Windows XP Freezes

**howie7** · June 30th, 2009, 02:33 AM

Windows XP SP2
Asus A7N8X Deluxe MB
1.5GB RAM
160 GB Maxtor HD
Sapphire X1550 Graphics
Mcfee protection.
Dual Boot with Vista.

I have an issue with Windows XP SP2, which I require some assistance.

Every time I boot into XP, after a short period of time XP freezes. It doesn't appear to be at any one point in time/ One cannot open any applications, click on the Start Menu etc, but the Mouse pointer continues to move, so is not a complete crash. I've also noticed that if I'm printing, the printer stops as well. This freeze also occurs before even signing in as a user. ctl-alt-del also doesn't work. Only option is a reset.

I've carried out several repair builds and HD checks, and cannot find any issues. Run Registry Mechanic & CCleaner.

I think all started when I tried to download an application, to speed up graphics presentation to prevent freezing for Youtube video, but cannot be sure. I know I had to abort download/install partway through.

**NooNoo** · June 30th, 2009, 03:30 AM

OK, what does the event viewer have to say?
Does Vista freeze as well?
Have you updated your video drivers from ATI?

Did you actually install the Youtube video software... did you run it or save it on the download? What software was it?

**slgrieb** · June 30th, 2009, 12:36 PM

I don't have much doubt that your "software to speed up Youtube" was malware. So, I would download and run (in Safe Mode) Combofix for a start. You should rename the file to something like 123xx.exe instead of combofix.exe before you run it. I would also download and run both Spybot Search & Destroy and Malwarebytes Anti-Malware afterwards.

When you install Spybot S&D, you should uncheck the option to use System Protection/Tea Timer. I would run Spybot right after Combofix and follow up with Anti-Malware's full scan, which can take several hours if there are many files on the computer.

Also, you really should avoid all of the registry cleaners and repair tools. Usually, they do more to hurt your system than help it.

**howie7** · July 3rd, 2009, 02:31 AM

I've ran Combofix, Spybot & Malwarebytes, and althoughit found afew files, it unfortunately hasent solved the problem. Thanks anyway.

I am currently trying to reinstall the drivers for my Sapphire X1550 AGP card, to see if this solves the issue. I am having difficulties in that XP wants a basic VGA driver installed first. I cannot get XP to do this.

However, if anyone has any other idea's, please let me know.

**NooNoo** · July 3rd, 2009, 02:41 AM

OK, did you uninstall the ATI software from control panel first?
Did you look in event viewer? What errors are there?
Which ATI driver are you downloading and where are you downloading it from?

**howie7** · July 3rd, 2009, 07:34 AM

ATI drivers were being uninstalled from Control Panel 'Add & Remove Programs'. ATI driver being re-installed via supplied install cd.
Unable to complete this due to xp continually freezing.
Within event viewer, please advise where & what should I be looking for?
System tends to behave in Safe Mode, but even here cannot install ATI driver.

**slgrieb** · July 3rd, 2009, 11:33 AM

It's possible you may need to run a Repair Installation of Windows, but first try booting Windows into VGA Mode. That's one of the options you get to using the F8 key at startup just like safe mode. What happens?

**howie7** · July 3rd, 2009, 04:48 PM

carried out repair install in vga mode. Completed success fully. However same issue exists. When desktop is booted in, the mouse pointer moves, but 9 out of 10, cannot select any icon anywhere. If I do manage to select ie. windows explorer, xp freezes just after.
I am however still having issue with the ATI Graphics re-install, although the drivers exist.
In the Event viewer application, there are errors:-
'The performance counter name string value in the registry is incorrectly formatted. The bogus string is 12496, the bogus index value is the first DWORD in Data section while the last valid index values are the second and third DWORD in Data section.' & 'Unloading the performance counter strings for service WmiApRpl (WmiApRpl) failed. The Error code is the first DWORD in Data section.'

**NooNoo** · July 3rd, 2009, 05:22 PM

have a read here and try the fix.

**slgrieb** · July 3rd, 2009, 05:57 PM

Howie, the purpose of booting the computer in VGA mode was to see if you continued to experience problems with system freezes. You know, don't you, that a Repair Installation of Windows is normally done by booting from the XP CD, not from withing Windows, right? So, I'm curious about how you ran the repair in VGA mode.

**NooNoo** · July 3rd, 2009, 06:17 PM

I'm thinking he meant system restore rather than repair...

**howie7** · July 4th, 2009, 01:41 PM

NooNoo, I've taken note of the WMI detail, and ran the script as supplied by Microsoft. It has returned a log file which came back with one error '1 error(s) 0x8004100C - (WBEM_E_NOT_SUPPORTED) Feature or operation is not supported
18015 19:27:59 (0) ** ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18016 19:27:59 (0) ** WMI Registry key setup:'.

I wasn't sure how to run the script / commands otherwise. I did this from the Safe Mode Command Prompt.
Slgrieb, I ran a repair install in safe mode by firstly selecting VGA mode, then rebooted from CD.
I'll try a system restore if it'll let me.

**NooNoo** · July 4th, 2009, 03:28 PM

ok but did you run the fix shown?
rundll32 wbemupgd, UpgradeRepository

**howie7** · July 4th, 2009, 04:02 PM

Please can I have guidance onhow to run the fix. Do I run fromthe Command Prompt in Safe Mode?
Just ran a further repair install. Made no difference. Takes about 30 mins to do last 2 mins of removing temp files.

**NooNoo** · July 4th, 2009, 04:46 PM

you open a cmd prompt and type in the line shown for the os. I don't think it matters whether you are in safe mode or not... but if there is something wrong, safe mode has a better chance of not having something else blocking it.