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Desktop loading is delayed
Running Windows 7 Professional SP-1 32-bit. For the past year or so, after reboot, there is a 90-second delay before the desktop appears. Meanwhile, there is a white screen with visible cursor. My system configuration and applications change frequently, and I can't specify what may have changed immediately before this behavior started. I'd appreciate some guidance on identifying/rectifying the issue.
The system runs Norton Security and MalwareBytes, and I don't believe there is any infection.
The system runs Norton Security and MalwareBytes, and I don't believe there is any infection.
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Are you on a domain? If so, there are a number of possibilities.
When you have the white (?) screen with cursor, what is the hard drive light doing? If blinking, is it mostly on or off?
I'd check for drives/devices in File Explorer that are no longer present. Windows may be stuck trying to find them.
I'd also try booting in Safe Mode to see if it is quick or not. If it speeds up, there are things to do to troubleshoot from there.
When you have the white (?) screen with cursor, what is the hard drive light doing? If blinking, is it mostly on or off?
I'd check for drives/devices in File Explorer that are no longer present. Windows may be stuck trying to find them.
I'd also try booting in Safe Mode to see if it is quick or not. If it speeds up, there are things to do to troubleshoot from there.
Thank you. I am not on a domain, but my office machines are on a workgroup. There are no drives or devices which are not present. The HDD LED is dark for the 90 seconds, except a very occasional momentary flicker.
For the past year or so, after reboot, <-- A LOT has happened in a year.
1. Run Windows Update, make sure fully up to date (there were updates this week).
2. Run SFC /SCANNOW from an Administrative Command prompt.
3. If both things fail to resolve the situation, run a Windows 7 Repair Install. Use this tutorial below.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html
1. Run Windows Update, make sure fully up to date (there were updates this week).
2. Run SFC /SCANNOW from an Administrative Command prompt.
3. If both things fail to resolve the situation, run a Windows 7 Repair Install. Use this tutorial below.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html
Thank you. In my initial question, I should have posted all the steps I have tried. I have run the manufacturer's disc check tool, run SFC /scannow, and done an in-place upgrade. I also ran a registry cleaner. Unfortunately, the behavior is unchanged. Windows Update has failed on this system since late in 2015. I spent a week (literally) trying to resolve that, having posted two questions on EE at the time, and I have abandoned the pursuit of a solution.
Registry cleaners can be death to a system, so this may be one cause.
Windows Update has failed on this system since late in 2015.
Best solution for this length of time is WSUS Offline Updater. I have used this on old machines and it works.
http://download.wsusoffline.net/
Windows Update has failed on this system since late in 2015.
Best solution for this length of time is WSUS Offline Updater. I have used this on old machines and it works.
http://download.wsusoffline.net/
I'm very interested in seeing if this will work. When I click "Download", the "Donate" button flashes, and there is no download. The home page says that donations are appreciated, but not required. I'd be inclined to donate if the product helps me, but not necessarily ahead of time. Am I missing something about how to download this application?
The Donate button is on the WSUS web page (screen shot attached).
The white screen happens in Safe Mode.
The white screen happens in Safe Mode.
Got it. I'll make a disc image, then apply the offline Windows Update utility, and post again. May not be until tomorrow...
I suggest you to uninstall all your Antivirus and Internet security programs ( Norton and MalwareBytes ) and test your system, then reinstall them but only set one of them to run in real-time protection. also disable Windows Defender.
Windows Defender on my machines here does not interfere with updates. I agree that I would uninstall or disable Norton (Consumer) and Malwarebytes.
Also run MSConfig -> Startup, and uncheck some unwanted programs to stop running in Windows startup to speed up your system.
Check and see if new drivers has released by Official Website of your Computer Manufacturer
Run Disk Cleanup
Run Disk Defragmenter
Create a new User Account with admin rights, switch into it and retest,
Check and see if new drivers has released by Official Website of your Computer Manufacturer
Run Disk Cleanup
Run Disk Defragmenter
Create a new User Account with admin rights, switch into it and retest,
I'd suspect something at Startup is trying to do something and is timing out.
I'd note CompProvSolv's first post about missing devices/drives and check for those.
Ramin's previous post about using MSConfig is nice but it doesn't list all of the possible places. Look at Bleeping Computer's list https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/windows-program-automatic-startup-locations/ of possible places to check as well.
I'd note CompProvSolv's first post about missing devices/drives and check for those.
Ramin's previous post about using MSConfig is nice but it doesn't list all of the possible places. Look at Bleeping Computer's list https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/windows-program-automatic-startup-locations/ of possible places to check as well.
Thanks to all for comments. I'll turn off Norton and MalWare Bytes before installing Windows Updates. The disk has been defragmented. I'll post again afterwards.
Though I wholeheartedly agree with the suggestions "Ramin" made to this question, I wouldn't be uninstalling Norton or Malwarebytes.
The same test results can be accomplished by just temporarily disabling them to load at startup and if that solves the problem, re-enable them one by one to see which is causing the problem.
I would most certainly disable Windows Defender.
I've dealt with a lot of system slow down issues during my career of providing Windows Support and have frequently found Norton products to be the culprit. Not once has Malwarebytes been a cause of such problems in my experience, but it's certainly not beyond the realms of possibility as all products are constantly being updated.
Just my 2c :)
Best...
The same test results can be accomplished by just temporarily disabling them to load at startup and if that solves the problem, re-enable them one by one to see which is causing the problem.
I would most certainly disable Windows Defender.
