Windows 7 Freezing after every login

mossy464

Hi All,

Since last week my Windows 7 laptop keeps freezing after every login.

Initially it was just hanging on the welcome screen just after login and now it lets me in but after a few mins the task bar freezes and then when I go to open a program from the desktop shortcuts everything freezes so I have to force shut down by holding the power button.

I am able to log in to safe mode with no problems and I have tried the following.

I have tried a system restore to various different restore points but no joy. I also thought from other forums that it may be to do with WMP so I disabled that but no joy either.

I have run Malwarebytes and AVG full scans but havent found anything.

A driver had been missing for my express card slot and I installed a new one but still the same problem.

Any ideas?

Thanks

mp22

Safe mode-make a new admin account-log on to new acc and see if the pc works.

fasttalkerchat

Check all startup programs. Cut any non-essential ones.

mossy464

fasttalkerchat wrote: »

Check all startup programs. Cut any non-essential ones.

Tried that, still no luck.

Just creating a new admin account now and will see if that works.

mossy464

Created a second account and seems there are no issues with it.

dyer

since the problem doesn't seem to occur in safe mode it sounds like it could be driver related. you could try monitoring the load time of each driver with something like this http://www.clockmod.com/index.php?/products/view/winbootinfo_1.0/

there is also a hotfix available from microsoft to address people who are suffering from random freezes in w7.. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2575077

mossy464

Seems I spoke too soon. After about 5 mins in the new account I clicked on the taskbar and it froze again with the spinning cursor.

I will try the hotfix from microsoft. Thanks

mossy464

Hotfix didnt work.

Will have to try track down whats causing it with some program.

Really annoying problem. Thanks for the tips.

Capt'n Midnight

if it is stable in safe mode then try a system restore

mossy464

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

if it is stable in safe mode then try a system restore

Tried a system restore a few times with different restore points but still the same problem.

mossy464

Tried to install the winbootinfo program as recommended by dyer but when I try to access the folder the install file is in lone behold the laptop freezes again.

And cant install it in safe mode.

dyer

try starting the windows installer service in safe mode..

Type this in a command prompt:

REG ADD "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot\Minimal\MSIServer" /VE /T REG_SZ /F /D "Service"

and then

net start msiserver

if you can't pin down the issue with drivers i'd check your harddrive after by running checkdisk with "chkdsk VolumeLetter: /F /R" to scan the surface of the drive.. then an "sfc /scannow" at command prompt to check your system files are not corrupt or missing).. after that system temps might be worth investigating dust might be causing something to overheat)

mossy464

Still no luck.

I copied and pasted the above into cmd in safe mode but it wont start the service. Says it cant be started in safe mode.

mossy464

Anyone have any other suggestions apart from a full reinstall of windows?

Groinshot

mossy464 wrote: »

Anyone have any other suggestions apart from a full reinstall of windows?

Hard drive problem? Not sure what the most commonly reccommended software is, but chkdsk, or Passmark should do it.
Also, I know it only happens in regular mode, but not in safe mode, but still no harm in ruling it out, i've seen stranger things.

dyer

mossy464 wrote: »

Still no luck.

I copied and pasted the above into cmd in safe mode but it wont start the service. Says it cant be started in safe mode.

hmm weird.. that should have done the trick, unless youre logging in with networking enabled which requires a different command.

you could try this util http://www.technibble.com/safemsi-exe-start-windows-installer-service-in-safe-mode/

mossy464

Sorry, I have been logging into safe mode with networking.

I can log in to normal safe mode and try.

However, after checking the boot logs it shows the last driver loaded is fastfat.sys before the crash.

I read that this driver has to do with usb ports etc.

Could this driver be the cause of the crashes?

dyer

whats the nature of the crash.. does the system freeze or do you get a BSOD?

has the freezing ever occured while you're in safe mode? if it has id strongly suggest you check your hdd and your memory. (if you type mem diagnostic into the start menu in windows7 you should see a utility there.. click it and let it run on the the next boot)

mossy464

dyer wrote: »

whats the nature of the crash.. does the system freeze or do you get a BSOD?

has the freezing ever occured while you're in safe mode? if it has id strongly suggest you check your hdd and your memory. (if you type mem diagnostic into the start menu in windows7 you should see a utility there.. click it and let it run on the the next boot)

I don't get a bsod and it has never occurred in safe mode.

