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Windows 8 Home Screen and Desktop switch to each other in a continuous


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#1
darkgreen_orange

darkgreen_orange

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Hello all,

I've got an issue with the Windows 8 interface that I'm pretty sure was caused by me installing the latest version of my antivirus program, AVG. I had AVG Free 2013, and when it prompted me to install the latest update to AVG 2014, I did so. Then it asked me to restart my computer, which I did. That's when the problems started.

When it restarted, it gave me the screens as if I was starting up a new computer; intro screens on how to use Windows 8 and such. I knew that wasn't right, so I switched the computer off by holding down the power button. In retrospect, this seems like it was a stupid thing to do, because the next time I booted up the computer, it started acting funny,

It took me to the login screen like normal (no Windows 8 intro screens). I put in my password and it took about 15-20 seconds to start up, a little longer than usual. Then when it took me to the Home Screen, I noticed that all my usual apps were gone. I only had a split second to look at this screen though, because then it took me to a screen with just a blank purple background. After a couple of seconds, the screen turns black with the outline of the gray taskbar at the bottom of the screen, as if the desktop app is trying to start. But after one second of that, it takes me back to the Home Screen, blank screen, desktop, then Home Screen again in loop. The whole thing lasts maybe 8 seconds or so and repeats.

Any idea what I can do about this? Again, I'm pretty sure this is connected to me installing a new version of AVG but I'm not sure what to do about it.

I can still use CTRL+ALT+Delete and start the task manager. From the task manager I can start applications, which is how I started my browser and am posting this message now. When I started Firefox from the task manager, it asked me whether I wanted to import bookmarks (as if it was the first time I was starting the program). But looking through my hard drive it appears that nothing has been erased, it's just the Windows interface that's messed up.

EDIT: I'm not sure how to check which exact version of Windows 8 I have, but it is an HP Pavilion laptop if that helps.

Edited by darkgreen_orange, 24 November 2013 - 02:21 PM.

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#2
darkgreen_orange

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It's important to note that there is a task called "Thumbnail Handler Extraction Host" (ThumbnailExtractionHost.exe) that is produced every time it goes through this loop. I'm up to about 20 of them now...

There is also the process COM Surrogate (dllhost.exe). There is one of them that stays open all the time, but a second one will appear for a couple of seconds every time it goes through this loop.

Here is the list of the names of applications that are running in the Task Manager, maybe it will shed some light on why this is happening:


Apps

Firefox (32 bit)
Notepad
Task Manager

Background processes

Adobe Acrobat Update Service (32 bit)
Adobe Flash Player 11.9 r900 (32 bit) (x2)
AVG E-mail Scanner
AVG Identity Protection Service (32 bit)
AVG Online Shield Service
AVG Resident Shield Service
AVG Scanning Core Module - Server Part
AVG Watchdog Service
Bonjour Service
COM Surrogate (there is one, and then a second one will appear and disappear)
Device Association Framework Provider Host
Host Process for Setting Synchronization
Host Process for Windows Tasks
HP Quick Launch WMI Service (32 bit)
HP Support Assistant Service
HPConnectedRemoteService
HPConnectedRemoteUser
HPService
IAStorDataSvc (32 bit)
IDT PC Audio
Intel® Capability Licensing Software Interface
Intel® Dynamic Application Loader Host Interface (32 bit)
Intel® ME Service (32 bit)
Local Manageability Service (32 bit)
loggings Application (32 bit)
Microsoft Software Protection Platform Service
Microsoft Windows Search Indexer
Plugin Container for Firefox (32 bit)
Realtek Card Reader Patch Tool.
rndlresolversvc (32 bit)
Spooler SubSystem App
Thumbnail Handler Extraction Host (the longer the computer runs, the more of these that appear)
ToolbarU Application (32 bit)
User Notification Service (32 bit)
WAService (32 bit)
Windows Audio Device Graph Isolation
Windows host process (Rundll32)
Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service
YouCam Mirage (32 bit)

Windows Processes

Client Server Runtime Process (x2)
Console Window Host
Desktop Window Manager
Local Security Authority Process (2)
Service Host: DCOM Server Process Launcher (5)
Service Host: IIS Application Host Helper Service
Service Host: Local Service (7)
Service Host: Local Service (Network Restricted) (7)
Service Host: Local Service (No Impersonation) (5)
Service Host: Local Service (No Network) (4)
Service Host: Local Service (Peer Networking) (3)
Service Host: Local System (14)
Service Host: Local System (Network Restricted) (9)
Service Host: Network Service (4)
Service Host: Network Service (Network Restricted)
Service Host: Remote Procedure Call (2)
Service Host: Windows Error Reporting
Service Host: Windows Image Acquisition (WIA)
Services and Controller app
System
System interrupts
Windows Explorer
Windows Logon Application
Windows Session Manager
Windows Start-Up Application




And here are the processes themselves (without the .exe on the end):


armsvc
avgcsrva
avgemca
avgidsagent
avgmfapx
avgnsa
avgrsa
avgwdsvc
conhost
csrss (x2)
dasHost
dllhost (x2, one starts then disappears)
dwm
explorer
HeciServer
HPConnectedRemoteService
HPConnectedRemoteUser
HPSA_Service
hpservice
HPWMISVC
IAStorDataMgrSvc
IntelMeFWService
Jhi_service
LMS
loggingserver
lsass
mDNSResponder
msiexec
RIconMan
rndlresolversvc
SearchFilterHost (only there sometimes)
SearchIndexer
SearchProtocolHost (only there sometimes)
services
SettingSyncHost
smss
spoolsv
sppsvc
stacsv64
svchost (x14)
System
System Idle Process
System interrupts
taskhostex
Taskmgr
ThumbnailExtractionHost (this is the one that keeps appearing over and over)
ToolbarUpdater
UNS
WAService
wininit
winlogon
wmpnetwk
YCMMirage
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#3
colliebob

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Forgive me if you've tried this, but can you access the system files and try a systems restore? I'm assuming you can if you can start and run firefox. Similarly, uninstalling the avg update would be another way of approaching the problem.
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