XP issue- MSE failing to start on PC boot

Page 1 of 4 123 ... LastLast

  1. Posts : 451
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64
       #1

    XP issue- MSE failing to start on PC boot


    I've had this issue a few days now and am trying to troubleshoot it. It's a Windows XP SP3 machine. A few days ago MSE stayed red on booting the PC. A restart fixed it. The next day it did this again and a restart did not fix it. I had Superantispyware installed as well and ran a full scan- 7 minutes into this scan MSE turns green. Full scan finds no malware anyway. Reboot and MSE works. This morning I ran the PC for an hour, things worked fine, shut down a bit then restarted and MSE failed to start. Reboot and still not working. Waited 10 minutes, it didn't come on, I had to uninstall MSE and reinstall the program, which now works.

    I've only installed a few games recently, all gog.com downloads. A week or so ago right before this began I switched XP to classic mode. While I doubt it's the cause, could the switch to classic mode have caused a conflict?

    I uninstalled SAS in case it was suddenly conflicting though it hasn't before.

    I did some Google searching and found a suggestion to make sure 3 services were set to automatic start- RPC Locator, BITS and Windows Installer. 2 of the 3 were set to manual, I changed them to automatic. I haven't had MSE fail to start again after several reboots.

    So what's the problem? Did SAS suddenly conflict? Did changing themes to classic cause an issue? As unlikely as it sounds could the games be a problem(most bundle DOSbox with them)? I've 100% ruled out malware as this PC isn't used much and I only install trusted programs and even so I ran malware scans with Malwarebytes before installing them(download them to my 7 PC, transfer to the XP computer). Now, I run MSE just fine on my Windows 7 PC, along with having the free versions of Malwarebytes and SAS installed(no real time protection running for those) and haven't had any issues with MSE. But this is Windows XP, I have 2 GB of RAM. Could system resources have been in conflict somehow all of a sudden?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 6,830
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32-Bit & Windows 7 Ultimate 64-Bit
       #2

    Farbar Recovery Scan Tool


    32-bit Version OS Farbar Recovery Scan Tool <==== Download Link

    Drag the FRST.exe from the Downloads folder to your Desktop

    Double click on FRST.exe

    When the tool opens click Yes on the disclaimer window .

    Press Scan button.


    Please upload both logs in your reply.(FRST.txt and Addition.txt)

    FRST.txt and Addition.txt will be on the Desktop

    Farbar Service Scanner

    Click here Farbar Service Scanner to DOWNLOAD

    Place the file onto your desktop

    Double click on FSS.exe

    Place a check mark next to the following options

    • ⬜ Internet Services
    • ⬜ Windows Firewall
    • ⬜ System Restore
    • ⬜ Security Center
    • ⬜ Windows Update
    • ⬜ Windows Defender


    Press the Scan button

    Farbar Service Scanner will create a log, called FSS.txt, on the Desktop. Upload the FSS.txt with your reply

    Upload a File
    Click on the Go Advanced button under the Message box . Scroll down to Additional Options then click on Manage Attachments in the Attach Files sections . Click the Browse button locate the file then click on the Open button . In the Upload File from your Computer section click on the Upload button . Wait until it finishes uploading then close the window . Then click Submit Reply .
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 451
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64
    Thread Starter
       #3

    I'll run those in the morning when I get some more free time(sorry, my back hurts ATM). But I think I may have tracked down the cause to when my PC froze and rebooted on the 24th. I installed and played the gog.com version of Postal 2 with the AWP mod installed and it choked my system's resources, causing the PC to crash and reboot. I know the gog port is the latest Postal 2 version which added a bunch of stuff to the game and AWP is a heavy mod. Chkdsk had fixed a couple of file errors but I think MSE was somehow corrupted when the system crashed- may have been those very files.

    Usually when I boot this PC the MSE icon stays red for 3-5 seconds then turns green as the internet connection and other services start up too. After uninstalling and reinstalling I've yet to have it fail to turn green after multiple restarts.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 6,830
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32-Bit & Windows 7 Ultimate 64-Bit
       #4

    Run it when you have time .
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 451
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Sorry for the delay, yesterday was busy. I've got a DS Lite with top screen issues that I couldn't fix after 3 hours straight of working on it. bleh...

    I won't claim I know how to read these logs properly but some of the large file batches are from DX redistributable packs I ran for games that may need them, and the 7/24 driver batch is attempt to run SFC. I returned that disc later that day, I don't have it on hand anymore. I also installed .NET 3.5 when I attempted to run Morrowind(it didn't- for all the hassling with .NET and DirectX, the graphics chip just wasn't good enough for the game without minor cosmetic issues).

    Postal 2 crashed the morning of the 24th after which I ran SFC and chkdsk.

    This XP install disc was borrowed from someone I know. It was slipstreamed with SATA drivers, SP3, etc. I bought this Dell PC in early June from a reclamation/refurbishing company on eBay and it had the original Samsung 80 GB HDD in it. That drive failed after a few days and I had to replace it with a WD 500 GB drive I had spare, along with a borrowed XP disc(I have an SP2 XP disc somewhere but it likely lacks SATA drivers and all that).

    I haven't had any issues with MSE since, but the desktop is sluggish at times. Right clicking a shortcut can cause a delay up to 15 seconds before the menu comes up. I tried deleting and remaking shortcuts, disabling WinRAR shell integration but they didn't help. Likewise, the PC can be sluggish for a few seconds at a time. I don't know if it's something with the OS or if I'm just not used to an older processor. Firefox is slow, but I'm running 21 which is likely why. It's a resource hog even on my Gateway.

