Re-Installation Didn't Help

[joegaff]

I have just re-installed XP on my laptop as it became unbearably slow and sometimes would not boot. The problem came back and I can't pinpoint any particular software that coincided with it. When I turned off the Norton Internet Security start up programs in msconfig, it seemed to fix it. So I then uninstalled NIS but the problem is still there. Also I noticed when I defrag that the green "unmovable files" are in a different place now compared to when I brought it home from the shop. This must have happened during the re-install. I installed and ran Diskeeper and this shows my green system files kind of all over the place. Is this part of the problem? How can I fix it? My machine takes 10-15 min to boot sometimes. Help!

[joegaff]

Sorry. I am running XP Home. Computer is a Samsung X10, 1.4G Pentium M, 40G HDD and 512Mb RAM.

[SuperSparks]

Hi joegaff, welcome to Virtual DR

Go to My Computer and in the Tools>Folder Options>View tab, check "Display the contents of system folders", select "Show hidden files and folders" and uncheck "Hide protected OS files". Then go to the root folder of the C:\ drive and open boot.ini in Notepad. Append " /sos /bootlog" without the quotes after " /fastdetect". Then after you've rebooted the syatem you'll have a file called "Ntbtlog.txt" in your Windows folder. A study of that should show where the hang is occurring - post back with the results and we'll take it from there.

[joegaff]

Thanks for the reply. I did as you said and it came back with a long list. I have copied it all here as I'm really new. Sorry.

Service Pack 112 21 2003 06:09:42.500
Loaded driver \WINDOWS\system32\ntoskrnl.exe
Loaded driver \WINDOWS\system32\hal.dll
Loaded driver \WINDOWS\system32\KDCOM.DLL
Loaded driver \WINDOWS\system32\BOOTVID.dll
Loaded driver ACPI.sys
Loaded driver \WINDOWS\System32\DRIVERS\WMILIB.SYS
Loaded driver pci.sys
Loaded driver isapnp.sys
Loaded driver ohci1394.sys
Loaded driver \WINDOWS\System32\DRIVERS\1394BUS.SYS
Loaded driver compbatt.sys
Loaded driver \WINDOWS\System32\DRIVERS\BATTC.SYS
Loaded driver pciide.sys
Loaded driver \WINDOWS\System32\DRIVERS\PCIIDEX.SYS
Loaded driver intelide.sys
Loaded driver pcmcia.sys
Loaded driver MountMgr.sys
Loaded driver ftdisk.sys
Loaded driver ACPIEC.sys
Loaded driver \WINDOWS\System32\DRIVERS\OPRGHDLR.SYS
Loaded driver PartMgr.sys
Loaded driver VolSnap.sys
Loaded driver atapi.sys
Loaded driver disk.sys
Loaded driver \WINDOWS\System32\DRIVERS\CLASSPNP.SYS
Loaded driver sr.sys
Loaded driver KSecDD.sys
Loaded driver Ntfs.sys
Loaded driver NDIS.sys
Loaded driver rmedia.sys
Loaded driver Mup.sys
Loaded driver agp440.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\gv3.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\CmBatt.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\nv4_mini.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\usbuhci.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\usbehci.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\nic1394.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\el90xbc5.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\i8042prt.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\kbdclass.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\SynTP.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\mouclass.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\imapi.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\cdrom.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\redbook.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\cwawdm.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\AGRSM.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\Modem.SYS
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\fsvga.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\audstub.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\rasl2tp.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\ndistapi.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\ndiswan.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\raspppoe.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\raspptp.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\msgpc.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\psched.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\ptilink.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\raspti.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\termdd.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\swenum.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\update.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\NDProxy.SYS
Did not load driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\NDProxy.SYS
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\usbhub.sys
Did not load driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\lbrtfdc.SYS
Did not load driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\Fdc.SYS
Did not load driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\Flpydisk.SYS
Did not load driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\Sfloppy.SYS
Did not load driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\i2omgmt.SYS
Did not load driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\Changer.SYS
Did not load driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\Cdaudio.SYS
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\Fs_Rec.SYS
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\Null.SYS
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\Beep.SYS
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\drivers\vga.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\mnmdd.SYS
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\RDPCDD.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\Msfs.SYS
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\Npfs.SYS
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\rasacd.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\ipsec.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\tcpip.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\netbt.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\netbios.sys
Did not load driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\processr.sys
Did not load driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\PCIDump.SYS
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\rdbss.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\mrxsmb.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\wanarp.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\arp1394.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\Fips.SYS
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\Fastfat.SYS
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\drivers\afd.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\ndisuio.sys
Did not load driver \SystemRoot\System32\drivers\afd.sys
Did not load driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\rdbss.sys
Did not load driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\mrxsmb.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\mrxdav.sys
Did not load driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\Parport.SYS
Did not load driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\Serial.SYS
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\wdmaud.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\sysaudio.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\splitter.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\aec.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\swmidi.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\DMusic.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\kmixer.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\drmkaud.sys
Loaded driver \??\C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG6\avgcore.sys
Loaded driver \??\C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG6\avgfsh.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\srv.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\Cdfs.SYS
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\kmixer.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\rmedia.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\rmedia.sys

