(VHP 64bit) Explorer.exe freezing upon start up, even in safe mode! Please help!! :(

So I got a new laptop, and Asus x3v8b-x2 with Vista Home Premium 64bit SP1 on it. It was working beautifully for almost a month, then a couple days ago I started it up and noticed that the it was taking forever to load and that my sidebar wouldn't show up. I then noticed that I couldn't click on anything, and then vista told me that explorer.exe was not responding. So I restarted it, but it just froze again, and when I tried to restart it wouldn't. So I turned it off manually, and when I turned it back on it was fine. I ran Avira antivirus free version, spybot, and ad-aware. Nothing. The next day upon starting it, the same thing went down. So I manually turned it off and left it off for the rest of the day. Today, I tried to turn it back on, and upon logging into my account (the only one), it lagged, and explorer didn't start up at all. I just got a black screen with a white mouse (I could still move my mouse) but the start button on my keyboard didn't do anything, and I couldn't get into task manager either. So I manually turned it off, started it in safe mode w/ networking, the thing lagged, and I got a black screen with the words safe mode in the corners and a white cursor. Awesome. Turned it off, turned it back on in regular mode, now it works. What? So yeah, I'm having problems, and it seems like many others are having very similar problems, but no one has any solutions, so why should my situation be any different? Well I guess I can try. I'm pretty certain that I did not install / update anything a couple days ago that would have triggered this, I have no spyware/adware that I can find. I don't have the vista cd's, just the manufacturer's recovery discs. It was working just fine before. I've also been using it for the past hour or more and it hasn't frozen yet, the problem happens upon startup. Anything else I can think of? No... oh yeah, specs and stuff.

Core 2 Duo T6400
4gb ram
250gb hard drive
512mb nVidia geforce 9300m gs
vista home premium 64bit sp1

All my drivers are updated, I always do the windows updates and what not... umm.. you probably want hijackthis?


