thanks Slartybart :) I hope I've got everything right this time around. When saving the hosts file I created I chose all files in file type and my file's name is simply hosts. It's still a text document so I don't know if that's a problem but it doesn't have an extension in the name.
hosts is a text file without an extension. It sounds as though you have everything correct.
Now, did you put the default hosts you created into C:\Windows\Dirvers\etc\
If that's done, you're done.
Bill
Spybot added a whole bunch of entires in your hosts file in it's "protection" methodology. Basically it defined a number of hosts as bad and stuck all of them in your local hosts file. This is a weak strategy, as bad hosts change names. Better protection checks objects (files, images, executables, etc) as they are accessed on your machine and it might also have a "blocked list" of sites, but doesn't clog up your hosts file.
The large number of entries in your hosts file was degrading your system by a little bit, especially at startup.
wow I had no idea...how protection software can actually work against you in a long run. Well I did everything like you said..renamed the original hosts file that was already in etc folder and then put the one I created in that etc folder.
I'm very interested to see what will happen when I try to shutdown tonight. If it hangs again and points towards another BSOD, then I have no idea what is causing it or how to solve it. But once again thank you and thanks to ARC for helping me a lot already. I will report if the crash occurs again. One more thing that's very interesting to me and may be connected with the current problem- I mentioned before that I lost all sound on my laptop, without any indication or error message. Well what's interesting to me is it almost always happens in the same situation- when I'm trying to talk with my buddy via Google+ Hangouts. It's trying to access my webcam and mic but it never works and all of a sudden the sound is gone. Could be a glitch, but maybe something is wrong inside and it's causing BSOD. Just thought I'd mention it.
dseeman: the impact of a large hosts file on startup is there if a user puts a lot of entries there or a piece of software puts them there. The hallmark of good malware protection is small footprint, low system impact, adequate protection, and adequate repair. Too many are too big, impact your system too much, have poor protection and poor repair.
Microsoft Security Essentials, avast, and AVG (and others) are used by members on this forum - but you'll get various opinions on all AV products.
A lot of malware protection is really up to the user. Keep AV up to date, schedule period scans, don't open suspicious eMail, stay off of sites known to spread viruses, use only highly regarded products. Common sense stuff, things you'd tell your children (don't talk to strangers....).
Keep an eye on your machine and report back, either "all clear" or "Oh no, not again!"
Thanks,
Bill
Right got it..security of my system was always a #1 priority for me, but now I know it's not all black and white. And yes I did uninstall Daemon Tools.
Well it happened again. Laptop was working normally but it hung on a shutdown again. I left it, knowing it would lead to BSOD, so I could share the info with you guys. If you have any other ideas please, please help.
Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: BlueScreen
OS Version: 6.1.7601.2.1.0.768.3
Locale ID: 1050
Additional information about the problem:
BCCode: 9f
BCP1: 0000000000000003
BCP2: FFFFFA800C280060
BCP3: FFFFF80000B9C3D8
BCP4: FFFFFA8007E20010
OS Version: 6_1_7601
Service Pack: 1_0
Product: 768_1
Files that help describe the problem:
C:\Windows\Minidump\110712-12448-01.dmp
C:\Users\User\AppData\Local\Temp\WER-39967-0.sysdata.xml
blue screen view again says the BSOD was casued by ntoskrnl.exe.
It is XBox USB wireless controller.
And it is the 2009 version, that is a known BSOD issue with windows 7.Code:******************************************************************************* * * * Bugcheck Analysis * * * ******************************************************************************* Use !analyze -v to get detailed debugging information. BugCheck 9F, {3, fffffa800c280060, fffff80000b9c3d8, fffffa8007e20010} *** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for xusb21.sys *** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for xusb21.sys Probably caused by : xusb21.sys Followup: MachineOwner ---------
Update it from Software Downloads | Microsoft Hardware.Code:kd> lmvm xusb21 start end module name fffff880`04487000 fffff880`04499100 xusb21 T (no symbols) Loaded symbol image file: xusb21.sys Image path: \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\xusb21.sys Image name: xusb21.sys Timestamp: Fri Aug 14 03:40:17 2009 (4A848F49) CheckSum: 0001398B ImageSize: 00012100 Translations: 0000.04b0 0000.04e4 0409.04b0 0409.04e4
Let us know the results.
Thanks Arc for a quick response. I downloaded and installed the software file, it was the only download option for wired xbox 360 controller for Windows. I hope that's the latest version. Will report later tonight if it helped.
Ok guys after 3 days of testing I hope I can say that the problem is gone. I'm still worried a bit seeing how the last two solutions were actually updating drivers or completely uninstalling a program that was causing a BSOD. I'm "afraid" to install any new programs, many of which I've used for years with no problem because of this. But hopefully I can live with that.
I also wanted to ask if any of you guys maybe have an idea about Google Hangout/sound problem that I mentioned earlier. It's really weird and I don't even know if I can explain it properly so before maybe opening a topic I wanted to ask here. Basically I just tried it again, this time using IE instead of chrome and it happened again. I invite a friend to a hangout and it all seems to be going well as I'm waiting for him to come. App says that webcam and microphone, both built-in, are activated, but the little LED light by the camera is not on as it should be if the camera is being used. There's no response from my buddy and couple of seconds later Hangout just crashes. About a minute later, sound disappears. No warning, no indication of any problem, it's just gone. I wanted to try to update webcam and mic drivers but could not find them. I also uninstalled and then again installed the voice plug-in and I've done it a couple of times now. Still nothing. Any advice or idea? Thanks.
edit: to get the sound back I need to reboot, however as I selected it I was reunited with a familiar sight-the never ending shutting down screen. I know that would lead to another BSOD, but I had some important work to do so I could not let it do its thing, I had to force shut it down.
Quote