Help requested for computer malfunctioning

[larry38]

A few years ago (11-2009) I built a new computer for my daughter. The specs are as follows:
Mobo: ASUS P7P55D LGA 1156 ATX form
CPU: Intel Core i5-750, Lynnfield
HDD: WD7501A 75GB Raptor (for OS and pgms)
WD740G Caviar Black, 750GB (for files)
Optical drive: Lite-on Black 24x DVD+R etc 2X
RAM: Corsair XMS 4GB (2X2GB)
Video: Sapphire 100253HDMI Radeon HD4650
PSU: Antec Earthwatts EA650
OS: Win7 Home Premium 64bit

The system has run great, but has not been turned since March of this year. A couple of weeks ago, she moved and when she hooked the system back up and turned it wouldn't work. Since I live about 300 miles from her, it is difficult to be much help, if you know what I mean. At the moment I am visiting her and I am trying to sort it out.

This what I have observed:
1. The computer is running very slow - it takes much longer to bootup. At first, after entering the administrator password, it would take several minutes to complete the desktop and when it did, there were two messages that were shown - one associated with the Creative Central program and the other associated with an Apple program (this was an error message [The procedure entry point Sqlite3_wal_checkpoint could not be located in the dynamic link library SQLite3.dll. I used CCleaner to uninstall both of the indicated programs thinking that would help. I then did a registry check (CCleaner) and "fixed" the indicated problems. I also unchecked several programs launched in the Startup menu (startup tab on the sys config tool) and rebooted the system.
Now after the administrator password is entered, the Windows Welcome screen is displayed but doesn't go any further even after 20 minutes.

2. If the computer is booted in safe mode, it responds like it did when first built. All programs resident on the hard drive work as expected.

3. The same is true if the computer is booted in safe mode with internet, and you can browse the internet with no problem.

Can anyone suggest what the problem might be due to? Any proposed solutions? I'd greatly appreciate any help that might be forthcoming. Thanks again.

[EzyStvy]

If it was running good before moving it, I would reseat the ram, video and enythging you can.

[jdeb]

follow evystvy's lead. additionally, run hard drive diagnostics on the drive. more than likely something came loose and I suspect the hard drive may have moved around to much, check the cable to it while your at it.

[larry38]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'll open the case up and re-seat everything. Regarding the HDD diagnostics, I ran the WD diags both in the quick mode and the extended mode. Both passed with no problems. After I have re-seated everything, I'll report back. Thanks again

[rjfvillarosa]

Any chance of a "System Restore" back a few days before it was originally shut down?

[SARGE]

If something had come loose, why does it work great in Safe Mode? I agree to check all connections anyway for grins. I'd uncheck some more programs in msconfig and hopefully catch a bad one

[larry38]

Rjfv, the first (oldest) restore point shown in the list is dated 5/31 at which time the system was running very slow and my daughter reported it was "messing up."

I have opened the case, re-seated the two RAM modules and the video card. I also re-seated the connections to the two hard drives. None of these have made any difference in how the computer is working. At the moment I am communicating via the misbehaving computer working in safe mode with internet connection. As far as I can tell it is working great (as measured by things such as boot speed, response to desktop commands to run programs etc.) If the computer is allowed to boot normally, it is measurably slower and will not complete the bootup to the desktop even if allowed to run for more than 20 minutes.

Any other ideas?

[edfair]

It is possibly into mortal combat between Microsoft update downloader, anti-virus updater, and any one of several other updaters that have fallen behind since it was last turned on.

One step would be to check for disk activity.

[larry38]

Sounds like a good place to look again. By that I mean, I have just followed Sarge's suggestion of unchecking several more things in the start menu (msconfig) and I thought it responded better. This is based on the observation that the normal boot sequence appeared to go a little faster and this time all of the desk icons filled our (i.e. all were pictures and not mostly white buttons) however after the desktop completed the computer couldn't connect to the internet and when I clicked on the start button to go to the control panel the button turned white and the computer is busy signal showed up. I'll go back and uncheck those boxes (start menu) that are related to possible program updates and see what happens. Any other ideas?

[renowilliams]

I would boot into safe mode with networking and dowload malwarebytes (if you don't have it) update it and run a scan. Go to the following web page and scroll down to the security section,then put a check in the box and select to download.

Ninite - Install or Update Multiple Apps at Once



If above doesnt work put the windows 7 dvd in> go to start>run and type the following command

sfc /scannow

This will check windows files on the hard drive against what is on the disk.

good luck

[larry38]

As suggested,I've downloaded malwarebytes and scanned the hard drive. No infections were detected. The system is still working great in the current mode (safe mode with internet) but it will not work when booted in the normal mode. Although the boot sequence starts out as expected by the time the desktop is fully displayed, the computer is not able to connect to the modem yet the indication is that the computer is running (i.e. the little circle is rotating the whole time) and if you attempt to start a program everything halts and you have to use the switch to power down to restart.

[renowilliams]

try running the system file checker in safe mode use the command I put in previous post

[larry38]

Well, we are trying to locate the Win 7 DVD. You know what major house moves can do to mix things up no matter how careful you may have been. Hopefully we will be able to locate it. Otherwise it would seem to me that another new Win7 OS will have to be purchased and things started over. I'll keep you posted. Thanks, renowilliams for the suggestion of checking (comparing)the system files on the HDD with the corresponding files on the original Win7 disk. It was worth checking into from my perspective.

I think I will launch memtest86 and let it run overnight to verify the memory is operating correctly. I'll post those results in the morning.

[larry38]

We found the Win7 DVD so now I can continue checking renowilliams suggestion. First, Memtest86 reported no errors after 18 passes so I guess that is one area we can eliminate. I ran the system file checker that renowilliams suggested. After reaching 100% verification, the system reverted back to the desktop with no messages about the verification run.

Any other ideas? Do you think I should do a repair install of Win7? Do a zero fill of the C: drive (dedicated 75 GB HDD) and then reinstall Win7 and then reinstall all of the software?

Hopefully someone will have suggestions. Thanks for the help, everyone.

[MaxRat]

back up the info you wish to keep and zero fill the drive and install windows fresh...

sounds like there is a conflict or virus that the programs arent catching

[renowilliams]

Sounds reasonable to me to reload the os at this point.

[larry38]

Following the last couple of suggestions, I have removed the HDD in question and brought it home with me where I will "deal" with it. That is remove the files that must be saved and then zero fill the drive preparing it for a new installation of the os. I will have to send it back to my daughters for the last phase because I didn't want to bring the computer home with me this time.