Basically when I log in to normal mode and try to open a program like firefox or anything even documents it just freezes and there is a cursor spinning.

After leaving it for a few mins its still the same so I have to hold the power button to turn it off.

Capt'n Midnight

the usual search for malware

run msconfig to rule out startup stuff
start with diagnostic startup

NB don't stop any microsoft services

were there any changes to the system at any stage ?

dyer

as capt'n midnight already said.. id try selectively booting services to see if you can narrow a problem down in that area..

there is a guide here : http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

mossy464

Well, tried a diagnostic startup but still froze on a normal login.

Trying other ones now.

mossy464

I've tried various different startup options now but still the same problem.

Does anyone know what service relates to the fastfat.sys driver as it seems in the boot log that this is the last driver loaded before the crash.

It looks like the problem is with a windows service.

UPDATE: Just went into device manager and saw that under network adapters there was a Microsoft ISATAP adapter with the yellow exclamation mark error.

This device was not there the other day.

Tried updating the driver but it said the best driver is already installed.

Then tried disabling the device and restarting the computer into normal mode but still froze after logging in and opening firefox.

Couldnt open task mgr to stop firefox.

When I then restarted and went back into safe mode another instance of the ISATAP adapter had been created.

Any ideas?

This is so frustrating.

mossy464

Any other ideas lads?

yoyo

I would run diagnostics on the hard disk, a failing hard disk can cause freezing and general funny issues with the computer. I'd be looking at this being more hardware than software related at this stage, although it could be a bad driver. fastfat.sys is a Windows file. Also make sure the machine isn't overheating, a overheating video card, hard disk, CPU etc can cause system freezes

Nick

BigEejit

My Win 7 (x64) main computer was hanging just after l logged in yesterday. I first checked it was not overheating or anything and then logged in safe mode and used msconfig to disable every service. Once that booted ok I turned on all the microsoft ones and made sure it booted ok and then slowly started turning on my installed services one by one and rebooting and found to my surprise that it was avast.

But using that kind of method should help you narrow down the process that is killing your puter.

old_aussie

Are you running 32 bit or 64 bit version

old_aussie

How to remove the unwanted Tunnel Adapters via Device Manager:

• Open Start Menu
• Type In: Device Manager
• Select Device Manager
• Click the View menu from the top
• Select Show Hidden Devices (Must be check before continuing)
• Scroll down and expand Network Adapters
• Right-Click a duplicated Microsoft 6to4 Adapter or Microsoft ISATAP Adapter
• Select Uninstall
• Click OK for the pop-up warning message
• Repeat and repeat for each of the unwanted duplicated adapter
• Close Device Manager when finish

mossy464

old_aussie wrote: »

Are you running 32 bit or 64 bit version

64 bit.

Going to try stopping services and work my way backwards to see if one of them is causing the problem.

Can I stop windows services?

Capt'n Midnight

use msconfig - don't stop any microsoft serivces

mossy464

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

use msconfig - don't stop any microsoft serivces

Is it possible that a microsoft service is causing the freezing?

Just checking the hard disk now with DiskCheckup

mossy464

Well, I disabled all non microsoft services along with all startup programs.

When I restarted after this there were no problems.

So I enabled each service and startup programs one by one and restarted after doing each one to see what service or program was causing the freezing.

After enabling all of the programs and returning to a normal startup the freezes are not occurring.

Not sure what happened to fix the problem but at least its fixed.

Many thanks for all the advice.

Have you looked at the logs?

Filter for the time relating to the event and look within 'Event Viewer'.

eventvwr.msc

BigEejit

I know its late, but 2 weeks ago my win7 x64 started freezing shortly after booting into windows. After a lot of reboots where I disabled all non microsoft software on first boot, slowly went through enabling 5 at a time until it froze and then enabled those five one by one until Avast was the one that froze it.

Avast, who would have thunk it. Swapped to AVG and back to normal. I have a fresh backup now as well.