Solved Startup Processes Hang Significantly on Windows 7

[Flare0080]

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!

 

[gregrocker]

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.

 

[Flare0080]

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.

 

[gregrocker]

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.

 

[Flare0080]

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.

 

[gregrocker]

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.

 

[Flare0080]

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.

 

[gregrocker]

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.

 

[UsernameIssues]

Greetings Flare,
What you are saying is: something has changed. Things used to work fine, but now they don't.

There is not much in your start up list that could hang a computer - except an antivirus product. If that product updated or if the operating system updated - then the two might now cause a hang. You can disable the antivirus software, but the filters are still active. The antivirus tool just does not act on what it finds while disabled... but it is still actively finding stuff. Just look at the IO column/activity within Task Manager for your antivirus app while "disabled".

If there is a problem between your antivirus app and the OS, then how would you suggest we find it that conflict unless we temporarily replace it? MSE might not be the AV app that you want, but we know that it currently gets along with W7 and the latest round of OS updates. If you install MSE and your system still hangs, then you just keep working thru the list of things here: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/220165-troubleshooting-steps-windows-7-a.html

The fact that your first post included a list of start up items demonstrates that you can work thru that list Greg posted. You can post back with any parts that you need help with.

 

[Flare0080]

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.

 

[gregrocker]

Sounds good so far. You don't need to reinstate any of the Startups or extraneous Services except the AV you settle on, any sync, gadgets or stickies. Some users also need a messenger or Skype ready with the desktop.

Let us know if after a few reboots the hangs don't reappear with the Clean Boot. This would point to one of the programs which had been freeloading at Startup or in Services.

I'd only research repeat Errors (not Warnings) in the Event Viewer's Custom View>Administrative Log. What I do is type verbatim text of the error and identifying numbers into Google to read how others have resolved them. The ones you quote are negligible and probably related to running two AV's which is not a good idea.

 

[Flare0080]

Okay, I'll go ahead and see if anyone else is experiencing these same error event logs or if they change in tomorrows log. I am going to try the CrystalDisk program next.

I have noticed that since the reboot, my computer mouse (wired USB) is now switching between responding and being completely unresponsive. To describe the issue, every so often it randomly doesn't go up/down, left/right, slows to a halt or won't move at all. There seems to be no rhyme or reason for the behavior. I shut down, moved the mouse to a new USB port, restarted the PC and reinstalled the mouse. That didn't seem to work so I went to the manufacturer's website, downloaded the newest drivers, and successfully installed them. Although not as bad, the issue still persists.

Could I inadvertently caused this issue? I believe I have another mouse to test, but I have to find it.

 

[gregrocker]

Sometimes uninstalling the mouse driver in Device Manager, then rebooting, will force it to reinstall driver and correct itself. It may also need a new battery or changing the USB port if applicable.

If you plug in another mouse which works correctly, you can also uninstall the old mouse's software in Control Panel and Device Manager selecting "Uninstall Software for this device," after enabling Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3) to see what driver is delivered by Windows Update after reboot. If none, Check for Updates and install all Important and Optional because a performance Update may apply to existing problems.

I'd also run SFC /SCANNOW Command to see if any corruption of System files is present.

 

[Flare0080]

CrystalDiskInfo reports a status of "Good" and a temperature of "28 C". I don't see any attributes allocated in red. Is there any other detailed information I should provide to you from this program?

Once I figure out which option to use and how to properly repair, I will run the SFC /SCANNOW Command. I have my Win7 Installation Disk so I may try that option. As far as the mouse issue is concerned, it is so random that I cannot begin to understand its malfunction. It hasn't acted up in several hours even though it was every few minutes earlier today.

 

[Flare0080]

Thank you again for your assistance. Since my original topic has been resolved, I am going to mark the thread as 'Solved'. If ever I need help in the future with a Windows 7 issue, I know that I can turn here for expert advice. Sorry we got off to such a shaky start and I hope we can put it behind us, GregRocker.

Take care!