For about the past month, I've had problems with Windows loading. At first, it was random and now it seems like it is happening more frequently. I'm at the point where I don't want to turn my computer off for fear of it never loading again. What happens is after it goes into "standbye" or when it's restarted it will stay on the black screen with my computer's logo on it with the boot menu and bios settings options; windows or nothing else (keyboard or mouse) won't load for about 40 minutes. Once it's loaded it works completely fine. I can't get into safe mode and I don't have a windows xp disk. I've also ran Norton and other spyware programs and they come up clean. I've also noticed that the light on the tower which usually comes on right away when started up does not flicker like it usually does when it's loading... Anybody have any ideas? Could it be my hard drive failing?

Format and re-install is the best solution

first question really is when first booting up how many process`s come up in your task manager and how many in your start-up list [start/run/msconfig/ok/startup] To find out what the things in startup list are go here Startups - Contents (http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.php#THE_PROGRAMS) your best bet is the full length zip== Savage

first question really is when first booting up how many process`s come up in your task manager and how many in your start-up list [start/run/msconfig/ok/startup] To find out what the things in startup list are go here Startups - Contents (http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.php#THE_PROGRAMS) your best bet is the full length zip== Savage


My start-up list has the following:
Recguard
NvCpl
MSASCui
CcApp
Qttask
AOLsoftware

I'm not sure how many process' come on at start-up and I'm too scared to shut it off to find out, but upon checking task manager nothing seems out of the ordinary.

You say you can open the task manager, how many processes are running (bottom left corner)
May be worth grabbing a copy of HijackThis (http://www.majorgeeks.com/download3155.html) and posting your log output so we can try and help better.

When was the last time you need some serious maintenance on this system.
I have a C&P that covers this and I'll post it if you want.

One FREE app to try is CCleaner (http://www.ccleaner.com). This removes system junk files, cleans your registry and can be used to control your startup programs.
Give it a go and let us know how many programs run at start up by running CCleaner > Tools > startup button.

What are your system specs as this could also be a hardware related problem.
Have you changed ANYTHING recently or even tried physically cleaning the system out?
Could be badly seated RAM, CPU or graphics card.

You say you can open the task manager, how many processes are running (bottom left corner)
May be worth grabbing a copy of HijackThis (http://www.majorgeeks.com/download3155.html) and posting your log output so we can try and help better.

When was the last time you need some serious maintenance on this system.
I have a C&P that covers this and I'll post it if you want.

One FREE app to try is CCleaner (http://www.ccleaner.com). This removes system junk files, cleans your registry and can be used to control your startup programs.
Give it a go and let us know how many programs run at start up by running CCleaner > Tools > startup button.

What are your system specs as this could also be a hardware related problem.
Have you changed ANYTHING recently or even tried physically cleaning the system out ??
Could be badly seated RAM, CPU or graphics card.

I have 39 processes running.
I'm not exactly sure what you mean by maintenance, but I do defrag and run regscrub xp often. I haven't changed anything in the tower itself; it's never even been opened. I'll try Cclean. I'll have to post my hijack log in two halfs because I get an error aout the number of characters I'm using. Here's 1/2 of my hijack log:

