[leleu]

I have a slow taskbar problem which seems slightly different from other mentioned here. When the computer is switched on and the desktop comes up the start menu can be activated on the taskbar but clicking on any of the options does not do any good. If I click on connect to then, about two minutes later, a list of possible connections comes up in the middle of the screen and just stays there in front of anything. No new program can get in front of that small connections list.

I am running a Compaq:

2.53 gigahertz Intel Pentium 4
8 kilobyte primary memory cache
512 kilobyte secondary memory cache
1024 Megabytes Installed Memory
Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2 (build 2600)

A hijack-this log this morning was as follows:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.98.0
Scan saved at 8:56:14 AM, on 5/04/2005
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSetMgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SNDSrvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\rundll32.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ps2.exe
C:\Program Files\VERITAS Software\Update Manager\sgtray.exe
C:\windows\system\hpsysdrv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\rundll32.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccProxy.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7Debug\mdm.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton SystemWorks\Norton Antivirus\navapsvc.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\NORTON~1\NORTON~2\NPROTECT.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\NORTON~1\NORTON~2\SPEEDD~1\NOPDB.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\CCPD-LC\symlcsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\Security Center\SymWSC.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton SystemWorks\Norton Antivirus\SAVScan.exe
C:\Downloads\HiJack This\HijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.abc.net.au/news/justin/
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 5.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.ocx
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {243B17DE-77C7-46BF-B94B-0B5F309A0E64} - c:\Program Files\Microsoft Money\System\mnyside.dll
O2 - BHO: Web assistant - {9ECB9560-04F9-4bbc-943D-298DDF1699E1} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\AdBlocking\NISShExt.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O2 - BHO: NAV Helper - {BDF3E430-B101-42AD-A544-FADC6B084872} - C:\Program Files\Norton SystemWorks\Norton Antivirus\NavShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Norton AntiVirus - {42CDD1BF-3FFB-4238-8AD1-7859DF00B1D6} - C:\Program Files\Norton SystemWorks\Norton Antivirus\NavShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Web assistant - {0B53EAC3-8D69-4b9e-9B19-A37C9A5676A7} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\AdBlocking\NISShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HotKeysCmds] C:\WINDOWS\System32\hkcmd.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IgfxTray] C:\WINDOWS\System32\igfxtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /installquiet /keeploaded
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RoxioEngineUtility] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Roxio Shared\System\EngUtil.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [URLLSTCK.exe] C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\UrlLstCk.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CANON DR2080C SVC] rundll32.exe DR2KSVC.dll,EntryPointUserMessage
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PS2] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ps2.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\System32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Recguard] C:\WINDOWS\SMINST\RECGUARD.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WCOLOREAL] "C:\Program Files\Coloreal\coloreal.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [StorageGuard] "C:\Program Files\VERITAS Software\Update Manager\sgtray.exe" /r
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [hpsysdrv] c:\windows\system\hpsysdrv.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MSConfig] C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\MSConfig.exe /auto
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [NVIEW] rundll32.exe nview.dll,nViewLoadHook
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Enable Wireless Keyboard Driver.lnk = C:\Program Files\Wireless Device\Versato.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Enable Wireless Mouse Driver.lnk = C:\Program Files\Wireless Device\MulMouse.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Google Search - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmsearch.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Backward Links - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmbacklinks.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Cached Snapshot of Page - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmcache.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~4\Office10\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O8 - Extra context menu item: Similar Pages - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmsimilar.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Translate into English - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmtrans.html
O9 - Extra button: MoneySide - {E023F504-0C5A-4750-A1E7-A9046DEA8A21} - c:\Program Files\Microsoft Money\System\mnyside.dll
O12 - Plugin for .spop: C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\Plugins\NPDocBox.dll
O16 - DPF: {AB86CE53-AC9F-449F-9399-D8ABCA09EC09} (Get_ActiveX Control) - https://h17000.www1....loadManager.ocx
O18 - Protocol: asp - {8D32BA61-D15B-11D4-894B-000000000000} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\EzTools\hsppp.dll
O18 - Protocol: hsp - {8D32BA61-D15B-11D4-894B-000000000000} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\EzTools\hsppp.dll
O18 - Protocol: x-asp - {8D32BA61-D15B-11D4-894B-000000000000} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\EzTools\hsppp.dll
O18 - Protocol: x-hsp - {8D32BA61-D15B-11D4-894B-000000000000} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\EzTools\hsppp.dll
O18 - Protocol: x-mem3 - {4F6D06DD-44AB-4F89-BF13-9027B505B15A} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\EzTools\eztoolslib2.dll
O18 - Protocol: x-zip - {8D32BA61-D15B-11D4-894B-000000000000} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\EzTools\hsppp.dll
O18 - Protocol: zip - {8D32BA61-D15B-11D4-894B-000000000000} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\EzTools\hsppp.dll

Any ideas on waht the problem is would be appreciated.

