Windows 7 hangs after login/bootup; Task Manager not available

[FluffyBunny]

I have had multiple instances now where Windows 7 hung after I started up and
logged into an account. It seems to happen when I try to start a program by
double-clicking on it. For example, it has hung when I tried to start CCleaner
or Firefox. When I get into this state, Ctrl-Alt-Del does nothing. In some
cases, I can right-click on the Taskbar and choose "Task Manager," but it
won't run (I just get the hourglass cursor). Today I tried to start Firefox
and nothing happened, and the hourglass cursor shows in the Taskbar, so
I can't even see the menu for the Task Manager.

This is happening on a Toshiba laptop running Windows 7 Home Premium
64-bit. It seems to occur when I don't wait long enough for the login to
finish. When it happens, the only way out is to hold down the power key
until it shuts off the system. Of course Windows is too stupid to tell me when
it is done loading stuff into memory and starting its services; why can't they
simply tell me when the login process is done and the system is ready to use?
I find it infuriating that a supposedly multi-threaded, multi-tasking operating
system can be so flaky. But enough of my rant; on to the possible cause:

I strongly suspect that my problems may be caused by SpySweeper, since it
seems to be the last program that loads at login. (Or at least it's the last one
to put up an annoying splash screen.) I use the following programs on my machine:

Windows Defender
Avast! Antivirus
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
SuperAntiSpyware
Spybot Search & Destroy
SpySweeper

I have read that SpySweeper sometimes conflicts with other programs,
so I turned off real-time protection for Windows Defender. I have read
conflicting opinions on whether SpySweeper conflicts with Spybot's
TeaTimer program. Do I need to somehow turn off TeaTimer too?

Even if SpySweeper is the cause of my problems, I find it very disturbing
that misbehaving or even deadlocked application programs should be able
to prevent the Task Manager from running. If you have any other ideas
on what might be happening, I'd love to hear them.

 

[DreemWarrior]

There is such a thing as TOO much security. But just to be on the safe side, please download and run HijackThis - Trend Micro USA and post results here.
Thanks.

 

[FluffyBunny]

Okay, I have installed Hijack This and produced a log. I hope you can glean
something useful from this:

