Desktop windows lock up

[rkmullins]

Windows 7 Ultimate -
The computer boots normally. Everything seems ok until I open a program. The program windows lock up. I cannot click a "yes" or "no" or an "ok" button. It does nothing. Cannot minimize the window or X out of it. This happens with all windows. After opening multiple windows of various programs the PC locks and i cant do anything. I can open task manager, but when the window opens, it too is locked and i cannot end task or stop processes of anything. What is really weird is that before opening any windows, I can hover my mouse over my desktop icon and they get highlighted, but once I open one...

I performed a system restore to a date before this started happening to no avail.

Any ideas?
Thank you

 

[VistaKing]

Can you log into SafeMode ?

 

[rkmullins]

Thank you for replying.
Yes I can boot into safe mode and I had the same results.
After seeing your reply I booted into safe mode again. At first everything seemed to work ok. Then there was a hesitation between each mouse click where nothing would happen except the mouse point moving around.
Now, with the exception of the mouse pointer, all windows are locked up and wont close or allow navigation and the taskbar icons & start buttons cant be depressed. After I just typed the previous sentences I was able to open explorer and IE... Now it is locked up again.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Does there seem to be a large amount of HDD activity (i.e. is the HDD indicator on constantly)?

 

[VistaKing]

Try a virus live cd .

:ar: http://rescuedisk.kaspersky-labs.com/rescuedisk/updatable/kav_rescue_10.iso

Burn the .iso file to a disc and boot off from it .

 

[rkmullins]

Does there seem to be a large amount of HDD activity (i.e. is the HDD indicator on constantly)?

Indicator blinks every second then lights constantly for 10 seconds or so then goes back to its blink every second or less then back to constant then flashing a few times a second then solid on and so forth.

 

[brightspark]

Sounds like something might be chewing up system resources, maybe malware, maybe a software conflict. I had a similar experience once, turned out to be a misbehaving process associated with Windows Defender.

What security programs do you have installed? Have you installed anything new of late, securitywise?

Do you ever have enough time where the machine is responsive enough to open Task Manager>Processes and click on the "CPU" column header to check and see if anything is showing exceptionally high numbers?

 

[rkmullins]

I have Norton Security.
Looking at processes I see nothing unusual. That is really frustrating because i cant see what is hitting my hard drive.

 

[VistaKing]

Inside SafeMode with Networking download the tool below

RogueKiller for 32bit <==== Download Link

RogueKiller for 64bit <==== Download Link

:ar: Click on one of the links above that goes with your Windows 7 bit versions

:ar: Save to the Desktop.

:ar: Close all windows and browsers

:ar: Right click on

and choose

:ar: Press: SCAN

:ar: provide the RKreport.txt (Mode: Scan) in your reply.

 

[gregrocker]

Norton is bloatware. I'd uninstall it using the special tool which is required to remove AV's that are so bloated they're like the worst viruses. Then try Microsoft Security Essentials
with the Win7 firewall.

Work through the other Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7 to establish a Clean Boot, trace rogue processes, scan with Malwarebytes and SFC, check the logs and other System Resources, test hardware, assure a perfect install.

If Win7 isn't stable enough to work through those steps then change to the steps for Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start

 

[brightspark]

Okay, better check for malware then, as suggested by VistaKing. If the machine won't stay responsive enough to download and run installed scanners, I suggest you follow the earlier advice from VistaKing and download Kaspersky Rescue Disk. Burn the ISO to disc, boot from that disc and scan the machine.

 

[rkmullins]

Norton is bloatware. I'd uninstall it using the special tool which is required to remove AV's that are so bloated they're like the worst viruses. Then try Microsoft Security Essentials
with the Win7 firewall.

Work through the other Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7 to establish a Clean Boot, trace rogue processes, scan with Malwarebytes and SFC, check the logs and other System Resources, test hardware, assure a perfect install.

If Win7 isn't stable enough to work through those steps then change to the steps for Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start

What is the "special tool"?

 

[VistaKing]

What special tool are you referring to , rkmullins ?

 

[gregrocker]

Download and run the Norton Removal Tool to uninstall your Norton product

 

[rkmullins]

Download and run the Norton Removal Tool to uninstall your Norton product

Thanks!

 

[rkmullins]

What special tool are you referring to , rkmullins ?

The Norton Removal Tool as suggested by gregrocker.

I am attempting to do as you suggested, but having a hard time getting the computer to cooperate even in safe mode.

 

[rkmullins]

VistaKing here is the report:

RogueKiller V8.6.3 [Jul 17 2013] by Tigzy
mail : tigzyRK<at>gmail<dot>com
Feedback : Forum
Website : RogueKiller download
Blog : tigzy-RK

Operating System : Windows 7 (6.1.7601 Service Pack 1) 32 bits version
Started in : Safe mode with network support
User : Rick [Admin rights]
Mode : Scan -- Date : 07/18/2013 16:17:40
| ARK || FAK || MBR |

¤¤¤ Bad processes : 0 ¤¤¤

¤¤¤ Registry Entries : 3 ¤¤¤
[HJ POL] HKCU\[...]\System : DisableRegistryTools (0) -> FOUND
[HJ DESK] HKLM\[...]\NewStartPanel : {59031a47-3f72-44a7-89c5-5595fe6b30ee} (1) -> FOUND
[HJ DESK] HKLM\[...]\NewStartPanel : {20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D} (1) -> FOUND

¤¤¤ Scheduled tasks : 0 ¤¤¤

¤¤¤ Startup Entries : 0 ¤¤¤

¤¤¤ Web browsers : 0 ¤¤¤

¤¤¤ Particular Files / Folders: ¤¤¤

¤¤¤ Driver : [NOT LOADED 0xc000035f] ¤¤¤

¤¤¤ External Hives: ¤¤¤

¤¤¤ Infection : ¤¤¤

¤¤¤ HOSTS File: ¤¤¤
--> %SystemRoot%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts




¤¤¤ MBR Check: ¤¤¤

+++++ PhysicalDrive0: ST336032 0AS SCSI Disk Device +++++
--- User ---
[MBR] ecf9287ea7bdd8afdc1c0b98027e8326
[BSP] ceb84c3e7b096f62a58a22cb4210973b : Windows 7/8 MBR Code
Partition table:
0 - [ACTIVE] NTFS (0x07) [VISIBLE] Offset (sectors): 2048 | Size: 100 Mo
1 - [XXXXXX] NTFS (0x07) [VISIBLE] Offset (sectors): 206848 | Size: 343297 Mo
User = LL1 ... OK!
Error reading LL2 MBR!

+++++ PhysicalDrive1: ST336032 0AS SCSI Disk Device +++++
--- User ---
[MBR] 3ed1dc7c6dde2239be999727e03c41bb
[BSP] dec9f0908d0564afbcbcc26fa1ab4266 : Empty MBR Code
Partition table:
0 - [ACTIVE] FAT32 (0x0b) [VISIBLE] Offset (sectors): 63 | Size: 7999 Mo
User = LL1 ... OK!
Error reading LL2 MBR!

Finished : << RKreport[0]_S_07182013_161740.txt >>

 

[VistaKing]

Run RK again and click the Delete button.

 

[rkmullins]

Didn't fix anything except now I do not have any desktop items. Blank screen.
Opening explorer and looking in the desktop folder they are all there, but not showing on the desktop. What the heck???

 

[VistaKing]

Whats missing ? The Computer icon and Users folder ?