Partial Freezing

[Kulag]

Sometimes, my computer will be running normally, except that I can't start any new programs. I can double-click the icon, it will act busy (HD light, cursor, HD noise) and then the cursor will switch to normal, and nothing will happen. What's up?

[Dark Nova]

Did this start recently???

could be a virus, try AVG free

could also be a memory faillier, go to memtest.org

[Kulag]

No, this has been a problem for a while.
I have Avast.
Ran it, and also I ran a Prime95 stress test for about 13 hours without any problems. Also replaced the old OEM memory with Crucial memory. The new memory cleaned up some other problems and reduced the occurence of the problem somewhat.

[Panama Red]

Antivirus software doesn't remove many forms of malware. I'd suggest running scans with both Adaware and Spybot and then run an online scan at Trendmicro's Housecall. Set Housecall for a complete scan so it looks for Viruses as well as adware and spyware.

[pam123]

It does sound as if something is using your resources.
Have you checked Windows Task Manager to see what's running?
If none of the suggestions from Panama Red help you may want to post a Hijackthis log.

[Kulag]

I run Adaware, Spybot, and MS Antispyware regularly. Housecall won't load. Task manager reveals nothing strange.

Hijackthis Log:
Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 3:15:01 PM, on 12/5/2005
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\brss01a.exe
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\aswUpdSv.exe
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashServ.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Brmfrmps.exe
C:\Program Files\Executive Software\Diskeeper\DkService.exe
C:\Program Files\ewido\security suite\ewidoctrl.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\inetsrv\inetinfo.exe
C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\SoundMAX\SMAgent.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe
C:\Program Files\UltraVNC\WinVNC.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\mqsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\BRMFRSMG.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\mqtgsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wscntfy.exe
C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\cli.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft IntelliPoint\point32.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft AntiSpyware\gcasServ.exe
C:\Program Files\Scansoft\PaperPort\pptd40nt.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft AntiSpyware\gcasDtServ.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\ALWILS~1\Avast4\ashDisp.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_04\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Download Manager\IDMan.exe
C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\CLI.exe
C:\Program Files\Empty Temp Folders 2.8.3\emprun.exe
C:\Program Files\AnalogX\Proxy\proxy.exe
C:\Program Files\WordWeb\wweb32.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\WINWORD.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
C:\Program Files\Weather Watcher\ww.exe
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashMaiSv.exe
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashWebSv.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\MESSEN~1\Msmsgs.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\HijackThis.exe

