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Taskbar freezes in XP - Help!
Pemulis
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Hi all, I'm running Windows XP and for no apparent reason my taskbar keeps freezing!
By this I mean I can't switch windows using the taskbar, or access the start menu. Desktop shortcuts still work and I can Alt+Tab between windows just fine. The cpu usage doesn't increase and any open program works fine. Just the taskbar is useless and has graphical glitches, much like when a program freezes - I can see the desktop instead of the system tray, etc.
It doesn't seem to be tied to the running of any particular program, and I have tried paring down the startup programs and services. This PC is always connected to the internet and I just updated the NIC driver too.
My google searches for help haven't panned out so I'm hoping you guys will come to the rescue. Thanks!
By this I mean I can't switch windows using the taskbar, or access the start menu. Desktop shortcuts still work and I can Alt+Tab between windows just fine. The cpu usage doesn't increase and any open program works fine. Just the taskbar is useless and has graphical glitches, much like when a program freezes - I can see the desktop instead of the system tray, etc.
It doesn't seem to be tied to the running of any particular program, and I have tried paring down the startup programs and services. This PC is always connected to the internet and I just updated the NIC driver too.
My google searches for help haven't panned out so I'm hoping you guys will come to the rescue. Thanks!
Pemulis on
0
Posts
Open the task manager and kill the process "explorer.exe". Open the Run menu (windows key & R), or choose File->New Task in task manager, and type "explorer.exe" which will give you a new shell.
It's possible your windows install has become corrupted somehow. Maybe a fresh install is in order?
It may be a virus or spyware.
Also, you may want to consider installing service pack 3.
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I've got a spare copy of Portal, if anyone wants it message me.
I have SP3 installed (I was also hoping this would fix it). I ran adaware and NAV, and everything was clean, but I'll run hijackthis tomorrow and post the log.
Adaware and Norton Antivirus only pickup known stuff, hijackthis merely lists everything in things like registry startup. It doesn't tell you whether something is good or bad.
It requires you determine what is bad, for me it's pretty easy to determine what is bad. Hence requesting you post your hijackthis log.
Also, Norton Antivirus is a piece of junk. I highly suggest you get decent antivirus software.
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I've got a spare copy of Portal, if anyone wants it message me.
Any suggestions? I get NAV for free through school, so that's always worked for me.
Just about anything is better to be honest, everyone has their own preferences. You've got Avast, AVG, Antivir.. I think there have been posts here in the past which queried for the best antivirus software, so you may want to do a forum search for those.
I myself use AVG, however.. I personally suggest you fire up the webatron on google and do some searches for antivirus comparisons etc. And pick which is best for you, you may just want to go for ones that offer free versions.
For example in this comparison antivir came out on top and there is a free version of antivir available. I personally have never used it so I can't comment.
But you get the idea, google for comparisons.. hopefully others here will add to this on their views on AV software.
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I've got a spare copy of Portal, if anyone wants it message me.
Scan saved at 10:48:11 AM, on 5/15/2008
Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP3 (6.00.2900.5512)
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:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7DEBUG\mdm.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Microsoft IntelliPoint\ipoint.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\jusched.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
C:\Program Files\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Connection Wizard,ShellNext = http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} -
O2 - BHO: Groove GFS Browser Helper - {72853161-30C5-4D22-B7F9-0BBC1D38A37E} -
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Conversion Toolbar Helper - {AE7CD045-E861-484f-8273-0445EE161910} -
O3 - Toolbar: Adobe PDF - {47833539-D0C5-4125-9FA8-0819E2EAAC93} -
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IntelliPoint] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft IntelliPoint\ipoint.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [GrooveMonitor] "D:\Microsoft Office 2007\Office12\GrooveMonitor.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MSConfig] C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\MSConfig.exe /auto
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert link target to Adobe PDF - res://D:\Adobe\Acrobat Pro 7.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIECapture.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert link target to existing PDF - res://D:\Adobe\Acrobat Pro 7.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIEAppend.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert selected links to Adobe PDF - res://D:\Adobe\Acrobat Pro 7.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIECaptureSelLinks.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert selected links to existing PDF - res://D:\Adobe\Acrobat Pro 7.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIEAppendSelLinks.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert selection to Adobe PDF - res://D:\Adobe\Acrobat Pro 7.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIECapture.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert selection to existing PDF - res://D:\Adobe\Acrobat Pro 7.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIEAppend.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert to Adobe PDF - res://D:\Adobe\Acrobat Pro 7.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIECapture.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert to existing PDF - res://D:\Adobe\Acrobat Pro 7.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIEAppend.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://D:\MICROS~1\Office12\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: Send to OneNote - {2670000A-7350-4f3c-8081-5663EE0C6C49} -
