Slow running

  • Thread starter Thread starter ian
  • Start date Start date
I

ian

Can any one throw some light on this problem I seem to have just got? When I
turn on my PC it starts normal and in usual time. When I go to open Outlook
Express or Explorer the PC slows right down to a stop - its like the whole
thing has stopped responding - after about 5 minutes they open - using
ctr.alt.del won't change anything until they open and then the dialog bog
opens with it. I have not installed anything new on the PC and I have run
Spybot, Ad-aware and my Virus Checker. I have a P4 1.4GHz with 384Mb Ram and
Xp Pro

Any help would be appreciated.....

Ian
 
If your system is clear of viruses, open Control Panel, open System, go to
the Advanced tab, click Settings under Startup and Recovery, remove the
check from "Automatically Restart" under System Failure. This will cause
the system to blue screen instead of restarting on errors and the
information on the blue screen may give a clue as to the source of the
issue.

Open Control Panel, open Administrative Tools, open Event Viewer, look for
errors corresponding to the crash, double click the error, the information
contained within may give a clue as to the
source of the problem. If you don't understand the information inside, the
third button down in that dialog box will copy the information,
you can then paste it into a message and post it here and maybe we can
figure out what is going on.

Assuming you have an XP CD and not a recovery CD, place the XP CD in the
drive, when the setup screen appears, select "Check System Compatibility,"
the report it generates may point to problem hardware or software on your
system. If you do not have an XP CD, you can download this application
known as the Upgrade Advisor from the following site:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/upgrading/advisor.asp
Note: If you have access to a broadband connection it might be best to
download using that as this is a rather large download.

Check for the latest drivers for your hardware, especially your graphics
card and soundcard and all peripherals connected to your system. Do not use
Windows Update for this, go to the device manufacturer's web sites and if
you install updated drivers, ignore the message about drivers being unsigned
by Microsoft. *Before installing any drivers, be sure you are well backed
up and it's probably a good idea to manually create a restore point in
System Restore in case you have problems as a result of the driver update
and note, System Restore is not a substitute for a backup. Start\All
Programs\Accessories\System Tools\System Restore
 
This is one thing that happened today and just stopped everything. This
error message is in the event viewer a few times.

Event Type: Error
Event Source: DCOM
Event Category: None
Event ID: 10000
Date: 1/05/2004
Time: 8:29:45 AM
User: IAN\Ian
Computer: IAN
Description:
Unable to start a DCOM Server: {FB7199AB-79BF-11D2-8D94-0000F875C541}. The
error:
"The system cannot find the path specified. "
Happened while starting this command:
"C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe" -Embedding

For more information, see Help and Support Center at
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.


It all seems to be with Outlook Express - I have a problem where if I click
on a URL that has been sent to me in an email it just crashes from time to
time. With Messenger I didn't fully uninstall it but this is how it has been
for sometime and has not caused any trouble. I also ran the system
compatibility program off the XP disc and it told me my scanner was not
compatible but I already knew this - I downloaded some software sometime ago
which lets me use it with XP and it works fine.
 
It's a good sign that the scanner is working but it's software and drivers
still may be an issue causing problems on your system as it may conflict
with other items or other parts of your OS and as such, cause some problems.

As to the general issues you are having:
If this is a relatively recent issue, you might try using System Restore to
take you back to a time when this worked properly. Start\All
Programs\Accessories\System Tools\System Restore. If that doesn't resolve
it, try the information below.

The following assumes you have an actual XP CD as opposed to a restore CD or
restore partition supplied by your PC manufacturer.

Go to Start, type sfc /scannow in the run box and press enter. Note, there
is a space between sfc and the forward slash. You will be asked for your XP
CD. Be aware, upon inserting the CD the XP setup screen may appear, this is
not a part of sfc /scannow, rather it is being invoked by autorun. Simply
minimize the screen and allow sfc to continue.

If the above fails to resolve the issue, try a repair install as follows:

Be sure you are well backed up in case there is a problem from which you are
unable to recover. NOTE, while a repair install should leave your data
files intact, if something goes wrong during the repair install, you may be
forced to start over and do a clean install of XP. If you don't have your
data backed up, you would lose your data should that eventuality occur.

