Programs won't start, Not Even Task Manger

Tpex

Tpex

Teh Cyber Ninja
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Hi
I'm running XP Pro SP3 (Don't anybody say upgrade to win7 :mad: ) and every now and then I think when I connect to the net my system kind of freezes, it won't open any programs (exes) or even task manger, but I can still open explorer and browse through files (I spose because explorer.exe is already running)
I uselly fix this by a restart, But its become really annoying, can anybody help me with this?
 
Kage said:
could be your antivirus software - try and uninstall any new software installed recently.
Click to expand...

Antivirus has be on since I reinstalled windows, about 2 months ago, do you think it could be steam?
 
You say it only happens when you connect Internet? It could be just like KAGE says, what anti-virus and/or firewall do you use?
 
rurapente said:
no special browser plugins? tried disabling them all?
Click to expand...

This happens before I even start up FF

Oh I remembered, sometimes I am happily browsing and it happens, and none of my pages load, like my connection has dropped
 
DarkKnight said:
You say it only happens when you connect Internet? It could be just like KAGE says, what anti-virus and/or firewall do you use?
Click to expand...

I think it only happens when I connect to the internet

Zone ALarm 8.0.298.000
AVG 8.5.406
Threatfire 4.7.0
 
Have you scanned for Spyware? I know have this happen before and fixed it with Spybot.
 
okay, Start...Run..Regedit..Browse to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENT VERSION\RUN

Check all the programs listed there and make 100% sure you can account for them all.
Try disable un-needed taskbar rubbish by deleting what you dont use. Just export the key by right clicking on RUN and save a copy first incase u mess it up.

Disable any networks cards not in use, make sure if you're on ethernet that you're forcing a speed, dont use auto-detect.

Finally, chances are there's a thread waiting somewhere for something and the kernel cant continue without it, its holding a system resource probably. Your best bet is to try get into task manager and see whats holding CPU at the time.

Also run a virus check, if you cant get it done in XP get one from the net that has updated definitions and can be booted.
 
Conradl said:
Have you scanned for Spyware? I know have this happen before and fixed it with Spybot.
Click to expand...

I have with AVG and threatfire, But if it was spyware wouldn't do it all the time? I think It only happens to me 1 to 2 times a day
 
now that you mention zone-alarm, have you tried disabling it completely? Not just allow IT to allow anything - actually NUKE it. Remove it from RUN so it doesnt even start with windows and see if things settle. I've had other problems with ZA before.
 
Zonealarm, like any firewall installs a virtual adaptor which will intercept anything coming off the transport layer and filter it first. Thats all good and well, but if ZA goes belly-up or is having that time of the week, it will hold up all tcp connections and Windows does not like that. At all. I'm now putting my money on ZA.
 
rurapente said:
okay, Start...Run..Regedit..Browse to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENT VERSION\RUN

Check all the programs listed there and make 100% sure you can account for them all.
Try disable un-needed taskbar rubbish by deleting what you dont use. Just export the key by right clicking on RUN and save a copy first incase u mess it up.
Click to expand...

:) I was going to steer him to there next.

Also might be an idea to check your event viewer logs, maybe something in there to give more clues what's up.
 
rurapente said:
okay, Start...Run..Regedit..Browse to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENT VERSION\RUN

Check all the programs listed there and make 100% sure you can account for them all.
Try disable un-needed taskbar rubbish by deleting what you dont use. Just export the key by right clicking on RUN and save a copy first incase u mess it up.

Disable any networks cards not in use, make sure if you're on ethernet that you're forcing a speed, dont use auto-detect.

Finally, chances are there's a thread waiting somewhere for something and the kernel cant continue without it, its holding a system resource probably. Your best bet is to try get into task manager and see whats holding CPU at the time.

Also run a virus check, if you cant get it done in XP get one from the net that has updated definitions and can be booted.
Click to expand...

Everything in the run/startup area is what I want to run, I use advanced system care and msconfig


what would you suggest n AV? malwarebytes?

BTW do you know how to stop programs starting up such as mdnsresponder and some lexmark stuff?
 
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