Serious Startup Problem in WinXP

[senior guy]

The past few days, I've been experiencing a startup problem in WinXP Home Ed.... the system locks-up after loading the desktop (and while loading the progs into the taskbar). At this point, I just have the hour-glass and no input capability whatsoever.

The only changes to my system around the time of the problem was that I downloaded several Critical WinXP updates that were posted 3/6 and 3/7 plus downloading .NET Framework v1.1 (which I need for PQ Drive Image 7.01).

One more thing... I see a suspicious item in the Services List called 'GEARSecurity' (set to automatic). I don't recall ever seeing that before... anyone know what it's for and if it could be related to my problem?

I'm stumped so any help would really be appreciated.

 

[timswim78]

Start in safe mode by hitting f5 or f8 (I forget which one) while your computer is loading. Then run msconfig and go to startup to see what programs are set to load at startup. Remove the offender if you can find it and reboot.

 

[UCJefe]

GEARSec is installed with iTunes. It's yet another helper service for CD Burning. Unless you do CD burning through iTunes you don't need it. iTunes also installs the iPodHelperService which is also useless unless you have an iPod of course.

 

[senior guy]

Originally posted by: timswim78
Start in safe mode by hitting f5 or f8 (I forget which one) while your computer is loading. Then run msconfig and go to startup to see what programs are set to load at startup. Remove the offender if you can find it and reboot.

Been there, done that (unchecked everything not vital) - no cigar!

Thanks anyway. :disgust:

 

[senior guy]

Originally posted by: UCJefe
GEARSec is installed with iTunes. It's yet another helper service for CD Burning. Unless you do CD burning through iTunes you don't need it. iTunes also installs the iPodHelperService which is also useless unless you have an iPod of course.

Hmm, funny thing about that is I never (knowingly) installed iTunes!

 

[senior guy]

FYI update - I just ran a complete (up-to-date) virus and trojan scan and neither reports any problems.

 

[UCJefe]

Originally posted by: senior guy

Originally posted by: UCJefe
GEARSec is installed with iTunes. It's yet another helper service for CD Burning. Unless you do CD burning through iTunes you don't need it. iTunes also installs the iPodHelperService which is also useless unless you have an iPod of course.

Hmm, funny thing about that is I never (knowingly) installed iTunes!

Well it could be some other program which uses integrated CD burning that installed it. It's not specific to iTunes but that's the comon place it shows up. At least that's when it was installed on my machine.

Sorry I can't be of any help on your real problem

 

[senior guy]

Originally posted by: UCJefe

Originally posted by: senior guy

Originally posted by: UCJefe
GEARSec is installed with iTunes. It's yet another helper service for CD Burning. Unless you do CD burning through iTunes you don't need it. iTunes also installs the iPodHelperService which is also useless unless you have an iPod of course.

Hmm, funny thing about that is I never (knowingly) installed iTunes!

Well it could be some other program which uses integrated CD burning that installed it. It's not specific to iTunes but that's the comon place it shows up. At least that's when it was installed on my machine.

Sorry I can't be of any help on your real problem

You're right.. just found out that the other program that uses GEARSecurity is DI 7 (probably to burn images onto CD).

 

[Sianath]

Don't uncheck just the suspicious items. Go into MSCONFIG and on the General tab choose the Selective Startup option, and uncheck "load startup items", then click on the Services Tab, check the box that says "hide all microsoft services", then uncheck everything that is still showing.

If you can reboot and have no problems, you know it's one of those. First re-enable all the services and test; if you still boot ok, go down the list of unchecked startup items until you find your culprit.

 

[senior guy]

Originally posted by: Sianath
Don't uncheck just the suspicious items. Go into MSCONFIG and on the General tab choose the Selective Startup option, and uncheck "load startup items", then click on the Services Tab, check the box that says "hide all microsoft services", then uncheck everything that is still showing.

If you can reboot and have no problems, you know it's one of those. First re-enable all the services and test; if you still boot ok, go down the list of unchecked startup items until you find your culprit.

Thanks for that advice... I'll give it a try.

 

[senior guy]

PROBLEM SOLVED!!!

Uninstalling DI 7 & .NET cured my problem! Don't know whether DI 7 is pure garbage or that it just conflicted with some other program. Anyhow, just to be sure I got fresh downloads and re-installed the combo and it was 'deja-vu all over again'!

Well I'm out $60 for the DI 7 ...but at least I know the cause of my problem.

So which software should I use now for semi-weekly offline backups of my WinXP (NTFS) drive (maybe that should be another thread)?