Lots of Windows7 Problems

[rudders93]

Hi,

I don't really know how to group this, but recently I've been having alot of Windows7 problems. These are some of the ones I've noticed:

• Can't see changes made to folders until I manually refresh (Ctrl R)
• Windows Media Player crashes and doesn't load at all 90% of the time
• Doesn't shut down properly (hangs on shutting down screen for more than 15 minutes) 1/3 of the time
• Recently, on the taskbar nothing pops up (so no previews)

I've run a virus scan (AVG) but it comes up as negative.

What could be the cause of these various problems? My computer is powerful enough to run them all, and it ran them perfectly until I started noticing these things

Thanks!

 

[richc46]

Just need a little more information. Did you do a clean install or an inplace upgrade?
Did you list your computer specs? I did not notice before posting.
Did the problems begin immediately or did you use the computer for a while?

If you did a clean install, one thing that you can try is this. In an administrator account, type cmd in search. In the cmd box, type sfc /scannow. If problems are found run it several times.

Get the required information and then we can proceed from the sfc

 

[ski]

Hi,

I don't really know how to group this, but recently I've been having alot of Windows7 problems. These are some of the ones I've noticed:

• Can't see changes made to folders until I manually refresh (Ctrl R)
• Windows Media Player crashes and doesn't load at all 90% of the time
• Doesn't shut down properly (hangs on shutting down screen for more than 15 minutes) 1/3 of the time
• Recently, on the taskbar nothing pops up (so no previews)

I've run a virus scan (AVG) but it comes up as negative.

What could be the cause of these various problems? My computer is powerful enough to run them all, and it ran them perfectly until I started noticing these things

Thanks!

Make sure AVG is updated with the latest virus files. You may also want to use more than one AV program, as AVG may miss some viruses.
Do you also use anti-spyware programs? If so, are they also updated with the latest files?

 

[seekermeister]

Try this for the third problem:

There is a delay when you shut down, restart, or log off a computer that is running Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2

 

[richc46]

Hi,

I don't really know how to group this, but recently I've been having alot of Windows7 problems. These are some of the ones I've noticed:

• Can't see changes made to folders until I manually refresh (Ctrl R)
• Windows Media Player crashes and doesn't load at all 90% of the time
• Doesn't shut down properly (hangs on shutting down screen for more than 15 minutes) 1/3 of the time
• Recently, on the taskbar nothing pops up (so no previews)

I've run a virus scan (AVG) but it comes up as negative.

What could be the cause of these various problems? My computer is powerful enough to run them all, and it ran them perfectly until I started noticing these things

Thanks!

Make sure AVG is updated with the latest virus files. You may also want to use more than one AV program, as AVG may miss some viruses.
Do you also use anti-spyware programs? If so, are they also updated with the latest files?

I suggest that you use only one A/V. Microsoft Security Essentials is all that you will need.

 

[rudders93]

Hi,

I got a new computer (Core i5, ATI Radeon graphics card (can't remember which - 1gig DDR5), 4 gig ram, 380 gig hard drive), and I installed Windows 7 Ultimate on it. So yes, it was a fresh install.

I started noticing these problems maybe two weeks back with Windows Media player crashing, then i started to notice computer wouldn't connect to my wireless network, then the folders, and just today the taskbar previews (I restarted and they're working, but same with wireless. Restart SOMETIMES fixes... but it is still quite annoying.

Ok results of scan are:

Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations

Also, I have noticed that whilst I made my account administrator I had to do: (Enable the (Hidden) Administrator Account on Windows 7 or Vista - the How-To Geek) to run as administrator. Is that normal?

 

[richc46]

If the computer ran well at first, with so many problems you may just want to use system restore, from a point prior to the problem. Check for Virus first, however. Run a virus scan.

 

[ski]

I suggest that you use only one A/V. Microsoft Security Essentials is all that you will need.

I agree, if you're referring to having only one primary AV program running in the background, so there are no conflicts with any other AV programs that are trying to do the same thing.
However, because exhaustive testing has shown that no single AV program is 100% efficient, it's highly recommended to use several of them to insure a more thorough virus search. This can be easily done by activating only one to run in the background with the others disabled. Then, do a manual scan with each one individually making sure that all of the others are disabled.

 

[richc46]

I suggest that you use only one A/V. Microsoft Security Essentials is all that you will need.

I agree, if you're referring to having only one primary AV program running in the background, so there are no conflicts with any other AV programs that are trying to do the same thing.
However, because exhaustive testing has shown that no single AV program is 100% efficient, it's highly recommended to use several of them to insure a more thorough virus search. This can be easily done by activating only one to run in the background with the others disabled. Then, do a manual scan with each one individually making sure that all of the others are disabled.

I cannot say that I agree. But, I must admit this is subjective, maybe there is no right or wrong. There are many here, that I know for a fact that would disagree with using 2 A/V and I have, also, seen opinions that agree with you. I feel only one, and a little common sense is all that is needed.

 

[Bill]

Have you ever tried running Malwarebytes before? Sometimes it will pick up things that other programs will not..

Malwarebytes.org

Good luck...