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.4
Scan saved at 2:51:13 PM, on 4/27/2011
Platform: Windows 7 (WinNT 6.00.3504)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v8.00 (8.00.7600.16766)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Spybot - Search & Destroy\TeaTimer.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\TOSHIBA\TOSHIBA Web Camera Application\TWebCamera.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\TOSHIBA\TOSHIBA Sleep Utility\TSleepSrv.exe
C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\AvastUI.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Java\Java Update\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Webroot\WebrootSecurity\SpySweeperUI.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Trend Micro\HiJackThis\HiJackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = Bing
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = Ixquick Search Engine
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = Bing
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = Bing
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page = C:\Windows\SysWOW64\blank.htm
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar,LinksFolderName =
F2 - REG:system.ini: UserInit=userinit.exe
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHelperStub - {18DF081C-E8AD-4283-A596-FA578C2EBDC3} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelperShim.dll
O2 - BHO: Spybot-S&D IE Protection - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Spybot - Search & Destroy\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {5C255C8A-E604-49b4-9D64-90988571CECB} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: avast! WebRep - {8E5E2654-AD2D-48bf-AC2D-D17F00898D06} - C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\aswWebRepIE.dll
O2 - BHO: Windows Live Sign-in Helper - {9030D464-4C02-4ABF-8ECC-5164760863C6} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live\WindowsLiveLogin.dll
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - {DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre6\bin\jp2ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: TOSHIBA Media Controller Plug-in - {F3C88694-EFFA-4d78-B409-54B7B2535B14} - C:\Program Files (x86)\TOSHIBA\TOSHIBA Media Controller Plug-in\TOSHIBAMediaControllerIE.dll
O3 - Toolbar: avast! WebRep - {8E5E2654-AD2D-48bf-AC2D-D17F00898D06} - C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\aswWebRepIE.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [KeNotify] "C:\Program Files (x86)\TOSHIBA\Utilities\KeNotify.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HWSetup] "C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\Utilities\HWSetup.exe" hwSetUP
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SVPWUTIL] "C:\Program Files (x86)\TOSHIBA\Utilities\SVPWUTIL.exe" SVPwUTIL
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ToshibaServiceStation] "C:\Program Files (x86)\TOSHIBA\TOSHIBA Service Station\ToshibaServiceStation.exe" /hide:60
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TWebCamera] "C:\Program Files (x86)\TOSHIBA\TOSHIBA Web Camera Application\TWebCamera.exe" autorun
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TSleepSrv] "%ProgramFiles(x86)%\TOSHIBA\TOSHIBA Sleep Utility\TSleepSrv.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [avast] "C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\avastUI.exe" /nogui
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Java\Java Update\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SpySweeper] C:\Program Files (x86)\Webroot\WebrootSecurity\SpySweeperUI.exe /startintray
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SUPERAntiSpyware] "C:\Program Files\SUPERAntiSpyware\SUPERAntiSpyware.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SpybotSD TeaTimer] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Spybot - Search & Destroy\TeaTimer.exe"
O4 - .DEFAULT User Startup: Best Buy pc app.lnk = C:\ProgramData\Best Buy pc app\ClickOnceSetup.exe (User 'Default user')
O9 - Extra button: Blog This - {219C3416-8CB2-491a-A3C7-D9FCDDC9D600} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Writer\WriterBrowserExtension.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: &Blog This in Windows Live Writer - {219C3416-8CB2-491a-A3C7-D9FCDDC9D600} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Writer\WriterBrowserExtension.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {DFB852A3-47F8-48C4-A200-58CAB36FD2A2} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Spybot - Search & Destroy\SDHelper.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Spybot - Search && Destroy Configuration - {DFB852A3-47F8-48C4-A200-58CAB36FD2A2} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Spybot - Search & Destroy\SDHelper.dll
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://*.windowsupdate.com
O23 - Service: SAS Core Service (!SASCORE) - SUPERAntiSpyware.com - C:\Program Files\SUPERAntiSpyware\SASCORE64.EXE
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\Alg.exe,-112 (ALG) - Unknown owner - C:\windows\System32\alg.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: avast! Antivirus - AVAST Software - C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\AvastSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Intel® PROSet/Wireless WiMAX Red Bend Device Management Service (DMAgent) - Red Bend Ltd. - C:\Program Files\Intel\WiMAX\Bin\DMAgent.exe
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\efssvc.dll,-100 (EFS) - Unknown owner - C:\windows\System32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\fxsresm.dll,-118 (Fax) - Unknown owner - C:\windows\system32\fxssvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: IviRegMgr - InterVideo - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\InterVideo\RegMgr\iviRegMgr.exe
