[evolflower]

Hi again,

I ran the TFC and downloaded the defrag program - just curious, should I choose Defrag or Defrag & Optimize?

Also, I'm assuming I should run it on my C: drive, but should I run it on the D: drive (Recovery) and F: drive (HP_Tools) as well?

To be honest, I'm not even really sure of the function of the two latter drives - can you let me know their function and use, briefly, at some point?

Many thanks so far.

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Hello

How is the computer behaving since you have done the recent maintainance.

There are only the two programs that I mentioned earlier showing in the Autoruns log that I would uninstall - if they are not used that is + any of the HP bloatware that is installed.

I would disable Java and any other plug ins that you do not use http://www.geekstogo...ur-web-browser/

Only run the defrag and not the defrag & optimizer and on the C: drive only please.

D: drive (Recovery) and F: drive (HP_Tools)

can you let me know their function and use, briefly, at some point?

No time like the present
The recovery (D:) drive is what is also called a recovery partition, it is not a separate physical drive but a part (partition) on/of the main (C:) drive itself.
To keep build costs down the big system builders such as Dell and HP for example installed a separate partition on the HDD which contains a back up of the operating system that is installed, this means that they do not need to provide a separate OS disk to the end user or pay the OS provider/s themselves as much as if they were paying for individual OS disks.

The (F:) drive is also a partition on the (C:) drive but it contains diagnostic tools for such tasks as checking that the HDD is ok etc, please see http://h10025.www1.h...cname=c02762272

Sorry for the delay BTW.

[phillpower2]

Hello

How is the computer behaving since you have done the recent maintainance.

There are only the two programs that I mentioned earlier showing in the Autoruns log that I would uninstall - if they are not used that is + any of the HP bloatware that is installed.

I would disable Java and any other plug ins that you do not use http://www.geekstogo...ur-web-browser/

Only run the defrag and not the defrag & optimizer and on the C: drive only please.

D: drive (Recovery) and F: drive (HP_Tools)

can you let me know their function and use, briefly, at some point?

No time like the present
The recovery (D:) drive is what is also called a recovery partition, it is not a separate physical drive but a part (partition) on/of the main (C:) drive itself.
To keep build costs down the big system builders such as Dell and HP for example installed a separate partition on the HDD which contains a back up of the operating system that is installed, this means that they do not need to provide a separate OS disk to the end user or pay the OS provider/s themselves as much as if they were paying for individual OS disks.

The (F:) drive is also a partition on the (C:) drive but it contains diagnostic tools for such tasks as checking that the HDD is ok etc, please see http://h10025.www1.h...cname=c02762272

Sorry for the delay BTW.

[evolflower]

Ugh, my brother, this is killing me.

It's strange, for a short period of time the computer was starting up and loading programs no problem, pretty quickly...I'd applied a few recommended updates via Windows and it seemed to help, and now it's back to how it used to be - with no changes on my part. So it was working OK for two-three startups, and now it's lagging/freezing again on startup.

I posted the autoruns logs on the previous page, and just defragged - not noticing any changes.

Today I've tried switching some functions under services.msc to Manual from Automatic, hoping something would help as I've been searching for other solutions...I've written down any changes I've made and sadly they've had no effect anyway. :-(

Hope something can help, this is saddening and mystifying me.

[phillpower2]

I am in work for the next couple of hours but will check back as soon as I finish.

[SleepyDude]

Hi Evolflower and Phillpower (hope you don't mind I step-in)

Can you please generate a log from the System Even Viewer so we can see if the system is recording any errors?

Download Event Viewer Tool by Vino Rosso (VEW) and save the file on the Desktop
- Execute the VEW tool and check the following options:

• Select Log to Query
  * Application
  * System
• Select type to list
  * Error
  * Information
• Number or date of events: 20

- Press Run

Post the resulting log.

[evolflower]

Hi SleepyDude,

Thanks for the reply. Oddly enough when I run vew.exe I don't notice anything happening and after the program screen staying a bit frozen/lagged Notepad pops up with the error "Cannot find C:VEW.txt - create new file?" I've tried clicking "Yes" and "No," neither with any results other than a blank notepad.

[phillpower2]

Hello evolflower

Make a note of the recent Windows updates then uninstall them and see how the computer behaves.
If the computer runs ok install the recent updates again but this time do it manually/one at a time and see if a certain update is causing the issue.

Next run SFC (system file checker)

Go to Start and then to Run ("Start Search" in Vista - 7)
Type in: sfc /scannow
Click OK (Enter in Vista - 7)
Have Windows CD/DVD handy (not always required).
If System File Checker (sfc) finds any errors, it may ask you for the CD/DVD.
If sfc does not find any errors in Windows XP, it will simply quit, without any message.
In Vista - 7 you will receive the following message: "Windows resource protection did not find any integrity violations".
For Vista & W7 users ONLY: Navigate to C:\Windows\Logs\CBS folder. You'll see CBS.log file.
Usually, it's pretty big file, so upload it to http://www.mediafire.com/ and then post download link here.
How to use mediafire http://en.kioskea.ne...es-to-mediafire

Thanks for the additional assistance SleepyDude

[evolflower]

Hey -

Thanks again for the assistance so far. At the moment I haven't been encountering the problem, but I've made a ton of adjustments (mostly through services.msc, turning many to Manual), and haven't been able to determine exactly where the problem lies. Since it has come back after disappearing for a bit in the past, I'd rather continue trying to safecheck everything, then take it from there.

I would like to retry the program suggested by SleepyDude, but as it wasn't functioning properly I won't be able until I can find a workaround (or someone suggests one) - also, since the problem hasn't arisen over the past few (three) days, I wonder if anything useful will appear in any of these reports.

Maybe, if it returns, I can plan to run EventViewer then? If someone can suggest a fix in the meantime so I can be ready, that would help a lot.

Thanks again for your help - would running sfc be useful right now as well, without the problem currently rearing its head?

[phillpower2]

Honest answer - do nothing unless the problem returns, as per the old adage "if it ain`t broke don`t fix it"

[evolflower]

So, just curious. It had been working fine for days - then this evening I turned on the computer and the problem was there again (and again and again, every time I restarted it). The crazy thing is that I literally made no changes between then and now - even over the last few days - because of precisely what you just said - I didn't want to mess with it, since it was working.

I switched a few startup services to manual again and I was just able to start it, once, without a problem. I made a note of what I changed but I honestly doubt that's really running the show. I wanted to create a restore point and did so - but noticed when I did that a "Critical Windows Update" had been applied this morning (even though I saw nothing, no message alerted me, etc.). I should also point out that at the beginning of all this, I changed my "HP Support Assistant" so that nothing would be applied without my knowledge - but I guess it's happening anyway.

In all, I'm confused. And, had I the money to burn, thinking I need to buy a Mac (for the first time in over 10 years).

[phillpower2]

Can you tell us what the critical update was please so we can do some research, once we have the information uninstall it and see if the issue is resolved;

Go to Start > Control Panel > Programs > View installed updates > Highlight the suspect update > Uninstall it.
See how the computer behaves, if all is well try installing the update manually.