Question

Windwos XP - System Failure

Asked by: Camilleri_David

My Windows is acting very strange such as system failures, long time for software to run. My present system is 1 year old. I have defragged the system, also scans for registry, adware, you name it.

Why Windows is so inefficient and unrealiable OS?


My system:


Windows XP Professional Edition Service Pack 3 build=2600 *

CPUs: 2 Speed=2663
x86 Family 6 Model 23 Stepping 6 GenuineIntel
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU     E8200  @ 2.66GHz

Physical Memory:      1507 MB free of 3071 MB
Paging Memory:      3478 MB free of 4956 MB
Virtual Memory:      1966 MB free of 2047 MB

IE version: 8.0.6001.18702
Media Player version: 11.0.5721.5145
Musicnotes mncmp_wm9.dll version: 1.0.1.0
comctl32.dll version: 5.82.2900.5512
Fonts: 1675 Font families installed

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Asked On
2009-10-19 at 07:57:00ID24823756
Topics

Operating Systems Miscellaneous

,

Windows XP Operating System

Participating Experts
2
Points
500
Comments
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Answers

 

by: rsivanandanPosted on 2009-10-19 at 08:14:21ID: 25605896

http://www.rsivanandan.com/2006/07/13/vitamins-for-windows/

Follow these and with those tools itself, don't go for alternatives.

Cheers,
rsivanandan

 

by: Camilleri_DavidPosted on 2009-10-19 at 09:33:01ID: 25606686

I have invested in other cleaners such as Uniblue, PC Tools and these cost money. I cannot accept your solution. Why CCleaner is so important? I used CCleaner in the past and found it rather defective.

 

by: rsivanandanPosted on 2009-10-19 at 09:48:16ID: 25606794

Mate, there is no way I'd know your history just to find out that you found Ccleaner defective in past, alright?

Get this right -> I am only trying to help you for the question you posted.

You don't want to try it out, fine by me but don't post rude as if I owe you my life!

Good luck.

Cheers,
rsivanandan

 

by: BitsBytesandMorePosted on 2009-10-19 at 10:02:47ID: 25606923

You are probably still having undetected malware issues.

Scan for malware again but do it this way:
Go into Safe Mode.
Then go to this website and download these programs:
MalwareBytes Anti Malware.... http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php  
and/or SuperAntiSpyware http://www.superantispyware.com/  
Make sure you update to the latest versions.
Once downloaded (you may need to rename MalwareBytes, Combofix or other tools before saving their files to the desktop as Malware can recognize the name and block them unless renamed)
While still in Safe Mode, Go to Start-Run and type:


Msconfig


Once in the application, go to the services tab and "hide all Microsoft services" select the remaining and disable". Then go to the Startup Tab and disable all entries.

Reboot.

After the system boots it will give you a warning regarding the changes made by msconfig. Select "Do not warn me again".
Now you can run the anti Malware applications recommended above.
 
Your next step, after making sure it's clean from malware, check your host file to make sure that it has not been changed to unwanted settings.This file is located in C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc  (ask me if you are unsure or better yet copy and post the contents)

 
After doing the above...to test your OS's critical files, from the command prompt type:

sfc /scannow          (notice the space between the c and the /)

This will verify the integrity of your essential OS files and than none is missing. For more info: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929833
 
Lastly.... to verify that non of your drivers are damaged, run the verify.exe as indicated in http://support.microsoft.com/kb/244617
 

All the above software is free..

 

by: BitsBytesandMorePosted on 2009-10-19 at 10:06:51ID: 25606963

Next, after making sure your system is clean, lets run some tests in order: (some of these test may have already been suggested to you above but it won't hurt if you run them in order, otherwise, you might think it's out of the way but we might be missing the cause. (These tests are assuming that you have already run some kind of antivirus checks and/or antimalware)

First test: TCP/IP Repair (this will NOT damage anything on your computer)

type from the command prompt:
netsh winsock reset
Don't reboot yet.

Second Test: Disable all 3rd Party Services and Startup Items.
Go to WindowsKey-R and run msconfig
Hide all Microsoft Services and disable all the non Microsoft Services remaining.
Do the same and disable all the startup items. Close.
Now Reboot the computer...if your TCP/IP has any corruption...this will fix it.
We are still not sure if it is one of the 3rd party services we disabled before or one of the startup items so we need to do the Third Tests.
 
 
Third Test: Re-enabling by groups.
Now that the 3rd party applications are out of the way...try the machine.... if it now works fast we know it is either that we just fixed the TCP/IP or one of either the services or the startup items we disabled.....

So Next ..... enable the non Microsoft services by halfs.... first one half...test ... if it works, we know that the problem might be in the other half.....if it doesn't...we know that the problem is contained in the half we just enabled..... keep doing this with the services and the do the same with the startup items...... this will allow you to isolate what service or startup item is creating the problem.....