Assuming your system is set to boot from the CD-ROM drive, boot with the XP
CD in the drive. If it isn't or you are not sure, you need to enter the
system's BIOS. When you boot the system, the first screen usually has
instructions that if you wish to enter setup press a specific key, when you
see that, do so. Then you will have to navigate to the boot sequence, if
the CD-ROM drive is not first line, set it first in the boot sequence. Save
your settings and exit with the XP CD in the drive. The system will reboot.

Boot from the CD. If your system is set to be able to boot from the CD, it
should detect the disk and give a brief message, during the boot up, if you
wish to boot from the CD press any key.

Once you have pressed a key, setup should begin. You will see a reference
asking if you need to load special drivers and another notice that if you
wish to begin the ASR (Automatic Recovery Console) depress F2. Just let
setup run past all of that. It will continue to load files and drivers.

Then it will bring you to a screen. Eventually, you will come to a screen
with the option to (1) setup Windows or (2) Repair Windows Installation
using the Recovery console.

The first option, to setup Windows is the one you want and requires you to
press enter. When asked, press F8 to accept the end user agreement. Setup
will then search for previous versions of Windows. Upon finding your
version, it will ask if you wish to Repair your current installation or
install fresh. Press R, that will run a repair installation. From there
on, follow the screens.
 
Michael,

I tried the list which you gave me but when I got to the last steps -
putting the Xp CD and booting from this I came across a problem. First it
asked me to insert a floppy with something on it.... then I get past that
and it asks me if I want to run a full install or system recovery - I ask
for the recovery. It then asked which drive you wish to logon to - gives me
a choice of one - I press 1 and enter and then its asks me for the
administrator password which I type in and then it goes to C:\windows and
that's as far as I can go - am I missing something here. I tried the system
restore but didn't have much luck with that and ran the sfc /scannow - still
the same. I am also getting two new error messages:

Event Type: Error
Event Source: Service Control Manager
Event Category: None
Event ID: 7023
Date: 2/05/2004
Time: 5:30:04 PM
User: N/A
Computer: IAN
Description:
The IPSEC Services service terminated with the following error:
The authentication service is unknown.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.


Also get this one:


Event Type: Error
Event Source: Service Control Manager
Event Category: None
Event ID: 7000
Date: 2/05/2004
Time: 5:30:04 PM
User: N/A
Computer: IAN
Description:
The ASPI32 service failed to start due to the following error:
The system cannot find the file specified.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.


Not too sure what to do now......

Ian
 
With regard to the repair install, not sure why it asked for a floppy when
booting from the CD unless you have a customized OEM CD from the
manufacturer as that is not something we see with the retail version. That
said, it might simply be that the floppy drive is first in line in the boot
sequence as opposed to the CD-ROM drive. My guess is, from the information
you posted, you have a recovery CD as opposed to an actual XP CD, hence the
repair install is not available.

In taking a closer look at your original message, it seems this issue
happens on boot up. The errors you've posted are mostly network errors,
most of which are relatively innocuous, meaning a service may be starting
during bootup but can't until the system actually reaches the desktop or the
system simply isn't configured for that type of connection.

If you're running a DSL modem and have a LAN or high speed connection or
simply have a network interface card not connected to anything, try
changing the properties of it.
Go to start> connect to> show all connections>right click on Local Area
connection>scroll down and click on Properties.
Highlight "Internet protocol (TCP/IP)"
Click on properties button>click on the "use the following IP address" radio
button.
Add the following.
IP address:192.168.0.1 (or any in the accepted range)
Subnet Mask:255.255.255.0

Then reboot and see if you still have the issue.

I'm not sure about the aspi32 service error, this usually relates to some
issue with a SCSI, device, are you running any SCSI hardware?
 
I have a retail version of XP Pro - academic upgrade but Xp still - I loaded
this over 98 se without any problem.
The problem is a weird one where its not always on boot up - I can boot and
then try and open explorer or Outlook Express (56k Modem - no LAN) and Its
like the thing locks up - but this is intermittent? I am a bit lost here....
 
Small Computer System Interface. Today it's mostly used for Hard Drives and
usually if you are using the interface you would know it as it's usually an
aftermarket installation or something a user would request at time of sale.

In the days before Firewire and USB 2.0 it was a much faster interface for
both external and internal devices. It's also more expensive as are SCSI
compatible devices. With the advent of the SATA interface for hard drives
not sure how much longer it will remain viable for those manufacturers still
supporting it.

It can be balky and can require some expertise on the part of the user.
Because of the nature of the error message, I needed to ask if any such
devices were installed on the setup.
 
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