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Question

win xp laptop, frequent intermittent pauses, HD lite steady

Apr 17, 2014 11:49AM PDT

My Laptop is having some issues. In pretty good shape, but for 5 months now it has an intermittent pausing problem.

In happens 30-40 times in an 8 hour day. (4-5 times a hour)

Symptom: The system stops working for between 10 and 25 seconds. When it pauses like this - the mouse usually is movable (though not always) - the CPU is near zero - the hard drive light goes nearly steady on - and everything basically stops. Then after it's done whatever it was doing, it all resumes normal. If during the pause I click on something more than once, it will put (Not Responding) in the title bar of that app or window.

The pause problem typically happens when I'm switching between windows, but it also happens just as often within an application. Even just right clicking to get a pop up menu often causes a 10-15 second wait. The pause can happen when I'm scrolling down a web page (and often the mouse freezes then too). It doesn't seem to matter if I have one application open or 5. It's especially bad with Outlook - is happens a lot when accessing PST folders within Outlook, moving around in Outlook, opening emails, etc. But if I'm typing within an application like Outlook or Word and just type - the problem doesn't happen. So it's mostly connected to me doing something - like moving around, opening things, right clicking, switching windows.

Dell D630 Latitude laptop
Windowx XP SP3
4GB ram
500GB drive WD5000BPKX SATA III 7200 RPM 16 MB Cache
Drive is partitioned:
C: winwows XP. 70GB Free 25GB
D: my docs and data 380GB Free 120GB
E: page file 8G. PF size managed by windows

High speed FioS internet (problem happens both wired or wireless)

All windows and Dell drivers are up to date per websites
All XP updates loaded

Cleaned out dust and fan, everything runs cool
System is malware clean (as far as I know) AVG 2013 up to date and scanned none found/no rootkits
Also ran ESET online scan overnight and found nothing
Drive is defrag (doesn't seem to make a difference)
No failied hardware in hdwr manager
Ran Memtest overnight for 8 hours - no errors

No special hardware attached.

It's maddening. I'll dig into anything to try to solve this if anyone has some ideas.

Discussion is locked

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No tests.
Apr 24, 2014 3:18AM PDT

Just use the tools I noted, and know what each entry does in deep detail. Also, get out HIJACKTHIS and know each line in that report.

If you don't know what something does, hit google and ask here.

In closing, look at the expert research it sometimes takes and how arcane it can get.
http://blogs.technet.com/b/markrussinovich/archive/2010/01/13/3305263.aspx

Notice that while the cause was found, the company decided not to fix it.
Bob

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HIJACKTHIS
Apr 24, 2014 4:50AM PDT

I don't know how to interpret HIJACKTHIS. If I generate the report and send it, can you help me understand what it might reveal, if it finds something? I just got home early and can run it in a few minutes. I'm interested to see if it might reveal something interesting.

Btw - the pausing problem "might" be worse when I have Outlook open. Or at least the problem is pretty prevalent when working within Outlook. But by no means is it contained to just Outlook. Just some additional info.

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HJT log
Apr 24, 2014 5:08AM PDT

Bob - below is the HJT log I just ran. Would you mind looking it over and seeing what you think? I'm also trying to run the sfc /scannow tool - just need to locate the original XP installation disc.


Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.4
Scan saved at 12:05:25 PM, on 4/24/2014
Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v8.00 (8.00.6001.18702)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG2013\avgrsx.exe
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG2013\avgcsrvx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Intel\WiFi\bin\S24EvMon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\EPSON\EBAPI\eEBSVC.exe
C:\Program Files\Broadcom\ASFIPMon\AsfIpMon.exe
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG2013\avgidsagent.exe
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG2013\avgwdsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Intel\WiFi\bin\EvtEng.exe
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG2013\avgnsx.exe
C:\Program Files\Dell\QuickSet\NICCONFIGSVC.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Intel\WirelessCommon\RegSrvc.exe
C:\Program Files\SigmaTel\C-Major Audio\DellXPM_5515v131\WDM\StacSV.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Microsoft IntelliPoint\ipoint.exe
C:\Program Files\DellTPad\Apoint.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Intel\WirelessCommon\iFrmewrk.exe
C:\Program Files\Logitech\SetPointP\SetPoint.exe
C:\Program Files\DellTPad\ApMsgFwd.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\EPSONS~1\EVENTM~1\EEventManager.exe
C:\Program Files\DellTPad\HidFind.exe
C:\Program Files\DellTPad\Apntex.exe
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG2013\avgui.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\hkcmd.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxpers.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxsrvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Dell\QuickSet\quickset.exe
C:\Program Files\I8kfanGUI\I8kfanGUI.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\LogiShrd\KHAL3\KHALMNPR.EXE
C:\Documents and Settings\Tom\Application Data\Dropbox\bin\Dropbox.exe
C:\Program Files\TimeLeft3\TimeLeft.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wbem\unsecapp.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\taskmgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\plugin-container.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\OUTLOOK.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\MSIexec.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HiJackThis\HiJackThis.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\NOTEPAD.EXE

