No clue how to fix this: Programs launch twice and are slow to open, etc.

[antgross@pacbell.net]

I've been using and fixing Windows for 10+ years but I have never seen this problem before:

My windows launch twice when I click on them. Things are slow to open. The task manager is missing the top part. I tried double clicking in it but it does not appear. I can't click the back button when I am using explorer. I have to tab a screen to get the right selection to show and press enter to get my selection. In IE 7 I cannot click back. I don't have the same problem in Firefox. Very weird.

I have run about 5 different antivirus programs and spysweeper and can find nothing out of the ordinary.

I re-installed windows xp within xp hoping to fix some files that could be causing the problem. I did not want have to reinstall all my apps etc. The result? NOthing. Same problems as before.

This has me baffled beyond belief. I have never had a windows problem I couldn't fix before UNTIL now.

I have xp with sp2 and all the updates. I currently have trendmicro, mcafee and spysweeper with antivirus. I didn't have all three at time until I got desperate and tried to find something of virus nature that one program was finding. I also installed and removed sophos.

Someone please think of something I haven't thought have before I throw this box out the window.

Thanks.

[Fatality]

Well I know it's not that your computer is old or anything, its a decent rig so that can't be the problem. This is something to do with Windows. I was going to say to reinstall Windows but apparently that didn't work. Are you sure you clicked reformat and not XP repair? Most of the time reinstalling does the trick. I don't know much about Spysweeper but that Emachines come with it but try giving Ad-Aware a try www.lavasoft.com. Is there any suspicious programs installed on your computer under Add/Remove Programs that you don't remember installing? Just going on one site after reinstalling Windows without protection can cause spyware-bundled programs to be installed on your computer without asking.

[antgross@pacbell.net]

No reformat. Just a repair. I was trying to avoid the nuke and pave method.

This just another example of why I bought an iMac. I am in the process of switching stuff over
and this crap happens.

There are so many little things wrong I was hoping there would be some pattern. The usual methods for fixing the lack of task manager top portion don't work with the usual 'just double click in the perimeter' etc.

There's something seriously wrong with this. I am trying regclean right now to see if it's a registry issue.

[tomster2300]

Run through the spyware programs and post a hijack-this log for us to look at. It looks like something is messing with your system.

[antgross@pacbell.net]

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.0 (BETA)
Scan saved at 7:51:45 AM, on 4/9/2007
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
Boot mode: Normal

