Avastsvc.exe is at 11,796K with a 00 under CPU column,
Now the rest of the 40 out of 44 processes are at 1,000K thru 8,000K memory usage with a 00 under CPU column.
I then connected to the Internet, opened up IE8 - which was slow and blocky when opening and then came here.
Oh before I forget, I will be going out of State tomorrow shortly after 12:00CST and won’t be home till Sunday. I will have access to a compter while away, but just won’t be able to access this one. I’m gearing myself up believing this computer has seen it’s usage and taking your word that it may be a hardware issue, well let’s just say that’s where I’ll be this weekend is getting something from my son to copy the folders and files I absolutely need off of this computer.
Oh yeah, just remembered when I was on my computer yesterday, I went into Program Files to look at a program I downloaded years ago (Opened “My Computer”, C:/, Program Files, and went into the Folder MyHeritage) and was just looking when a lightbulb came on in my head thinking “Oh yeah, I meant to do this” and pushed the "Back " arrow at the top and it jumped back to the “My Computer” window, I then pushed the “Forward” arrow and it jumped to the Program Files folder with the “MyHeritage” folder still highlighted.
Anyhow here is the log you requested.
Thank you
P.S. When uploading files after clicking the Browse button and the window opens, I can not use any buttons on the left side of the window and I can only use the drop down arrow to navigate and have to click a couple of times on the file I want to upload.
Hi
Sorry, reply post would not go through. Opened up FireFox to do it, was taking a while so I checked Task Manager in Process tab and IE had over 62,000K memory usage and FireFox had over 76,000K. I looked at Avast and it had over 35,000K. What this means I have no clue but I don’t ever think I’ve seen figures that high before, but then maybe I never really paid attention.
Thank you
Hi
Had to get off as my browser IE in Task Manager was at 131,756K. I don’t know how high it will go before who knows what happens. Anyhow some other things that I have been experiencing is when I click and drag an icon, it will open up of resize to a full screen (depending on the icon).
Also when i click on buttons it does absolutely nothing most of the time. So I click on that button hard and slow and it will open most of the time.
I have also seen when I click on something to highlight, it will advance two steps ahead as if I double clicked two times.
Will check in periodically.
Thank you
noise shortly after log-in Do these sound like ticking ? As if they are it is indicative of a hard drive problem/failure imminent
Could you back up all the data from the hard drive that you need and then we will try and test the hard drive
Hi
I’m back home and in through Normal Mode. You know a better way to describe the noise would be like, yes ticking as if doing a morse code, ex: dash - dot - dot or dot - dash or dot - dot. Just really fast though.
I got everything I absolutely need on back-up, not much. So when ever you are ready, I’m good to go.
Thank you
What is the make of your computer ? As I will need to get the right drive diagnostic programme
Hi
It is a Dell Dimension 4550, Intel Pentium. Last year I added another memory stick, so I am up to maximum of memory this machine will allow.
Last night I came and checked here, but when I got off the internet (was using Fire Fox browser) I normally manually delete my history from the “Library” and I noticed when I came to the Avast entry it was listed like this:
Name: Avast icon, C:\windows\system32\explorer.exe may have a malware infection?
Location: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=114469.0
So I decided to check there and found in Windows folder two Explorers, one is an “Application” (.exe) and the other is a “Windows Explorer Command” (.scf), I right clicked to open them and both opened “My Documents” window. I did that one other time last week and when I right clicked to open them one opened “My Documents” window and the other opened "C:" window, can’t remember which on opened which, sorry. I scanned those two items with Avast and Malwarebytes, nothing.
Another this is when I was just snooping around, I was then in the Program Files, Mozilla Fire Fox and under the webapp-uninstaller icon, there was a picture of a dog on the monitor screen. If I knew how to copy that icon and paste it here I could have shown you, but I don’t know how.
