Re: PART TWO Re: My Experiences with long, slow boot or startup (long)

From: Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\) (user_at_#notme.com)
Date: 03/17/04 

Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2004 13:35:02 -0800

Have you run a virus scan, there is a security issue with SNMP and it's
possible that exploit has opened a door on your system, a virus scan would
be in order as would a check for malware, download, install and run Ad
Aware, www.lavasoftusa.com.

If you've already done the above, I apologize.

The Epson error would seem to indicate it may be playing a role in your boot
problems. In my previous response I mentioned removing the printers and
reinstalling. Before you reinstall, I'd boot without them and see how it
goes. That means all such hardware and their related software removed from
the system.

I haven't seen the print failure before however, laser printers are
notoriously power hungry. You might want to try attaching the Laser printer
directly to an outlet to see if that makes a difference. I don't think I'd
have it sharing, at least not a surge bar. 

-- 
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/
"PopRivet" <r91658@usadatanet.net> wrote in message 
news:jYmdnUHrTbvHKsXd4p2dnA@usadatanet.net...
> PART TWO:  TOP POSTED, FIRST POST IS AFTER THIS
> POSTING.
> 17 March 2004, Wednesday AM:
>
> ------------------
>
> Cold Boot, first of the day.
>
> Both Printers off:
>
> 2 minutes 16 seconds, but things are "funny" - task bar
> hides OK, but not any menu brought up while task bar is
> visible; they stay on screen. Lasted for several
> minutes - wasn't measuring time. Eventually worked
> correctly.
>
> Only 5 icons in System Tray; there should be 13
>
> ---
>
> At 4+ minutes, NAV AutoProtect and LAN icons loaded
> into system tray. That seemed to end boot/setup
> activity.
>
> Now there are 7 items in the sys tray: Top to bottom:
> NAV, LAN, Quikzip, CD, Video, Real, & Net Adapt Card.
> There should be 13.
>
> MISSING Icons: UPS (usually very last thing to load);
> Volume; RealPlayer; Milleneum Keyboard; on AC Pwr
> Indicator; SpamPal.
>
> ---------------------------------------
>
> The SNMP Service is ignoring extension agent key
> SOFTWARE\Microsoft\IPXMibAgent\CurrentVersion because
> it is missing or misconfigured.
>
> For more information, see Help and Support Center at
> http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
>
> 0000: 02 00 00 00
>
> From MS:
>
> ID: 1101 Source: SNMP We're sorry There is no
> additional information about this issue in the Error
> and Event Log Messages or Knowledge Base databases at
> this time. You can use the links in the Support area to
> determine whether any additional information might be
> available elsewhere.
>
> ---------------------------
>
> Event Viewer:
>
> The SNMP Service has started successfully.
>
> For more information, see Help and Support Center at
> http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
>
> From MS Link:
>
> ID: 1001 Source: SNMP We're sorry There is no
> additional information about this issue in the Error
> and Event Log Messages or Knowledge Base databases at
> this time. You can use the links in the Support area to
> determine whether any additional information might be
> available elsewhere.
>
> ------------------
>
> Error Message: The Event Log File is Corrupt: After the
> displayed table immediately cleared to empty. There
> were no other errors or warnings left in the Event
> Viewer though, so all present are listed.
>
> Disconnected dialup connection. System View is blank;
> no entries, red on System icon in Computer Management
> menu.
>
> From the APPLICATON LOG:
>
> Hanging application HelpCtr.exe, version 5.1.2600.1106,
> hang module hungapp, version 0.0.0.0, hang address
> 0x00000000.
>
>
>
> For more information, see Help and Support Center at
> http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
>
> ----
>
> Fault bucket 21949569.
>
>
>
> For more information, see Help and Support Center at
> http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
>
> Since the Event Viewer corrupted, there are no links
> given to go to MS site.
>
> Will Reboot now.
>
> Note: NAV AutoProtect is ON & I left it on.
>
> -----------------
>
> REESTART: Abt 50 Seconds
>
> EPSON ERROR MESSAGE AGAIN: Title: EPSON PrinterPort
> Msg: At least one service or driver failed during
> system startup. Use Event Viewer to examine the event
> log for detials. Button = OK
>
> 12 icons in System Tray, not 13. Didn't catch which one