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = about:blank
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.yahoo.com/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = about:blank
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://www.aartemis.com/web/?type=ds&ts=1386267805&from=cor&uid=WDCXWD5000BPKX-75HPJT0_WD-WX71A63V8012V8012&q={searchTerms}
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://www.aartemis.com/web/?type=ds&ts=1386267805&from=cor&uid=WDCXWD5000BPKX-75HPJT0_WD-WX71A63V8012V8012&q={searchTerms}
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = about:blank
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = http://www.bing.com/search?q={searchTerms}
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch = http://www.bing.com/search?q={searchTerms}
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchURL,(Default) = http://www.forumswatcher.com/search.htm
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page =
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = *.local
F2 - REG:system.ini: UserInit=C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe
O1 - Hosts: ::1 localhost #[IPv6]
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHelperStub - {18DF081C-E8AD-4283-A596-FA578C2EBDC3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelperShim.dll
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In SSV Helper - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre7\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: Windows Live Sign-in Helper - {9030D464-4C02-4ABF-8ECC-5164760863C6} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live\WindowsLiveLogin.dll
O2 - BHO: Evernote extension - {92EF2EAD-A7CE-4424-B0DB-499CF856608E} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - {DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre7\bin\jp2ssv.dll
O3 - Toolbar: (no name) - {9D425283-D487-4337-BAB6-AB8354A81457} - (no file)
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IntelliPoint] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft IntelliPoint\ipoint.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Apoint] C:\Program Files\DellTPad\Apoint.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IntelWireless] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Intel\WirelessCommon\iFrmewrk.exe" /tf Intel Wireless Tray
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [EvtMgr6] C:\Program Files\Logitech\SetPointP\SetPoint.exe /launchGaming
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [EEventManager] C:\PROGRA~1\EPSONS~1\EVENTM~1\EEventManager.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVG_UI] "C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG2013\avgui.exe" /TRAYONLY
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IgfxTray] C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HotKeysCmds] C:\WINDOWS\system32\hkcmd.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Persistence] C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxpers.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Dell QuickSet] C:\Program Files\Dell\QuickSet\quickset.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MSConfig] C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\MSConfig.exe /auto
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [i8kfangui] C:\Program Files\I8kfanGUI\I8kfanGUI.exe /startup
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [EPSON 600 (Network)] C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\DRIVERS\W32X86\3\E_FATIEKA.EXE /FU "C:\DOCUME~1\Tom\LOCALS~1\Temp\E_S209.tmp" /EF "HKCU"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [DellSystemDetect] C:\Documents and Settings\Tom\Local Settings\Apps\2.0\QG62MAG3.QL5\XEY9N7OY.L1P\dell..tion_0f612f649c4a10af_0005.0006_f9e15713f5aac8ac\DellSystemDetect.exe
O4 - Startup: Dropbox.lnk = C:\Documents and Settings\Tom\Application Data\Dropbox\bin\Dropbox.exe
O4 - Startup: TimeLeft.lnk = C:\Program Files\TimeLeft3\TimeLeft.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: Clip selection - C:\Program Files\Evernote\Evernote\\EvernoteIERes\Clip.html?clipAction=3
O8 - Extra context menu item: Clip this page - C:\Program Files\Evernote\Evernote\\EvernoteIERes\Clip.html?clipAction=1
O8 - Extra context menu item: Clip URL - C:\Program Files\Evernote\Evernote\\EvernoteIERes\Clip.html?clipAction=0
O8 - Extra context menu item: New Note - C:\Program Files\Evernote\Evernote\\EvernoteIERes\NewNote.html
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MI1933~1\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: @C:\Program Files\Evernote\Evernote\Resource.dll,-101 - {A95fe080-8f5d-11d2-a20b-00aa003c157a} - C:\Program Files\Evernote\Evernote\\EvernoteIERes\AddNote.html