I've dealt with a lot of system slow down issues during my career of providing Windows Support and have frequently found Norton products to be the culprit. Not once has Malwarebytes been a cause of such problems in my experience, but it's certainly not beyond the realms of possibility as all products are constantly being updated.
Just my 2c :)
Best...
WSUS appears to have downloaded and installed hundreds of Windows Updates (from 2015 to present). This was done with Norton Security Auto-Protect disabled, and Windows Defender turned off. I did make a contribution through the WSUS site, since this application resolved an issue which was stuck for almost two years.
I'm glad to have a way to work around the failure of the usual Windows Update process. I'm also a little apprehensive, because my past experience with Windows Updates is not entirely favorable. Sometimes an update resulted in unwanted quirks, such as the desktop not refreshing, or error messages that a file cannot be found after it is moved or renamed. Time will tell...
The updates did not affect the white screen/delay in loading the desktop. However, I do have an additional observation which may narrow down the issue. Once the logon screen appears, if I wait 90 seconds to type my password, the desktop loads instantly. Apparently, the 90-second delay is exhausted during the time that the logon screen appears, unless I log on immediately. Hope that new information will be useful.
I'm glad to have a way to work around the failure of the usual Windows Update process. I'm also a little apprehensive, because my past experience with Windows Updates is not entirely favorable. Sometimes an update resulted in unwanted quirks, such as the desktop not refreshing, or error messages that a file cannot be found after it is moved or renamed. Time will tell...
The updates did not affect the white screen/delay in loading the desktop. However, I do have an additional observation which may narrow down the issue. Once the logon screen appears, if I wait 90 seconds to type my password, the desktop loads instantly. Apparently, the 90-second delay is exhausted during the time that the logon screen appears, unless I log on immediately. Hope that new information will be useful.
if I wait 90 seconds to type my password, the desktop loads instantly
It seems that you have a lot of programs which run during startup.
I still insist on uninstalling those two Antivirus not disabling.
Also uninstall the Display Driver and reinstall it.
click on start type Shell:startup and Hit Enter.
delete whatever is there.
Troubleshoot what program is the cause of startup speed.
Run Msconfig and select "Startup" Tab, Disable all, apply, Ok. restart and check the speed, if startup speed was okay try to reselect them one by one. then restart to see it's effect.
Select Services Tab also and tick the checkbox of "Hide all Microsoft Services", Disable all, restart and do the same you did for startup Items.
Make sure that you have only ONE antivirus running. Malwarebytes can be turned off unless you wish to use it. Norton Consumer should disable Defender.
Then look to see if any processes are trying to start network activity such as logging on to another computer. Persistent drive mappings can cause this. Search for unattached printers can cause this.
Then look to see if any processes are trying to start network activity such as logging on to another computer. Persistent drive mappings can cause this. Search for unattached printers can cause this.
@John Hurst
Hi John,
I'm curious, have you ever looked into or tried Malwarebytes?
It doesn't claim to be an Antivirus. Here's a definition of it's intentions found with a simple google search.
Just wondering why you're referring to it as an Antivirus when clearly it doesn't even advertise itself as one.
Cheers..
Hi John,
I'm curious, have you ever looked into or tried Malwarebytes?
It doesn't claim to be an Antivirus. Here's a definition of it's intentions found with a simple google search.
Malwarebytes is not meant to be a replacement for antivirus software. Malwarebytes is a complementary but essential program which detects and removes zero-day malware and "Malware in the Wild"
Just wondering why you're referring to it as an Antivirus when clearly it doesn't even advertise itself as one.
Cheers..
I only use Malwarebytes as a cleanup tool on client machines. I do not use as a running antivirus app. The free one does not run in real time. I just wanted to make sure the paid tool (which can run in real time) was not loaded along with Norton Consumer.
Thanks to everyone for comments. There are mapped network drives which are reconnected at startup, and many startup applications. But that has been so for more than ten years, and the white screen/delay didn't start until relatively recently.
I'd like to take some time to work with MSConfig, as specified in one of the comments, and then post again...
I'd like to take some time to work with MSConfig, as specified in one of the comments, and then post again...
Perhaps do this re: Networking and Printers -
1. Open Command.com and then NET USE T: /Delete for all mapped drives T:
2. Remove any printers no longer used.
Shut down, start up and test again.
3. Make sure from Windows Updates that .NET Framework is up to date. V4.6 or greater. This is part of many apps now.
1. Open Command.com and then NET USE T: /Delete for all mapped drives T:
2. Remove any printers no longer used.
Shut down, start up and test again.
3. Make sure from Windows Updates that .NET Framework is up to date. V4.6 or greater. This is part of many apps now.
yes - but if one of the mapped drives - or connections starts to fail - that is precisely what will happen
I disabled all non-Microsoft services, and all startup applications with MSConfig, and ran net use /delete * but the issue persists. I attached a couple of items relating to boot performance diagnostics...
Boot-Performance.txt
Boot-Performance.txt
It may be now that you may need to back up the system and do a fresh install. My own Windows 7 system does not do this and our client systems do not do this either.
We have done this at a number of clients to fix issues. In our experience, the display driver does not cause this issue. If it does in some cases, I am not aware.
I certainly appreciate all Expert's interest! That said, it's a little difficult to perform every step advocated by everyone. If someone has a particular insight, based on the information I posted in my previous comment, I'm open to trying it. Otherwise, I believe I will just live with the issue. An in-place Windows upgrade did not remedy this, and I'm not willing to reinstall all my applications and re-configure the system after a fresh install.
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