Solved Windows 7 - Programs Won't Open Sometimes almost sure it's not a virus

[arrowhead566]

Hello!

A couple months ago, this problem began, but it went away on it's own. Recently, this problem has arisen again with greater intensity. My programs won't open. Usually it takes a while for this happen. Some scenarios are listed below.

1. I will have Chrome open, AIM open, while playing a game. I decide to open another program, but it will not open. Task Manager will not open. Opening file folders takes 1-2 minutes.

2. A program triggers the problem. After opening AVG Anti-Virus and pressing update, programs refuse to execute. After restarting my computer, the problem goes away and I am able to update.

3. The issue happens on start up. My computer starts up, my only visible start up program, AIM, starts up. However, I can not open files, can not connect wirelessly or wired to my internet connection.

Things I have done to attempt to fix the problem.
- Defragmented my Hard Drive
- Ran chkdsk
- Multiple virus scans
- Registry Scans

Also, this problem can occur at any time while using my computer. For example, I could be gaming for hours at a time, but I won't realize the issue has occurred until I attempt to open another program. I can also browse on an existing tab on Chrome at a time for hours until this issue occurs. However, if I were to open a separate tab on Chrome, the tab is blank, and I am not able to browse with it.

Thank you for any help you can provide.

 

[dejavecue]

Tried disabling your antivirus protection? Sounds like whenever you try to open something new (i.e. start a new executable), something - my guess is the antivirus scanner - is scanning this and maybe "hiccoughs", leading to long load times.
If I remember correctly, Chrome opens a new chrome.exe for every tab, so that it can safely crash one tab without interfering in the other open ones (also runs faster that way).

Edit: Also, might be that you have your programs on a different hard drive than the one your games are on?
And that hard drive shuts down to save power - you would hear it spinning up again when you try to open a new program. Typically should not take so long, but I don't know how old it is...

 

[arrowhead566]

Yes, my games are on a different hard drive. I do not believe that is the issue however. Sometimes I will browse, or watch a movie for a while. Then programs from both my internal and external hard drive fail to execute. I did notice that my problems seemed to intensify with the installation of AVG, but the problem was here long before that. I am not sure if Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware is considered as an antivirus, but I will try disabling the security module. Ah yes, this computer is about 3/4 years old, and the external hard drive is about a month old.

 

[dejavecue]

I did notice that my problems seemed to intensify with the installation of AVG, but the problem was here long before that. I am not sure if Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware is considered as an antivirus, but I will try disabling the security module.

Try that. Might be the issue.

Yes, my games are on a different hard drive. I do not believe that is the issue however. Sometimes I will browse, or watch a movie for a while. Then programs from both my internal and external hard drive fail to execute.

Wait, they fail to execute? I thought they merely took very long.


Are you up-to-date on all your drivers? Motherboard, graphics card, etc? Current BIOS installed?

 

[arrowhead566]

Program files take extremely long to execute, whereas .exe files, fail to execute at all.
Yes, I have checked the manufacturer's website, and all my drivers are update, as well as my BIOS. I am in safe mode at the moment, and the problem does not seem to be occurring.

 

[arrowhead566]

Ah yes, some information I would like to add. The sporadic nature of this problem is what is unique. If it were a set time, or followed by a set event, it would be easy to diagnose, but it is not. A couple weeks back, I ran a test where I would constantly open task manager every 5 minutes, and I was able to do it for 2+ hours. By then my fingers were a bit sore, but the problem did not arise. Sometimes, this problem won't present itself for days at a time, and then it will suddenly reappear.

 

[dejavecue]

Program files take extremely long to execute, whereas .exe files, fail to execute at all.
Yes, I have checked the manufacturer's website, and all my drivers are update, as well as my BIOS. I am in safe mode at the moment, and the problem does not seem to be occurring.

If it continues to not occur (what a sentence ) you have a driver at fault - Windows Safe Mode is simply windows without loading drivers. That is why generally you have to set resolution at the beginning again.

If all else fails I would try to reinstall Windows. Should be no problem for you to back up your data, as you still have total access.

Sorry I cannot be of more help, but if you cannot link the problem to a specific program or event, it is really hard for me/us to diagnose this at a distance.

Do you by any chance have another Antiviral software active (maybe in background)?

 

[arrowhead566]

Yes, I am running another antivirus scan, and if all else fails, I do plan reinstalling windows.

 

[dejavecue]

Yes, I am running another antivirus scan, and if all else fails, I do plan reinstalling windows.

No that's not what I meant: Do you have two antivirus scanners running at all times simultaneously? Because if so, that would be terrible for performance as well as security.

 

[arrowhead566]

I don't know if this will help, but I just attempted another diagnostic. After the problem occurred, I opened Skype, among other .exe files. At first, they wouldn't open, however about 5-10 minutes later, they all opened and the problem is gone for now. It is almost as if my computer was experiencing a massive lag in program executions. Does this help in any way?

EDIT: Wow, I am an idiot, the result of the programs launching was my anti-virus finishing it's scan. It found a WIN32.Kido Trojan. Using a different anti-virus appeared to solve the problem. I will report back to here, to see if it actually was the problem as a reference for any others who have a similar problem with me.