O2 - BHO: IDMIEHlprObj Class - {0055C089-8582-441B-A0BF-17B458C2A3A8} - C:\Program Files\Internet Download Manager\IDMIECC.dll
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: Idea2 SidebarBrowserMonitor Class - {45AD732C-2CE2-4666-B366-B2214AD57A49} - C:\Program Files\Desktop Sidebar\sbhelp.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: IECatcher Class - {B930BA63-9E5A-11D3-A288-0000E80E2EDE} - C:\Program Files\Mass Downloader\MDHELPER.DLL (file missing)
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATIPTA] C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel\atiptaxx.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATICCC] "C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\cli.exe" runtime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IntelliPoint] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft IntelliPoint\point32.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [gcasServ] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft AntiSpyware\gcasServ.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DiskeeperSystray] "C:\Program Files\Executive Software\Diskeeper\DkIcon.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PaperPort PTD] C:\Program Files\Scansoft\PaperPort\pptd40nt.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IndexSearch] C:\Program Files\Scansoft\PaperPort\IndexSearch.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SetDefPrt] C:\Program Files\Brother\BRMFLPRO\BrDefPrt.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WinVNC] "C:\Program Files\UltraVNC\WinVNC.exe" -servicehelper
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [avast!] C:\PROGRA~1\ALWILS~1\Avast4\ashDisp.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_04\bin\jusched.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Zone Labs Client] C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [WeatherWatcher] C:\Program Files\Weather Watcher\ww.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [IDMan] C:\Program Files\Internet Download Manager\IDMan.exe /onboot
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [eMuleAutoStart] C:\Program Files\eMule\emule.exe -AutoStart
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SIDEBAR] "C:\Program Files\Desktop Sidebar\dsidebar.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MSMSGS] "C:\PROGRA~1\MESSEN~1\Msmsgs.exe" /background
O4 - Startup: EmpRunner.lnk = C:\Program Files\Empty Temp Folders 2.8.3\emprun.exe
O4 - Startup: Proxy.lnk = C:\Program Files\AnalogX\Proxy\proxy.exe
O4 - Startup: WordWeb.lnk = C:\Program Files\WordWeb\wweb32.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Reader Speed Launch.lnk = C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\reader_sl.exe
O4 - Global Startup: ATI CATALYST System Tray.lnk = C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\CLI.exe
O4 - Global Startup: The Proxomitron.lnk = C:\Program Files\Proxomitron Naoko-4\Proxomitron.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: &WordWeb... - res://C:\WINDOWS\wweb32.dll/lookup.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: + &Mass Downloader: download this file - C:\Program Files\Mass Downloader\Add_Url.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: + Mass Downloader: download &All files - C:\Program Files\Mass Downloader\Add_All.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: Download All Links with IDM - C:\Program Files\Internet Download Manager\IEGetAll.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: Download with IDM - C:\Program Files\Internet Download Manager\IEExt.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O8 - Extra context menu item: Subscribe in Desktop Sidebar - res://C:\Program Files\Desktop Sidebar\sbhelp.dll/menuhandler.html
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_04\bin\npjpi150_04.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_04\bin\npjpi150_04.dll
O9 - Extra button: Subscribe in Desktop Sidebar - {09FE188B-6E85-479e-9411-51FB2220DF80} - C:\Program Files\Desktop Sidebar\sbhelp.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Subscribe in Desktop Sidebar - {09FE188B-6E85-479e-9411-51FB2220DF80} - C:\Program Files\Desktop Sidebar\sbhelp.dll
O9 - Extra button: Run WinHTTrack - {36ECAF82-3300-8F84-092E-AFF36D6C7040} - C:\Program Files\WinHTTrack\WinHTTrackIEBar.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Launch WinHTTrack - {36ECAF82-3300-8F84-092E-AFF36D6C7040} - C:\Program Files\WinHTTrack\WinHTTrackIEBar.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: @C:\Program Files\Messenger\Msgslang.dll,-61144 - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @C:\Program Files\Messenger\Msgslang.dll,-61144 - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\idmmbc.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\idmmbc.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\idmmbc.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\idmmbc.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\idmmbc.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\idmmbc.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\idmmbc.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\idmmbc.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\idmmbc.dll
O16 - DPF: {17492023-C23A-453E-A040-C7C580BBF700} (Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool) - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=39204
O16 - DPF: {6E32070A-766D-4EE6-879C-DC1FA91D2FC3} (MUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/muweb_site.cab?1126693645656
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{2D9AA1ED-D32C-4894-A5EF-8B87E5ABC972}: NameServer = 209.195.95.95 209.197.128.2
O17 - HKLM\System\CS1\Services\Tcpip\..\{2D9AA1ED-D32C-4894-A5EF-8B87E5ABC972}: NameServer = 209.195.95.95 209.197.128.2
O23 - Service: avast! iAVS4 Control Service (aswUpdSv) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\aswUpdSv.exe
O23 - Service: Ati HotKey Poller - ATI Technologies Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
O23 - Service: ATI Smart - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ati2sgag.exe
O23 - Service: avast! Antivirus - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashServ.exe
O23 - Service: avast! Mail Scanner - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashMaiSv.exe" /service (file missing)
O23 - Service: avast! Web Scanner - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashWebSv.exe" /service (file missing)
O23 - Service: Brother Popup Suspend service for Resource manager (brmfrmps) - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Brmfrmps.exe" -service (file missing)
O23 - Service: BrSplService (Brother XP spl Service) - brother Industries Ltd - C:\WINDOWS\system32\brsvc01a.exe
O23 - Service: Diskeeper - Executive Software International, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Executive Software\Diskeeper\DkService.exe
O23 - Service: ewido security suite control - ewido networks - C:\Program Files\ewido\security suite\ewidoctrl.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\11\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: SoundMAX Agent Service (SoundMAX Agent Service (default)) - Analog Devices, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\SoundMAX\SMAgent.exe
O23 - Service: TrueVector Internet Monitor (vsmon) - Zone Labs, LLC - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe
O23 - Service: VNC Server (winvnc) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\UltraVNC\WinVNC.exe" -service (file missing)

[jayb1234]

It might also be that you need more RAM. How much do you have?

[pam123]

Housecall refusing to load and all those "O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\idmmbc.dll" suggest trojan to me.

What is clear is that something has damaged, or is damaging your internet connection
Go into safemode, turn off your system restore (you can always turn it back on later) and run both your anti-virus program and the spyware programs again.

[Kulag]

Ran scans of:
MS Antispyware
Ad-aware
Spybot SD
ewido
Avast

System came up entirely clean other than some tracking cookies, but those are to be expected. I suspect that idmmbc.dll belongs to IDM(Internet Download Manager). I've had this for nearly a year without any trouble. I aslo have it installed on my other machines, and they're fine. MS update doesn't work properly either. Housecall didn't really give me an error, rather it loaded to a blank page saying done, transferred for a while, then stopped completely.

[pam123]

Hmmnn....
Do you have an XP cd that you can use for a repair install?

[Kulag]

Yep.

[pam123]

Okay put the optical drive first in the boot order if it isn't already.
The first 'Recovery' that pops up will be the console, skip that and go on to install.
Along with install there will be another 'Recovery' that's the one you want.
Hit 'R' and let XP do it's job.

[Kulag]

Ok, will do if the Housecall scan I just did doesn't work. Somehow it managed to load after the OS was rebooted.

[Kulag]

Okay, now it's getting scary. Since the Housecall scan, I still sometimes get the partial freeze, but after a while, it will 'unfreeze' and any programs that were told to load before will all appear at the same time. I'm trying now to use the XP repair, but my mobo doesn't have native SATA support, so I have to load the drivers from the floppy, which XP Setup says is corrupted...

[Kulag]

Ack, can't edit.

Anyway, everything seems to be running fine. Strangly, it took time after the Housecall scan for anything to happen. And pam, I never had to do the XP repair. Thanks for all the help guys!