Failure to initialize everything!

[Fizzz]

This has been puzzling me for some time. I am not sure exactly when it started so can't say what triggered it.

I keep my computer running all the time. At irregular intervals approximately every 2-3 days the computer will partially freeze. I say partially, because programs already loaded continue to work, but any attempt to run any new application produces the message "failed to initialize". So for example I can still use or save an Excel worksheet that was already open but if Excel were not open and I try to open it I would get the "failed to initialize" message. Outwardly the computer appears fine - it is only when I go to use it or realise I haven't had an email in a long while that I suspect it has "gone again". Re-starting the computer without pulling the plug takes 30 minutes, but does eventually work after several non-responsive programs are terminated (not the same ones each time). All very frustrating.

I have googled for answers, but comments seem to be in response to failures starting a particular application, whereas my computer is failing ALL new applications. The other comment has been to do with a lack of login privileges, but I am logged on as Administrator.

Generally I am not at my computer when the problem happens, and the only programs running are Outlook, Zone Alarm and AVG. There are others but I have tried disabling these and they make no difference. I have had a look in the Event Viewer log but nothing jumps out as being a problem (however my knowledge is rather limited). I have tried re-booting every once in a while but this has no effect. Hardware diagnostic tests (PC-Check) find nothing wrong including memory tests and temperatures are OK for the CPU, drive and motherboard. Windows XP is up-to-date and virus and spyware checked. I can see nothing odd in the Hijackthis log.

My biggest problem is that I don't really know where to look. Any advice would be very much appreciated.

(My computer: AMD 2.2GHz 2-core; Asus A8N32-SLI-Deluxe board; 2GB memory; Samsung SP2504C disk; NEC 4550A DVD drive; Gigabyte Radeon X800 XL video card; Viewsonic VX924 flat-panel; Creative SB X-Fi music card, Windows XP Pro

 

[edklite]

what is your even id saying ?

 

[Fizzz]

I'm not sure I understand. If you mean the Event ID in Event Viewer then there does not appear to be any record of an event at exactly the time the problems occur. Looking through the log I can see some entries for the following:

7000 The Sound Blaster Wireless Music Service service failed to start due to the following error: The service cannot be started, either because it is disabled or because it has no enabled devices associated with it.

3019 The redirector failed to determine the connection type

36 The time service has not been able to synchronize the system time for 49152 seconds because none of the time providers has been able to provide a usable time stamp. The system clock is unsynchronized.

1517 Windows saved user AGGY\Richard registry while an application or service was still using the registry during log off. The memory used by the user's registry has not been freed. The registry will be unloaded when it is no longer in use. This is often caused by services running as a user account, try configuring the services to run in either the LocalService or NetworkService account.

 

[edklite]

so both applications and system show no event at the time you get the error???

 

[Fizzz]

It's rather hard to know when the error is occurring, as there is no outward sign, but the log does not show any errors other than these, and even then I'm not sure if they aren't being generated after the "crash" rather than before.

 

[edklite]

next time it happens mark the time or try and view the event viewer.

in the mean time can you post a hijackthis log, it does not hurt to look

 

[Fizzz]

Here's the log. I hope it means more to you than it does to me!