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MsMpEng.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSvcHst.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\AppCore\AppSvc32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\LEXBCES.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\LEXPPS.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\AOL\ACS\AOLacsd.exe
C:\Program Files\Symantec\LiveUpdate\ALUSchedulerSvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSvcHst.exe
C:\Program Files\ewido anti-malware\ewidoctrl.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\KodakCCS.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\New Boundary\PrismXL\PRISMXL.SYS
C:\WINDOWS\wanmpsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MSASCui.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\1130333939\ee\AOLSoftware.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
c:\program files\common files\aol\1130333939\ee\services\antiSpywareApp\ve r2_0_7\AOLSP Scheduler.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\CCPD-LC\symlcsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\America Online 9.0\waol.exe
C:\Program Files\America Online 9.0\shellmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Aol\aoltpspd.exe
C:\Program Files\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = Yahoo! SearchBar Home Page (http://red.clientapps.yahoo.com/customize/ie/defaults/sb/sbcydsl/*http://www.yahoo.com/search/ie.html)
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = Yahoo! (http://red.clientapps.yahoo.com/customize/ie/defaults/sp/sbcydsl/*http://www.yahoo.com)
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = Live Search (http://www.live.com)
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = Yahoo! (http://red.clientapps.yahoo.com/customize/ie/defaults/su/sbcydsl/*http://www.yahoo.com)
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = Yahoo! SearchBar Home Page (http://red.clientapps.yahoo.com/customize/ie/defaults/sb/sbcydsl/*http://www.yahoo.com/search/ie.html)
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = Yahoo! (http://red.clientapps.yahoo.com/customize/ie/defaults/sp/sbcydsl/*http://www.yahoo.com)
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchURL,(Default) = Yahoo! (http://red.clientapps.yahoo.com/customize/ie/defaults/su/sbcydsl/*http://www.yahoo.com)
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchURL,(Default) = Yahoo! (http://red.clientapps.yahoo.com/customize/ie/defaults/su/sbcydsl/*http://www.yahoo.com)
R3 - URLSearchHook: Yahoo! Toolbar - {EF99BD32-C1FB-11D2-892F-0090271D4F88} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn\yt.dll
F2 - REG:system.ini: UserInit=C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,napwfae. exe
O2 - BHO: Yahoo! Toolbar Helper - {02478D38-C3F9-4EFB-9B51-7695ECA05670} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn\yt.dll
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: Yahoo! IE Services Button - {5BAB4B5B-68BC-4B02-94D6-2FC0DE4A7897} - C:\PROGRA~1\Yahoo!\common\yiesrvc.dll
O2 - BHO: SidebarAutoLaunch Class - {F2AA9440-6328-4933-B7C9-A6CCDF9CBF6D} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\browser\YSidebarIEBHO.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Yahoo! Toolbar - {EF99BD32-C1FB-11D2-892F-0090271D4F88} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn\yt.dll
O4 - HKLM\.. \Run: [Recguard] C:\WINDOWS\SMINST\RECGUARD.EXE
O4 - HKLM\.. \Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\.. \Run: [Windows Defender] "C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MSASCui.exe" -hide
O4 - HKLM\.. \Run: [ccApp] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe"
O4 - HKLM\.. \Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\.. \Run: [HostManager] C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\1130333939\ee\AOLSoftware.exe
O4 - HKLM\.. \Run: [MSConfig] C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\MSConfig.exe /auto
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Yahoo! Search - file:///C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common/ycsrch.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: Yahoo! &Dictionary - file:///C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common/ycdict.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: Yahoo! &Maps - file:///C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common/ycmap.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: Yahoo! &SMS - file:///C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common/ycsms.htm
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_04\bin\npjpi150_04.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_04\bin\npjpi150_04.dll
O9 - Extra button: AT&T Yahoo! Services - {5BAB4B5B-68BC-4B02-94D6-2FC0DE4A7897} - C:\PROGRA~1\Yahoo!\common\yiesrvc.dll

