HELP!! Windows Explorer Hangs on Startup!
in [Windows XP]
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From: Steve on 3 Aug 2010 08:41 Hi all, I've had this Presario 2195US laptop for 4-5 years; running XP from SP1 to (now) SP3... no problems. 2-3 weeks ago, I tried to connect a 160gb USB-encased hard drive with no luck... proceeding along I pretty much hosed my windows. Anyway, I decided to reformat/install a copy of XP Pro w/SP3 (thought XP Home didn't like 160gb) and, after a few MS updates, every time I boot the system it shows the DESKTOP, the bottom left of the TaskBar and NOTHING on bottom-right. Cursor moves, I can Ctrl-Alt-Delete and, when I move cursor to TaskBar area... cursor turns into the old hour-glass. I then reinstall with the original Compaq QuickRestore CDs (started with HOME SP1 and updated thru SP3)... and somewhere along in the MS Updates... same symptom... boot ends up with SHOWING DESKTOP, half TaskBar, moving cursor but can't do anything else. Again, this setup worked for last 4-5 years. I found that booting to Safe Mode and System Restore to the last CheckPoint gave me my system back... which worked as long as I did NOT reboot. Googling for a last week or so... I saw someone would Ctrl-Alt-Delete to TaskManager, kill EXPLORER and then do a NEW TASK and manually start EXPLORER... Works like a champ... but does get old after every reboot. So... SafeMode works... tried going thru MSCONFIG list but with a huge list and constant rebooting take hours. Killing/starting Explorer works... but I don't understand why Explorer hangs when Windows starts up but then works when manually started?? Has anyone seen this before... and resolved it?? Sure could use some help... going crazy now! Thanks in advance, Steve
From: Peter Taylor on 3 Aug 2010 10:11 On 8/3/2010 2:41 PM, Steve wrote: > Hi all, > > I've had this Presario 2195US laptop for 4-5 years; running XP from SP1 to > (now) SP3... no problems. 2-3 weeks ago, I tried to connect a 160gb > USB-encased hard drive with no luck... proceeding along I pretty much hosed > my windows. > > Anyway, I decided to reformat/install a copy of XP Pro w/SP3 (thought XP > Home didn't like 160gb) and, after a few MS updates, every time I boot the > system it shows the DESKTOP, the bottom left of the TaskBar and NOTHING on > bottom-right. Cursor moves, I can Ctrl-Alt-Delete and, when I move cursor > to TaskBar area... cursor turns into the old hour-glass. > > I then reinstall with the original Compaq QuickRestore CDs (started with > HOME SP1 and updated thru SP3)... and somewhere along in the MS Updates... > same symptom... boot ends up with SHOWING DESKTOP, half TaskBar, moving > cursor but can't do anything else. Again, this setup worked for last 4-5 > years. > > I found that booting to Safe Mode and System Restore to the last CheckPoint > gave me my system back... which worked as long as I did NOT reboot. > Googling for a last week or so... I saw someone would Ctrl-Alt-Delete to > TaskManager, kill EXPLORER and then do a NEW TASK and manually start > EXPLORER... Works like a champ... but does get old after every reboot. > > So... SafeMode works... tried going thru MSCONFIG list but with a huge list > and constant rebooting take hours. Killing/starting Explorer works... but I > don't understand why Explorer hangs when Windows starts up but then works > when manually started?? > > Has anyone seen this before... and resolved it?? Sure could use some > help... going crazy now! > > Thanks in advance, > Steve > > > Check to make sure that your hard drive isn't set to PIO. You can check in System Properties where you should go to Hardware/Device Manager/IDE ATA/ATPI controllers/Right click on Primary IDE Channel and go to Properties/Advanced Settings tab. The setting under Transfer Mode should be DMA and the Current Transfer Mode should be Ultra DMA Mode -- Peter Taylor
