Computer freezes when first booted up and Avast updates

[Tarq57]

I'm not sure if this is what you're asking me or not, but when I right click on My Computer, I found this information:CPU 2.20GHz 2.10GHz, 248 MB of RAM

248MB of RAM is not really enough, and is the main contributor to your problem. Just the OS (Windows) will be using a large percentage of that, without additional programs running.
RAM is a relatively cheap investment that can provide a new lease of life to an (otherwise healthy) aging computer.
It needs to be the right kind of RAM, and I'm not particularly au fait in this area; I just upgraded by purchasing direct from the guy that built my computer, then watching as he installed it.

I will most definitely need help in determining what other items start with windows.

Disabling un-needed items from starting with Windows can make a noticeable difference on an aging system. There are a lot of programs that default to starting with Windows, even though the user might only need them running a small percentage of the time. Things like Adobe acrobat, for example.
Any items disabled will load when called upon, it will just take a little longer for them to open.
To find a list of what starts with Windows, click "start" then "run", type in msconfig and click OK or push enter. The screen that opens looks a bit like the first screenshot.
Click on the "startup" tab you will get a window that looks like the second screenshot. (You may notice that there aren't many items ticked in my example.)
If you can, post a screenshot of this, or a list of all the startup items.
Pretty much anything that isn't security related can be disabled. It is best to do this via the individual program concerned rather than through msconfig, where that option is available.

[hotrodfanatic]

DavidR,

I don't have the product key anymore. And I don't even know what version it is either. I ran a search and when it showed up, I highlighted it, then clicked on delete. But I got this message:

Cannot delete AluChedulerSvc.exe Access is denied.
Make sure the disk is not full or write-protected and that the file is not currently in use.

Thanks.

[hotrodfanatic]

Targ57,

This is the list of things that are checked under the Startup tab.
GWMDMMSG
SynTLpr
SynTPEnh
GWMDMpi
igfxtray
hkcmd
GWInkMonitor
DirectCD
REGSHAVE
WkUFind
ashDisp
sprtcmd
msmsgs
ctfmom
PowerReg Scheduler

My computer is getting old, but I hate to part with it. I'm a novelist and I use Microsoft Word 2002, and the newer computers have Windows Vista, which I 've tried and I can't stand. Plus, many of my author buddies have nothing but trouble with Windows Vista and Microsoft Word 2007. That's why I keep my old computer.

I'll have to check into getting more RAM installed on this computer. Now, if I could buy a new laptop with Windows XP, I'd do that.

Thanks again. I appreciate your patience with me.

[Tarq57]

I'm happy to help, and to research this, but I'll be a while, as I have to leave and do stuff (shopping, work etc) soon.
If you want, Google each of those file names, have a look at some of the results (especially results that are from a forum rather than a sponsored site), do nothing (unless you are feeling confident) but it might give you an idea of what these are.
The first one, anyway, can apparently be idabled without ill-effect. From a Google search

[Tarq57]

In the quote box below I've listed all those startup processes, with a link to some information about them, and an advice of whether to disable or not.
To disable them from startup (with the exception of messenger, which can be disabled from within the program settings) run msconfig again, go to the startup tab, and remove the tick from beside each process you are happy to disable, click apply, and restart. Upon restart, the msconfig too will open again, to let you know you have made changes to the way windows starts. You can tick the box that says "do not show this message or run msconfig at start" and then click OK.

  Entry 1: GWMDMMSG.See http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/startups/GWMDMMSG.exe-1891.html My inclination would be to disable it form starting.
  Entry 2: SynTLpr. See http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/startups/syntplpr.exe-5374.html Best left alone, unless you don't have a need for the touchpad.
  Entry 3: SynTPEnh See http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/startups/syntpenh.exe-5373.html Your choice.
  Entry 4: GWMDMpi See http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/startups/GWMDMpi.exe-1892.html Once again, your choice. I'd be inclined to leave it. And probably the one above. I doubt they'r using much.
  Entry 5: igfxtray.  See http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/startups/igfxtray.exe-2147.html I'd be inclined to disable it.
  Entry 6: hkcmd See http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/startups/igfxtray.exe-2147.html. We need more information about this one. It's probably the hot keys enabling process, which if you don't need, can be disabled. But it may be something nasty, so I'm going to get you to do a computer search for that file. More instructions below.
  Entry 7:  GWInkMonitor See http://www.winvistatips.com/gwinkmonitor-process-p4208.php I'd disable it.
  Entry 8:  DirectCD Need more information about this process. It is probably OK, probably not necessary to run, but I want to know what program it is part of. See more below.
  Entry 9:  REGSHAVE. See http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/startups/regshave.exe-4477.html I'd disable it. But read the description: Re-enable it before uninstalling the Fuji software.
  Entry10:  WkUFind. See http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/startups/WkUFind.exe-6873.html Can be disabled.
  Entry11:  ashdisp. Required by Avast. Leave it.
  Entry12:  sprtcmd See http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/startups/WkUFind.exe-6873.html Is eithrer for the Talk Talk service, or for the Dell Support centre. Either way, it can be disabled.
  Entry13:  msmsgs See http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/startups/msmsgs.exe-3386.html I'd definitely follow the advice under the description. (But then, I don't have nor use messaging programs. Somewhat baiased, I guess. Even if you want to use it, it doesn't need to start with Windows.)
  Entry14:  ctfmom (Did you mean ctfmon?) More info needed, as it is potentially nasty.
  Entry15: PowerReg Scheduler See http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/startups/PowerReg_Scheduler.exe-4135.html I'd be inclined to disable it.

Please click "start" then "search". Search for all files or folders.Type in hkcmd. We are hoping for one result, located in Windows System32, that is part of the intel chipset drivers. When you find the file, right click on it, and select "properties". Looking through the different headers should tell you what you need to know.

Please confirm the "ctfmom" you posted should actually be "ctfmon" in which case it is OK, but it generally is not required to run at startup.
Also, could you do a computer search for this file, exactly as before with hkcmd, and by checking the properties, make sure it is a Ms file, and that it is in maybe 3 places: C:\Windows\$Service pack uninstall$, C:\Windows\System32, and C:\ ServicePackFiles\i386.

There's more to do, to get the 'pooter running at its best. Perform a disk cleanup, if you haven't done this for a while, and a disk defrag immediately afterward.
Both can be found via clicking "start", then going to "programs>accessories>system tools". (There are also 3rd party free tools around that can do this, and they sometimes do a better job. I use Ccleaner by Piriform, and JKDefrag or Auslogics disk defrag.)

ANy questions? If not, try that, see how it's running afterward. 'Preciate if you'd let me know. 

[hotrodfanatic]

Tarq57

Thank you so much!

After I disabled a few of the things you thought would be okay to on the startup tab, I did a disk cleanup and defrag.

My computer hasn't froze once.    Whoo hoo!

I will keep you informed if I disable any more. But right now, because everything is working fine, I'm not going to "fix" what isn't broken. 

I deeply appreciate everything you have done for me and for all your excellent advice.

Thank you.

[Tarq57]

You're very welcome, glad I could help.

Any more problems, just come back.
PS, there is still a potential issue with a couple of the process names you listed. It might be worthwhile, if you don't want to go through the potentially time consuming hassle of investigating them (at least make sure they're signed by MS) to get a demand scanner, like MBAM or Superantispyware, and running a scan from time to time.
A large number of the users here use one or both those applications.
MBAM
Superantispyware.