-Bill

 

[TaraSWinTeam]

Hi,

I don't really know how to group this, but recently I've been having alot of Windows7 problems. These are some of the ones I've noticed:

• Can't see changes made to folders until I manually refresh (Ctrl R)
• Windows Media Player crashes and doesn't load at all 90% of the time
• Doesn't shut down properly (hangs on shutting down screen for more than 15 minutes) 1/3 of the time
• Recently, on the taskbar nothing pops up (so no previews)

I've run a virus scan (AVG) but it comes up as negative.

What could be the cause of these various problems? My computer is powerful enough to run them all, and it ran them perfectly until I started noticing these things

Thanks!

Try running windows troubleshooter (Windows 7 features - Windows Troubleshooting - Microsoft Windows). Some of your issues are likely driver related (Update drivers: recommended links) and you should check your taskbar settings (Windows 7 features - Windows Taskbar - Microsoft Windows).

Cheers,
Tara
Windows Outreach Team

 

[ski]

I cannot say that I agree. But, I must admit this is subjective, maybe there is no right or wrong. There are many here, that I know for a fact that would disagree with using 2 A/V and I have, also, seen opinions that agree with you. I feel only one, and a little common sense is all that is needed.

Common sense is the key regarding using multiple AV programs in this thread:
- The OP said that AVG did not find any viruses.
- Numerous test results have shown that AVG is not as effective as other AV programs in finding viruses.
- Thus, my suggestion to do virus scans with AV utilities other than AVG.

 

[rudders93]

Hi. I have run both AVG and Avast scans, both on thorough. both fully updated. Both came up 100% negative.

Errors are still happening. When i tried to install a program, when trying to choose the files to install it, it hung and crashed. Not to mention all the other ones, except for the taskbar. Which has so-far been fine. Is there a way to maybe reset all settings to defaults? Because this wasn't happening at first.

I ran the troubleshooter. Said computer was fine... I don't want to update anything yet because initially everything was working 100% fine, so it was working with initial drivers. I have heard about repair installs, I know in the past on another OS that fixed things up for me, would that likely do the same here? Or is that highly unlikely?

Thanks again for replies!

 

[harpua]

System restore to a point in time before the problems started to occur is quicker and easier than a repair install. It may or may not solve the problems. Certainly worth a try.

Likewise, a repair install may or may not fix the issues. It is also certainly worth trying if system restore doesn't work. It may, however, take quite a while to complete especially if you have many apps installed. It takes much longer than a clean install.

If you have a backup image made before the problems started, restoring that backup image might be the easiest solution if system restore doesn't solve things.

I second the suggestion to try running Malwarebytes, for anyone, not just the OP. The free version works fine as an on demand scanner and it is frequently more effective at removing malware than regular AV apps. It doesn't conflict with regular AV apps either. It's a good secondary security app to have in one's arsenal, however, it is a complement to and not a replacement for a standard AV app.

 

[rudders93]

Thanks again for advice.

I downloaded MalwareBytes and ran a scan (crashed twice before I actually managed to run it...) but it came up as negative. I had a look at system restores. But the oldest one, I'm still pretty sure I still had some issues then.

One thing I remember though is that I tried to install one of my older games, yet it crashed just before completing its install. Wouldn't get installed (compatibility? or old disk so might have been scratched) so i tried to uninstall it. It wasn't in add/remove, and there was no uninstall option. I so deleted all files. Perhaps this could be the cause?

I checked with Revo Uninstaller (Revo Uninstaller Pro - Uninstall Software, Remove Programs, Solve uninstall problems) but it didn't find any files assosiated with that game which I deleted. So I dunno, I think it's deleted, yet, when i search in the start menu, it still find the folder into which it installed. Yet when I try to open it I get the error message that the location is unavavilable... so dunno.

What should I try now?

Thanks!

 

[Frostmourne]

Update all your drivers with the guide in my sig. Also, post some screenshots of your mosconfig startup tab and installed apps. Have you applied any tweaks or tried a system cleaner?

 

[rudders93]

All my drivers are already updated.

The two other ones not seen are 'Java(TM) Platform SE 6 U17' and 'Windows Live Messenger' (couldn't figure out how to resize that screen).

I haven't done any tweaks or a system cleaner.

Any ideas?

 

[Frostmourne]

Get rid of one of the antivirus suites and Google Updater. Run a memory test with memtest86+ and then schedule chkdsk. Also, check your temperatures with HWInfo32 - link is in the drivers guide in my sig.

 

[Stevehiker]

I don't agree with the recommendations to have more than one AntiVirus program; maybe that's where some of the problems are coming from(just a thought). I do recommend having more than one anti--spyware program; such as: Spyware Blaster, Malwarebytes, Spybot, A-Squared, SuperAntiSpyware. One of the better AntiVirus progams is NOD32(but it's not free). I'm using Microsoft Security Essentials on my HP laptop, because I didn't want to pay for a third license for NOD 32.

Steve

 

[rudders93]

Hi,

Thanks for replies. I try above advice. I tried to uninstall Avast (since I only installed to run a secondary virus scan) and I can't seem to be able to remove it (same as with that game).

In the start menu there is no uninstall option. Add/Remove programs nothing. Even Revo Uninstall Pro doesn't see it as installed. How can I uninstall it?

Thanks!

EDIT: Uninstalled avast with avast! uninstall utility

Also, how do i run chkdsk?