Fourth Test: Memory and Hard Drive Tests
1.Check DMA: Make sure you check the hard drive is running in DMA and not reverted to PIO .See instructions here: http://winhlp.com/node/10

2.If all the above fail.... you will need to run some memory tests http://www.memtest86.com
3.Here is a list of hard drive tests you can get depending on the manufacturer of your hard drive (these are usually very good):

Fujitsu http://www.fcpa.fujitsu.com/download/hard-drives/#diagnostic
IBM and Hitachi http://www.hgst.com/hdd/support/download.htm#DFT  
Maxtor/Quantum http://www.maxtor.com/en/support/products/index.htm
Samsung http://www.samsungelectronics.com/hdd/support/utilities/utilities_index.html
Seagate http://www.seagate.com/support/seatools/index.html
Western Digital http://support.wdc.com/download/index.asp?cxml=n&swid=1  
 
Spinrite is not brand specific but it is also very good.... http://grc.com/spinrite.htm  


 

 

by: Camilleri_DavidPosted on 2009-10-20 at 05:49:34ID: 25613456

Is there another way.....the above actions are too complex for me......

 

by: BitsBytesandMorePosted on 2009-10-20 at 06:39:47ID: 25613952

Sure ... you could take it to a Pc Repair Shop.....but that is unnecessary if you follow step by step as indicated above..... Where did it start getting complex? I will be glad to guide you step by step.... Tell me how far you've been able to get.

 

by: BitsBytesandMorePosted on 2009-10-20 at 06:42:46ID: 25613982

You could bypass all the tests if you backup your data and do a system manufacturer restore...... What brand is your computer?

 

by: Camilleri_DavidPosted on 2009-10-20 at 08:07:32ID: 25614943

I have installed the malware program and found 3 files contaminated.

My problems started from:

check your host file to make sure that it has not been changed to unwanted settings.This file is located in C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc  (ask me if you are unsure or better yet copy and post the contents)

 

I have done the sfc /scannow   but then I go to  Accessories/Command Prompt/ right click I choose Administrator then a error pops up (see attached file).

Now I am stuck. Cannot proceed.

 

by: BitsBytesandMorePosted on 2009-10-20 at 08:30:06ID: 25615174

Yes... you should not proceed with SFC until you remove all traces of malware.

Your host file is located on your drive C:\windows\system32\drivers\etc

This file should only have one entry at this time:

127.0.0.1          localhost

Open it with notepad and edit it. You can block any ohter entries by placing a # at the begining of the line.

 

by: BitsBytesandMorePosted on 2009-10-20 at 08:31:01ID: 25615186

Do not block the:

127.0.0.1    localhost

 

by: Camilleri_DavidPosted on 2009-10-20 at 08:56:31ID: 25615452

What is the name of the file in     C:\windows\system32\drivers\etc   ????



 

by: BitsBytesandMorePosted on 2009-10-20 at 09:19:03ID: 25615671

hosts

 

by: BitsBytesandMorePosted on 2009-10-20 at 09:26:21ID: 25615742

As for the error you are getting with the SFC it is probable that when you went into msconfig and disabled the services, you did not click on "Hide all Microsoft Services" and that these are now disabled.

Go back into msconfig, go to the services tab and enable all services.

Then try to run SFC again. (this is of course, after you finish with the hosts file and are sure you do not have any more malware).

 

by: Camilleri_DavidPosted on 2009-10-21 at 02:26:20ID: 25622078

Hosts file is not present in windows/system32/drivers

 

by: BitsBytesandMorePosted on 2009-10-21 at 06:44:21ID: 25623839

Ok....using notepad, create a file on your desktop and call it hosts (make sure it doesn't have the .txt extension at the end (you can see the extensions of the files by double clicking on "My Computer" and selecting "Tools" and "Folder Options" and de-selecting "Hide Extensions of Known File Types" (see attached screenshot).

type this line in the notepad file:


127.0.0.1    localhost

Save as hosts on your desktop.

Now copy the file to C:\windows\system32\drivers\etc

 

 

by: Camilleri_DavidPosted on 2009-10-23 at 00:49:12ID: 25642046

I have updated the host file.

When I run sfc /scannow after 3 seconds of verfying, a dialog box pops up:

FILES THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR WINDOWS TO RUN PROPERLY MUST BE COPIED TO THE DLL CACHE. Insert your Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3 CD now.

 

by: BitsBytesandMorePosted on 2009-10-23 at 06:14:10ID: 25644008

This is normal and expected...

 

by: BitsBytesandMorePosted on 2009-10-23 at 06:17:12ID: 25644040

It is trying to copy any files missing or replace any files it finds corrupted.

 

by: Camilleri_DavidPosted on 2009-10-24 at 04:25:53ID: 25651668

What shall I do? When the dialog box pops up I cannot proceed.

 

by: BitsBytesandMorePosted on 2009-10-24 at 04:41:07ID: 25651720

What do you mean with "....When the dialog box pops up I cannot proceed..."? You don't have the XP OS disc? Your system is not reading it?