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 18:35:40, on 03/06/2007
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.16441)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\EPSON\eEBAPI\eEBSVC.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgamsvr.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgupsvc.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgemc.exe
C:\Program Files\Belkin\Bluetooth Software\bin\btwdins.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTsvcCDA.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\LogMeIn\RaMaint.exe
C:\Program Files\LogMeIn\LogMeIn.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7DEBUG\MDM.EXE
C:\Program Files\UPHClean\uphclean.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SOUNDMAN.EXE
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgcc.exe
C:\Program Files\GigaByte\VGA Utility Manager\G-VGA.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_01\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\LogMeIn\LogMeInSystray.exe
C:\Program Files\EPSON\Creativity Suite\Event Manager\EEventManager.exe
C:\Program Files\Cobian Backup 8\Cobian.exe
C:\WINDOWS\CTHELPER.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTXFIHLP.EXE
C:\Program Files\Creative\Sound Blaster X-Fi\DVDAudio\CTDVDDET.EXE
C:\Program Files\Creative\Shared Files\Module Loader\DLLML.exe
C:\Program Files\Creative\Sound Blaster X-Fi\Volume Panel\VolPanel.exe
C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\NvMixer\NVMixerTray.exe
C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CTXFISPI.EXE
C:\Program Files\EPSON\Creativity Suite\PageManager\PMSB.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe
C:\Program Files\Creative\Sync Manager Unicode\CTSyncU.exe
C:\Program Files\Creative\MediaSource\Detector\CTDetect.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Research In Motion\RIMDeviceManager\RIMDeviceManager.exe
C:\Program Files\Mail Connector\PwpUpdtr.exe
C:\Program Files\Cobian Backup 8\cbInterface.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Research In Motion\USB Drivers\BbDevMgr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Logitech\Profiler\lwemon.exe
C:\Program Files\Omnidrive\AutoUpdater.exe
C:\Program Files\SkypeMate\SkypeMate.exe
C:\Program Files\Creative\ShareDLL\CADI\NotiMan.exe
C:\Program Files\EPSON\Creativity Suite\PageManager\LicenseCheck.exe
C:\Program Files\Belkin\Bluetooth Software\BTTray.exe
C:\Program Files\Logitech\SetPoint\KEM.exe
C:\Program Files\PowerCheck\PowerCheck.exe
C:\Program Files\Skype\Plugin Manager\SkypePM.exe
C:\Program Files\SpeedFan\speedfan.exe
C:\Program Files\Logitech\SetPoint\KHALMNPR.EXE
C:\Program Files\WorldCommunityGrid\UD.EXE
C:\Program Files\Mail Connector\RMPwpCli.exe
c:\progra~1\popfile\popfileib.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\ZONELA~1\ZONEAL~1\MAILFR~1\mantispm.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\OUTLOOK.EXE
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\WINWORD.EXE
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Program Files\WorldCommunityGrid\ud_13187598.exe
C:\Program Files\WorldCommunityGrid\ud_13187598_0.dir\wcgrid_fcg_ssearch.exe
C:\Program Files\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://news.bbc.co.uk/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL =

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL =

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page =

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page =

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Window Title = Microsoft Internet

Explorer provided by blueyonder
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} -

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program

Files\Java\jre1.6.0_01\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: EpsonToolBandKicker Class - {E99421FB-68DD-40F0-B4AC-B7027CAE2F1A} - C:\Program

Files\EPSON\EPSON Web-To-Page\EPSON Web-To-Page.dll
O3 - Toolbar: EPSON Web-To-Page - {EE5D279F-081B-4404-994D-C6B60AAEBA6D} - C:\Program

Files\EPSON\EPSON Web-To-Page\EPSON Web-To-Page.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SoundMan] SOUNDMAN.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVG7_CC] C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgcc.exe /STARTUP
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATIPTA] C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control

Panel\atiptaxx.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HydraVisionDesktopManager] C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI

HydraVision\HydraDM.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [VGAUtil] C:\Program Files\GigaByte\VGA Utility Manager\G-VGA.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program

Files\Java\jre1.6.0_01\bin\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LogMeIn GUI] "C:\Program Files\LogMeIn\LogMeInSystray.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [EEventManager] C:\Program Files\EPSON\Creativity Suite\Event

Manager\EEventManager.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Cobian Backup 8] "C:\Program Files\Cobian Backup 8\Cobian.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CTHelper] CTHELPER.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CTxfiHlp] CTXFIHLP.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CTDVDDET] "C:\Program Files\Creative\Sound Blaster

X-Fi\DVDAudio\CTDVDDET.EXE"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RCSystem] "C:\Program Files\Creative\Shared Files\Module

Loader\DLLML.exe" RCSystem * -Startup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AudioDrvEmulator] "C:\Program Files\Creative\Shared Files\Module

Loader\DLLML.exe" -1 AudioDrvEmulator "C:\Program Files\Creative\Shared Files\Module

Loader\Audio Emulator\AudDrvEm.dll"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [VolPanel] "C:\Program Files\Creative\Sound Blaster X-Fi\Volume

Panel\VolPanel.exe" /r
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [UpdReg] C:\WINDOWS\UpdReg.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NVMixerTray] "C:\Program Files\NVIDIA

Corporation\NvMixer\NVMixerTray.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ZoneAlarm Client] "C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Scan Buttons] C:\Program Files\EPSON\Creativity