---------------------------------------------------------
Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 2:16:51 PM, on 8/3/2009
Platform: Windows Vista SP1 (WinNT 6.00.1905)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6001.18294)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\Program Files (x86)\ASUS\SmartLogon\sensorsrv.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\ASUS\ASUS Live Update\ALU.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Messenger\msnmsgr.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Spybot - Search & Destroy\TeaTimer.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\uTorrent\uTorrent.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware\AAWTray.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Google Desktop Search\GoogleDesktop.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\CyberLink\Power2Go\CLMLSvc.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\ASUS\ATKOSD2\ATKOSD2.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\ASUS\ATK Media\DMedia.exe
C:\Program Files\ASUS\ASUS Data Security Manager\ADSMTray.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre6\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Avira\AntiVir Desktop\avgnt.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Google Desktop Search\GoogleDesktop.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Contacts\wlcomm.exe
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\taskmgr.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\TuneUp Utilities 2008\Integrator.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = Bing
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = Bing
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch =
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar,LinksFolderName =
F2 - REG:system.ini: UserInit=userinit.exe
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: Spybot-S&D IE Protection - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Spybot - Search & Destroy\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: Groove GFS Browser Helper - {72853161-30C5-4D22-B7F9-0BBC1D38A37E} - C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~1\Office12\GRA8E1~1.DLL
O2 - BHO: Windows Live Sign-in Helper - {9030D464-4C02-4ABF-8ECC-5164760863C6} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live\WindowsLiveLogin.dll
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - {DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre6\bin\jp2ssv.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Google Desktop Search] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Google Desktop Search\GoogleDesktop.exe" /startup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CLMLServer] "C:\Program Files (x86)\CyberLink\Power2Go\CLMLSvc.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [P2Go_Menu] "C:\Program Files (x86)\CyberLink\Power2Go\MUITransfer\MUIStartMenu.exe" "C:\Program Files (x86)\CyberLink\Power2Go" UpdateWithCreateOnce "SOFTWARE\CyberLink\Power2Go\6.0"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HControlUser] C:\Program Files (x86)\ASUS\ATK Hotkey\HControlUser.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATKOSD2] C:\Program Files (x86)\ASUS\ATKOSD2\ATKOSD2.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATKMEDIA] C:\Program Files (x86)\ASUS\ATK Media\DMedia.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ADSMTray] C:\Program Files\ASUS\ASUS Data Security Manager\ADSMTray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre6\bin\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AdobeCS4ServiceManager] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\CS4ServiceManager\CS4ServiceManager.exe" -launchedbylogin
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [avgnt] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Avira\AntiVir Desktop\avgnt.exe" /min
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ehTray.exe] C:\Windows\ehome\ehTray.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Sidebar] C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [msnmsgr] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Messenger\msnmsgr.exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SpybotSD TeaTimer] C:\Program Files (x86)\Spybot - Search & Destroy\TeaTimer.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [uTorrent] "C:\Program Files (x86)\uTorrent\uTorrent.exe"
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [Sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /detectMem (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [WindowsWelcomeCenter] rundll32.exe oobefldr.dll,ShowWelcomeCenter (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-20\..\Run: [Sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /detectMem (User 'NETWORK SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\Run: [Sidebar] C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe /autoRun (User 'SYSTEM')
O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\Run: [Sidebar] C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe /autoRun (User 'Default user')
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~1\Office12\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: Blog This - {219C3416-8CB2-491a-A3C7-D9FCDDC9D600} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Writer\WriterBrowserExtension.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: &Blog This in Windows Live Writer - {219C3416-8CB2-491a-A3C7-D9FCDDC9D600} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Writer\WriterBrowserExtension.dll
O9 - Extra button: Send to OneNote - {2670000A-7350-4f3c-8081-5663EE0C6C49} - C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~1\Office12\ONBttnIE.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: S&end to OneNote - {2670000A-7350-4f3c-8081-5663EE0C6C49} - C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~1\Office12\ONBttnIE.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~1\Office12\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {DFB852A3-47F8-48C4-A200-58CAB36FD2A2} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Spybot - Search & Destroy\SDHelper.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Spybot - Search && Destroy Configuration - {DFB852A3-47F8-48C4-A200-58CAB36FD2A2} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Spybot - Search & Destroy\SDHelper.dll
O13 - Gopher Prefix:
O18 - Protocol: grooveLocalGWS - {88FED34C-F0CA-4636-A375-3CB6248B04CD} - C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~1\Office12\GR99D3~1.DLL
O20 - AppInit_DLLs: C:\PROGRA~2\Google\GOOGLE~1\GOEC62~1.DLL
O23 - Service: ADSM Service (ADSMService) - ASUSTek Computer Inc. - C:\Program Files\ASUS\ASUS Data Security Manager\ADSMSrv.exe
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\Alg.exe,-112 (ALG) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\alg.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Avira AntiVir Scheduler (AntiVirSchedulerService) - Avira GmbH - C:\Program Files (x86)\Avira\AntiVir Desktop\sched.exe
O23 - Service: Avira AntiVir Guard (AntiVirService) - Avira GmbH - C:\Program Files (x86)\Avira\AntiVir Desktop\avguard.exe
O23 - Service: ASLDR Service (ASLDRService) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files (x86)\ASUS\ATK Hotkey\ASLDRSrv.exe
O23 - Service: ATKGFNEX Service (ATKGFNEXSrv) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\ATKGFNEX\GFNEXSrv.exe
O23 - Service: @dfsrres.dll,-101 (DFSR) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\DFSR.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: FLEXnet Licensing Service - Acresso Software Inc. - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Macrovision Shared\FLEXnet Publisher\FNPLicensingService.exe
O23 - Service: FLEXnet Licensing Service 64 - Acresso Software Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Macrovision Shared\FLEXnet Publisher\FNPLicensingService64.exe
O23 - Service: Google Desktop Manager 5.7.802.22438 (GoogleDesktopManager-022208-143751) - Google - C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Google Desktop Search\GoogleDesktop.exe
O23 - Service: Google Software Updater (gusvc) - Google - C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Common\Google Updater\GoogleUpdaterService.exe
O23 - Service: @keyiso.dll,-100 (KeyIso) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Lavasoft Ad-Aware Service - Lavasoft - C:\Program Files (x86)\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware\AAWService.exe
O23 - Service: LightScribeService Direct Disc Labeling Service (LightScribeService) - Hewlett-Packard Company - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\LightScribe\LSSrvc.exe
O23 - Service: @comres.dll,-2797 (MSDTC) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\msdtc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\System32\netlogon.dll,-102 (Netlogon) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (nvsvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\nvvsvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\psbase.dll,-300 (ProtectedStorage) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\Locator.exe,-2 (RpcLocator) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\locator.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Net (rpcnet) - Absolute Software Corp. - C:\Windows\SysWOW64\rpcnet.exe
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\samsrv.dll,-1 (SamSs) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: SBSD Security Center Service (SBSDWSCService) - Safer Networking Ltd. - C:\Program Files (x86)\Spybot - Search & Destroy\SDWinSec.exe
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\SLsvc.exe,-101 (slsvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\SLsvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\snmptrap.exe,-3 (SNMPTRAP) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\snmptrap.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\spoolsv.exe,-1 (Spooler) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\spoolsv.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Syntek AVStream USB2.0 WebCam Service (StkSSrv) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\StkCSrv.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\System32\TuneUpDefragService.exe,-1 (TuneUp.Defrag) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\TuneUpDefragService.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\ui0detect.exe,-101 (UI0Detect) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\UI0Detect.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\vds.exe,-100 (vds) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\vds.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\vssvc.exe,-102 (VSS) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\vssvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%Systemroot%\system32\wbem\wmiapsrv.exe,-110 (wmiApSrv) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\wbem\WmiApSrv.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%ProgramFiles%\Windows Media Player\wmpnetwk.exe,-101 (WMPNetworkSvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Media Player\wmpnetwk.exe (file missing)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