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: S&end to OneNote - {2670000A-7350-4f3c-8081-5663EE0C6C49} -
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} -
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - %windir%\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - %windir%\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://www.update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/wuweb_site.cab?1190908791525
O16 - DPF: {6E32070A-766D-4EE6-879C-DC1FA91D2FC3} (MUWebControl Class) - http://www.update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/muweb_site.cab?1191167142436
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\Parameters: Domain = snip
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{99F54E35-41B1-4E82-BF93-33B3C3B7573C}: Domain = snip
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{99F54E35-41B1-4E82-BF93-33B3C3B7573C}: NameServer = 128.104.182.249,144.92.12.24
O17 - HKLM\System\CS1\Services\Tcpip\Parameters: Domain = snip
O18 - Protocol: grooveLocalGWS - {88FED34C-F0CA-4636-A375-3CB6248B04CD} -
O18 - Protocol: ms-help - {314111C7-A502-11D2-BBCA-00C04F8EC294} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Help\hxds.dll
O18 - Protocol: skype4com - {FFC8B962-9B40-4DFF-9458-1830C7DD7F5D} - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\Skype\SKYPE4~1.DLL
O18 - Filter hijack: text/xml - {807563E5-5146-11D5-A672-00B0D022E945} - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\MICROS~1\OFFICE12\MSOXMLMF.DLL
O20 - Winlogon Notify: dimsntfy - %SystemRoot%\System32\dimsntfy.dll (file missing)
O20 - Winlogon Notify: NavLogon - C:\WINDOWS\
O21 - SSODL: WPDShServiceObj - {AAA288BA-9A4C-45B0-95D7-94D524869DB5} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\WPDShServiceObj.dll
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (NVSvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
Edit: Grim do you use the free version of AVG? It seems to rate pretty well.
Edit2: It looks like there are a couple of missing files, I wonder if that would slow things down.
It could be your machines memory.
Have you made sure to update not only all your drivers, but your programs too?
Also, how long have you been having this problem?
It's definitely odd with those missing files, i'm on my mac at the moment but what i'll do is when I get back to my pc i'll copy those missing files and put them up to download for you. You can try and see if copying those helps things.
EDIT: Okay, i've compressed the files to a zip file. Download here.
Copy xpnetdiag.exe to %windir%\Network Diagnostic\, go to run in the start menu and type in %windir%\Network Diagnostic\, it will open up that directory.
Same thing with dimsntfy.dll, copy it to %SystemRoot%\System32\. These files are from my install of Windows XP Professional SP3.
The locations anyway will probably be C:\WINDOWS\network diagnostic and C:\WINDOWS\system32.
If anything goes pear shaped boot into safe mode and delete them. If that fails then use the XP cd recovery option.
Oh, and I use AVG Pro. (costs me about £20 for 2 years iirc.. it's actually up for renewel.. I might just go with AVG free)
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I've got a spare copy of Portal, if anyone wants it message me.
I've been having this problem for a few weeks now, but it didn't coincide with any programs or updates I installed.
There is only 1GB of RAM on this machine, but the problem started suddenly and there aren't any processes taking up an ususual amount of RAM so I don't know. Hopefully replacing those missing files helps...
Also, if it comes to it I'll try reinstalling XP, it's just weird this problem seemed to start from nothing.
Are they the same size and version? If you have SP3 then they should be identical.
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I've got a spare copy of Portal, if anyone wants it message me.
They are indeed the same size and version. I even tried swapping them with yours anyway and got the same log.
Quite bizarre, you could run msconfig and disable (untick) almost all startup items like Office groovemonitor thing. See if that does anything. (if the problem doesn't occur then you enable them one by one and see what causes the problem)
In these situations I would normally offer to have a look at the pc remotely using remote assistance, but since you're in America it isn't very practical, time differences and all.
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I've got a spare copy of Portal, if anyone wants it message me.
When I've searched on google for this problem, it seems like for a lot of people it is tied to their network connection. We just (yesterday) a had our network connection upgraded from 10 to 100Mbit/s and should be getting 1Gbit/s within a couple of months. I haven't had this problem since the upgrade, so who knows? I have quite a few mapped network drives, so maybe when I would lose a connection to one this would occur? This is all just speculation on my part.
I appreciate the offer of remote assistance, but this is a quasi-work computer so I wouldn't feel completely comfortable with that and, as you said, the time difference makes things difficult. I do appreciate all of your suggestions though!
Perhaps this network upgrade will fix the problem, if so I'll let you know.
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I've got a spare copy of Portal, if anyone wants it message me.