Suite\PageManager\PMSB.EXE
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Skype] "C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe" /nosplash /minimized
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Cobian Backup 7] "C:\Program Files\Cobian Backup 7\CobBU.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [CTSyncU.exe] "C:\Program Files\Creative\Sync Manager

Unicode\CTSyncU.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MtdAcqu] "C:\Program Files\Creative\MediaSource5\MtdAcqu.exe" /s
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Creative Detector] "C:\Program

Files\Creative\MediaSource\Detector\CTDetect.exe" /R
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [RIMDeviceManager] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Research In

Motion\RIMDeviceManager\RIMDeviceManager.exe" -RunServer
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [TeamOnPwpUpdater-RMPwpCli] "C:\Program Files\Mail

Connector\PwpUpdtr.exe" RMPwpCli
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [StartCCC] C:\Program Files\ATI

Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static\CLIStart.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Start WingMan Profiler] "C:\Program

Files\Logitech\Profiler\lwemon.exe" /noui
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Omnidrive] C:\Program Files\Omnidrive\AutoUpdater.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SkypeMate] C:\Program Files\SkypeMate\SkypeMate.exe
O4 - Startup: World Community Grid Agent.lnk = C:\Program Files\WorldCommunityGrid\UD.EXE
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Reader Speed Launch.lnk = C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader

8.0\Reader\reader_sl.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Reader Synchronizer.lnk = C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader

8.0\Reader\AdobeCollabSync.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Bluetooth.lnk = ?
O4 - Global Startup: EPSON Status Monitor 3 Environment Check(2).lnk =

C:\WINDOWS\system32\spool\drivers\w32x86\3\E_SRCV02.EXE
O4 - Global Startup: Logitech SetPoint.lnk = C:\Program Files\Logitech\SetPoint\KEM.exe
O4 - Global Startup: PowerCheck.lnk = C:\Program Files\PowerCheck\PowerCheck.exe
O4 - Global Startup: QuickBooks Update Agent.lnk = C:\Program Files\Common

Files\Intuit\QuickBooks\QBUpdate\qbupdate.exe
O4 - Global Startup: SpeedFan.lnk = C:\Program Files\SpeedFan\speedfan.exe
O4 - Global Startup: StartOrd.bat
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel -

res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~3\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O8 - Extra context menu item: Send To &Bluetooth - C:\Program Files\Belkin\Bluetooth

Software\btsendto_ie_ctx.htm
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program

Files\Java\jre1.6.0_01\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} -

C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_01\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} -

C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~3\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: @btrez.dll,-4015 - {CCA281CA-C863-46ef-9331-5C8D4460577F} - C:\Program

Files\Belkin\Bluetooth Software\btsendto_ie.htm
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @btrez.dll,-4017 - {CCA281CA-C863-46ef-9331-5C8D4460577F} -

C:\Program Files\Belkin\Bluetooth Software\btsendto_ie.htm
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - %windir%\Network

Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 -

{e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - %windir%\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe (file

missing)
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program

Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} -

C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O11 - Options group: [INTERNATIONAL] International*
O14 - IERESET.INF: START_PAGE_URL=http://www.blueyonder.co.uk
O16 - DPF: {0A5FD7C5-A45C-49FC-ADB5-9952547D5715} (Creative Software AutoUpdate) -

http://www.creative.com/su/ocx/15026/CTSUEng.cab
O16 - DPF: {1096842F-FEE8-11D2-965E-0010E3622565} (IFS_Lib00) -

http://roylinedirect.rbs.co.uk/dbpc2/controls/2.7.16.0/IFS_RYD.cab
O16 - DPF: {1E89A357-CF86-11D1-8CAE-00805F93E2D7} (IFS_Wizard1 Control) -

http://roylinedirect.rbs.co.uk/dbpc2/controls/2.7.16.0/IFS_Wz01.cab
O16 - DPF: {219CF65A-B13C-11D2-8D4A-0004ACF74B57} (IFS_Lib04) -

http://roylinedirect.rbs.co.uk/dbpc2/controls/2.7.16.0/IFS_Lb04.cab
O16 - DPF: {29166FB6-2AD6-11D2-8DB7-0001FAF8D270} (IFS_Wizard6 Control) -

http://roylinedirect.rbs.co.uk/dbpc2/controls/2.7.16.0/IFS_Wz06.cab
O16 - DPF: {3269A168-A467-4236-9D77-FF36D8DFB20F} (RIM PwpClient DwnLdr Class) -