 

by: Camilleri_DavidPosted on 2009-10-24 at 04:45:10ID: 25651739

I have the original disc (Professional) but not with SP3. The scan cannot recognized or rather find the file in question.

 

by: BitsBytesandMorePosted on 2009-10-24 at 04:51:57ID: 25651761

Ah.... ok..... you may need to "slipstream" a copy of your XP Pro disc and add SP3 to it. There is a product called n-lite which very easily will allow you to create a slipstreamed copy of your XP Pro disc. Download from http://www.nliteos.com/

You will need to install it and follow it's instructions..... it might be "intimidating" initially but it is so easy, that when you get the jist of it.....even a child can do it..... break the ice, download the program, install it and just go over the tabs..... it will take you less than 10 min to figure it out...

 

by: BitsBytesandMorePosted on 2009-10-24 at 04:53:49ID: 25651765

 

by: BitsBytesandMorePosted on 2009-10-24 at 04:56:14ID: 25651773

The trick to learning n-lite fast is to keep it simple. Forget about unattended installs or adding drivers or any other things .... just do the SP3 part.....and once you do this the first time... all the rest will click in place.

 

by: Camilleri_DavidPosted on 2009-10-24 at 04:58:53ID: 25651782

ok

 

by: Camilleri_DavidPosted on 2009-10-24 at 05:44:57ID: 25651911

I am stuck.

I have installed nLite and when it is trying to find the SP3 pack, I do not have it. I tried to download SP3 from Microsoft but the stand alone version is only available under subscription.

??????????

 

by: BitsBytesandMorePosted on 2009-10-24 at 08:37:20ID: 25652657

I think .. you will need to download this one as well...... it says Vista but below it says that it works with XP Sp2.....

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=C7D4BC6D-15F3-4284-9123-679830D629F2&displaylang=en

If I'm not mistaken I believe that you will only need one of the files that come with this download.... I don't remember the name but n-lite will ask you for it and you will find this file in the folder created from the above WAIK installation (you just copy and paste it to the n-lite folder in Program Files (if it doesn't do it automatically for you).

 

by: Camilleri_DavidPosted on 2009-10-24 at 13:35:22ID: 25654171

the nLite has been successful. Now I have to run again sfc /scannow again?

 

by: BitsBytesandMorePosted on 2009-10-24 at 13:39:10ID: 25654197

Cool ......Yes.... and insert your new XP Pro SP3 when asked.....

 

by: BitsBytesandMorePosted on 2009-10-24 at 15:41:20ID: 25654728

So .... how is it going? To summarize, we removed the viruses, recreated the hosts file and are now veryfing the OS files to make sure everything is in place, not corrupt and no missing critical files..

Lastly .... to speed it up a bit.... do not forget

Go to start-run and type: cleanmgr.exe

After this finishes and you clean all the clutter .....

Go to start-run and type: Dfrg.msc and defragment your hard drives.

 

 

by: Camilleri_DavidPosted on 2009-10-24 at 16:01:39ID: 25654784

Now I am going to sleep. It is now 1am in Central European Time. Continue tomorrow or maybe Monday.

Thanks.

 

by: Camilleri_DavidPosted on 2009-10-26 at 07:05:44ID: 25662317

Everything is completed with defrag as well.

What is next?

 

by: BitsBytesandMorePosted on 2009-10-26 at 08:02:37ID: 25662929

That's it. We've done everything you can do to insure that your system is optimal short of running 3rd party applications to enhance performance (you had mentioned that you have tried other performance enhancing apps and you were not happy - the ones you were using are very good but they all have problems when your computer has viruses and malware).

At this point:

1.we removed the viruses/malwares

2. Recreated the missing hosts file

3. Slipstreamed you XP Pro CD and made a new XP Pro SP3 CD disc.

4. Verified the existence and replaced any critical OS file that could have been damaged.

5. We've  cleaned out all your temporary files from the computer with cleanmgr.exe .

6. We've defragmented.

The only additional service you could do to this computer is to download a trial copy (you get a 30 days fully functional version) of TuneUp Utilities 2009 from http://www.tune-up.com/products/tuneup-utilities/  to optimize your registry. I like from this app basically 2 options: the one to correct registry errors and the registry defrag and compress option. This will greatly enhance to performance speed of your applications and correct any remaining issues besides the viruses that was making your computer behave "strangely" as you mentioned in your original question.

Note: Hold on to and label properly your newly created XP-Pro SP3 disc. It will prove useful for any future repairs and it is now your current XP Pro OS disc. Your original one (because it doesn't have SP3 is outdated and should not be used anymore for anything other that slipstreaming).

 

by: Camilleri_DavidPosted on 2009-10-26 at 08:10:24ID: 31642926

PC is now free again from malware. Thanks.

 

by: BitsBytesandMorePosted on 2009-10-26 at 08:14:09ID: 25663045

Thank you for the feedback. I'm glad you are happy with your system again. BTW, I forgot to ask you....Did you find creating a new slipstreamed disc difficult? How long did it take you to figure it out?

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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