O16 - DPF: Battle Phlinx by pogo - http://game1.pogo.com/applet-6.3.2.25/battlephlinx/battlephlinx-ob-assets.cab
O16 - DPF: Blackjack by pogo - http://game1.pogo.com/applet-6.3.2.32/blackjack/blackjack-ob-assets.cab
O16 - DPF: Dice Derby by pogo - http://game1.pogo.com/applet-6.3.1.33/checkeredflag/checkeredflag-ob-assets.cab
O16 - DPF: Fortune Bingo by pogo - http://game1.pogo.com/applet-6.3.1.33/superbingo/superbingo-ob-assets.cab
O16 - DPF: Greenback Bayou by pogo - http://game1.pogo.com/applet-6.3.1.33/greenback/greenback-ob-assets.cab
O16 - DPF: Harvest Mania by pogo - http://game1.pogo.com/applet-6.3.1.33/harvest/harvest-ob-assets.cab
O16 - DPF: Lottso by pogo - http://game1.pogo.com/applet-6.3.1.33/lottso/lottso-ob-assets.cab
O16 - DPF: Phlinx by pogo - http://game1.pogo.com/applet-6.3.2.25/flinger/flinger-ob-assets.cab
O16 - DPF: Pinochle by pogo - http://game1.pogo.com/applet-6.3.1.33/pinochle/pinochle-ob-assets.cab
O16 - DPF: Pop Fu by pogo - http://game1.pogo.com/applet-6.3.1.33/popfu/popfu-ob-assets.cab
O16 - DPF: Squelchies by pogo - http://game1.pogo.com/applet-6.3.1.33/squelchies/squelchies-ob-assets.cab
O16 - DPF: Texas Hold'em Poker by pogo - http://game1.pogo.com/applet-6.3.1.33/holdem/holdem-ob-assets.cab
O16 - DPF: {17492023-C23A-453E-A040-C7C580BBF700} (Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool) - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=39204
O16 - DPF: {231B1C6E-F934-42A2-92B6-C2FEFEC24276} (yucsetreg Class) - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\common\yucconfig.dll
O16 - DPF: {2BC66F54-93A8-11D3-BEB6-00105AA9B6AE} (Symantec AntiVirus scanner) - http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/SharedContent/vc/bin/AvSniff.cab
O16 - DPF: {54B52E52-8000-4413-BD67-FC7FE24B59F2} (EARTPatchX Class) - http://simcity.ea.com/update/EARTPX.cab
O16 - DPF: {5ED80217-570B-4DA9-BF44-BE107C0EC166} (Windows Live Safety Center Base Module) - http://cdn.scan.onecare.live.com/resource/download/scanner/wlscbase9602.cab
O16 - DPF: {639658F3-B141-4D6B-B936-226F75A5EAC3} (CPlayFirstDinerDash2Control Object) - http://aolsvc.aol.com/onlinegames/trydinerdash2/DinerDash2.1.0.0.48.cab
O16 - DPF: {644E432F-49D3-41A1-8DD5-E099162EEEC5} (Symantec RuFSI Utility Class) - http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/SharedContent/common/bin/cabsa.cab
O16 - DPF: {87056D28-9730-4A47-B9F9-7E890B62C58A} (WildfireActiveXHost Class) - http://aolsvc.aol.com/onlinegames/ghtumblebugs/axhost.cab
O16 - DPF: {A18962F6-E6ED-40B1-97C9-1FB36F38BFA8} (Aurigma Image Uploader 3.5 Control) - File Lodge (http://www.filelodge.com/ImageUploader3.cab)
O16 - DPF: {C02226EB-A5D7-4B1F-BD7E-635E46C2288D} (Toontown Installer ActiveX Control) - http://a.download.toontown.com/sv1.0.18.27/ttinst.cab
O16 - DPF: {C36661D7-3590-45B1-80B5-520839E94DAD} (MaxisSimCity4PatcherX Control) - http://simcity.ea.com/update/MaxisSimCity4PatcherX.cab
O16 - DPF: {DF780F87-FF2B-4DF8-92D0-73DB16A1543A} (PopCapLoader Object) - http://aolsvc.aol.com/onlinegames/heavyweapon/popcaploader_v7.cab
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\.. \{E2CACFBF-BB17-478A-BC0C-59CD2E4EF55E}: NameServer = 205.188.146.145
O23 - Service: AOL Connectivity Service (AOL ACS) - AOL LLC - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\AOL\ACS\AOLacsd.exe
O23 - Service: Automatic LiveUpdate Scheduler - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Symantec\LiveUpdate\ALUSchedulerSvc.exe
O23 - Service: AVG Anti-Spyware Guard - Anti-Malware Development a.s. - C:\Program Files\Grisoft\AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5\guard.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Event Manager (ccEvtMgr) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSvcHst.exe" /h ccCommon (file missing)
O23 - Service: Symantec Settings Manager (ccSetMgr) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSvcHst.exe" /h ccCommon (file missing)
O23 - Service: Symantec Lic NetConnect service (CLTNetCnService) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSvcHst.exe" /h cltCommon (file missing)
O23 - Service: ewido security suite control - ewido networks - C:\Program Files\ewido anti-malware\ewidoctrl.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Computer, Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec IS Password Validation (ISPwdSvc) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\isPwdSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Kodak Camera Connection Software (KodakCCS) - Eastman Kodak Company - C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\KodakCCS.exe
O23 - Service: LexBce Server (LexBceS) - Lexmark International, Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\LEXBCES.EXE
O23 - Service: LiveUpdate - Symantec Corporation - C:\PROGRA~1\Symantec\LIVEUP~1\LUCOMS~1.EXE
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (NVSvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
O23 - Service: PrismXL - New Boundary Technologies, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\New Boundary\PrismXL\PRISMXL.SYS
O23 - Service: Symantec Core LC - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\CCPD-LC\symlcsvc.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec AppCore Service (SymAppCore) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\AppCore\AppSvc32.exe
O23 - Service: WAN Miniport (ATW) Service (WANMiniportService) - America Online, Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\wanmpsvc.exe
O23 - Service: YPCService - Yahoo! Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\YPCSER~1.EXE