    This is a Dell Optiplex 745 desktop. 3.0 GHz Pentium D, 2 GB RAM. I mainly bought it for gaming, albeit older games that I can't run in Windows 7. Basically, if the game can run on this Dell, I install it here to keep my Gateway PC from getting clogged. I also wish it as a backup PC(internet use and such) should my Gateway have problems.

    I do suspect that Windows Updates may have been problematic- despite setting it to notify only and ask me to download and install, it still installed several updates without my consent- typical "I'm ignoring the setting, you don't know best" MS programming.

    I recently installed and ran both quick and full scans with Malwarebytes and found nothing. I also keep TDSSkiller on hand for both PCs and it found nothing.

    Worst case I can get that disc back and do a fresh OS install.

    Note that I am posting this from the Dell right now. It's working, it plays games but is still sluggish in spots.
    XP issue- MSE failing to start on PC boot Attached Files
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 6,830
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32-Bit & Windows 7 Ultimate 64-Bit
       #6

    Download HitManPro

    64-Bit Version OS HitmanPro_x64

    32-Bit Version OS HitmanPro

    Save to the Desktop

    Right click on HitmanPro.exe and choose

    When HitmanPro opens up click on Settings uncheck Scan for tracking cookies . Click on OK . Then click on the Next button

    Click on No, I only want to perform a one-time scan to check this computer on the Setup page . Click Next once done .

    Let it scan the PC once its done Click Next

    Click Activate free license to start the free 30 days trial and remove all the malicious files from your computer then click Next

    Copy and paste the contents of the log . Locate in C:\ ProgramData\Hitman Pro\Logs

    On
    Hold down Control and click on ESET Online Scanner to open ESET OnlineScan in a new window
    Click the button
    Check YES, I accept the Terms of Use.
    Click the Start button.
    Accept any security warnings from your browser.
    Under scan settings, check "Scan Archives" and "Remove found threats"
    Click Advanced settings and select the following:
    ° Scan potentially unwanted applications
    ° Scan for potentially unsafe applications
    ° Enable Anti-Stealth technology
    ESET will then download updates for itself, install itself, and begin scanning your computer. Please be patient as this can take some time.
    When the scan completes, click List Threats
    Click Export, and save the file to your desktop using a unique name, such as ESETScan. Include the contents of this report in your next reply.
    Click the Back button.
    Click the Finish button.

    On or
    Click on esetsmartinstaller_enu.exe to download the ESET Smart Installer. Save it to your desktop.
    Right click on choose on your desktop
    Check YES, I accept the Terms of Use.
    Click the Start button.
    Accept any security warnings from your browser.
    Under scan settings, check "Scan Archives" and "Remove found threats"
    Click Advanced settings and select the following:
    ° Scan potentially unwanted applications
    ° Scan for potentially unsafe applications
    ° Enable Anti-Stealth technology
    ESET will then download updates for itself, install itself, and begin scanning your computer. Please be patient as this can take some time.
    When the scan completes, click List Threats
    Click Export, and save the file to your desktop using a unique name, such as ESETScan. Include the contents of this report in your next reply.
    Click the Back button.
    Click the Finish button.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 451
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Hitman Pro found nothing. Preparing to run ESET now

    HitmanPro 3.7.6.201
    Home - SurfRight

    Computer name . . . . : KITTY
    Windows . . . . . . . : 5.1.3.2600.X86/2
    User name . . . . . . : KITTY\Diosoth
    License . . . . . . . : Free

    Scan date . . . . . . : 2013-07-30 13:09:30
    Scan mode . . . . . . : Normal
    Scan duration . . . . : 54s
    Disk access mode . . : Direct disk access (SRB)
    Cloud . . . . . . . . : Internet
    Reboot . . . . . . . : No

    Threats . . . . . . . : 0
    Traces . . . . . . . : 0

    Objects scanned . . . : 327,950
    Files scanned . . . . : 6,731
    Remnants scanned . . : 63,353 files / 257,866 keys




    ----------

    Further to note-

    Aside from desktop icons being slow when right-clicked, some of the desktop shortcuts also tend to scan very slow in a full malware scan. MSE, SAS and Malwarebytes hang on them for a few seconds. Saving files to the desktop also takes longer than to a folder

    Took me some time to find the Hitman logs as XP keeps them in a different location.

    The PC is set to fast boot Windows in the BIOS. Could this affect performance?
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 451
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64
    Thread Starter
       #8

    ESET found no threats
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 6,830
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32-Bit & Windows 7 Ultimate 64-Bit
       #9

    Do you defrag your PC ?
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 451
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64
    Thread Starter
       #10

    Nope, didn't think to as this HDD has only been in use a little over a month. But based on the analysis I should- I forgot that XP doesn't automatically handle this the way 7 does. Will run a defrag and see what the results are.

    Volume New Volume (C:)
    Volume size = 466 GB
    Cluster size = 4 KB
    Used space = 64.23 GB
    Free space = 402 GB
    Percent free space = 86 %

    Volume fragmentation
    Total fragmentation = 14 %
    File fragmentation = 29 %
    Free space fragmentation = 0 %

    File fragmentation
    Total files = 59,284
    Average file size = 1 MB
    Total fragmented files = 6,506
    Total excess fragments = 35,337
    Average fragments per file = 1.59

    Pagefile fragmentation
    Pagefile size = 2.00 GB
    Total fragments = 1

    Folder fragmentation
    Total folders = 4,127
    Fragmented folders = 322
    Excess folder fragments = 1,566

    Master File Table (MFT) fragmentation
    Total MFT size = 62 MB
    MFT record count = 63,605
    Percent MFT in use = 99 %
    Total MFT fragments = 2
      My Computer


 
Page 1 of 4 123 ... LastLast

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:38.
Find Us