[joegaff]

Also, the black screen which lists the drivers flashes by very quickly. The next blue screen where it says Boot Logging Enabled is where it seems to hang for a few minutes. The computer has always got really bogged down trying to return from hibernate. Don't know if it is relevant but thought I would mention it.

Thanks.

[SuperSparks]

OK, there's nothing obvious jumpimg out at me. Try this tool from MS, it's specifically designed to help improve startup performance and should help identify the culprit:

BootVis

[SuperSparks]

Sorry, I've just discovered that MS have removed it from their site without explanation

I've got a copy, it's a 329 KB zip file. If you PM me your email address I'll send it to you if you like.

[joegaff]

I clicked on the link and it says "the download you have requested is not available". I tried searching for it and nothing came up. I am thinking about doing the install again. I changed from "owner" to "user" inadvertantly when I did the re-install and I notice that the "owner" files are still on the computer. How can I start from scratch and wipe the drive? I don't have a floppy drive.

Thanks for your help and your patience.

[usil]

Bootvis
Bootvis
Bootvis
Bootvis

Enjoy!

[joegaff]

Now I am in real trouble. Have put the Restore Disk in and formatted the drive and created a partition. After about 15 mins I get an error message saying "Windows cannot format this partition. The disk may be damaged. Make sure the drive is switched on....."

I read in a previous post from SuperSparks to download a diagnostic utility from the hard drive manufacturers website. I went to Toshiba and could not find anything. It is a Toshiba MK4019GAX. The Samsung website was no help either.

Any ideas anyone???

[SuperSparks]

Yes, I was coming round to thinking it might be an HDD problem. Here is Samsung's drive diagnostic utility:

http://www.samsung.com/Products/Hard...ies/shdiag.htm

If it comes up clean, see if there's an option to do a Low Level format - it can sometimes work wonders with difficult hard drives. It takes several hours to do one though.

[joegaff]

The HDD is a Toshiba even though the computer is a Samsung. There appears to be no utility for the Toshiba. Can I use the Samsung program on the Toshiba HDD?

I also just selected the quick format option and it worked. I can tell already though the computer is very slow and making considerable noise.

Thanks again.

[SuperSparks]

Sorry, my bad - I didn't even know Toshiba made hard drives until now! I can't find a Toshiba utility anywhere either. This is the closest I've found:

http://www.disk-utility.com/toshiba-...-software.html

However I've come across these people before and they only seem to pretend to have the utility, in fact they want to sell you their own product. However that's available as a demo version if you want to give it a go.

Noises from HD's are a very bad sign, I've got to say, and if you're pretty certain that it is the hard drive that's making the noise then I think we can safely say that that is where the problem lies.

[joegaff]

Thanks so much for your help. I will try the shop where I bought the computer as it is only 6 months old.

Thanks again.

[joegaff]

Just wanted to thank everyone for their help last month especially SuperSparks. Outcome of this was impending hard drive failure. Samsung replaced the drive but made me pay as they said there was liquid spilled on it.

No spillage to my knowledge but what can you do when you need your computer back?

I could have had it fixed much cheaper but they told me it would void my warranty. The big joke here is that they put a different HDD in than what it was shipped with and did not tell me. They also only guarantee this for 1 month and to make things even worse it came back formatted FAT 32!

You live and learn!