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @C:\Program Files\Evernote\Evernote\Resource.dll,-101 - {A95fe080-8f5d-11d2-a20b-00aa003c157a} - C:\Program Files\Evernote\Evernote\\EvernoteIERes\AddNote.html
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
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
O15 - Trusted Zone: *.dell.com
O16 - DPF: vzTCPConfig - http://www2.verizon.net/help/fios_settings/include/vzTCPConfig.CAB
O16 - DPF: {01A88BB1-1174-41EC-ACCB-963509EAE56B} (SysProWmi Class) - http://support.dell.com/systemprofiler/SysPro.CAB
O16 - DPF: {0742B9EF-8C83-41CA-BFBA-830A59E23533} (Microsoft Data Collection Control) - https://dcode.support.microsoft.com/dcode/ActiveX/MSDcode.cab
O16 - DPF: {106E49CF-797A-11D2-81A2-00E02C015623} (AlternaTIFF ActiveX) - http://www.alternatiff.com/distribution/alternatiff-ax-w32-2.0.1.cab
O16 - DPF: {4B54A9DE-EF1C-4EBE-A328-7C28EA3B433A} (BitDefender QuickScan Control) - http://quickscan.bitdefender.com/qsax/qsax.cab
O16 - DPF: {5AB1EF72-6CC6-4090-9030-8E0ACF7E6D3E} (XPPIECtrl Class) - http://nba.tom.com/video/xppie.cab
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/wuweb_site.cab?1247616190937
O16 - DPF: {6E32070A-766D-4EE6-879C-DC1FA91D2FC3} (MUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/muweb_site.cab?1247266942468
O16 - DPF: {6F6FDB9E-5072-498C-BCB0-2B7F00C49EE7} (DellSystemLite.Scanner) - http://support.dell.com/systemprofiler/DellSystemLite.CAB
O16 - DPF: {7530BFB8-7293-4D34-9923-61A11451AFC5} (OnlineScanner Control) - http://download.eset.com/special/eos/OnlineScanner.cab
O16 - DPF: {8A0019EB-51FA-4AE5-A40B-C0496BBFC739} (Verizon Wireless Media Upload) - http://picture.vzw.com/activex/VerizonWirelessUploadControl.cab
O16 - DPF: {8CFCF42C-1C64-47D6-AEEC-F9D001832ED3} (DellSystem.Scanner) - http://xserv.dell.com/DellDriverScanner/DellSystem.CAB
O16 - DPF: {C1F8FC10-E5DB-4112-9DBF-6C3FF728D4E3} (DellSystemLite.Scanner) - http://support.dell.com/systemprofiler/DellSystemLite.CAB
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://fpdownload2.macromedia.com/get/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab
O16 - DPF: {E06E2E99-0AA1-11D4-ABA6-0060082AA75C} -
O16 - DPF: {FD0B6769-6490-4A91-AA0A-B5AE0DC75AC9} (Performance Viewer Activex Control) - https://secure.logmein.com//activex/ractrl.cab?lmi=1058
O18 - Protocol: linkscanner - {F274614C-63F8-47D5-A4D1-FBDDE494F8D1} - (no file)
O18 - Protocol: skype4com - {FFC8B962-9B40-4DFF-9458-1830C7DD7F5D} - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\Skype\SKYPE4~1.DLL
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: Browseui preloader - {438755C2-A8BA-11D1-B96B-00A0C90312E1} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\browseui.dll
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: Component Categories cache daemon - {8C7461EF-2B13-11d2-BE35-3078302C2030} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\browseui.dll
O23 - Service: Broadcom ASF IP and SMBIOS Mailbox Monitor (ASFIPmon) - Broadcom Corporation - C:\Program Files\Broadcom\ASFIPMon\AsfIpMon.exe
O23 - Service: AVGIDSAgent - AVG Technologies CZ, s.r.o. - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG2013\avgidsagent.exe
O23 - Service: AVG WatchDog (avgwd) - AVG Technologies CZ, s.r.o. - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG2013\avgwdsvc.exe
O23 - Service: EpsonBidirectionalService - SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION - C:\Program Files\Common Files\EPSON\EBAPI\eEBSVC.exe
O23 - Service: Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless Event Log (EvtEng) - Intel(R) Corporation - C:\Program Files\Intel\WiFi\bin\EvtEng.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: Logitech Bluetooth Service (LBTServ) - Logitech, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\LogiShrd\Bluetooth\lbtserv.exe
O23 - Service: NICCONFIGSVC - Dell Inc. - C:\Program Files\Dell\QuickSet\NICCONFIGSVC.exe
O23 - Service: Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless Registry Service (RegSrvc) - Intel(R) Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Intel\WirelessCommon\RegSrvc.exe
O23 - Service: Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless WiFi Service (S24EventMonitor) - Intel(R) Corporation - C:\Program Files\Intel\WiFi\bin\S24EvMon.exe
O23 - Service: SigmaTel Audio Service (STacSV) - SigmaTel, Inc. - C:\Program Files\SigmaTel\C-Major Audio\DellXPM_5515v131\WDM\StacSV.exe
O23 - Service: TeamViewer 9 (TeamViewer9) - TeamViewer GmbH - C:\Program Files\TeamViewer\Version9\TeamViewer_Service.exe