https://bis.eu.blackberry.com/html/web/client_tools/RIM-PwpClient.cab
O16 - DPF: {498439C0-0921-11D3-9484-0001FAF8503C} (IFS_Lib10) -

http://roylinedirect.rbs.co.uk/dbpc2/controls/2.7.16.0/IFS_Lb10.cab
O16 - DPF: {4DE7E614-E69B-11D2-947C-0001FAF8503C} (IFS_Lib07) -

http://roylinedirect.rbs.co.uk/dbpc2/controls/2.7.16.0/IFS_Lb07.cab
O16 - DPF: {5915C16A-F555-11D1-8E31-08005AAA630C} (IFS_Wizard5 Control) -

http://roylinedirect.rbs.co.uk/dbpc2/controls/2.7.16.0/IFS_Wz05.cab
O16 - DPF: {5B2FD039-D08C-11D2-9FFD-0004ACF74B57} (IFS_Lib08) -

http://roylinedirect.rbs.co.uk/dbpc2/controls/2.7.16.0/IFS_Lb08.cab
O16 - DPF: {5DD1BBF5-E4B2-11D1-9211-0004ACF75CFC} (IFS_Wizard2 Control) -

http://roylinedirect.rbs.co.uk/dbpc2/controls/2.7.16.0/IFS_Wz02.cab
O16 - DPF: {6A863F66-CA4A-11D2-9FF9-0004ACF74B57} (IFS_Lib05) -

http://roylinedirect.rbs.co.uk/dbpc2/controls/2.7.16.0/IFS_Lb05.cab
O16 - DPF: {6CAE02B8-EB30-11D1-8CE5-0004ACF74B57} (IFS_List Control) -

http://roylinedirect.rbs.co.uk/dbpc2/controls/2.7.16.0/IFS_List.cab
O16 - DPF: {6E32070A-766D-4EE6-879C-DC1FA91D2FC3} (MUWebControl Class) -

http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/muweb_site.cab?11

37441567000
O16 - DPF: {74545298-2152-11D2-8D16-0004ACF74B57} (IFS_Wizard3 Control) -

http://roylinedirect.rbs.co.uk/dbpc2/controls/2.7.16.0/IFS_Wz03.cab
O16 - DPF: {8F78C964-B20B-11D2-8D4A-0004ACF74B57} (IFS_Lib01) -

http://roylinedirect.rbs.co.uk/dbpc2/controls/2.7.16.0/IFS_Lb01.cab
O16 - DPF: {9D24756B-CBFC-11D2-9FFB-0004ACF74B57} (IFS_Lib13) -

http://roylinedirect.rbs.co.uk/dbpc2/controls/2.7.16.0/IFS_Lb13.cab
O16 - DPF: {9E2D89BB-D888-11D2-A002-0004ACF74B57} (IFS_Lib12) -

http://roylinedirect.rbs.co.uk/dbpc2/controls/2.7.16.0/IFS_Lb12.cab
O16 - DPF: {B37DB118-5623-11D3-8769-0010E36241AE} (IFS_Wizard9 Control) -

http://roylinedirect.rbs.co.uk/dbpc2/controls/2.7.16.0/IFS_Wz09.cab
O16 - DPF: {BBAE9E7E-3F7D-11D3-94B7-0001FAF8503C} (IFS_Lib16) -

http://roylinedirect.rbs.co.uk/dbpc2/controls/2.7.16.0/IFS_Lb16.cab
O16 - DPF: {C0E10B5C-DA42-11D3-9FED-0004ACF74B57} (IFS_Lib02) -

http://roylinedirect.rbs.co.uk/dbpc2/controls/2.7.16.0/IFS_Lb02.cab
O16 - DPF: {C1BA9623-F27F-11D2-947D-0001FAF8503C} (IFS_Lib11) -

http://roylinedirect.rbs.co.uk/dbpc2/controls/2.7.16.0/IFS_Lb11.cab
O16 - DPF: {C6726AD0-E1E0-11D2-929E-0004ACF75CFC} (IFS_Lib03) -

http://roylinedirect.rbs.co.uk/dbpc2/controls/2.7.16.0/IFS_Lb03.cab
O16 - DPF: {C6C07D4E-3911-11D2-8708-0001FAF8D5C4} (IFS_Wizard7 Control) -

