After dialing up, programs won't start

  • Thread starter Thread starter Charles
  • Start date Start date
C

Charles

Hi I'm hoping someone can help me here.
I've got winxp Pro running on a toshiba tecra s1
notebook. After I've dialed up and connected to the
internet, I find that programs that aren't already
running, take forever (+5mins) to start up. When they do
finally start everything that I pressed during that time
starts up.

If I start the programs before I dialup, everything's
fine. They don't run slow like CPU usage is at 100% or
anything.

During the time nothing starts up, the start menu still
works, and I can right click on the desktop right click
menu comes up, but if I click properties to get display
properties, that won't start up.

I've started task manager before dialing up before, and
CPU usage definately isn't 100%, it appears completely
normal (<10%).

Obviously something's going on the background, either it's
trying to connect to some kind of network or something
before it gives up and starts up all my programs, but how
can I track it?

Starting what kind of logging reports might help me track
what the problem is?

Thanks for any/all help & suggestions!
Charles
 
Charles,

I just now came into this discussion group (for the first time ever) to ask EXACTLY the same question you did! If this is a new problem and if enough people are having it, perhaps it's some kind of virus. I found a reference in the MS Knowledge Base to the Pretty Park Virus. It prevents *.exe files from opening, but *.com files will still open. I tried this. Changed some *.exe files to *.com files and they either opened or tried to. I don't think it's Pretty Park though because that one seems not to have anything to do with dial-up connections.

My Norton Anti-virus is up to date and it finds nothing. I've run Win Doctor, also, with no results.

Hope somebody has a clue about what is going on. By the way, this problem started about a day and half ago.

Dan D.
 
Charles said:
Hi I'm hoping someone can help me here.
I've got winxp Pro running on a toshiba tecra s1
notebook. After I've dialed up and connected to the
internet, I find that programs that aren't already
running, take forever (+5mins) to start up. When they do
finally start everything that I pressed during that time
starts up.

If I start the programs before I dialup, everything's
fine. They don't run slow like CPU usage is at 100% or
anything.

During the time nothing starts up, the start menu still
works, and I can right click on the desktop right click
menu comes up, but if I click properties to get display
properties, that won't start up.

I've started task manager before dialing up before, and
CPU usage definately isn't 100%, it appears completely
normal (<10%).

Obviously something's going on the background, either it's
trying to connect to some kind of network or something
before it gives up and starts up all my programs, but how
can I track it?

Starting what kind of logging reports might help me track
what the problem is?

Thanks for any/all help & suggestions!
Charles
Click to expand...

Same problem I've been having. Exactly as you described. Clicking on windows
after going online causes the cursor to change to busy for a few seconds as
if it is opening the program but then nothing happens. I can click on
numerous programs and the same thing happens. Then, usually after 5 minutes
or so either everything locks up or all the programs that I had clicked on
start opening at once.

I've done a complete clean up on my system, searching out and deleting every
semblance of spyware and this has helped a lot although I did experience a
hang this morning, it was very short in duration.

I too have been wondering if there is some new virus, trojan or destructive
spyware going around.

chrissy
 
I am having the exact same problems. The only time I can
pinpoint this error as first starting is following
installation of a WinXP update. Not sure exactly which
one and I am unwilling to use system restore as that may
do more harm than good.

Interestingly if you use the administrative tools to log
all file activity from dialup to loading of programs,
system with not hang.
Does anyone have a solution to this problem? I really
don't want to do a full XP reinstall. Basicially am just
putting up with the problem.
 
Besides running XP or XP Pro, I wonder what else we all have in common. I'm going to mention a few of my recent activities as a shot in the dark, just in case anything rings a bell with anyone.

My ISP is PeoplePC. I don't use their dial-up program though. (Changed to them recently.)
I have BellSouth Internet Call Waiting.
I've installed all of the XP security updates and most of the recommended updates.
Running Norton SystemWorks.
Most recent install before this problem started was WinFast TV 2000 Deluxe capture card. I downloaded LeadTek's most recent driver update.
Also, recently started using Active WebCam (the trial version.)
Installed a little program called Rasputin to keep my dial-up from shutting down.
My ever-helpful son-in-law suggested I list all the porn sites I've been to. I was shocked and replied, "You mean there's porn on the Internet?????????"

Anyway, that's all I can think of. Hope we can find a solution soon!

Dan D.
 
Dan D. said:
Besides running XP or XP Pro, I wonder what else we all have in common.
Click to expand...
I'm going to mention a few of my recent activities as a shot in the dark,
just in case anything rings a bell with anyone.
My ISP is PeoplePC. I don't use their dial-up program though. (Changed to them recently.)
I have BellSouth Internet Call Waiting.
I've installed all of the XP security updates and most of the recommended updates.
Running Norton SystemWorks.
Most recent install before this problem started was WinFast TV 2000 Deluxe
Click to expand...
capture card. I downloaded LeadTek's most recent driver update.
Also, recently started using Active WebCam (the trial version.)
Installed a little program called Rasputin to keep my dial-up from shutting down.
My ever-helpful son-in-law suggested I list all the porn sites I've been
Click to expand...
to. I was shocked and replied, "You mean there's porn on the
Internet?????????"
Anyway, that's all I can think of. Hope we can find a solution soon!

Dan D.
Click to expand...


As stated in my previous post, the problem seems to have been solved for me
since I cleaned up my system. There was a lot of hidden spyware, and most of
this had to be removed manually by locating the .dll's and then booting up
into DOS and deleting them manually. I located the troublesome files by
running AdAware and deleting the registry keys that Ad Aware was unable to
get rid of, running HiJack This and stripping out all keys that I did not
want, downloading and installing the trialware version of Norton Anti-virus
and manually deleting the .dll's and .exe's that Norton located but was
unable to remove.

It was a lot of frustrating work to ferret out and destroy all the crap on
my system but when I ran Ad Aware and it came up with 0 things to delete I
can't tell you how great that felt. I also learned a lot about how my system
works and what sort of maintenance is required to keep things running
smoothly.

On the other hand, a nasty side of me would now gladly vote yes to the death
penalty for all those spyware bastards that left me feeling somewhat raped
after the experience and also wasted a hell of a lot of my time and energy.
It is unfathomable to me that a company thinks I would purchase ANYTHING
from their advertisers after this malicious assault on my personal property.

I have now installed a fabulous free firewall from Kerio, thanks to the
advice of some of the kind and helpful posters to this newsgroup, and have
not had any new instances of spyware or adware since I began using it.

chrissy
 
Chrissy

Thanks for the input. I didn't know about Kerio Firewall. Looks like it will be very useful. Also, I'll try the Hijack software. However, I've already thoroughly cleaned everything with AdAware (demo) and Norton.

Sometimes, I've thought the problem was gone. Then it'll come back. Seems to occur most when nothing else is running when I dial up. Then after connecting nothing (including IE) will open for a while. I hope your fix is permanent for you

Dan D.
 
Back
Top