Never been opened? O my -- I would bet that its full of dust-- A dusty computer is a unhappy [hot]computer .
Paste your highjack this log into this reader -- please note that its beta
Help2Go - Help2Go Detective (http://www.help2go.com/component/detective/)

Ok windows does not tend to support old computers is your computer old if so that may be a reason why i agree with every 1 else reformat and do a new clean install
Windows XP was launched in 2002 so it's 5 years old itself.
It will happily run on old hardware, so this response is seriously ill informed.

Ok windows does not tend to support old computers is your computer old if so that may be a reason why i agree with every 1 else reformat and do a new clean install


It's 2 years old, that's not that old.


You say you can open the task manager, how many processes are running (bottom left corner)
May be worth grabbing a copy of HijackThis (http://www.majorgeeks.com/download3155.html) and posting your log output so we can try and help better.

When was the last time you need some serious maintenance on this system.
I have a C&P that covers this and I'll post it if you want.

One FREE app to try is CCleaner (http://www.ccleaner.com). This removes system junk files, cleans your registry and can be used to control your startup programs.
Give it a go and let us know how many programs run at start up by running CCleaner > Tools > startup button.

What are your system specs as this could also be a hardware related problem.
Have you changed ANYTHING recently or even tried physically cleaning the system out ??
Could be badly seated RAM, CPU or graphics card.


CCleaner gives me a "this program has encountered an error and needs to close" message upon scanning "windows" and "application" but was able to scan on "issues" I downloaded this program several times and each time I get the same message for those two scans.


Never been opened? o my -- I would bet that its full of dust-- A dusty computer is a unhappy [hot]computer .
Paste your highjack this log into this reader -- please note that its beta
Help2Go - Help2Go Detective (http://www.help2go.com/component/detective/)


Thanks. The scan didn't show that there was anything that shouldn't be there.

Here's my usual C&P for system maintenance.
In this case I'd be inclined to jump straight to the repair install.


When was the last time you did some serious maintenance on your system ?

System maintenance includes:
Defrag
FULL patching
Virus scanning
Spyware scanning
removal of rubish files

Defrag is an inbuilt function in XP.
Open My Computer > Right click C: > Tools Tab and its there.

To make sure everything is running fine run both anti virus and anti spyware apps in normal AND safe modes. (make sure that they are updated first ! ;)) (AVG (http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1) is good and free AV)
(A couple of good removal tools are Spybot (http://www.safer-networking.org/) and Adaware (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/))

ALso an on line virus and spyware scanner is Trend Housecall (http://housecall.trendmicro.com/)

Just a note; actively running two AV's on one machine can cause problems.
So if you are thinking about it make sure your current one is disabled first.
Same thing applies to online scanners as well.