Leon

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are you a programmer?


these
O18 - Protocol: asp - {8D32BA61-D15B-11D4-894B-000000000000} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\EzTools\hsppp.dll
O18 - Protocol: hsp - {8D32BA61-D15B-11D4-894B-000000000000} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\EzTools\hsppp.dll
O18 - Protocol: x-asp - {8D32BA61-D15B-11D4-894B-000000000000} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\EzTools\hsppp.dll
O18 - Protocol: x-hsp - {8D32BA61-D15B-11D4-894B-000000000000} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\EzTools\hsppp.dll
O18 - Protocol: x-mem3 - {4F6D06DD-44AB-4F89-BF13-9027B505B15A} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\EzTools\eztoolslib2.dll
O18 - Protocol: x-zip - {8D32BA61-D15B-11D4-894B-000000000000} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\EzTools\hsppp.dll
O18 - Protocol: zip - {8D32BA61-D15B-11D4-894B-000000000000} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\EzTools\hsppp.dll

are interesting but if you program it makes sense

nothing here explains your problem

but maybe i am missing something

you cannot run anything?

[gerryf]

are you a programmer?


these
O18 - Protocol: asp - {8D32BA61-D15B-11D4-894B-000000000000} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\EzTools\hsppp.dll
O18 - Protocol: hsp - {8D32BA61-D15B-11D4-894B-000000000000} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\EzTools\hsppp.dll
O18 - Protocol: x-asp - {8D32BA61-D15B-11D4-894B-000000000000} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\EzTools\hsppp.dll
O18 - Protocol: x-hsp - {8D32BA61-D15B-11D4-894B-000000000000} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\EzTools\hsppp.dll
O18 - Protocol: x-mem3 - {4F6D06DD-44AB-4F89-BF13-9027B505B15A} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\EzTools\eztoolslib2.dll
O18 - Protocol: x-zip - {8D32BA61-D15B-11D4-894B-000000000000} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\EzTools\hsppp.dll
O18 - Protocol: zip - {8D32BA61-D15B-11D4-894B-000000000000} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\EzTools\hsppp.dll

are interesting but if you program it makes sense

nothing here explains your problem

but maybe i am missing something

you cannot run anything?

[leleu]

Thank you GerryF for your response.

I am not a programmer - at least, not these days. I am a former FORTRAN programmer but I leave others to program now.

I can run anything I like on the computer, albeit slower than usual. But it takes up to five minutes for the taskbar to be normally accessible. Prior to the end of that period, if I click on the connections section in the start menu, as I previously mentioned, that will leave a short list of possible connections in the middle of the screen which does not go away when the start menu collapses. It stays in front of whatever I do and the connections on that list cannot be accessed usually.

Note that I can start programs from the desktop during that five minute period. They start normally. It is the taskbar which is behaving oddly.

I am unsure why those protocols are there. I did not create them; at least, not knowingly. I am unsure where EzTools came from or what they are.

Leon

[gerryf]

EZ Tools is a package of software development tools for building web applications--or at least that is the one I am familiar with and it looks like that is what you have here.

This makes your browser look back on your own machine for these protocals, os if you were creating a web gui that relied on ASP, then you could work locally.

If none of the sounds familiar, check add/remove in control panel and see if ez tools is listed and remove, then remove those settings from hijack

Are the "connect to" choices ones you recognize?

[leleu]

I guess that could be slowing it down. I am in Wagga Wagga about 250 Km from that computer at present but shall be reunited with it on Friday so I shall try uninstalling the EzTools. I think I might have put them on there for just one or two features that it had. I then forgot that I had installed them.

I shal let you know what happens on Friday when I zap them.

Thanks very much for your reply.

Leon

[leleu]

I have checked out my computer, disabled quite a few things that normally start up, run Spy bot software on it.

I still have the problem that, soon after the start menu becoms available, if I click on it and then on 'connect to' the menu freezes and I cannot choose any other item in the start menu.

After a minute or two - perhaps it is two minutes - the 'connect to' expanded menu appears but I cannot select from it. Then, even if the start menu collapses, the connect to menu is still there in the centre of the screen and nothing can be done to get rid of it.

I have tried searching on this topic. There are a lot of suggestons on freezing of start menu but there is nothing on bits of menu being left on the screen and just sitting there.

Leon

[gerryf]

I sent you a PM after you PMd me, and then two seconds later thought of something...

It may fix it, and it may work as a workaround


Right click an open spot on the taskbar, choose PROPERTIES, choose START MENU tab, choose CUSTOM button, choose ADVANCED tab.

Want you to do a couple things here.

Uncheck OPEN SUBMENUES WHEN I PAUSE....

In start menu items, scroll down toDISPLAY As CONNECT TO and change it to LINK TO NETWORK.

OK
OK
Reboot.

Now go back and CHECK OPEN SUBMENUES WHEN I PAUSE....OK OK

check your NETWORK CONNECTIONS button on start menu...better, worse or the same?

If better, return it to CONNECT TO, OK OK

BETTER WORSE OR THE SAME?

[leleu]

OK. That sounds like a good idea. I shall try it tomorrow since it is pretty late here. But I shall let you know as soon as I have done it.

It seems like an interesting approach to an extremely frustrating problem.

Leon

[leleu]

Dear GerryF,

You suggestion has been useful.

The start menu no longer "sticks" and there is no submenu left lingering on the screen.

If I cliclk on connections again it does not stick but it takes a long time for the connections to open. This may suggest that a part of the original delay was opening the connections window.

Anyway, it is a far more functional machine now as a result of your suggestions - the two changes to the start menu tab.

Thanks very much.

Leon