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\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Acronis\Schedule2\schedul2.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\McAfee\HackerWatch\HWAPI.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\MSC\mcmscsvc.exe
c:\program files\common files\mcafee\mna\mcnasvc.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcods.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\MSC\mcpromgr.exe
c:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\mcafee\redirsvc\redirsvc.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcshield.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcsysmon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~2\PcCtlCom.exe
c:\Program Files\Sophos\Sophos Anti-Virus\SAVAdminService.exe
C:\Program Files\SiteAdvisor\6028\SAService.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~2\Tmntsrv.exe
C:\Program Files\UPHClean\uphclean.exe
C:\Program Files\PowerQuest\Drive Image 7.0\Agent\PQV2iSvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Webroot\Spy Sweeper\SpySweeper.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\MsPMSPSv.exe
C:\Program Files\Canon\CAL\CALMAIN.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~2\TmPfw.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllhost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\agent\mcagent.exe
C:\Program Files\Google\Gmail Notifier\G001-1.0.25.0\gnotify.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Samsung\ComSMMgr\ssmmgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\Internet Security 2006\pccguide.exe
C:\Program Files\SiteAdvisor\6028\SiteAdv.exe
C:\Program Files\Webroot\Spy Sweeper\SpySweeperUI.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\rundll32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Logitech\Desktop Messenger\8876480\Program\LogitechDesktopMessenger.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Ahead\Lib\NMBgMonitor.exe
C:\Program Files\Logitech\SetPoint\SetPoint.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Ahead\Lib\NMIndexingService.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Ahead\Lib\NMIndexStoreSvr.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Logitech\khalshared\KHALMNPR.EXE
C:\Program Files\Webroot\Spy Sweeper\SSU.EXE
C:\PROGRA~1\MOZILL~1\FIREFOX.EXE
C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~2\tmproxy.exe
E:\Final\HiJackThis_v2.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://news.google.com/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyServer = 127.0.0.1:7212
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {089FD14D-132B-48FC-8861-0048AE113215} - C:\Program Files\SiteAdvisor\6028\SiteAdv.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {5C8B2A36-3DB1-42A4-A3CB-D426709BBFEB} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: scriptproxy - {7DB2D5A0-7241-4E79-B68D-6309F01C5231} - c:\program files\mcafee\virusscan\scriptcl.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Easy-WebPrint - {327C2873-E90D-4c37-AA9D-10AC9BABA46C} - C:\Program Files\Canon\Easy-WebPrint\Toolband.dll
O3 - Toolbar: McAfee SiteAdvisor - {0BF43445-2F28-4351-9252-17FE6E806AA0} - C:\Program Files\SiteAdvisor\6028\SiteAdv.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] "RUNDLL32.EXE" C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] "nwiz.exe" /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [{0228e555-4f9c-4e35-a3ec-b109a192b4c2}] "C:\Program Files\Google\Gmail Notifier\G001-1.0.25.0\gnotify.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Kernel and Hardware Abstraction Layer] KHALMNPR.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Samsung Common SM] "C:\WINDOWS\Samsung\ComSMMgr\ssmmgr.exe" /autorun
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [pccguide.exe] "C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\Internet Security 2006\pccguide.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SiteAdvisor] "C:\Program Files\SiteAdvisor\6028\SiteAdv.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Logitech Hardware Abstraction Layer] KHALMNPR.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NeroFilterCheck] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Ahead\Lib\NeroCheck.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvMediaCenter] "RUNDLL32.EXE" C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvMcTray.dll,NvTaskbarInit
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SpySweeper] C:\Program Files\Webroot\Spy Sweeper\SpySweeperUI.exe /startintray
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [LDM] "C:\Program Files\Logitech\Desktop Messenger\8876480\Program\LogitechDesktopMessenger.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [BgMonitor_{79662E04-7C6C-4d9f-84C7-88D8A56B10AA}] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Ahead\Lib\NMBgMonitor.exe"
O4 - Global Startup: Logitech Desktop Messenger.lnk = C:\Program Files\Logitech\Desktop Messenger\8876480\Program\LogitechDesktopMessenger.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Logitech SetPoint.lnk = ?
O8 - Extra context menu item: Easy-WebPrint Add To Print List - res://C:\Program Files\Canon\Easy-WebPrint\Resource.dll/RC_AddToList.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Easy-WebPrint High Speed Print - res://C:\Program Files\Canon\Easy-WebPrint\Resource.dll/RC_HSPrint.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Easy-WebPrint Preview - res://C:\Program Files\Canon\Easy-WebPrint\Resource.dll/RC_Preview.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Easy-WebPrint Print - res://C:\Program Files\Canon\Easy-WebPrint\Resource.dll/RC_Print.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: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - %windir%\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - %windir%\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe (file missing)
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
O12 - Plugin for .mts: C:\Program Files\MetaCreations\MetaStream\npmetastream.dll
O16 - DPF: {1DD81666-F3AD-11D3-BA86-00500487B4EC} (WonSearchX Control) - http://www.investors.com/member/ocx/WonSearchX.ocx
O16 - DPF: {30528230-99f7-4bb4-88d8-fa1d4f56a2ab} (YInstStarter Class) - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\common\yinsthelper.dll
O16 - DPF: {4EFA317A-8569-4788-B175-5BAF9731A549} (Microsoft Virtual Server VMRC Advanced Control) - http://www.windowsvistatestdrive.com...veXClient1.cab
O16 - DPF: {6E32070A-766D-4EE6-879C-DC1FA91D2FC3} (MUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/microsof...?1146021927076
O16 - DPF: {78267546-F2AC-11D2-A278-005004676C44} (WonList Control) - http://www.investors.com/member/ocx/WonList.ocx
O16 - DPF: {AECD14A8-F662-11D1-A395-00805F535788} (Plotwon Control) - /member/ocx/plotwon.ocx
O16 - DPF: {CAFEEFAC-0014-0001-0007-ABCDEFFEDCBA} (Java Runtime Environment 1.4.1_07) -
O16 - DPF: {EE3CD402-69EB-4B53-819D-0CA2F95AD7DA} (PFMngr Control) - http://www.investors.com/member/ocx/PFMngr.ocx
O16 - DPF: {EF791A6B-FC12-4C68-99EF-FB9E207A39E6} (McFreeScan Class) - http://download.mcafee.com/molbin/is...97/mcfscan.cab
O18 - Protocol: bwfile-8876480 - {9462A756-7B47-47BC-8C80-C34B9B80B32B} - C:\Program Files\Logitech\Desktop Messenger\8876480\Program\GAPlugProtocol-8876480.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: McAfee Application Installer Cleanup (0088781176130131) (0088781176130131mcinstcleanup) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\TEMP\008878~1.EXE
O23 - Service: Acronis Scheduler2 Service (AcrSch2Svc) - Acronis - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Acronis\Schedule2\schedul2.exe
O23 - Service: Adobe LM Service - Adobe Systems - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe Systems Shared\Service\Adobelmsvc.exe
O23 - Service: Canon Camera Access Library 8 (CCALib8) - Canon Inc. - C:\Program Files\Canon\CAL\CALMAIN.exe
O23 - Service: Creative Service for CDROM Access - Creative Technology Ltd - C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTsvcCDA.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee E-mail Proxy (Emproxy) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\McAfee\EmProxy\emproxy.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\1050\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Computer, Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee HackerWatch Service - McAfee, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\McAfee\HackerWatch\HWAPI.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Update Manager (mcmispupdmgr) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\MSC\mcupdmgr.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Services (mcmscsvc) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\MSC\mcmscsvc.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Network Agent (McNASvc) - McAfee, Inc. - c:\program files\common files\mcafee\mna\mcnasvc.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Scanner (McODS) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcods.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Protection Manager (mcpromgr) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\MSC\mcpromgr.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Redirector Service (McRedirector) - McAfee, Inc. - c:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\mcafee\redirsvc\redirsvc.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Real-time Scanner (McShield) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcshield.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee SystemGuards (McSysmon) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcsysmon.exe
O23 - Service: NBService - Nero AG - C:\Program Files\Nero\Nero 7\Nero BackItUp\NBService.exe
O23 - Service: NMIndexingService - Nero AG - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Ahead\Lib\NMIndexingService.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (NVSvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
O23 - Service: Trend Micro Central Control Component (PcCtlCom) - Trend Micro Incorporated. - C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~2\PcCtlCom.exe
O23 - Service: Sophos Anti-Virus status reporter (SAVAdminService) - Sophos Plc - c:\Program Files\Sophos\Sophos Anti-Virus\SAVAdminService.exe
O23 - Service: Sophos Anti-Virus (SAVService) - Sophos Plc - c:\Program Files\Sophos\Sophos Anti-Virus\SavService.exe
O23 - Service: SiteAdvisor Service - McAfee, Inc. - C:\Program Files\SiteAdvisor\6028\SAService.exe
O23 - Service: Trend Micro Real-time Service (Tmntsrv) - Trend Micro Incorporated. - C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~2\Tmntsrv.exe
O23 - Service: Trend Micro Personal Firewall (TmPfw) - Trend Micro Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~2\TmPfw.exe
O23 - Service: Trend Micro Proxy Service (tmproxy) - Trend Micro Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~2\tmproxy.exe
O23 - Service: V2i Protector - PowerQuest Corporation - C:\Program Files\PowerQuest\Drive Image 7.0\Agent\PQV2iSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Webroot Spy Sweeper Engine (WebrootSpySweeperService) - Webroot Software, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Webroot\Spy Sweeper\SpySweeper.exe