From: Steve on 3 Aug 2010 12:18 Hi Peter... I really appreciate you taking the time to respond. I checked and it's set to "Ultra DMA Mode 5"... Steve "Peter Taylor" <fakeemail(a)fakeemail.com.invalid> wrote in message news:i3982o$p8$1(a)news.eternal-september.org... > On 8/3/2010 2:41 PM, Steve wrote: >> Hi all, >> >> I've had this Presario 2195US laptop for 4-5 years; running XP from SP1 >> to >> (now) SP3... no problems. 2-3 weeks ago, I tried to connect a 160gb >> USB-encased hard drive with no luck... proceeding along I pretty much >> hosed >> my windows. >> >> Anyway, I decided to reformat/install a copy of XP Pro w/SP3 (thought XP >> Home didn't like 160gb) and, after a few MS updates, every time I boot >> the >> system it shows the DESKTOP, the bottom left of the TaskBar and NOTHING >> on >> bottom-right. Cursor moves, I can Ctrl-Alt-Delete and, when I move >> cursor >> to TaskBar area... cursor turns into the old hour-glass. >> >> I then reinstall with the original Compaq QuickRestore CDs (started with >> HOME SP1 and updated thru SP3)... and somewhere along in the MS >> Updates... >> same symptom... boot ends up with SHOWING DESKTOP, half TaskBar, moving >> cursor but can't do anything else. Again, this setup worked for last 4-5 >> years. >> >> I found that booting to Safe Mode and System Restore to the last >> CheckPoint >> gave me my system back... which worked as long as I did NOT reboot. >> Googling for a last week or so... I saw someone would Ctrl-Alt-Delete to >> TaskManager, kill EXPLORER and then do a NEW TASK and manually start >> EXPLORER... Works like a champ... but does get old after every reboot. >> >> So... SafeMode works... tried going thru MSCONFIG list but with a huge >> list >> and constant rebooting take hours. Killing/starting Explorer works... >> but I >> don't understand why Explorer hangs when Windows starts up but then works >> when manually started?? >> >> Has anyone seen this before... and resolved it?? Sure could use some >> help... going crazy now! >> >> Thanks in advance, >> Steve >> >> >> > > Check to make sure that your hard drive isn't set to PIO. You can check in > System Properties where you should go to Hardware/Device Manager/IDE > ATA/ATPI controllers/Right click on Primary IDE Channel and go to > Properties/Advanced Settings tab. The setting under Transfer Mode should > be DMA and the Current Transfer Mode should be Ultra DMA Mode > > -- > Peter Taylor
From: Peter Taylor on 3 Aug 2010 12:55 On 8/3/2010 6:18 PM, Steve wrote: > Hi Peter... > > I really appreciate you taking the time to respond. I checked and it's set > to "Ultra DMA Mode 5"... Steve Hmmmm, sounds bad. Try doing a chkdsk /f to make sure the hard drive isn't screwed. Does the BIOS also say Ultra DMA? > > > > "Peter Taylor"<fakeemail(a)fakeemail.com.invalid> wrote in message > news:i3982o$p8$1(a)news.eternal-september.org... >> On 8/3/2010 2:41 PM, Steve wrote: >>> Hi all, >>> >>> I've had this Presario 2195US laptop for 4-5 years; running XP from SP1 >>> to >>> (now) SP3... no problems. 2-3 weeks ago, I tried to connect a 160gb >>> USB-encased hard drive with no luck... proceeding along I pretty much >>> hosed >>> my windows. >>> >>> Anyway, I decided to reformat/install a copy of XP Pro w/SP3 (thought XP >>> Home didn't like 160gb) and, after a few MS updates, every time I boot >>> the >>> system it shows the DESKTOP, the bottom left of the TaskBar and NOTHING >>> on >>> bottom-right. Cursor moves, I can Ctrl-Alt-Delete and, when I move >>> cursor >>> to TaskBar area... cursor turns into the old hour-glass. >>> >>> I then reinstall with the original Compaq QuickRestore CDs (started with >>> HOME SP1 and updated thru SP3)... and somewhere along in the MS >>> Updates... >>> same symptom... boot ends up with SHOWING DESKTOP, half TaskBar, moving >>> cursor but can't do anything else. Again, this setup worked for last 4-5 >>> years. >>> >>> I found that booting to Safe Mode and System Restore to the last >>> CheckPoint >>> gave me my system back... which worked as long as I did NOT reboot. >>> Googling for a last week or so... I saw someone would Ctrl-Alt-Delete to >>> TaskManager, kill EXPLORER and then do a NEW