Removal of junk files is easy with CCleaner (http://www.ccleaner.com) a free app that does exactly what

If all this fails then a repair install may be in order:

Here's (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx) the official Micro$oft way of doing it,
and Here's (http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=138) one with screen shots.

Basically this installs windows over the top of your current setup.
So you don't loose any information you already have.

This lot should resolve your issue, if not please post back and we'll try another tack.

Curlyben's maintenance suggestion is spot on, that should speed up Windows.

But when you mentioned that the "light" on the tower doesn't flicker, that's probably the hard drive activity LED. Since its "hanging" on the boot up, the BIOS must be detecting a hardware change or scanning for devices. Like TheSavage says, open it up and clean it out. Check that cables and connectors are all plugged in snugly.

I've seen many computers that seem to "hang" for a long time. That's because it was busy auto-detecting IDE devices, usually caused by an IDE device conflict, master/slave settings incorrect, etc. In your case, since you've never opened the PC before, and that it started to happen over a period, its possible one of the IDE device (i.e. hard drive, cd/dvd drive) is failing intermittently.

When you open the computer and clean it out, try disconnecting all IDE devices except the hard drive. If you can get into the BIOS, there may be a setting to disable the bootscreen logo, so that you can see what the BIOS is doing.

Just curious... Is this an eMachines ?

Curlyben's maintenance suggestion is spot on, that should speed up Windows.

But when you mentioned that the "light" on the tower doesn't flicker, thats probably the hard drive activity LED. Since its "hanging" on the boot up, the BIOS must be detecting a hardware change or scanning for devices. Like TheSavage says, open it up and clean it out. Check that cables and connectors are all plugged in snugly.

I've seen many computers that seem to "hang" for a long time. Thats because it was busy auto-detecting IDE devices, usually caused by an IDE device conflict, master/slave settings incorrect, etc. In your case, since you've never opened the PC before, and that it started to happen over a period of time, its possible one of the IDE device (i.e. hard drive, cd/dvd drive) is failing intermittently.

When you open the computer and clean it out, try disconnecting all IDE devices except the hard drive. If you can get into the BIOS, there may be a setting to disable the bootscreen logo, so that you can see what the BIOS is doing.

Just curious...Is this an eMachines ?

Haha yes... good guess...


Here's my usual C&P for system maintenance.
In this case I'd be inclined to jump straight to the repair install.



This lot should resolve your issue, if not please post back and we'll try another tack.


Okay, I've done all of this and used the system recovery console and it's been rebooting fine... I just hope it stays that way! Thanks everyone!


Curlyben's maintenance suggestion is spot on, that should speed up Windows.

But when you mentioned that the "light" on the tower doesn't flicker, thats probably the hard drive activity LED. Since its "hanging" on the boot up, the BIOS must be detecting a hardware change or scanning for devices. Like TheSavage says, open it up and clean it out. Check that cables and connectors are all plugged in snugly.

I've seen many computers that seem to "hang" for a long time. Thats because it was busy auto-detecting IDE devices, usually caused by an IDE device conflict, master/slave settings incorrect, etc. In your case, since you've never opened the PC before, and that it started to happen over a period of time, its possible one of the IDE device (i.e. hard drive, cd/dvd drive) is failing intermittently.

When you open the computer and clean it out, try disconnecting all IDE devices except the hard drive. If you can get into the BIOS, there may be a setting to disable the bootscreen logo, so that you can see what the BIOS is doing.

Just curious...Is this an eMachines ?

Hmmmm... I've noticed I've been having problems w/ my cd/dvd drive... for instance it only recognizes the disk if inserted in the drive and not from clicking on an icon like w/ playing a game. It's also been making some loud noises... would that make windows boot slow?

haha yes....good guess....

Its an educated guess in a sense, mostly learned from the few eMachines at my work, and this forum and Google. :)

The best way to check if the cd/dvd drive is faulty is to remove it and try it on another PC, maybe a friend's, a second PC in the house, etc. and see if the same problems occur.

If worst comes to worst, you can buy a new one. The prices are quite reasonable nowadays for a high-speed dvd burner .