Please!! Urgent help needed for Windows XP clean-up!!!!

[Avastfan1]

Firstly, hello and apologies in advance for this long post. I thought it a good idea to try all these things myself and then describe the results here to try and save everyone some precious time.

Thank you so much for your time reading this and your help, it is much appreciated.

I tried Belarc Advisor but it wouldn’t load on the computer, I shall try it again next time.

Problem: Windows XP takes about 8 minutes to load (3 minutes to get to the black screen with the windows logo and another 3-4 minutes until the blue welcome screen loads). The computer is also slow once loaded.

Assessment so far:
Having spent 9 hours straight (I’m not joking either) scanning the computer with 6 antispyware, 2 anti-rootkit programs and a thorough virus scan without finding anything I am reasonably sure (I understand one can’t be 100%) it is not spyware, adware, malware or virus related. Also to my untrained eye the hijack this scan log (sorry I forgot to save it and will post it here when I return to my friend’s house to try and fix the computer again) and the list of processes running on startup didn’t look unusual or excessive.

Having performed clean-up and maintenance tasks (please see below) without any change, my guess is that it is one of these three problems:
- Windows XP itself is corrupt
- The hard-drive itself is defective
- Another problem exists which you experts (compared to this newbie) can see

PLEASE HELP ME, ALL SUGGESTIONS, COMMENTS, IDEAS (NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE) ARE WELCOME AND DESPERATELY NEEDED!!!!!!!!!

Computer Specifications:
- Fujitsu Laptop (also has Siemens written on it)
- Intel Celeron 1.86ghz
- 448MB Ram (I realise this is not much, but 8 minutes to boot XP is excessive)
- 80GB Harddrive (80% Free Space)
- 56k Modem (with 512k DSL Internet Connection)
- Windows XP SP2 – Fully updated from windows update site
- Windows Firewall & Automatic Updates turned on
- Avast Pro 4.7.1098 – latest virus def file
- Zone Alarm Pro 7.0.462.000 (latest version & anti-spyware def file)
- Microsoft Office XP
- No other major programs installed

Clean-up/Maintenance tasks to solve problem tried so far:
- Ensured Windows was up-to-date with security patches
- Checked startup programs/processes and removed adobe autostarter.
- To my untrained eye no unusual items in the list of startup processes nor the hijack this scan log (I shall post it here when I return to fix the laptop)
- Cleared C:\WINDWS\Temp, Firefox and Internet Cache, Passwords and Browsing History
- Set windows wallpaper to a blank screen and removed unnecessary desktop icons
- Uninstalled all non-essential programs on the laptop
- Ran Ccleaner and cleared all items under ‘Windows & Applications’
- Defragmented Harddrive – No problems found
- Ran Windows Diskcleanup – Only 2MB space cleared
- Tested the harddrive for errors with (windows error checking tool under harddrive properties, tools tab then error checking) – No errors found
- Went to my computer, properties, advanced tab, settings and deselecting everything except:
    * Animate Windows when minimizing and maximizing
    * Smooth edges of screen fonts
    * Smooth-scroll list boxes
    * Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop

Ran the following programs in safe mode (except where stated otherwise):
- Online scan with ewido and bit-defender – nothing found
- Boot-time scan with Avast Pro – nothing found (other than 3 corrupt archive non-system files)
- ZA Anti-spyware (latest def file) – nothing found
- AVG Anti-spyware (latest def file) – nothing found
- Spybot S&D (latest def file) – nothing found
- Adaware 2007 Plus (latest def file) – nothing found
- Superantispyware (latest def file) – nothing found
- A squared (latest def file) – nothing found
- F-secure Blacklight (latest version) – nothing found (note: does not run in safe mode)
- AVG Anti-rootkit (latest version) – nothing found (note: does not run in safe mode)

[Lisandro]

Run Bootvis and make a boot test, the graphics will shown which driver is blocking the boot process. http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/System-Tweak/BootVis.shtml

[Lisandro]

Oh, I forgot

- Windows Firewall & Automatic Updates turned on
- Zone Alarm Pro 7.0.462.000 (latest version & anti-spyware def file)

Disable Windows Firewall as you're using ZA.

After all, you can test uninstalling ZA to see what you get.

[bob3160]

To check for corrupted system files, use the following:

sfc /scannow
Use Run and then paste the above command on the run line and hit enter. Make sure the WinXP disk is in the
CD Rom Drive. This will check the system files against the original install and make sure none are missing or have been corrupted.
You will need to run Windows Update after this is completed.

sfc /scannow

[Avastfan1]

Dear All,

I would like to thank each and every one of you for your time and support, it has been absolutely fantastic!

The problem has been solved and related to a problem/corruption within Windows system files.

After many hours, and following all the helpful advice here, system restore appears to have fixed the problem.

I realise the advice provided on here is given by wonderful people who do so without financial reward, and I cannot express my sincere appreciation enough in words.

So please know that you REALLY helped a person in need and that the kindness you have shown will be returned to you somehow by somebody in life and provide you with help and reward when you need it!!!

Many thanks again, I am extremely grateful and wish you all the best for the future.

ZA_avastfan.

[bob3160]

It's nice to hear that you've solved your problem. 
I for one have already received my reward many times over.
Just look at my avatar. 

[MikeBCda]

To check for corrupted system files, use the following:

sfc /scannow
Use Run and then paste the above command on the run line and hit enter. Make sure the WinXP disk is in the
CD Rom Drive. This will check the system files against the original install and make sure none are missing or have been corrupted.
You will need to run Windows Update after this is completed.

sfc /scannow

Hi Bob (or anyone else who jumps in first),

Kindly correct a gap in my already limited knowledge? Hopefully this is something I'll never have to do, but ...

My now-antique system came with XP installed and the XP CD on the side -- I think including SP1, since I don't remember having to do that upgrade.

I later got and installed the SP2 upgrade from MS's CD.

Will that sfc etc. run properly from the SP2 upgrade CD?  Or would I have to go back to the original, then upgrade again, then catch up on subsequent updates?

Thanks and best,
Mike

[bob3160]

Mike,
I usually use the latest slipped disk that I have available which contains SP2 and most of the updates.
That way the updates required after using the system file checker (SFC) the remaining updates are at a minimum.

[Hard_ROCKER]

@MikeBCda:

You can use this program to slipstream SP2 and tweak your xp installation:

http://www.nliteos.com/

[MikeBCda]

Thanks, guys.  Unfortunately I'm probably the last person in the universe still without a burner, which I presume would be necessary for slipstreaming.

So back to the original question.  Can I do the repair-CD boot thing just from the SP2 upgrade CD, or would I have to go back to the original one?

[bob3160]

Can I do the repair-CD boot thing just from the SP2 upgrade CD, or would I have to go back to the original one?

Yes  you'll just have more to update then with a fully updated slipstreamed CD but there'll be less to update than if you
had used the original XP CD.