--
End of file - 11679 bytes

[Panama Red]

Do I read this correctly that you have multiple AntiVirus programs running simultaneously? McAfee is terribly intrusive by itself and will slow any pc to a crawl. Couple that with any other AV and they will fight for control. I see McAfee, Sophos and Trendmicro products all running as Services. Plus you have Spy Sweeper and McAfee in conflict and it looks like multiple firewalls running too! I would dump all that McAfee stuff as well as the other AV products, run CCleaner to clean up the registry and install AVG once the problems have been corrected.

[antgross@pacbell.net]

Hi,

I had the problems before adding more AV programs. I was desperate.

What's ccleaner?

Have you ever seen a case like this before of programs launching twice?!

Thanks

[Ray_S]

ccleaner is better known as crap cleaner. It will clear all the crap out of your registry.

Hope that helps

Ray

[antgross@pacbell.net]

I have jv tools but it didn't fix the problem. I have the impression that my registry needs repair not cleaning.

[antgross@pacbell.net]

Well, this is what I get for violating Occam's Razor. I didn't pay attention to the clues, ie, mouse clicks not working or working inconsistently. If I had just switched out my mouse I would have had my answer. The problem seemed much greater however, because I couldn't figure out why the mouse would click on links in FF okay but not work in IE. THus, I started looking for a more sinister explanation.

The culprit is this logitech laser mouse mx 1000 that's been working fine up until now. Maybe a software update caused the glitch, not sure.

If nothing else, my computer is working WAY faster now after deleting so much trash and uninstalling needless apps. Thanks to all for you suggestions, btw.

-Anthony