> was missing.
>
> NAV AutoProtect was turned OFF somehow!
>
> -- Same two SNMP messages as above, plus:
>
> Adapter Intel(R) PRO/100 VE Network Connection: Adapter
> Link Up
>
> The Eplpdx02 service could not be started.
>
>
>
> For more information, see Help and Support Center at
> http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
>
> From MS:
>
>      ID:
>     3523
>
>      Source:
>     Eplpdx02
>
>
>      We're sorry
>
>      There is no additional information about this
> issue in the Error and Event Log Messages or Knowledge
> Base databases at this time. You can use the links in
> the Support area to determine whether any additional
> information might be available elsewhere.
>
>
> Remaining 10 events were successful Service Control
> Manager events.
>
> NAV AutoProtect manually enabled OK. All seems OK.
> Seems all is working.
>
> Shutting down and will leave powered down for > ten
> minutes while I go do somethings.
>
> -----------------------------
>
> Power down (power bar turned off; no power to computer
> or monitor at all) for over an hour. No peripherals are
> powered on.
>
> COLD BOOT: Took 50 Seconds, just about exactly.
>
> ALL 13 ICONS ARE PRESENT!
>
> Norton AutoProtect is OFF again! Why? Manually enabled
> from System Tray.
>
> Turned on HP LaserJet. Pinnacle TV Rx box turns on with
> it; both on same power bar. FAILED TO PRINT; Must press
> FF to get data out of it. Printed one page when I
> pressed FF:
>
> BRJN"COOOGNV"NcsgrJgv"6R
>
> BRJN"SGV"RCGGRROVGCV?OFF
>
> BRJN"SGV"RCGGRROVGCV?CWVD
>
> BRJN
>
> Have seen that before: It must be meaningful. Should
> ask HP if it's interpretable.
>
> Switched to Epson Ink Jet C82, turned it on HP Off:
> PRINTING MUCH GARBAGE! Will not allow me to Purge
> printer. Pulled paper from it to stop it. Killed it
> with Task Manager after a CAD. Sent the Error Message
> as requested - no link returned to check for fixes.
> Just said I could close my connection to the 'net.
>
> Powered Epson printer off/on. Doing a Restart now.
>
> Oops! Printer started printing again! There IS NOTHING
> to indicate the printer is printing! Status is "ready",
> no pending docs, no spooler, nothing?!?!
>
> Doing a Shut Down instead of Restart, but will have
> printer on before power is reapplied to computer.
>
> --------------------
>
> Cold Boot:
>
> Took 55 seconds: I might have missed when it was
> ready - forgot for a moment. Tired of waiting for
> bootups.
>
> Test Epson Print: PRINTING SAME GARBAGE! Tried to print
> same thing as the previous two times, from the same
> app: Word 2k2. Again, cannot stop the printing from the
> Epson CP. Printer Properties however did let me pause
> and then Cancel everything, which allowed the printer
> CP to close. Going to Restart now.
>
> RESTART: 49 Seconds. Only 12 icons; On AC Pwr is
> missing, but UPS is there & with no error messages.
>
> NAV AutoProtect is OFF again.
>
> Epson still prints GARBAGE!
>
> Cannot purge, cancel, or otherwise stop the printer
> again!. Used Task Manager to kill it finally.
>
> Going to the Event Viewer:
>
> -- NO printer error messages in the last three boots
> though printers are screwed up.
>
> -- The SNMP Service is ignoring extension agent key
> SOFTWARE\Microsoft\IPXMibAgent\CurrentVersion because
> it is missing or misconfigured.
>
> For more information, see Help and Support Center at
> http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
>
> Followed immediately by:
>
> -- The SNMP Service has started successfully.
>
> For more information, see Help and Support Center at
> http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
>
> -- And this after an attempt to purge my printer
> documents:
>
> The attempt to reboot SERVER failed
>
> For more information, see Help and Support Center at
> http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
>
> That might be OK: A reboot did fail because I left this
> document open and unsaved when I tried to boot at that
> point.
>
> BUT, NO ERROR MESSAGES! ONLY THOSE WARNINGS. ALL ELSE
> LOOKS FINE DURING THE ENTIRE LAST THREE BOOTS.
>
> -- During the second boot, the Application Log shows:
>
> Hanging application E_S10RN1.EXE, version 3.0.1.0, hang
> module hungapp, version 0.0.0.0, hang address
> 0x00000000.
>
> For more information, see Help and Support Center at
> http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
>
> Fault bucket 17976389.
>
> For more information, see Help and Support Center at
