windows 7 frozen, chrome working - have video of issue

[skt99]

last week when i logged on windows started freezing. after multiple reboots i could get into chrome but if i waited too long (2 mins) i wouldn't be able to access the it as the mouse would freeze with the blue circle. the mouse can move but not click. here is a video.

Windows freezing chrome working - YouTube

thanks in advance

 

[Golden]

Hi,

If you do NOT open Chrome, does Windows still freeze?

Regards,
Golden

 

[skt99]

Yes, I have abut 2 mins before it freezes although the mouse still moves

 

[Golden]

OK. Does it still freeze if you boot in Safe Mode?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/69585-safe-mode.html

 

[skt99]

No it boots ok in safe mode

 

[Golden]

In Safe Mode, please try the following:

1. Click Start

2. In the search box, type cmd
3. In the list that appears, right-click on cmd.exe and choose Run as administrator
4. In the command window that opens, type sfc /scannow and hit enter.

Report the output from the command window once it finishes.

More detail: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

 

[skt99]

I ran the scannow and the message was:

windows resource protection did not find any integrity violations

 

[Golden]

Thats good. Back in Safe Mode:

Examine your services and startups in MSCONFIG. Disable everything except the Microsoft services and your antivirus software. Now reboot in Normal Mode - do not open Chrome. Do you still get freezes?

See METHOD 3, Steps 4 and 5 here:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1401-startup-programs-change.html

What antivirus software and firewall do you currently use?

 

[skt99]

I use avg free

I followed your steps. I can find AVG Internet Security startup item but I cannot find Microsoft service startup item.

 

[Golden]

Look in the services tab - disable everything that is not related to Microsoft Corporation and AVG


Save the configuration, reboot in Normal Mode, and check for freezes.

 

[skt99]

Seems to have worked, the clock is working and no longer get the blue round circle on the mouse. Seems faster too. Thanks.

What was the problem? too many services fighting for system resources on start up?

 

[Golden]

Good news.

Possibly, but the only way to work it out for sure is go through the list of disabled services and startups, and turn them on one at a time until you get the freeze again - a process of trial and error and elimination unfortunately.

Alternatively, post a list here of those and we can have a look at it - we might recognise a problematic one from our experiences here. Some of the culprits tend to be the myriad of tune-up utilities/registry tweakers etc. - avoid them like the plague!

Time for bed - I'll check back in tommorrow

 

[skt99]

Ok. Thanks again. I will take a couple of screen shots and send.

 

[Golden]

No worries

 

[gregrocker]

Good work.

More about establishing a Clean Boot in Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7.

Did you tick the box to Hide all MS Services then delete everything except AVG listing, gadgets, stickies, or Sync if you use them?

I would also not use AVG Free as we see issues with it sometimes. The recommended AV is in tutorial.

 

[skt99]

servicesand_start_up-0 - YouTube

Thanks for your help. This is the services and start up. Does anything jump out as the potential problrm.

 

[gregrocker]

You should not even mess with the Services tab until you tick to box to "Hide all MS Services" so that nothing important will be shown. I was afraid you might have missed that.

So do that now and then uncheck anything that's not AVG.

You have a lot of preinstalled crapware on the PC which won't hurt as bad now that it's not starting up with the PC, however it is still a corrupt install which most tech enthusiasts will not run. So I'd look over the steps to get a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

Until then you can mitigate the corruption caused by all of the preinstalled bloatware and useless duplicate utilities that throttle Win7 using Clean Up Factory Bloatware.

The only thing that really jumped out as I viewed the video is to uninstall any toolbars as they are outright spyware no matter how legit of a name they carry. Use only the stable search box built into your browser. I recommend IE or Firefox which will not allow spying while anything Google is pernicious spyware that tracks and sells your every move from any installed app or when signed into one of their sites. You can mitigate this some by running Opt Out of Network Advertising

 

[Golden]

OK. I think I saw the problem!

You have both McAfee and AVG installed as a service. Not only will they compete for resources, but one could interfere with the running of the other (e.g. McAfee might detect the virus database signatures of AVG as malware, and vice versa, leading to false positives).

Uninstall both McAfee and AVG, and replace it with MSE, as Greg suggested - McAfee is worthless and AVG is bloated. Use the relevant uninstaller form this list:

Security Software | SingularLabs

Boot as normal, and lets see if those freezes are gone for good.

Regards,
Golden

 

[gregrocker]

Good catch, Colin. I saw that scanner and wonder if it's the one Flash is pushing out with all its updates. Millions have likely downloaded it without realizing they can opt out. It pretends its just a scanner but does have a sneaky Services startup so its likely spying or otherwise bringing the usual MucAfee ruin.