http://roylinedirect.rbs.co.uk/dbpc2/controls/2.7.16.0/IFS_Wz07.cab
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) -

http://fpdownload2.macromedia.com/get/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab
O16 - DPF: {D71A2028-D578-11D2-9FFF-0004ACF74B57} (IFS_Lib14) -

http://roylinedirect.rbs.co.uk/dbpc2/controls/2.7.16.0/IFS_Lb14.cab
O16 - DPF: {DF3AA904-233E-11D3-9495-0001FAF8503C} (IFS_Lib17) -

http://roylinedirect.rbs.co.uk/dbpc2/controls/2.7.16.0/IFS_Lb17.cab
O16 - DPF: {F0FB4064-2940-11D3-92B1-0004ACF75CFC} (IFS_Lib06) -

http://roylinedirect.rbs.co.uk/dbpc2/controls/2.7.16.0/IFS_Lb06.cab
O16 - DPF: {F3DAE1EA-01DA-11D2-8E33-08005AAA630C} (IFS_Wizard4 Control) -

http://roylinedirect.rbs.co.uk/dbpc2/controls/2.7.16.0/IFS_Wz04.cab
O16 - DPF: {F49159DA-E0C6-11D1-8E28-08005AAA630C} (IFS_Service Control) -

http://roylinedirect.rbs.co.uk/dbpc2/controls/2.7.16.0/IFS_Serv.cab
O16 - DPF: {F6ACF75C-C32C-447B-9BEF-46B766368D29} (Creative Software AutoUpdate Support

Package) - http://www.creative.com/su/ocx/15028/CTPID.cab
O16 - DPF: {FD0B6769-6490-4A91-AA0A-B5AE0DC75AC9} (Performance Viewer Activex Control) -

https://secure.logmein.com/activex/ractrl.cab?lmi=100
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{585A9027-140D-4FD7-AAF4-094E2AF21FA6}:

NameServer = 192.168.0.1,62.30.112.39
O18 - Protocol: intu-res - {9CE7D474-16F9-4889-9BB9-53E2008EAE8A} - C:\Program

Files\Common Files\Intuit\intu-res.dll
O18 - Protocol: skype4com - {FFC8B962-9B40-4DFF-9458-1830C7DD7F5D} -

C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\Skype\SKYPE4~1.DLL
O20 - Winlogon Notify: LMIinit - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\LMIinit.dll
O20 - Winlogon Notify: WgaLogon - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WgaLogon.dll
O21 - SSODL: WPDShServiceObj - {AAA288BA-9A4C-45B0-95D7-94D524869DB5} -

C:\WINDOWS\system32\WPDShServiceObj.dll
O23 - Service: Ati HotKey Poller - ATI Technologies Inc. -

C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
O23 - Service: ATI Smart - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ati2sgag.exe
O23 - Service: AVG7 Alert Manager Server (Avg7Alrt) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. -

C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgamsvr.exe
O23 - Service: AVG7 Update Service (Avg7UpdSvc) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. -

C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgupsvc.exe
O23 - Service: AVG E-mail Scanner (AVGEMS) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. -

C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgemc.exe
O23 - Service: Bluetooth Service (btwdins) - Broadcom Corporation. - C:\Program

Files\Belkin\Bluetooth Software\bin\btwdins.exe
O23 - Service: Creative Service for CDROM Access - Creative Technology Ltd -

C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTsvcCDA.EXE
O23 - Service: EpsonBidirectionalService - SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION - C:\Program

Files\Common Files\EPSON\eEBAPI\eEBSVC.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation -

C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\1150\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: LogMeIn Maintenance Service (LMIMaint) - LogMeIn, Inc. - C:\Program

Files\LogMeIn\RaMaint.exe
O23 - Service: LogMeIn - LogMeIn, Inc. - C:\Program Files\LogMeIn\LogMeIn.exe
O23 - Service: TrueVector Internet Monitor (vsmon) - Zone Labs, LLC -

C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe

 

[edklite]

man I have not even looked at the details but for the love of god you got way too many stuff running.

I'm pretty sure that is it.

msconfig and disable all non ms services and disable all startup apps.

now if you gonna go online then run your firewall but don't download anything and see if you get that error again. you should not.

this is just the test, once you see you are not getting the error then you can start by figuring out which apps and services you don't really need to run all the time

 

[Fizzz]

OK, I've done that and will give it a try over the next few days.