TASK and manually start >>> EXPLORER... Works like a champ... but does get old after every reboot. >>> >>> So... SafeMode works... tried going thru MSCONFIG list but with a huge >>> list >>> and constant rebooting take hours. Killing/starting Explorer works... >>> but I >>> don't understand why Explorer hangs when Windows starts up but then works >>> when manually started?? >>> >>> Has anyone seen this before... and resolved it?? Sure could use some >>> help... going crazy now! >>> >>> Thanks in advance, >>> Steve >>> >>> >>> >> >> Check to make sure that your hard drive isn't set to PIO. You can check in >> System Properties where you should go to Hardware/Device Manager/IDE >> ATA/ATPI controllers/Right click on Primary IDE Channel and go to >> Properties/Advanced Settings tab. The setting under Transfer Mode should >> be DMA and the Current Transfer Mode should be Ultra DMA Mode >> >> -- >> Peter Taylor > > -- Peter Taylor
From: Steve on 3 Aug 2010 14:36
Hi again... Ran chkdsk/f thru with NO errors... checked BIOS and it only has 3-5 user settings... none are "drive related". Pretty simple BIOS Steve "Peter Taylor" <fakeemail(a)fakeemail.com.invalid> wrote in message news:i39hmn$an6$1(a)news.eternal-september.org... > On 8/3/2010 6:18 PM, Steve wrote: >> Hi Peter... >> >> I really appreciate you taking the time to respond. I checked and it's >> set >> to "Ultra DMA Mode 5"... Steve > > Hmmmm, sounds bad. Try doing a chkdsk /f to make sure the hard drive isn't > screwed. Does the BIOS also say Ultra DMA? >> >> >> >> "Peter Taylor"<fakeemail(a)fakeemail.com.invalid> wrote in message >> news:i3982o$p8$1(a)news.eternal-september.org... >>> On 8/3/2010 2:41 PM, Steve wrote: >>>> Hi all, >>>> >>>> I've had this Presario 2195US laptop for 4-5 years; running XP from SP1 >>>> to >>>> (now) SP3... no problems. 2-3 weeks ago, I tried to connect a 160gb >>>> USB-encased hard drive with no luck... proceeding along I pretty much >>>> hosed >>>> my windows. >>>> >>>> Anyway, I decided to reformat/install a copy of XP Pro w/SP3 (thought >>>> XP >>>> Home didn't like 160gb) and, after a few MS updates, every time I boot >>>> the >>>> system it shows the DESKTOP, the bottom left of the TaskBar and NOTHING >>>> on >>>> bottom-right. Cursor moves, I can Ctrl-Alt-Delete and, when I move >>>> cursor >>>> to TaskBar area... cursor turns into the old hour-glass. >>>> >>>> I then reinstall with the original Compaq QuickRestore CDs (started >>>> with >>>> HOME SP1 and updated thru SP3)... and somewhere along in the MS >>>> Updates... >>>> same symptom... boot ends up with SHOWING DESKTOP, half TaskBar, moving >>>> cursor but can't do anything else. Again, this setup worked for last >>>> 4-5 >>>> years. >>>> >>>> I found that booting to Safe Mode and System Restore to the last >>>> CheckPoint >>>> gave me my system back... which worked as long as I did NOT reboot. >>>> Googling for a last week or so... I saw someone would Ctrl-Alt-Delete >>>> to >>>> TaskManager, kill EXPLORER and then do a NEW TASK and manually start >>>> EXPLORER... Works like a champ... but does get old after every reboot. >>>> >>>> So... SafeMode works... tried going thru MSCONFIG list but with a huge >>>> list >>>> and constant rebooting take hours. Killing/starting Explorer works... >>>> but I >>>> don't understand why Explorer hangs when Windows starts up but then >>>> works >>>> when manually started?? >>>> >>>> Has anyone seen this before... and resolved it?? Sure could use some >>>> help... going crazy now! >>>> >>>> Thanks in advance, >>>> Steve >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >>> Check to make sure that your hard drive isn't set to PIO. You can check >>> in >>> System Properties where you should go to Hardware/Device Manager/IDE >>> ATA/ATPI controllers/Right click on Primary IDE Channel and go to >>> Properties/Advanced Settings tab. The setting under Transfer Mode should >>> be DMA and the Current Transfer Mode should be Ultra DMA Mode >>> >>> -- >>> Peter Taylor >> >> > > > -- > Peter Taylor |