programs not closing down

[mathilda]

I have been having problems when closing downmy Toshiba P100 notebook to find the "Program Closing down" end now or cancel message appearing. This is happening more and more often, and now is happening with the program RecordNow. Previously it was Adobe. I do close these programs down, but for some reason they appear at shut down. I use my computer, and I mean use it, for well over 12 hours a day as I am a daytrader, so I need a high speed computer. I have also noticed that sometimes pages appear to tremble and when using favorites there is a stop and go movement.

I run Adaware, Spybot daily, but still get these problems.
I do the Microsoft automatic updates.

Now today I have the problem when starting that it takes ages (at least 5 minutes) before the icons appear but nothing on the taskbar (the bottom right hand side) and the mouse "arrow" changes to the eggtimer when moved to the taskbar. I realise that the computer is still trying to load, but why is it taking so long. It is now nearly an hour since I switched on but still nothing is happening. (Obviously I am using a different computer My Old Faithful Asus to write this message).


thanks - Tilly
XP Pro with SP2.

[dunedin]

Hello Tilly

I think the first thing to do is check your RAM

If you have more than one stick of RAM (256MB or more) take one out and run the machine. If it does not help or makes things worse swap the sticks and try again. This will identify if you have a bad stick.

OR
You can put either of these free programs on a floppy and test the RAM

memtest86
http://www.memtest86.com/

Windows Memory Diagnostic
http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp

Elaine

[Welshjim]

mathilda--Here is a list of references on the subject of a program hanging at shutdown
http://www.google.com/search?sourcei...gs+at+shutdown
It is possible that that problem and the slow start up are connected.
Try
1) Cleaning out your Temporary Internet Files folder. Easiest way would be Start|All Programs|Accessories|System Tools|DiskCleanup. After DiskCleanup scan is complete, uncheck any items you do not want to clean. Then OK.
2) You may have too many programs starting at boot. In WinXP, you need only a few third party programs to start at boot. This would include antivirus, firewall, spyware detectors, networking software, for example. The way to minimize the number of third party programs starting at boot is Start|Run|type msconfig|OK|Startup tab. The programs starting at boot are those with a check in the box at the left. Look here for advice on what programs are not needed at boot.
http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php
Uncheck the boxes for those not needed. Click Apply. Reboot.
You will get a longwinded message which is not worth reading. Click the box at the bottom left|OK.

[mathilda]

Thanks - WelshJim. Very helpful. I will check the sites out. I did manage to get in touch with Toshiba Techsupport this morning and they suggested the msconfig thing you show. They also suggested a system restore which I did.
I still get the program hanging when closing down so will check out the site you mention.

Whilst writing, I like to use a program called GhostSurf, (www.tenebril.com) have done for years, and installed the update last night before this nonstartup problem arose. When I did the system restore am I right in thinking it would not have included any programs I installed after the date chosen, which was two days ago?

How can I remove programs from my computer which are not shown on the ADD/REMOVE in Control Panel and the uninstall choice is missing from the files. As now when I start the computer up I get two error messages with the big red cross on the screen, and two panels on the bottom task bar showing error message one of which has the GhostSurf electricflash icon on it.

I hope you can help me. Thanks

[Train]

How can I remove programs from my computer which are not shown on the ADD/REMOVE

Look in the program folder, that is where I normally find the uninstall.exe.

[mathilda]

Thanks Train - tried that but the file is missing.

[mathilda]

Elaine, thanks but the RAM is OK. All appears to be working with the hardware.

[Train]

How do you uninstall GhostSurf?
Right click on the GhostSurf Tray Icon which is the cat's eye Icon and select Exit to close the program. Then click on Start, Programs, GhostSurf and Uninstall GhostSurf.

Now to be sure the hooks are not in Internet Explorer, first open Internet Explorer and select Tools and then Internet Options. Click on the Connections Tab and then click on the LAN Settings button near the bottom right of that Dialog. Then uncheck all check boxes. That will set Internet Explore back to the default mode it was before using GhostSurf.




http://www.tenebril.com/kb/showitem.php?faq_id=26

[frebo]

add and remove pro will find it and remove it even if it is not in add and remove you can get it here
http://www.shareup.com/Add-Remove_Pr...oad-11835.html

[mathilda]

Thanks Train. I did all that yesterday, but the program I installed last night did not go on properly so I want to remove what did go on - the uninstall file is missing, so I don't know how to do it. I have written to Tenebril but I will not get a reply from them as yet because of their Time Zone compared to Australia's. Thanks for you help, much appreciated.

[frebo]

you can also disable or delete start up
programs with this free tool without going into msconfig you can get it here
http://www.snapfiles.com/download/dlstarter.html

[mathilda]

Thanks Frebo - will give it a go!

[mathilda]

Frebo - I have just run that ADD REMOVE program but unfortunately it will not delete GhostSurf because the uninstall file is missing.

Do you know of any programs that can remove already installed programs that have missing files.

Tilly

[dunedin]

When I did the system restore am I right in thinking it would not have included any programs I installed after the date chosen, which was two days ago?

System Restore would have removed all installs you did after the date you chose to restore to. All the registry entries will be gone for these installs.

So, if you updated GhostSurf later than the restore point it will now be uninstalled.

Elaine

[mathilda]

Thanks Elaine.