My system is pretty busy because I use it as a server for my blackberry and for my music files, and it hooks my phones to skype. Nevertheless, I would be a bit surprised if it were falling over for this reason alone.

The only start-ups that I suspect are surplus are to do with hardware (printer/screen/game controller apps) that get installed with the hardware and claim to be necessary to using them. I particularly notice that installing a Creative X-Fi sound card and a Gigabyte video card has resulted in multiple start-up apps. I wonder if some of these conflict in some way.

I'll post back after a few days (or less if problems arise)! Meanwhile, any other ideas would be welcome.

 

[edklite]

good luck let us know

 

[Fizzz]

Reporting back as promised.

I hate to say it, but disabling a bunch of these things has made all the difference - no snarl ups since. I am a bit irritated by this, because most entries have been added (without my direct permission) as part of hardware or software installations, and it seems to me that manufacturers have a duty to ensure that they are transparent about this and provide enough support to identify/resolve conflicts. It is pretty poor that installing their hardware/software has introduced Services or Start-ups that conflict with existing items and cause instability, yet they don't flag this up or seek to resolve the issues.

I am now reintroducing a few at a time to see where the problems lie. I stopped around 6 services of which I have no re-introduced two (both to do with LogMeIn, which is a critical application for me). I also stopped 28 Start-ups. Two of these managed to start anyway: CTDetect and DLLML are both from Creative, which seems to have a very bad reputation for problem start-up programs. There were no less than 7 other Creative entries in the Start-up tab and one Service, and I can only assume these were all to do with one soundcard and a Wireless Player! I have a real suspicion that these are at least some of my problem.

Anyway, thanks for the advice, it is good to be on the right track (I hope!).

 

[edklite]

you are ok I have creative I don't find no problems with, so I'm not sure if that is your problem.

here is the thing tho, if you gonna be demanding lots from your pc (which to me it looks like you are) then spend a bit of money and double your ram to 4GB, you should be find after that

 

[Fizzz]

Really? I never imagined that 2GB would not be enough. I will certainly add more memory if that helps.

The odd thing is that the problem occurs while I am away from the computer i.e. no additional memory-hogging applications are running. While I can see why having a lot of server-type tasks running all the time (as I have) would eat up memory, would they really exhaust 2GB? Why does the problem not occur when I am at the computer with more things going on and greater calls being made on memory?

 

[edklite]

some of your processes are running in the background even tho you are not there I have 4GB and would notice the difference right away if I cut to 2GB.

I'm not saying it will solve your problem but it will let your run more apps faster, its what I use so thats why its what I recommend, but first you need to clean your startup apps if you need to stop any services remember they can be edit by going to:

right click my computer>manage>services and applications>services>here in the right pan you can right click any service and go to its properties and modify its startup type but make sure you know what you are doing

good luck

 

[Fizzz]

This is now resolved, so I thought it would be a good idea to report back one last time. Thanks to everybody for the contributions; hopefully this will help others in the same jam.

The problem was narrowed down eventually to a number of start-up programs/services which were installed when I bought an Epson multifunction printer. The printer itself (a CX11NF) is great, but the start-up programs were causing the freeze up problem. Interestingly, when I disabled the start-ups, using the various functions of the printer were entirely unaffected. I was sure that I would be unable to print or scan in some way but no, I haven't noticed a thing other than the loss of the irritating messages about getting refills.

The start-ups were:
Epson BidirectionalService
EEventManager
Epson status Monitor 3 environment check
PMSB

To get to this conclusion I laboriously used a process of elimination - it took weeks to do it because the freezing problems were intermittent and I needed to give each set of settings a while to "misbehave".

Note that the size of RAM at 2GB was definitely not the problem. Nor was the sheer number of start-ups, although I have some sympathy for this argument and there must be a limit to the number of things you want to have chugging away in your computer. It was the quality of the start-up program, and the fact that it either doesn't work reliably or conflicts with some part of my hardware/software.

What is a bit irritating is that a company the size of Epson can't find the resources to put something on their website to help people track down issues of this kind - a diagnostic tool, or at least some advice. If they were to acknowledge that this is sometimes a problem and suggest that disabling the start-ups could confirm it, that would have saved me an awful lot of time. Judging by the response to googling on this issue my experience is not isolated.