O23 - Service: @keyiso.dll,-100 (KeyIso) - Unknown owner - C:\windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Intel(R) Management and Security Application Local Management Service (LMS) - Intel Corporation - C:\Program Files (x86)\Intel\Intel(R) Management Engine Components\LMS\LMS.exe
O23 - Service: @comres.dll,-2797 (MSDTC) - Unknown owner - C:\windows\System32\msdtc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\System32\netlogon.dll,-102 (Netlogon) - Unknown owner - C:\windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\psbase.dll,-300 (ProtectedStorage) - Unknown owner - C:\windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Protexis Licensing V2 (PSI_SVC_2) - Protexis Inc. - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Protexis\License Service\PsiService_2.exe
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\Locator.exe,-2 (RpcLocator) - Unknown owner - C:\windows\system32\locator.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\samsrv.dll,-1 (SamSs) - Unknown owner - C:\windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: SBSD Security Center Service (SBSDWSCService) - Safer Networking Ltd. - C:\Program Files (x86)\Spybot - Search & Destroy\SDWinSec.exe
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\snmptrap.exe,-3 (SNMPTRAP) - Unknown owner - C:\windows\System32\snmptrap.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\spoolsv.exe,-1 (Spooler) - Unknown owner - C:\windows\System32\spoolsv.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\sppsvc.exe,-101 (sppsvc) - Unknown owner - C:\windows\system32\sppsvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: taisregispinger - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files (x86)\TOSHIBA\ToshibaRegistration\TaisRegistPinger.exe
O23 - Service: TOSHIBA HDD Protection (Thpsrv) - Unknown owner - C:\windows\system32\ThpSrv.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: TMachInfo - TOSHIBA Corporation - C:\Program Files (x86)\TOSHIBA\TOSHIBA Service Station\TMachInfo.exe
O23 - Service: TOSHIBA Optical Disc Drive Service (TODDSrv) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\TODDSrv.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: TOSHIBA Power Saver (TosCoSrv) - TOSHIBA Corporation - C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\Power Saver\TosCoSrv.exe
O23 - Service: TOSHIBA eco Utility Service - TOSHIBA Corporation - C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\TECO\TecoService.exe
O23 - Service: TOSHIBA HDD SSD Alert Service - TOSHIBA Corporation - C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\TOSHIBA HDD SSD Alert\TosSmartSrv.exe
O23 - Service: TPCH Service (TPCHSrv) - TOSHIBA Corporation - C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\TPHM\TPCHSrv.exe
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\ui0detect.exe,-101 (UI0Detect) - Unknown owner - C:\windows\system32\UI0Detect.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Intel(R) Management & Security Application User Notification Service (UNS) - Intel Corporation - C:\Program Files (x86)\Intel\Intel(R) Management Engine Components\UNS\UNS.exe
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\vaultsvc.dll,-1003 (VaultSvc) - Unknown owner - C:\windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\vds.exe,-100 (vds) - Unknown owner - C:\windows\System32\vds.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\vssvc.exe,-102 (VSS) - Unknown owner - C:\windows\system32\vssvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\Wat\WatUX.exe,-601 (WatAdminSvc) - Unknown owner - C:\windows\system32\Wat\WatAdminSvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\wbengine.exe,-104 (wbengine) - Unknown owner - C:\windows\system32\wbengine.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Webroot Spy Sweeper Engine (WebrootSpySweeperService) - Webroot Software, Inc. (Antivirus Software, Antispyware & Internet Security | Webroot) - C:\Program Files (x86)\Webroot\WebrootSecurity\SpySweeper.exe
O23 - Service: Intel® PROSet/Wireless WiMAX Service (WiMAXAppSrv) - Intel(R) Corporation - C:\Program Files\Intel\WiMAX\Bin\AppSrv.exe
O23 - Service: @%Systemroot%\system32\wbem\wmiapsrv.exe,-110 (wmiApSrv) - Unknown owner - C:\windows\system32\wbem\WmiApSrv.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%PROGRAMFILES%\Windows Media Player\wmpnetwk.exe,-101 (WMPNetworkSvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Media Player\wmpnetwk.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Webroot Client Service (WRConsumerService) - Webroot Software, Inc. - C:\Program Files (x86)\Webroot\WebrootSecurity\WRConsumerService.exe

--
End of file - 9747 bytes

 

[DreemWarrior]

My Apologies for the long delay. Have been under the weather lately. I'll get back to you soon as possible.

 

[FluffyBunny]

DreemWarrior,

Sorry you're feeling bad. Whenever things get back to normal, I'm still
interested in finding out what is causing this problem. Let me know if
you have any ideas. Thanks!

 

[Alfenpen]

Encountered similar issues as the original post here . . . concluded that it is Trend Micro Anitivirus itself that was causing the hangs. There were no system errors pointing specifically to Trend Micro AV, but after numerous reboots I determined that it was starting up about the time when each hang occurred. The challenge then was how to Uninstall it while in Safe Mode with Networking - updated the Registry to bring up the MSIServer service while in Safe Mode (instructions elsewhere) then removed (and replaced) Trend Micro. Instant relief from hang events - not a single one since then.