My Computer hangs
- Thread starter avbunyan
- Start date
The problem there suggests a problem with the explorer.exe file or another. Windows since 98 has included the system file checker for repair and replacement of the basic system files. You simply type "sfc /scannow" at the Run prompt and press enter to start the utility there that scans those for any changes. Norton doesn't get rave reviews from some. Do you have the installation disk available? the sfc utility will need that to verify files.
A few links directly involve repairs and tweks for both 32bit versions of XP.
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
The second link has a large number of fixes and special "tweaks" to look over. Another tool to use if the problem continues is the msconfig utility to reduce the number of startup programs that load along with Windows. To see if Norton or another software is the cause you can selectively disable all or just one or two programs there. The startup group is the last tab on the right seen when the msconfig command is entered on the Run prompt.
A few links directly involve repairs and tweks for both 32bit versions of XP.
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
The second link has a large number of fixes and special "tweaks" to look over. Another tool to use if the problem continues is the msconfig utility to reduce the number of startup programs that load along with Windows. To see if Norton or another software is the cause you can selectively disable all or just one or two programs there. The startup group is the last tab on the right seen when the msconfig command is entered on the Run prompt.
What do you mean by "it appears to be looking for something"?
I will tell you right now that if your Internet Explorer or desktop isn't crashing on at least a semi-regular basis there is nothing wrong with explorer.exe. It either works or it doesn't. It is possible for a trojan to create an explorer.exe in another directory and rewrite the registry to point to it. Also, don't waste your time with those links. You shouldn't have to "tweak" anything. It should just work.
I think I might have a sneaky suspicion what is going on, but I need to know what you meant by that statement.
I will tell you right now that if your Internet Explorer or desktop isn't crashing on at least a semi-regular basis there is nothing wrong with explorer.exe. It either works or it doesn't. It is possible for a trojan to create an explorer.exe in another directory and rewrite the registry to point to it. Also, don't waste your time with those links. You shouldn't have to "tweak" anything. It should just work.
I think I might have a sneaky suspicion what is going on, but I need to know what you meant by that statement.
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I click My Compute - the hour glass comes up and then the flashlight starts "searching" and then finally the drives show up.
It appears to me that it is "searching" - that is how I describe it.
Thanks
Thanks of the interest - 2 Western Digital 80 gig - single partitions - I can go to the Run command and enter C: or F: and they come up fine - just doesn't like My Computer!
BTW it is not a profile issue either - does this under the Administrator account also.
Looks like I may have to call Nancy Drew!
God bless
You have a secondary ide drive. WHile you are running two WD 80gb drives I run two WD 250gb ide drives. When the primary gets loaded up you will see slowdowns when opening explorer or MyComputer since that is part of explorer. With multiple drives explorer naturally takes more time scanning the other drives as well as the primary.
Thanks PC eye - I have my real legal copy of the CD (amazing huh?) and I'm running the sfc now - will report out.
Thanks
That is probably due to loose value in the system registry. I could suggest a good freeware for running a scan called RegCleaner. Apparently a leftover there is still trying to load something you removed at one time. Even if you find something else later this is a good one to clean things up without seeing problems afterwards. http://www.majorgeeks.com/RegCleaner_d460.html
You can try that, but I highly doubt you'll get anywhere with it. It actually sounds like a bad shell extension, OR that your computer is trying to access a network resource that no longer exists.
One excellent program for checking for bad shell extensions is ShellExView. A registry cleaner won't fix this. This is a common reason for Explorer to hang, even if it's for a minute.
If ShellExView doesn't work, I will provide you with this link. It gives you every reason why Explorer hangs:
http://www.analogduck.com/main/explorer_hangs
One excellent program for checking for bad shell extensions is ShellExView. A registry cleaner won't fix this. This is a common reason for Explorer to hang, even if it's for a minute.
If ShellExView doesn't work, I will provide you with this link. It gives you every reason why Explorer hangs:
http://www.analogduck.com/main/explorer_hangs
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It doesn't really matter what any invelid registry values are for. The idea was to find and remove any to see if that helps there. A reg key can easily be pointing at a network or other settings as well as trying to load a now useless driver. When that utility first opens it will display the programs installed.
You can manually remove reg "keys" there rather then using RegEdit and making a goofup in removing the wrong individual keys, string, DWord, and any other values. System files on the hand need another tool like the sfc utility to repair or repair files from the installation disk.
That can save the hassle of either a repair install or full reinstallation of XP itself. The first link there already looks familiar. (sirkenin yahoo??? sirkenin google??? sirkenin ask.com???
)
You can manually remove reg "keys" there rather then using RegEdit and making a goofup in removing the wrong individual keys, string, DWord, and any other values. System files on the hand need another tool like the sfc utility to repair or repair files from the installation disk.
That can save the hassle of either a repair install or full reinstallation of XP itself. The first link there already looks familiar. (sirkenin yahoo??? sirkenin google??? sirkenin ask.com???
)It was Google and you know it was because you have Google memorized. I'm not at all surprised it looked familiar to you.
I actually put it in there for two reasons... First, so you wouldn't lead him on another one of your famous around-the-barn Google chases and drive him to frustration and formatting, and second because I figured you would appreciate someone else who can use Google the same way you can...
I actually put it in there for two reasons... First, so you wouldn't lead him on another one of your famous around-the-barn Google chases and drive him to frustration and formatting, and second because I figured you would appreciate someone else who can use Google the same way you can...