--
End of file - 11543 bytes

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Answer
From reading your HJT LOG
Apr 24, 2014 6:37AM PDT

1. Fan control? Seriously?
http://forum.notebookreview.com/dell/210491-warning-i8kfangui-can-ruin-your-gpu.html

2. IntelliPoint and Dell's pointer software?
Pick one. For me I've done without IntelliPoint for decades.

3. O3 - Toolbar: (no name) - {9D425283-D487-4337-BAB6-AB8354A81457} - (no file)
Such items are usually non-fatal remnants. I keep mine cleaned off.

4. TeamViewer ?
When I've seeing troubles, extras like this are gone and gone.

I don't think these are the reason, but read "The Case of the slow logins" to hunt it down. Mark is an expert and that article is a fine example where it was tracked down and even then, the company decided to not fix it.
Bob

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items
Apr 24, 2014 6:57AM PDT

Thank you!

I keep fancontrol set to "monitor" only. It's left over from when the laptop had some cooling issues and a HD that overheated. As long as I don't click fans to manual, the BIOS keeps control of the fans. I can remove it, but I don't use it for fan control.

When docked, the laptop has the MS optical Intellipoint trackball attached. When undocked, it uses the Dell touchpad. Don't I need sofware for both?

Do I delete the reg folder "SearchToolbarLib.CSearchToolbarImpl" or just delete the CLSID registry entry for {9D425283-D487-4337-BAB6-AB8354A81457} ?

I use teamviewer regularly - every week - to ad-hoc share the screens of remote team members. Seems to work great.

I'll read the slow logins article now...

btw - just opening the mouse control panel took 15 seconds of hard drive grinding. That's the kind of symptom we're talking about - but it can occur during just about anything. Especially in outlook. Do you suspect Outlook plays a key role in this pausing problem, or is it more of a victim?

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1. Great!
Apr 24, 2014 7:02AM PDT

2. I shared my choice. Over the years and reinforced by a mis-step by Logitech I use the native mouse and keyboard drivers. Same at our office. We don't see issues others do but remember this is part of how we avoid the bullets.

3. As to the no file entry, why not use HIJACKTHIS to clean that out? I don't suggest registry editing.

4. It stays. I was looking for anything that we can dismiss.

As to the 15 second grind, that's proper for my old Compaq R3000 Athlon 64 single core with 512MB RAM. It worked that way new and has not gotten any better or worse.
Bob

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back from the road
Apr 30, 2014 4:56AM PDT

Bob - sorry, I've been traveling for the past week. Back home now and back with this pesky laptop with its 10second hard-drive-busy-delays. It's really helping me develop a zen-like patience, since there's nothing that can be done while it's doing the pause. Again, it happens at all kinds of times, not just right clicking on stuff. It happens when switching windows, drag/drop files, opening emails, scrolling web pages, etc.

I don't know how to use Hijackthis to clean out the no file entry. Is it more than just checking the box for the problem and clicking Fix? I want to be careful I don't mess up and do something I should. The list of items resulting from the scan is pretty long - I don't know what's safe to fix and what isn't. Can you help me with this? -Tom

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That simple.
Apr 30, 2014 5:09AM PDT

"just checking the box for the problem and clicking Fix?" is how I remove an entry.

O18 - Protocol: linkscanner - {F274614C-63F8-47D5-A4D1-FBDDE494F8D1} - (no file)

As an example is typical leftovers I remove. If you want to read another post where they remove such,
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=238478

Bob