Possible major computer bootup problem

ShirleyM · 01-02-2006, 10:26 AM

Hello, and thanks in advance to anyone with a clue what my problem and fix is....

My computer (winXP Home, Service Pack 1) which has never had a virus or worm, runs AdawareSE, spybot s&d, is now booting to the windows splash screen, the green bar goes horizontally across, then *before* the login window, there's 90 seconds of black screen, the last 30 of which there's a mouse arrow. Then I get the login screen, choose my login, and it takes about 40 seconds to finish loading to my desktop screen.

I ran Adaware - nothing.
Spybot S&D and got this message: Error during check!: InterFun (Datei C:\WINDOWS\system.ini kann nicht
geöffnet werden. The process cannot access the file because it is
being used by another process)

no other items found.

Today I just tried to run Error Checking (file system recovery, bad sectors on disk) on my C drive and I get this message: disk check utility needs exclusive access to some windows files on the disk.

I've run Norton Corp with all latest updates and found nothing. It runs 24/7 with auto updates every day.

What do I do now? I've backed up all my data - all of it, on another HD.
should I just run the system recovery disk and reinstall everything to when the computer was new?

Or is there a possible easier way...

Thanks!
Shirley

Casey · 01-02-2006, 10:29 AM

Hi Shirley im no computer god,I probably would just use the recovery disk since you have a good backup,anyways just wanted to say Hi

good luck with it.

ShirleyM · 01-02-2006, 10:39 AM

Hi Casey! Great to hear from you! (I do check in here fairly often... just haven't had time to post much...) I went down memory lane though during the backup of theTRT photos... your pup, family, etc...

Casey · 01-02-2006, 10:42 AM

They have all grown alot Shirley

Im afraid my pup is a big girl now and sweet as can be,we are talking about getting here a friend soon

and you outta see the girl's now wow time go fast. How is the pond doing I remember it was gorgeous.

ChrisPrusha · 01-02-2006, 11:01 AM

May I suggest downloading the free version of AVG first? My free AVG catches stuff that Norton misses. If it's clean after that, run the recovery disk, imho. Good luck!!

ScruffyRubicon · 01-02-2006, 11:19 AM

How much free space do you have on your disk? If your within 20% of full it could simple be that there is not enough swap space for the computer to run properly. If this is the case, free up some space and the run disk defragmenter.

ShirleyM · 01-02-2006, 11:26 AM

The disk defrag ran, (I ran it even though it said it wasn't necessary)

I have 4.5 gigs free on the C drive and 16 gigs free on the D drive, which is a partition of the C drive. I get the same error messages on the D drive.

I'll run AVG -- THANKS...

Have an appt - be back in a couple 2-3 hrs.

I'll let you know what AVG finds...

ShirleyM · 01-02-2006, 01:21 PM

I went to the AVG homepage and can't find a virus scan from their site... only downloads to install and run. Isn't there an AVG scanner via the 'net w/o downloading the program?

Thanks!

ChrisPrusha · 01-02-2006, 01:48 PM

I just too a look at the website...I didn't see one either...soz!

reef_noob · 01-02-2006, 02:03 PM

You might want to run a system restore.

Start > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore.

Pick a date that you are sure that everything was working right and restore to that. That has saved my butt a few times.

good luck!

ShirleyM · 01-02-2006, 02:08 PM

You mean a system restore only restores the registry, boot files, win ini, etc and doesn't remove the OS or files etc? I've never done that before...

ShirleyM · 01-02-2006, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisPrusha

I just too a look at the website...I didn't see one either...soz!

I found one at trend micro systems and tried to run it... it came up with a failure to download the necessary whatever to run the scan...

reef_noob · 01-02-2006, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShirleyM

You mean a system restore only restores the registry, boot files, win ini, etc and doesn't remove the OS or files etc? I've never done that before...

That's correct. Win XP takes "snapshots" every so often. A system restore rolls back to that point. Note: it will uninstall anything that was installed after that point, but it shouldn't mess with personal data files.

Here's a link to a MS knowledge base article. http://support.microsoft.com/default...;en-us;Q306084

Also, you can go Start > help & support, then search the help system for system restore

ShirleyM · 01-02-2006, 03:20 PM

Thank you! I'll let you know what happens...

ShirleyM · 01-02-2006, 03:46 PM

I ran it twice, both from dates I know are earlier than changes made last Friday.

Both times:
Finish restore.
Checking file system on Drive C. Type is NTFS
Cannot open Volume for direct access (red is my addition)
Windows has finished ckg the disk. Restored to Dec 26. No changes made.

It still takes a very long time to boot up. From logon screen to desktop screen is 75 seconds.

Adaware came up with warnings about things trying to change the regedit on iTunes helper.exe and on Quick Time. I said block.

???

Oh, and it also said it can't do anything after Drive L. I don't have a Drive L. I disconnected my USB port that has my camera card reader, printers, etc for the second run... no drive L. No warnings in Device Manager either.