> http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
>
> Nothing there for the first and third boots.
>
> ---
>
> NEXT: Time to dispense with NAV and BOTH printers -
> Will remove/uninstall as appropriate and see what
> happens next. Looks like it'll be Sneakernet to the
> Laptop from here on. Disconnecting LAN, phone line, all
> peripherals, etc. etc..
>
> ----------------------------------------------
>
> -------------------------------------------------------
> ------
> ...
> | I've fixed (found sort of a workaround) the long boot
> time, but at the cost
> | of my antivirus protection and having to use the ICF.
> I've also contained,
> | apparently, the Epson printer error message described
> below, but not
> | permanently.
> ==  NOT TRUE ANYMORE:  NEITHER PRINTER WORKS AGAIN NOW.
>
> |    Throughout all of this, I have a non-functioning
> LAN:  It's disabled
> | throughout all of this and will not function.
> |    So, the overall symptoms are:
> | --  Very long boot time  (need fixed soon)
> | --  Neither printer will function  (need fixed soon),
> but have one working
> | good enough "for now"
> | --  No LAN (not bothering with that  right now).
> |    Is there a way to DELETE the LAN configuration?  I
> can only find Disable.
> |
> |
> | 1.  I am NOT a guru or expert by any means.  I have
> great respect for the
> | MVP's and others who have helped me along here, and
> wish to say THANKS!!
> | You know who you are.
> |
> | 2.  Length of boot times:
> |   --  originally about a minute or so, never measured
> it prior to this..
> |   --  Worst:  4 MINUTES and 48 seconds measured
> recently!
> |   --  Present time:  abt 51 seconds, but I can now
> reproduce an almost 4
> | minute boot time upon demand.  So far.
> |
> | Terms:
> | --  Cold Boot = Power On = Shut Down/power-up.
> | --  Warm Boot = Restart
> | --  Power Down = power to PC OFF for > 1 minute
> | --  Boot time:  The time from the beginning of the
> boot (used floppy drive
> | access as indicator) until machine was operable, all
> desktop icons
> | displayed, and an app could be started.  This
> included the little bullets
> | crossing the screen after POST and the second or so
> to enter a
> | single-character password.
> |
> | Configuration:
> | --  Pent 4;  2.6 GHz, two 80 Gig hd's, 512 RAM, XP
> Pro, NTFS, Desktop as
> | Server on 10/100 wired ethernet, self installed.
> | --  Dial up 'net connection 56k.  Usually connect at
> 53.2, sometimes 50.0k.
> | --  Celeron 2.2 GHz, 40 Gig hd laptop as client on
> wired ethernet, XP Home.
> | --  ICS used.
> | --  ICF not used.
> | --  Sygate Personal firewall, Adaware & SpyBot,
> Norton 2003 NAV, XP, Office,
> | etc. kept up to date with frequent updates or where
> available Live Updates.
> | --  HP LaserJet 6P B&W laser and Epson C82 Stylus
> color printers.
> | --  Misc others including video capture/edit
> | --  Time in service:  abt 9 months, both machines.
> |
> | Initial Problem not known to be related to long boot
> times, but:
> | --  A low-risk worm, acquired while a foster child
> was on machine.  Same
> | child caught visiting sites like rotten.com, etc..
> |    Fixed & removed something-9910-something.exe, part
> of a
> | something-oag-something virus.  Seemed fixed for a
> week or so.
> |
> | --  Boots & restarts seemed long, but I didn't boot
> often, so just figured I
> | felt like it was a long time.
> | --  Don't use Epson a lot; usually use the HP
> printer.
> | --  One day, powered on Epson, only printed garbage.
> Rebooted.
> | --  Got an Epson Driver Load failure / Epson printer
> driver not loaded
> | message.  Machine seemed to churn forever before the
> error message.
> | Successive boots same problem, same error message,
> etc..
> | --  Timed bootup; looked  like almost 5 minutes!
> | --  No hint in Event Viewer, just an error about the
> print driver failure.
> | Link to MS only said they were "working on it".  No
> help.
> | --  Switched back to HP laser, figured I'd take the
> B&W print.  It only
> | printed garbage too!
> | --  Reinstalled HP drivers; no help.
> | --  Tried Have Disk option:  XP refused to install
> them.
> | --  Downloaded most recent drivers, marked as for XP
> on the HP site.
> |   --  No help.  XP complained they weren't
> compatible.  Install worked
> | though.
> |   --  No help.  No changes.
> | By now I'm almost bald from the long boot times.
> | --  Reinstalled Epson drivers.  N O help.
> | --  Reinstalled Epson drivers again - wasn't sure I
> checked all the right
> | boxes.