I hope that's right. If there are any other things you want me to post just say so, and explain how to do it please! I'm not really sure what I'm doing with all this stuff! So, like, you probably want eventviewer, if someone could explain to me what to post or how to get a log thing that would be great. I'm thinking about installing SP2 and seeing if that will work, but I'm scared to, because last time I installed a new service pack in our old xp desktop the entire computer died and we had to have it fixed.. so.. any suggestions or comments or anything would be really greatly appreciated!! Thank you!!

Re: (VHP 64bit) Explorer.exe freezing upon start up, even in safe mode! Please help!!

at the end of ur log it says some files "(file missing)"
btw i dunno try disabling startup services or programs with CodeStuff Starter

edit
you have so many apps and **** maybe thats the reason explorer freezes

Re: (VHP 64bit) Explorer.exe freezing upon start up, even in safe mode! Please help!!

Thanks for the advice! But I've always had this number of programs and I hadn't changed anything dealing with my programs before this happened...

Event Viewer says I have errors dealing with Search, WMI, System restore, perflib, and Sidebyside... I think.. Any help is appreciated, thank you!

Re: (VHP 64bit) Explorer.exe freezing upon start up, even in safe mode! Please help!!

If it's less than a month old: Return it and get a replacement.

Re: (VHP 64bit) Explorer.exe freezing upon start up, even in safe mode! Please help!!

Birdgofly said:

Thanks for the advice! But I've always had this number of programs and I hadn't changed anything dealing with my programs before this happened...

Event Viewer says I have errors dealing with Search, WMI, System restore, perflib, and Sidebyside... I think.. Any help is appreciated, thank you!

Click to expand...

BGF

Two things come to mind: First do you ahve it set to download and install updates from M$. you might have had an incompatible update install that hosed the system. If you do, uninstall it and hide it in updates so it never downloads again.

The second is called DEP. dep is a security process that helps prevent virii and bots. It in cpanel system>advanced. Just make sure its there and is on. If its greyed out that could easily cause your symptoms

If you ever get bsod's from it you could upload the dump file (*.dmp usually located in c:\windows\minidump) so that we could examine it

Hope this helps and let us know

Ken

Re: (VHP 64bit) Explorer.exe freezing upon start up, even in safe mode! Please help!!

Thanks for the responses! I could replace it, but I've already got all my stuff on it and I leave for college soon, so I'd rather use it as a last resort...

As for the other things, I'm very sorry, but I'm not very good at these things. I went to control panel, system, advanced and couldn't find anything about the DEP thing, sorry!

Also, why would one of the updates be incompatible if they are automatic, and how would I figure out if one of them were?

And I cannot attach my .dmp files, even though I have two of them. It keeps saying that it is an invalid file. I will try to upload them to a separate site and give you a link. Sorry that I'm not more help than this, but thank you for all of your help!

Re: (VHP 64bit) Explorer.exe freezing upon start up, even in safe mode! Please help!!

I have two .dmp files from two days ago (the first day that the problems began) that I have uploaded to MediaFire. The first is:

http://www.mediafire.com/file/ao2jfduytdj/Mini080109-01.dmp

The second is:

http://www.mediafire.com/file/z5xnj2m1jjd/Mini080109-02.dmp

I hope this helps! Thank you!

Re: (VHP 64bit) Explorer.exe freezing upon start up, even in safe mode! Please help!!

Hate to bump, but I'm hoping someone can help...

Re: (VHP 64bit) Explorer.exe freezing upon start up, even in safe mode! Please help!!

You have Avira, Spybot, and Ad-Aware? Uninstall everything except Avira, then use Tune Up Utilities to clean up the registry and temp files. Those security programs must be conflicting with each other. Also, put an exception into DEP if you run into any programs. It could be causing them to crash. The Hijack Log seems clear.

Re: (VHP 64bit) Explorer.exe freezing upon start up, even in safe mode! Please help!!

