[Inactive] Processes, Active X, Hanging start-up, HDD constant activity, etc

[kevin333777]

After re-enabling antivirus and firewall i got this weird message, asking about publisher and whether to trust it or not. I am not going to press ok unless you think it is nothing to worry about.

[Hoov]

As much as I don't like what Symantec has done with the Norton products, it is safe to trust them.

If I understood your last post correctly things are starting to work more correctly, except for some hanging on the logon screen?

[kevin333777]

The problem with start up hanging and having a black screen is gone now.

As for starting up and all desktop icons and files on desktop going white with no picture icons, as if attributes are being set to a default programs stopped at one point and now it is doing it again.

As for the rest they don't happen often enough to know if they are fixed. The rest is like at random.

I did leave my computer off all night, and starting up computer, my fan went on high speed for 1-2 seconds, never used to do that. It also does it after computer is on as i use it, at weird times.

[Hoov]

When you start the computer using msconfig in selective startup, do the icons look normal? Does the fan work properly?


C:\Users\\AppData\Local\

To see the hidden AppData folder, go to Organize -> Folder and Search Options -> View tab, and select Show hidden files, folders and drives, and uncheck Hide protected operating system files (Recommended).

Once inside the folder, delete IconCache.db. Create a new file named IconCache.db, and set it to Read Only attribute in Properties (if the file is not read only, the cache won’t be reset). Then restart the computer. Remove the Read Only attribute of IconCache.db file, and the icons cache will be refreshed. The step will restore the desktop shortcut icons to their lawfully icons.

Now rehide the files and folders and let me know if that worked to fix the icon problem.

[kevin333777]

I did as you asked. The file to create is a notepad correct than rename it IconCache.db than restart?

I noticed i have 100 or so dead icons in C:\My Computer files named i believe in hash or hex or w.e. One is named "{FA318DD0-DE6D-4C0E-B0FB-CCE251E3CE26}" Clicking on one asks me what program to open with. I had this happen on my old computer. I also see 155 of folders in AppData named the same way.

I'll try the start up as you said now.

[kevin333777]

The icons stopped doing that attributes thing now, there's no sign of one icon in desktop or task bar doing it anymore. I also disabled some services and start up items in the process. Here is the complete list of them in screen capture.

[Hoov]

Now I understand, Are they all in the same location?

Create a folder someplace and move all those folders to the new file. There appears to be a problem with something in windows (it is under debate on what exactly is doing it) creating these folders.

Reboot your computer and then see what happens.

Let me know.

Also what happens if you start normally in msconfig? There are other ways of turning off things you don't want running.

[kevin333777]

These hash named files and folders are in C:\users\kevin\appdata    and also in     C:\my computer\     I will move them all into a folder elsewhere.

Some of these things have been accumulating over a month or two. Some of these symptoms i have stated happen less regularly then others, and it can be hard to tell.

As for the start up and services, i would uninstall them but i still occasionally use them. I know HP has a lot of junk on my computer. I have HP printer and i like the HP Action center (Which notifies of basic security issues) I may research HP products at a later time and see which ones i can live without. (No need to uninstall now, not of importance as this point)

If i disable these things the other way, wouldn't i need to manually start them up again to use those services used by the program?

[Hoov]

Services you can go into the services thru the admin tools and change thier startup type to manual. This will let you start them when you need them, but it will also allow a program to start them when it needs the service. The startup programs can either be stopped from starting with windows (from inside the program), or I have another tool that you can use to stop them.

I also have one piece of advice that you may want to look into. Get rid of Adobe Acrobat Reader and switch to Foxit Reader. It works just the same except that there is not a plugin for IE (other browsers yes, just not IE). I just recently made the switch myself. I was having a lot of problems with Acrobat Reader and stability.

[kevin333777]

OK i will uninstall the reader and install that one.

I have a question that may help if all these things aren't malware related.

Is it true that a Windows disk (lets say Windows 7 disk)  is all versions of Windows 7 on it? Such as for example: Windows 7 basic, windows 7 premium and Windows 7 ultimate? But which product key is what chooses which version it installs?

If so i do have legal copies of windows xp pro, vista business and Windows 7 ultimate with product keys. So would making a Windows ultimate dvd disk be of use, if all other versions of windows 7 are on this same ISO?

i believe there is a cmd with "Scan" in the cmd or something that verifies windows files and corrects errors. But this would only work if each windows CD does in fact have all versions of that Windows version on it.

[kevin333777]

I was uninstalling some programs i no longer use. And i decided to run Ccleaner. I found these "Invalid Firewall rules" in registry scan. I had to take two screen shots to show the full description and file path. Thought it would be relevant for you to know. It may be nothing, but left over keys from an uninstall.

[Hoov]

Is it true that a Windows disk (lets say Windows 7 disk)  is all versions of Windows 7 on it? Such as for example: Windows 7 basic, windows 7 premium and Windows 7 ultimate? But which product key is what chooses which version it installs?

I have heard of this and as far as I know this is not true. If you download windows 7, the files are different. I do believe the 32 and 64 bit versions are on the same disc. I am not sure about Vista's install disc. But as for Windows XP I can tell you that each version has its own disc.

If so i do have legal copies of windows xp pro, vista business and Windows 7 ultimate with product keys. So would making a Windows ultimate dvd disk be of use, if all other versions of windows 7 are on this same ISO?

Having the Discs are useful in certain circumstances, no matter what version of windows you have. With windows XP you can create up to date install discs. With Vista and Windows 7 you cannot, so there is really no point in copying an install disc for anything.

i believe there is a cmd with "Scan" in the cmd or something that verifies windows files and corrects errors. But this would only work if each windows CD does in fact have all versions of that Windows version on it.

The command you are thinking about is sfc /scannow. Only with XP do you need the CD to run the command. With Vista and Windows 7 you do  not need the disc to run the scan.


From the slant of these questions I think what you should have is the original Vista and Windows 7 install DVD that you purchased. With Windows XP I recommend creating an up to date install Disc to go with the original install disc.

Does that help?


About ccleaner, I actually don't recommend that people do a cleaning of the registry. There is not much point to it, as long as the entries are not creating a problem.

How is the computer running?

[kevin333777]

Ok thanks, i wasn't sure about the installation disk.

I do notice a lag in my computer and unless you think it is not malware related. I guess i can try to figure it out. And if worse comes to worse i always have 2 options. Either use my HP recovery to restore to factory condition or upgrade to Ultimate.


Thanks very much fr taking the time to help me again. If you think its window glitches and such and not malware related, i guess that will be all.

The rest of the symptoms happen every so often, like few times a week or little longer. With some of these things happening within last month or so, i figured it would be worth mentioning. It was everything i have seen on my computer that happened over last month or two, that lead me to believe it looks like malware.

But its hard tell it these type of things are malware or just glitches on windows.

[Hoov]

We can press on with this, no worries.

Lets look at the lag first, reboot using the msconfig instructions below. If you go onto the internet, stay on reputable sites because your security is disabled.

I need you to reboot windows cleanly. To do that please go to the run command and type in msconfig . Once that starts, select selective startup, and then uncheck the load startup items. Now click on the services tab, and down near the bottom of the window, check the box that says Hide all Microsoft Services now go up and uncheck all the services still listed, make sure you scroll down the list if need to unselect all the non Microsoft services. Now click apply, then click OK and reboot the computer.

Test your computer out, see if there are any lags. Also check out any other problems that you can. Once you have decided, run msconfig and select normal startup then click apply then OK and reboot your computer.

Let me know what you found out.

[Hoov]

kevin333777, do you still need help?