Serious Problems

[Stalker]

Since yesterday I have serious problems with my PC. When opening "bigger" programs like Photoshop my PC freezes quite often. There are also tons of errors with EXPLORER.EXE which will make my pc reboot.

Sometimes there are also (*looks after that word in an online dictionary*) disturbances on the monitor (or flopovers?). Sorry if the word is totally wrong but you'll get the idea.

Also I am not able to start a game in Ghost Recon with a resolution of 1024x768 or higher, my PC freezes immediately.

And when I try to quit GR after playing with 640x480 my PC freezes also.

What's going on here?

[Rocky]

I see Dannik reading this, hopefully he'll post because I think you need heavy duty help!

[Dannik]

Instinct is a stick of RAM may have developed errors, which could cause long loading times as well as crash/reboot cycles.

Unfortunately, the description of your monitor issues is less than telling. Could you describe what you are actually seeing? That might be better than trying to find the right English word for it.

Also, spy/malware is always a risk, if you are using Windows (and Bob forbid, MSIE). Download Hijack This, if you haven't already got a copy on your drive, drop it into a folder on your desktop, run a scan and post the log here. Do NOT use the 'clean' option until some of the spyware gurus here have had the chance to examine the log.

And finally, sometimes the most obvious issue is overlooked. How full is your hard drive (as in, is there enough virtual memory) and have you tried a cold reboot? Sometimes it's that simple.

[Specter]

Check what Dannik suggested, and if no results are forthcoming from there, I have seen video cards or drivers for them also cause this.

If Dannik's stuff doesn't work, try uninstalling and reinstalling your video drivers. Make sure to shut down for 30 seconds after the uninstall, and reboot to make sure RAM flushed. An alternate solution could be to do a system restore back to the last known day that everything worked.

Do a spyware check also with the new AdAware.

For the System Restore(assuming that you are using XP), go to Start>Programs>Accessories>System Tools>System Restore, and click it. Then select a date in bold and click next or finish.

Need anymore help, let me know.

Edited January 8, 2005 by PhantmSniper

[firefly2442]

System restore might also work if you think you did something to it recently.

[Stalker]

Here's the HijackThis log file

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.0

Scan saved at 12:52:32, on 09.01.2005

Platform: Windows ME (Win9x 4.90.3000)

MSIE: Internet Explorer v5.50 (5.50.4134.0100)

Running processes:

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\KERNEL32.DLL

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSGSRV32.EXE

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\mmtask.tsk

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MPREXE.EXE

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSTASK.EXE

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SSDPSRV.EXE

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\STIMON.EXE

C:\PROGRAMME\GEMEINSAME DATEIEN\SYMANTEC SHARED\CCEVTMGR.EXE

C:\WINDOWS\EXPLORER.EXE

C:\PROGRAMME\NORTON SYSTEMWORKS\NORTON CLEANSWEEP\CSINJECT.EXE

C:\PROGRAMME\NORTON SYSTEMWORKS\NORTON UTILITIES\NPROTECT.EXE

C:\PROGRAMME\GEMEINSAME DATEIEN\SYMANTEC SHARED\SYMTRAY.EXE

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\RESTORE\STMGR.EXE

C:\WINDOWS\TASKMON.EXE

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SYSTRAY.EXE

C:\PROGRAMME\ALCATEL\SPEEDTOUCH USB\DRAGDIAG.EXE

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\WMIEXE.EXE

C:\PROGRAMME\GEMEINSAME DATEIEN\SYMANTEC SHARED\CCAPP.EXE

C:\WINDOWS\LOADQM.EXE

C:\PROGRAMME\NORTON SYSTEMWORKS\NORTON UTILITIES\SYSDOC32.EXE

C:\PROGRAMME\NORTON SYSTEMWORKS\NORTON CLEANSWEEP\CSINSM32.EXE

C:\Programme\Norton SystemWorks\Norton CleanSweep\Monwow.exe

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\RNAAPP.EXE

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\TAPISRV.EXE

C:\PROGRAMME\MOZILLA FIREFOX\FIREFOX.EXE

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\PSTORES.EXE

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\DDHELP.EXE

C:\WINDOWS\DESKTOP\HIJACKTHIS.EXE

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.ghostrecon.net/

O2 - BHO: NAV Helper - {BDF3E430-B101-42AD-A544-FADC6B084872} - C:\Programme\Norton SystemWorks\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll

O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\Programme\Spybot - Search & Destroy\SDHelper.dll

O3 - Toolbar: @msdxmLC.dll,-1@1031,&Radio - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSDXM.OCX

O3 - Toolbar: Norton AntiVirus - {42CDD1BF-3FFB-4238-8AD1-7859DF00B1D6} - C:\Programme\Norton SystemWorks\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [scanRegistry] C:\WINDOWS\scanregw.exe /autorun

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TaskMonitor] C:\WINDOWS\taskmon.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PCHealth] C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\Support\PCHSchd.exe -s