> | --  IT WORKED!  BOTH PRINTERS WORKED.  Still long
> boot time though.
> | --  Next morning, it all came back:  Epson error,
> longest boot time, no
> | printer operation.  Fiddled around, got Epson to
> work.  Can keep it working.
> | HP will not work no matter what settings I make
> though.
> | --  Got out stopwatch:  4 MINUTES 46 seconds to boot!
> |
> | Lots of fussing, including another reinstall and a
> Recovery Console
> | operation.  All succeeded, but no change in printer
> error msg or boot times.
> |
> | --  Prepped to repartition/reformat.  I really wanted
> that 80 Gig drive
> | re-partitioned anyway, so it wasn 't a completely
> wasteful plan.
> |
> | --  Finally came up with a plan to do a clean
> install, but to the Slave
> | drive instead of the C: drive.  That way I didn't
> have to lose all my
> | settings and everything and the original drive would
> become my backup.
> | Decided this AFTER I had already backed everything up
> to D:, by the way!
> | ------------------------
> | Preps to clean install:
> | --  Checked all BIOS settings, etc..  All OK.  Set
> boot sequence to:
> |   --  Floppy
> |   --  CD DVD Drive
> |   --  Hard Drive
> | --  Set Slave drive to be Boot Drive instead of the
> Master.
> |   --  Also disabled the Silent Boot while I was
> there.
> | --  Restart:
> |   -- Error Message - Load Error:  Press a Key to
> Continue.  Pressed a key
> | and it went ahead and booted.  Pressed a key, booted
> OK.
> |    BUT IT WAS A FAST BOOT!  THERE WAS NO 4 MINUTE
> DELAY!!
> | --  Measured boot time was abt 50 seconds!
> | --  Repeatable, same every time.  Little bullets make
> 8 passes on Welcome
> | screen.
> | --------------------------
> | --  Put Master drive back as boot drive
> |   --  BOOTED IN ABOUT 48 SECONDS!
> | --  Did a Cold Boot:  50 seconds!  Great!  Dunno WHY
> it's only 50S, but
> | great!
> | ---------------------
> | --  Noticed Norton AV AutoProtect was disabled.
> Shouldn't have been.  It
> | refuses to be enabled.
> |   --  Firewall is still Allow All, as it was all
> along so far in this
> | troubleshooting session.
> |   --  Refuses to be enabled from the System Tray
> option.
> |   --  At about the 4 + MINUTE time point, AutoProtect
> turned on!  Dunno if
> | it's because I'd tried to enable it or if it just had
> to wait the 4 minutes.
> | 4 minutes is a feeling, not a measured time; didn't
> know it was going to
> | enable.
> | ---------------------
> | --  Set Firewall to Normal.  Auto Protect is still ON
> | --  Restart took 2 minutes and 12 seconds!!  Say,
> what?
> | ------------------------
> | --  Turn OFF Auto Protect; Reboot.
> | --  Took 48 seconds!  Huh?  But, Norton Auto Protect
> switched itself OFF
> | again and refuses to be enabled.
> |        Hmm, are Sygate's Firewall and Norton fighting
> each other?
> |
> | ---------------------------
> |
> | Turned ON Internet Connection Firewall (ICF).
> | Removed Sygate Personal Firewall.
> | Boot = 50S.
> | --  AutoProtect is still OFF though.  Refuses to be
> enabled from system
> | tray.  BUT, this time, I was able to Enable it from
> within NAV!  Left it
> | enabled.
> |
> | Did a Restart:
> | --  Got Epson Printer Driver failure error msg again!
> | --  Boot time - 2 MINUTES 20 SECONDS!!   Huh?
> | --  And Auto Protect had been turned OFF again!?  It
> should have been ON!
> | Cannot enable it from the system tray.  But, at
> around the 4 or 5 minute
> | time, it came ON again!  So, eventually Auto Protect
> DID come on!!  NOW I
> | can enable/disable it at will from the system tray
> icon.  Huh.
> | ----------
> | Disabled AutoProtect.
> | Rebooted:
> | --  Got the Epson error msg again!
> | BUT, boot time: 50 S measured.  Sheesh!
> | AND, Norton Auto Protect had been disabled again!
> And this time didn't come
> | back on by itself.  So,
> | -------------------------
> |
> | Enabled Auto Protect.
> | Reboot:  49 Seconds measured.
> | It enabled OK from the system tray though.
> | Reboot:  50 S measured.
> |   Auto Protect turned itself OFF again!
> | But can enable/disable it at will from system tray.
> | ----------------
> | What do YOU think?
> | Man, I am SO confused.  I think my next move is:
> |
> | --  Find another antivirus software to use.
> | --  Keep ICF for now - it's enough functionality for
> now.
> | And continue with more analysis.    Tomorrow.
> |
> | Or, but the bullet, but this is getting curiouser and
> curiouser all the
> | time!
> |
> | Comments/advice welcome!  Flames?  Nah, please don't.
> |
> | Pop
> |
>
>