Birdgofly:

DEP: Start > Control Panel > Classic view (left pane) > System >
Advanced System settings > In Performance click Settings >
Data Execution Prevention.


Ardneh

Re: (VHP 64bit) Explorer.exe freezing upon start up, even in safe mode! Please help!!

Birdgofly:

Updates:

Control Panel > Programs and features > View Installed Updates (left pane).
Updates can be uninstalled back to a point before the troubles began to see if the problems go away, if so add them back a few at a time until the troubles recur. If rolling back the Updates doesn't solve the problem, then they can simply be be re-installed.

Turn off Automatic Updates first.
Control Panel > Windows Update > Change settings (left pane)
Tick: Download updates but let me choose whether to install them.
(Setting can be returned to automatic once you have finished troubleshooting)

If you find an Update that is problematic, uninstall it again, then right-click it and click Hide update.

Ardneh

Re: (VHP 64bit) Explorer.exe freezing upon start up, even in safe mode! Please help!!

Birdgofly said:

I have two .dmp files from two days ago (the first day that the problems began) that I have uploaded to MediaFire. The first is:

http://www.mediafire.com/file/ao2jfduytdj/Mini080109-01.dmp

The second is:

http://www.mediafire.com/file/z5xnj2m1jjd/Mini080109-02.dmp

I hope this helps! Thank you!

Click to expand...

Here is the analasys of your dump file.


Are u using syntec products like webcam?

Then update the driver for the device.

Uninstall and reinstalling with latest driver will be advisable...

And never turn off automatic updates

Re: (VHP 64bit) Explorer.exe freezing upon start up, even in safe mode! Please help!!

birdgofly:

delphin is right. Windows Update shouldn't be left set to Never permanently.

However, if you were to roll back your Updates so that you could the re-install them gradually to identify a possible incompatible one, in line with zigzag3143's suggestion, you wouldn't want an automatic update to come in mid-troubleshoot and undo all of your work.

I was trying to answer some of your previous questions, and typing quickly to catch you while you were still logged in. Will edit previous posts.

Ardneh

Re: (VHP 64bit) Explorer.exe freezing upon start up, even in safe mode! Please help!!

Oh wow! Thank you everyone for all of the suggestions! Honestly I was thinking about just leaving my computer on for forever while it was working. lol...

I will definitely start trying these suggestions right away, and post the results here. Thank you all so much!

Re: (VHP 64bit) Explorer.exe freezing upon start up, even in safe mode! Please help!!

Ok, so I uninstalled adaware and spybot, I ran crapcleaner and tuneup, I installed all new updates and SP2. It was pretty much fine all yesterday, just really really slow at bootup and everything. Today it's been really slow at bootup, and a couple of times I got the black screen white cursor thing, and had to restart explorer, and once explorer stopped responding and restarted itself.

Windows also keeps failing to install "Security update for windows vista for x64-based systems"

The slowness of the startups even when it does actually bootup makes me worried that there might be a hardware problem, like with my hard drive or ram...

I might just try to restore it to like, a week ago. Can anyone go over with me how to do that, so I don't mess it up? Thank you guys! I really appreciate this!

Re: (VHP 64bit) Explorer.exe freezing upon start up, even in safe mode! Please help!!

Hello Birdgofly,
Take a look here, it will give you all the info you need.
Good luck and post your results.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76905-system-restore-how.html

Re: (VHP 64bit) Explorer.exe freezing upon start up, even in safe mode! Please help!!

Birdgofly:

Before you do anything else, please be sure to backup all your personal files externally to your PC, if you haven't already.

Ardneh

Re: (VHP 64bit) Explorer.exe freezing upon start up, even in safe mode! Please help!!

Ok, thank you!! So a system restore is recommended?

Re: (VHP 64bit) Explorer.exe freezing upon start up, even in safe mode! Please help!!

So apparently my system restore thingy was not turned on, so I have no restore points from a week ago, or from anytime at all. Ugh. Now what? I am open to all suggestions!! Would I be able to access any sort of different system recovery thing during bootup? And shouldn't the system recovery thing be automatically turned on? *sigh* I have vista recovery discs or something like that that shipped with the computer,...

Re: (VHP 64bit) Explorer.exe freezing upon start up, even in safe mode! Please help!!

Birdgofly:

If what you have are installation discs and not merely recovery tool discs, then you can reinstall the OS from them, or do a repair reinstall.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/88236-repair-install-vista.html

Also, check in Computer for a recovery partition (may or may not be there),
probably 10GB or less in size. If present you can likely reinstall or repair from that.

In any case backup personal files first.


Ardneh