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [systemTray] SysTray.Exe

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LoadPowerProfile] Rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,LoadCurrentPwrScheme

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [speedTouch USB Diagnostics] "C:\Programme\Alcatel\SpeedTouch USB\Dragdiag.exe" /icon

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] "C:\Programme\Gemeinsame Dateien\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe"

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccRegVfy] "C:\Programme\Gemeinsame Dateien\Symantec Shared\ccRegVfy.exe"

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NPROTECT] C:\Programme\Norton SystemWorks\Norton Utilities\NPROTECT.EXE

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LoadQM] loadqm.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [LoadPowerProfile] Rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,LoadCurrentPwrScheme

O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [schedulingAgent] mstask.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [sSDPSRV] C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\ssdpsrv.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [*StateMgr] C:\WINDOWS\System\Restore\StateMgr.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [stillImageMonitor] C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\STIMON.EXE

O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [ccEvtMgr] "C:\Programme\Gemeinsame Dateien\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe"

O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [scriptBlocking] "C:\Programme\Gemeinsame Dateien\Symantec Shared\Script Blocking\SBServ.exe" -reg

O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [CSINJECT.EXE] C:\Programme\Norton SystemWorks\Norton CleanSweep\CSINJECT.EXE

O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [NPROTECT] C:\Programme\Norton SystemWorks\Norton Utilities\NPROTECT.EXE

O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [symTray - Norton SystemWorks] C:\Programme\Gemeinsame Dateien\Symantec Shared\SymTray.exe "Norton SystemWorks"

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [spybotSD TeaTimer] C:\Programme\Spybot - Search & Destroy\TeaTimer.exe

O4 - Startup: Norton System Doctor.LNK = C:\Programme\Norton SystemWorks\Norton Utilities\SYSDOC32.EXE

O4 - Startup: CleanSweep Smart Sweep-Internet Sweep.lnk = C:\Programme\Norton SystemWorks\Norton CleanSweep\csinsm32.exe

O4 - Startup: Adobe Gamma Loader.lnk = C:\Programme\Gemeinsame Dateien\Adobe\Calibration\Adobe Gamma Loader.exe

O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Programme\Java\jre1.5.0\bin\npjpi150.dll

O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Konsole - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Programme\Java\jre1.5.0\bin\npjpi150.dll

O9 - Extra button: ICQ 4.1 - {B863453A-26C3-4e1f-A54D-A2CD196348E9} - C:\Programme\ICQLite\ICQLite.exe

O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: ICQ Lite - {B863453A-26C3-4e1f-A54D-A2CD196348E9} - C:\Programme\ICQLite\ICQLite.exe

O16 - DPF: {8E0D4DE5-3180-4024-A327-4DFAD1796A8D} (MessengerStatsClient Class) - http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary/Messe...nt.cab31267.cab

Also, spy/malware is always a risk, if you are using Windows (and Bob forbid, MSIE).

Using Firefox and make scans with Ad-AwareSE and Spybot regularly. Also SpywareBlaster is running in the background.

How full is your hard drive (as in, is there enough virtual memory)

Formatted it 2 weeks ago. 11.5GB used.

Unfortunately, the description of your monitor issues is less than telling. Could you describe what you are actually seeing? That might be better than trying to find the right English word for it.

I will post a pic of it soon. Hard to describe... (for me )

Also, all the erros mostly appear when the PC is already running for some hours...

[supasniper]

in that case it might be linked to overheating, what are your system temps?

[Stalker]

Where can I view the system temperature?

Sorry, I am a total noob on that sector

[supasniper]

http://www.almico.com/speedfan419.exe

d/l and install that and run it

[Dannik]

I'm going to rule out a malware infestation from that log. You're very, very clean in those regards.

I think supa is on the right path. If it's mostly video related, and only after being up and running for extended periods, I wonder if your video RAM isn't on the way out, or your GPU heatsink fan is clogged up with dust?

If you have a spare video card, even if it's some horrid old antique, but you know it works, try swapping out and putting your machine through the usual paces. At this point, you're more or less down to epiphany or slow manual troubleshooting.

[Specter]

I'm going to rule out a malware infestation from that log.  You're very, very clean in those regards.

I think supa is on the right path.  If it's mostly video related, and only after being up and running for extended periods, I wonder if your video RAM isn't on the way out, or your GPU heatsink fan is clogged up with dust?

If you have a spare video card, even if it's some horrid old antique, but you know it works, try swapping out and putting your machine through the usual paces.  At this point, you're more or less down to epiphany or slow manual troubleshooting.

←

My money also is on the video card here.

Did you try uninstalling the drivers, shutting down for 30 seconds, and rebooting; reinstalling the drivers, then rebooting again? I don't think it's the drivers from your last post though, although worth a try. Just because you reformatted 2 weeks ago doesn't mean the drivers didn't get hosed.

But in this case, I think Supa and Dannik are on the right track.

Remember: The best rule of thumb in PC troubleshooting is to never rule ANYTHING out, no matter how trivial it may seem.