Startup Processes Hang Significantly on Windows 7

Hello,

It has come to my attention recently that my startup processes completely hang or freeze my computer when they never did before. I'm going to try and give as much information as I can about this issue(s).

This is a compact list of all of the items I have checked that are running on startup: Audio Manager, Bluetooth Software (x2), Saitek Keyboard Software (x2), Agnitum AV software, CyberLink software (x4), USB 3.0 Monitor, IAStorIcon, CTxfiHlp (I think this my sound card), Java Auto Updater, and Adobe Systems Gamma Loader.

I find it difficult to describe the problem because after a moment of time, it does resolve itself, but the downtime is frustrating. This is the order in which my taskbar processes seem to initiate: Antivirus, Audio, Network (loads conflict yellow triangle first with Windows beep notification), Bluetooth, NVIDIA settings, and finally Intel Rapid Storage Technology.

I have thoroughly run antivirus scans to make sure that I don't have any malware or remnants of malware using both my own AV and additionally an online scanner (with my AV disabled). Thinking that it may have been a RAM issue, I ran the Windows Memory Diagnostics tool, but it seems that my RAM is working properly. My forum profile has a list of my computer's specs, but I will provide any additional information you require. Thanks for reading my wall of text. Any and all help will be appreciated!

I'd uninstall the unknown AV and install free lightweight MSE; establish a Clean boot with no startups allowed except MSE and any sync, gadgets or stickies you use; check the logs, system resources and all other Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7.

If this doesn't help you can determine startup delay cause with certainty by Gathering a Startup, Shutdown, Sleep, Hibernate, or Reboot Trace - Windows 7 Forums or installing Soluto – Anti-Frustration Software

More importantly though, compare the install you have now with the perfect install compiled in these same steps for Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 based on what's worked best with tens of thousands of installs we've helped with here.

The AV is not unknown. It is Agnitum Security Suite Pro 8.1 and I paid $60 for my license. I will not be uninstalling it. I'll give the other tips a shot. Thank you.

Well it is unknown to me. You can always reinstall it after testing to see if the free lightweight recommended AV solves your problem. We see so many similar problems caused by bloated AV's.

I saw the original post about me being "huffy". I was merely stating a fact and you seem to have taken it the wrong way. If people here are that easily agitated, perhaps it's not best to ask for help here. Sorry for wasting your time but thank you for your time anyway. My account and inbox will remain open, but I'll be locking this thread now.

Try and have a nice day.

I am truly sorry for snapping at you after 10 hours at this yesterday. It was my responsibility to better explain that an AV can cause issues like this and that you can always reinstall it if it doesn't resolve the issue. Instead I just assumed you were going to be uncooperative which is wrong on my part.

I hope to learn from the mistake and provide better help as a result.

If you'll return to the thread there will be someone else along to help you if you'd prefer, since the thread has been a topic of discussion in our lounge where it is felt we could do better.

Thank you for your professionalism, GregRocker. I understand that you guys do this voluntarily and get little to no monetary satisfaction from helping others and I appreciate the help. If I came off as rude or uncooperative, I also would like to apologize. That was never my intent. I came here for sound technical advice/support and certainly not a fight. I would be happy to give this another try. I have marked the thread as unresolved and await further instructions.

Were you able to establish a Clean Boot, check the logs for chronic errors, utilize the System Resources to check for Problems and Solutions, and the other steps from the Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7 ?

I'd also install CrystalDiskInfo to read the SMART status of your HD. To be extra thorough A more reliable RAM test is booting Memtest86+ CD for 5-6 passes or overnight.

If so and no improvement or clues result then what I'd do next is install Soluto – Anti-Frustration Software which will map the startup processes graphically. You can post back this map by making a screenshot using the Snipping Tool in Start Menu, save and attach the file using paper clip in reply box.

As a last resort you might disable your AV to reboot the PC so that it starts without it to see if there's a difference that avoids having to uninstall it. Just be sure Windows Defender is turned on and Updated first; type Defender in Start Search box.

Here is my progress so far with the Troubleshooting list.

1. Malwarebytes did a full scan with any/all other AV completely disabled, but did not find any threats.
2. There was a conflict between Microsoft Security Essentials and the updated version of Agnitum's AntiVirus 8.1 software (which I should have not been running simultaneously to begin with) and I uninstalled MSE. After that, the IAStorIcon.exe error message was no longer coming up on startup.
3. The clean-boot was successful. I disabled everything except vital Microsoft services and the AntiVirus. There was no hang that I noticed. As of posting this, I have not yet re-enabled any of the disabled services.
4. This is all new to me so bear with me. There are event logs for today but mostly services stopping and starting. There are two error event logs for today.

The first reads "The Microsoft Antimalware Service service failed to start due to the following error:
The service did not respond to the start or control request in a timely fashion."
The second reads "A timeout was reached (30000 milliseconds) while waiting for the Microsoft Antimalware Service service to connect."

There is one warning event log for today. It reads: Intel(R) 82579V Gigabit Network Connection
Network link is disconnected.

Should I be concerned with these event logs? Thank you.