Windows XP loading extremely slow/system restore fails

Question

One day last week when turning on the computer I got a message that said windows was being shut down to prevent damage. I rebooted and have not seen the screen since however, Windows (XP) takes as long as 3-5 minutes to load. I added RAM in August so there is 640mb. Hard drive I have approx. 15gb used and approx 41gb free space. It ran great until that error came up. I have run 3 spyware programs and a virus check. All come up clean. I did a disk defrag as well as a disk clean up. I have emptied temp file folders and prefetch. I have tried system restore to 4 or 5 different restore dates and each one takes extremely long, the system restarts and when I log on it tells me that the system was unable to be restored to the selected date. I have also made sure that I have all updates installed. I am sure I am missing something but not being too knowledgable in this area is preventing me from finding the fix. I appreciate any suggestions. Message Edited by jif_32 on 11-28-200611:31 PM

jmwills · Answer

Run Error Check on the disk (chkdsk).

redwolfe_98 · Answer

try opening 'task manager' and see if any 'processes' are 'hanging', using a lot of 'CPU', which could cause your computer to run slow..   if the computer just seems slow to boot up, that could possibly be caused by your antivirus program's running a scan at startup.. or, if you are using 'spyware doctor', that program is very slow to load, at startup..   had you installed any new software that might have caused the initial problem, where you got the BSOD? if so, you could try uninstalling the software and see if that resolves the problem.. sometimes, there can be software-conflicts..   you could check the items that are running at startup, that is, items that are set to run at startup.. sometimes, a program like your antivirus program or an antispyware program (like 'ad-aware' ) can remove malware-files, but the regkeys that supposedly cause the malware to run are left, and that can cause a problem when the malware-files have been removed, but the regkeys are still telling the computer to run the files..   to check the items that are running at startup, most people say to run 'msconfig' and then look at the 'startup' tab, there.. to run 'msconfig', go to 'start'/'run' and type 'msconfig' (minus quotations).. however, i prefer to remove the regkeys from the registry instead of disabling items in 'msconfig'.. you can do that by using 'regedit' and knowing where to go in the registry, or you can use various programs that will list the 'startup'-regkeys.. one is 'jv16powertools'.. another one is mike lin's 'startup control panel'..   http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml   (if you want to use mike lin's 'startup control panel', use the stand-alone version)   i use jv16powertools, an old version, but i cannot recommend using the newer versions because they have caused problems for me..   there are several other programs, too, that can list items that run at startup..     another place where items can 'run at startup' from is start/all programs/'startup'.. Message Edited by redwolfe_98 on 11-29-200601:56 AM

jif_32 · Answer

Thanks for the replies. I ran chkdsk. It deleted 2 indexes. That didn't solve the issues.  I had already checked in msconfig to see what programs were loading at startup. (Start menu, all programs, startup is empty) Msconfig  shows my firewall and virus program. I haven't changed these other than updates to the virus protector since I uninstall Norton's in January 06. I use computer associates ez armor. It also shows C:\WINDOWS\FPZHR.exe  (windows right?), microsoft messenger which I don't use but if I stop it from starting I have trouble with Outlook Express, and the last thing is C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe.  I have no idea what that is.   I think all of that was previously showing in msconfig. I did go to microsoft.com prior to this problem happening. It told me I had to load activex to download my updates. I thought that odd because I have never had to do that before and I know activex can cause issues as well. I started to do that then cancelled it. I did not allow it to download completely. However, I got a message that new programs were installed. I can't find any new programs. Not in add/remove, not in programs files, not in start menu.   Any other ideas? Any ideas on why it will not allow me to restore my system to a previous restore date? I appreciate the help and ideas you are giving me.

RoHe · Answer

ctfmon.exe is part of Microsoft Office. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/282599

FPZHR.exe may be part of Kazaa's spyware so you may need to remove it http://forums.techguy.org/security/183074-wupdatyer-exe-shutdown-problems.html

Kazaa removal tool here: http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=3446

You probably want to grab Hijack This off Dell's Hijack This forum (be sure to read all the FAQs on that forum first) and post your HJT log there for one of the experts to review. If you have FPZHR.exe, you may have other spyware too.

You didn't say what model PC this is, but some older Dell's have a CPU speed option setting in BIOS. So if yours is one of those, run BIOS setup (F2 before XP starts to load) and look for this option. It should be set to Normal, not Compatible.

Run windows system file check:
start>run
type in: sfc /scannow
(space between sfc and /)
click ok
Insert XP CD if requested. Reboot when it's done.

Ron

redwolfe_98 · Answer

jif, you could try adjusting the settings in "microsoft messenger" so that it doesn't run in the background.. or, i think that you could uninstall "microsoft messenger" without having problems with "outlook express".. that is what i do, i uninstall it, and i don't have any problems with OE.. here is a link to an "uninstaller" for "microsoft messenger", if you want to use it..

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_mess_disable.htm

i agree with rohe that "FPZHR.exe" looks like it might be malware, to me, so you could check that out..

as for windows updates and activex controls, yes, when you go to the windows updates website (or "microsoft updates" ) for windows updates, it installs activex controls.. that is nothing to worry about..

regarding your not being able to "restore" to some restore points, sometimes the computer will not let you "restore" to a point before some changes were made, like maybe after some windows updates.. if you want to test system restore, you could create a new restore point and then try running system restore to that new restore point..

Message Edited by redwolfe_98 on 11-29-200603:57 PM

dud0288 · Answer

As for restore not working if you have Norton A/V try Symantic Doc ID: 2005113009323013.  It worked for me. Let me know please.   jcleary5@nycap.rr.com

Windows General

Windows XP loading extremely slow/system restore fails

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