This one has me pulling my hair out. I'll make every effort to be succinct; but there's no way to make this brief -- please bear with me, I'm in a real jam ...
Here is my basic hardware information:
Intel D945GTP Motherboard
Pentium D @ 2.6GHz, 533MHz FSB, 1MB L2 Cache
BIOS (Intel) NT94510J.86A.4089.2007.071
8.0501 (7/18/2007)
All CMOS settings are default except onboard sound and video (disabled)
Windows XP Pro v5.1.2600, SP2, .NET 2.0 Framework, fully updated
4GB DDR2 Synchronous RAM @ 533MHz (3.25GB seen by OS)
Nvidia GeForce 8500GT PCIe Graphics Adapter, NOT over-clocked
Voyetra Turtle Beach Santa Cruz
CA Internet Security Suite 2007 (AV,ASW,Firewall) updated daily
The problem began as extremely slow performance (2-3 minutes to load any application) after the desktop appeared and the taskbar was populated. During this time, the Start Menu was operative, but any application, including Task Manager would take 2-3 minutes to load. During numerous restarts, I was able to get Task Manager up once or twice, and noticed that processor usage was at 100% during the 2-3 minute time span, while the HD activity light would flicker only occasionally.
Fearing that malware had sneaked in under the radar, I ran HijackThis and uploaded the log to
http://www.hijackthis.de for analysis. Other than a few remnants of old software, no problems were found. I ran system-wide virus and spyware scans using my CA software, then ran Spybot S&D, and AdAware. Again, no problems except a few tracking cookies, which I removed. I ran MSCONFIG, checked the registry (HKLM and HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Wi
ndoes\Curr
ent Version\Run) and ran a utility called AUTORUNS and found nothing of any concern. Still the problem persisted and appeared to be getting a little worse, plus now even the system shutdown was taking several minutes.
I logged on here and searched the forums. I found some tips about registry size, unloading the user profile hive, processor temperatures, and having excessive desktop icons. I ran Norton WinDoctor and was able to eliminate a few outdated registry keys. The I ran Registry Mechanic and was able to whittle it down a bit more. I removed about two dozen desktop icons and checked the size of my fonts folder (102). I downloaded and installed a Microsoft utility called UPHCLEAN to address User Profile Hive issues. I bought and installed a high-performance processor heatsink and fan, and added a 4.5" fan to the side of my mid-tower case. The problem seemed to be getting a little better, but not much.
Then, for no reason I can think of, my system started going into hibernation just after login, just as Explorer was loading the desktop, on every restart. I could hit the power button to bring it out of hibernation ("Resuming Windows") but it would get to the same point and hibernate again. I finally booted to safe mode and disabled hibernation. Upon reboot, it didn't hibernate -- it simply shut down. Back to safe mode, I began to wonder if I had a malware infection after all. From the safe mode, I ran all the scans again. I ran Vundofix and VirtumundoBeGone. I downloaded and ran the AVG Anti-Spyware trial ... nothing was found.
I logged back on here and found information that said such startup problems are sometimes related to a process called "Background Intelligent Transfer Service" (BITS). To my delight, disabling BITS from MSCONFIG has at least provided a band-aid for the problem. I can now boot and logoff normally (except that I'm now running in the Selective Start mode). It has worked for the last five or six restarts, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I have no clue how to actually fix the problem.
HOWEVER! I am STILL concerned that I may indeed have a malware problem, and here's why -- for some reason I cannot get either Trendmicro's Housecall or Pandasecurity's free scan to run! I can log onto to both sites, but it seems the controls (buttons, links) are disabled and inoperative. This happens with both IE and Firefox. Other websites work fine (I was able to scan at the Kaspersky site, but I'm not sure the results were reliable, as I have a couple of virus files saved on my F: drive for study purposes, and it missed both of them).
To anybody who's had the patience to read this far -- thank you so much and God bless you. I am at my wit's end and would welcome any suggestions. I realize that I could reformat and reinstall the OS, but with the number of applications and configuration issues involved, that process would require several days. I travel in my work and just don't have that kind of time, and my college student daughter depends on this machine.
I'm praying for a miracle ... thanks in advance for any and all help.
- Papagresh
