Erratic startup success, fan spins but nothing on screen

robertheadrick · 05 Jul 2012

karlsnooks, attached is the WDOlogs.zip file from the scan that ran yesterday.

karlsnooks · 05 Jul 2012

Thanks Robert.

Now, what are the present problems?

Since I've got a couple of hunches, would you please submit:

Install CCleaner:
CCleaner - PC Optimization and Cleaning - Free Download

list of STARTUP PROGRAMS

CCleaner | Tools icon | Startup button | Windows tab |
click on Save to text file button (bottom right side) |
accept Startup.txt as file name | SAVE button

list of SCHEDULED TASKS

CCleaner | Tools icon | Startup button | Scheduled Tasks tab |
click on Save to text file button (bottom right side) |
enter Scheduled Tasks as File name | Save button

List of INSTALLED PROGRAMS

CCleaner | Tools icon | Uninstall button |
click on Save to text file button (bottom right side) |
accept install.txt as File name | Save button

UPLOAD, as an attachment, the startup.txt file
UPLOAD, as an attachment, the Scheduled Tasks.txt file
UPLOAD, as an attachment, the install.txt file.

HOW TO UPLOAD
Post a File or Screenshot in Seven Forums

===================================

thanks,
karl

robertheadrick · 05 Jul 2012

Karl,

Attached are the Startup, Scheduled Tasks, and Installed Programs lists.

Thanks,
Robert

Note: This evening when I got home from work and checked on the computer, it had frozen. The screen looked normal, but nothing responded; the mouse cursor didn't move and keyboard strokes did nothing. I manually rebooted, and it started up okay. Not sure the significance of that, just trying to mention everything I can think of as it happens.

karlsnooks · 05 Jul 2012

A quick word of advice:
If you're not using the computer, then turn it off The computer will last longer, run cooler and give you less problems.

karl

karlsnooks · 05 Jul 2012

also: since you see to not know what your monitor capabilites are then run cmd.exe and enter this:

wmic desktopmonitor get /all /format:list

karlsnooks · 05 Jul 2012

any particular reason you have this program installed:
x3watch Tiger Green Productions LLC C:\Program Files (x86)\X3watch\x3watch.exe

I've not even begun the attack on your installed programs although I can tell you that while I'm trying to help you then removal of VUZE is strongly advised.

karlsnooks · 05 Jul 2012

REMOVAL OF P2P PROGRAMS

There are signs of one or more P2P (Peer to Peer) File Sharing Programs on your computer.

As long as you are using any form of P2P networking to download files, you can anticipate malware infestations.

References citing the risk of using P2P programs:
How cyber criminals infect victims via P2P with pirated software on Vimeo
Malware: Help prevent the Infection
Perils of P2P File Sharing
How to Prevent the Online Invasion of Spyware and Adware
The Hidden Security Risks of P2P Traffic

I strongly recommend that you uninstall:
µTorrent
BitTorrent
Vuze

karlsnooks · 05 Jul 2012

Oh yes, get rid of BonJour which is a known trouble-maker.

Multiple codec packages interfere with each other. you really should uninstall all of the ones you don't need.

karlsnooks · 05 Jul 2012

UNINSTALL

Script:


Bonjour
LiveUpdate 3.3 (Symantec Corporation)
Mozilla Firefox (3.6.16)    
RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 Platinum    Atari
Vuze

REBOOT

robertheadrick · 08 Jul 2012

Okay, we should be all caught up now. Couple things:

karlsnooks said:

also: since you see to not know what your monitor capabilites are then run cmd.exe and enter this:

wmic desktopmonitor get /all /format:list

If you're referring to the fact that there's no information about my monitor in my system specs, all I did was run the automatic fill-in-the-blanks option using the free program that's recommended in one of the stickies. I hadn't checked to see if it missed anything yet. I know that it's 1920x1080 and has a 60Hz refresh rate, but I'm not sure where to look up the "##x##x## bits (## colors)" information that auto-populated to all zeros in my specs. I ran the command prompt line that you posted, but it didn't seem to have that information either, at least not in a format that I recognized.

karlsnooks said:

any particular reason you have this program installed:
x3watch Tiger Green Productions LLC C:\Program Files (x86)\X3watch\x3watch.exe

It monitors internet content. It's legit, don't worry about it. If that's too vague for you, just google it.

Conflicting codec packages, etc, have all been removed, as well as a few other programs not mentioned that don't really serve a purpose any more that I just hadn't gotten around to getting rid of.

Summary so far is that since fixing the BSOD and doing an initial cleaning/scanning/fixing/reseating the RAM modules, the computer seems to boot and reboot just fine, with the exception of occasionally freezing if it's left on too long (that's a new issue, BTW; previously, as long as I could get it to come on, it wouldn't ever freeze). Again, just like it's been for the past couple years that I've been trying to troubleshoot this myself, I can't be sure if the problem is completely fixed, or just temporarily. Time will tell. The other issue that's still present and that I still don't know the implications of us the little error at the very beginning of startup that says "EXPRESS GATE INSTALLATION IS INCOMPLETE. VERSION-POST CODE: (L11209 - 8C000002)". Again, I don't know if that's a big deal or not, and I also don't remember if that error code was happening before the BSOD or not.