Thank you
I will run combofix whilst I locate the drive diagnostics
Download and Install Combofix
Download ComboFix from one of the following locations:
Link 1
Link 2
VERY IMPORTANT !!! Save ComboFix.exe to your Desktop
- IMPORTANT - Disable your AntiVirus and AntiSpyware applications, usually via a right click on the System Tray icon. They may otherwise interfere with our tools. If you have difficulty properly disabling your protective programs, refer to this link here
[*]Double click on ComboFix.exe & follow the prompts.
[*]Accept the disclaimer and allow to update if it asks
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v706/ried7/NSIS_disclaimer_ENG.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v706/ried7/NSIS_extraction.png
[*]When finished, it shall produce a log for you.
[*]Please include the C:\ComboFix.txt in your next reply.
Notes:
- Do not mouse-click Combofix’s window while it is running. That may cause it to stall.
- Do not “re-run” Combofix. If you have a problem, reply back for further instructions.
- If after the reboot you get errors about programmes being marked for deletion then reboot, that will cure it.
Please make sure you include the combo fix log in your next reply as well as describe how your computer is running now
Hi
I did the installation and ran Combofix. Went through the beginning up to the “Preparing to Run” screen. Then the “Backing up Registry” window came up on top of the “Preparing to Run” window. I had somewhere between 7 - 10 Warnings! that came up that I had to answer yes or no to. The first one was C:\WINDOWS\erdnt\Hiv-backup\SECURITY!.
Then another one with security, and another one same as before, and I thought because of my mouse problems, I kept clicking constantly thinking it was the same one, well it eventually changed (the path of the warning) and it was too late. I have no idea what they were except one I seen was a path with “User” in it. Regardless, I clicked yes to all anyhow. The funny thing is, once the “Backing up Registry” window disappeared the “Preparing to Run” window sat for over two hours before I closed it. I should have read about the Combofix before I ran it as I didn’t realize I needed to keep the internet connection running (correct me if I read wrong). I disabled everything like you said and didn’t touch the screen UNLESS because of clicking the “yes” button during the “Backing up Registry” my mouse did an extra click on the “Preparing to Run” window too. Hard to say everything happened so fast. I went to “Bleepingcomputer.com” to see how long this takes and so I logged off and then logged back on (since closing Combofix didn’t know if I could get back on from reboot), got in, desktop loaded super fast, enabled all security, clicked on a card game icon to open - no hesitation, opened up “My Computer” and no lightbulb. It’s like it was back to normal, not slow at all. Even here the typing started out good but now has slowed like before.
So, like I said, I ended up closing Combofix out, because I thought something was wrong. Did I harm anything? Or make matters worse? What now? I will not reboot my computer until I hear from you, just in case…
Thank you
Is there a log located at C:\combofix.txt ?
The erunt was your registry being backed up for safety reasons
Hi
The only thing I have is an icon in the C:\ that says ComboFix and when I mouse over it, it then says “shows the disk drives and hardware connected to this computer”. Yesterday when I was doing this ComboFix, I never went past the “Preparing to Run” window after the “Backing up Registery” window disappeared, then waited for approximately two hours before I closed it to check how long this would take to run.
I don’t know where the text is.
Thank you
Could you reboot and let me know how the computer is behaving
Hi
Was able to reboot normally. After I typed in my password got into desktop. Everything on desktop, taskbar, and notification area loaded in about 1 and 1/2 minutes. In the beginning checking on folders, opening programs, etc. the mouse would work 50% of the time, meaning left, double click and when it didn’t work that way, I would right click and open. Also clicking on the back forward button would advance a couple times like before. When I went back to desktop, it did a flash and then I didn’t have any of the issues mentioned above since. The curser even here is keeping up on my key strokes.
Still didn’t see a log, but what I did see in the Local Disk (C:) is a folder titled “Qoobox” and inside that are folders; BackEnv, Last Run, Quarantine, Test, and TestC. All of these folders are empty though. If that means anything to you.
Am I good to go now?
Thank you
Hmm that means that combofix did not actually do anything
Could you run it for a bit and let me know how it performs
Hi
Ok, will go through protocol, instructions as before but leave internet connected.
Thank you