[sezabo]

I started facing a problem recently with my 3 years old laptop GATEWAY MX6453.
I have looked in the forum, but couldnt find someone with the exact problem.

My laptop suddenly started to freeze (temporarily) when I try to load any application. The freeze time could take 2 to 5 min (while the hard disk led is lit solid). I cannot hear the hard disk sound during this freeze. I could move the mouse but cannot click on anything. It just stops responding for about 5 min before the application loads and works normally.
If am working on the internet for example and need to open the start menu, the same thing happens.

When booting everything goes normal until I see my desktop background (and icons start loading) it freezes again and could take up to 20 minutes to load.

I suspected the hard disk is failing and I ran a scan. (Windows scan from my computer) but found no errors. I scanned for viruses as well - but found nothing.

Is there any way I could make sure its the hard disk or something else?

Please let me know what other information you may need.

Many thanks

[Phantom010]

It could also be your RAM. To test it, you can try a Memtest. Burn the ISO Image to a CD/DVD and boot from it. Then, follow the on screen instructions.

But first, I'd like to check a few things...

Please click here to download and install the HijackThis installer.

Run it and select Do a system scan and save a logfile.

The log will be saved in Notepad. Copy and paste the log in your next post.

Do not fix anything

[sezabo]

Ok this how my log file looks like:

ogfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 6:59:40 PM, on 10/20/2009
Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v8.00 (8.00.6001.18702)
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\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\windows\system32\svchost.exe
C:\windows\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe
C:\windows\System32\WLTRYSVC.EXE
C:\windows\System32\bcmwltry.exe
C:\windows\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Automatic Update\AutoUpdate.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
C:\windows\eHome\ehRecvr.exe
C:\windows\eHome\ehSched.exe
C:\windows\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\New Boundary\PrismXL\PRISMXL.SYS
C:\Program Files\Alcohol Soft\Alcohol 120\StarWind\StarWindService.exe
C:\windows\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Google\Update\1.2.183.7\GoogleCrashHandler.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllhost.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Nero\Lib\NMIndexingService.exe
C:\windows\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\windows\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Automatic Update\AutoUpdateGUI.exe
C:\WINDOWS\ehome\ehtray.exe
C:\windows\stsystra.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\WLTRAY.exe
C:\windows\system32\rundll32.exe
C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\GrooveMonitor.exe
C:\windows\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\windows\eHome\ehmsas.exe
C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\MailFrontier\mantispm.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Owner.SAGNB\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Owner.SAGNB\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Owner.SAGNB\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://www.gateway.com/g/sidepanel.h...s=PTB&M=MX6453
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://bbc.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
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = http://www.gateway.com/g/sidepanel.h...s=PTB&M=MX6453
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Connection Wizard,ShellNext = http://www.gateway.com/g/startpage.h...s=PTB&M=MX6453
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = *.local
O2 - BHO: ContributeBHO Class - {074C1DC5-9320-4A9A-947D-C042949C6216} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\/Adobe Contribute CS4/contributeieplugin.dll
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHelperStub - {18DF081C-E8AD-4283-A596-FA578C2EBDC3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelperShim.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {5C255C8A-E604-49b4-9D64-90988571CECB} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: Groove GFS Browser Helper - {72853161-30C5-4D22-B7F9-0BBC1D38A37E} - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\GrooveShellExtensions.dll
O2 - BHO: Windows Live Sign-in Helper - {9030D464-4C02-4ABF-8ECC-5164760863C6} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live\WindowsLiveLogin.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Conversion Toolbar Helper - {AE7CD045-E861-484f-8273-0445EE161910} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEFavClient.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Notifier BHO - {AF69DE43-7D58-4638-B6FA-CE66B5AD205D} - C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\5.1.1309.3572\swg.dll
O2 - BHO: Browser Address Error Redirector - {CA6319C0-31B7-401E-A518-A07C3DB8F777} - c:\windows\system32\BAE.dll
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - {DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jp2ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: JQSIEStartDetectorImpl - {E7E6F031-17CE-4C07-BC86-EABFE594F69C} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\lib\deploy\jqs\ie\jqs_plugin.dll
O2 - BHO: SmartSelect - {F4971EE7-DAA0-4053-9964-665D8EE6A077} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEFavClient.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Adobe PDF - {47833539-D0C5-4125-9FA8-0819E2EAAC93} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEFavClient.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Contribute Toolbar - {517BDDE4-E3A7-4570-B21E-2B52B6139FC7} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\/Adobe Contribute CS4/contributeieplugin.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ehTray] C:\WINDOWS\ehome\ehtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Reminder] %WINDIR%\Creator\Remind_XP.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Recguard] %WINDIR%\SMINST\RECGUARD.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SigmatelSysTrayApp] stsystra.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Broadcom Wireless Manager UI] C:\WINDOWS\system32\WLTRAY.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [BluetoothAuthenticationAgent] rundll32.exe bthprops.cpl,,BluetoothAuthenticationAgent
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ZoneAlarm Client] "C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe" -osboot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [GrooveMonitor] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\GrooveMonitor.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\windows\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Google Update] "C:\Documents and Settings\Owner.SAGNB\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Update\GoogleUpdate.exe" /c
O8 - Extra context menu item: Append Link Target to Existing PDF - res://C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIEAppendSelLinks.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Append to Existing PDF - res://C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIEAppend.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert Link Target to Adobe PDF - res://C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIECaptureSelLinks.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert to Adobe PDF - res://C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIECapture.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office12\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O8 - Extra context menu item: Translate with &Babylon - res://C:\Program Files\Babylon\Babylon-Pro\Utils\BabylonIEPI.dll/Translate.htm
O9 - Extra button: Send to OneNote - {2670000A-7350-4f3c-8081-5663EE0C6C49} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office12\ONBttnIE.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: S&end to OneNote - {2670000A-7350-4f3c-8081-5663EE0C6C49} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office12\ONBttnIE.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office12\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: Real.com - {CD67F990-D8E9-11d2-98FE-00C0F0318AFE} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Shdocvw.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\windows\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\windows\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
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
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\nwprovau.dll
O15 - Trusted Zone: *.amadeusproweb.com
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://*.amadeusproweb.com
O15 - Trusted Zone: *.amadeusvista.com
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://*.amadeusvista.com
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://content.amadeus.com (HKLM)
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://content.1a.amadeus.net (HKLM)
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://*.amadeusproweb.com (HKLM)
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://Muc.http.farm6.software.amadeusvista.com (HKLM)
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://Muc.http.farm8.software.amadeusvista.com (HKLM)
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://Muc.https.farm11.software.amadeusvista.com (HKLM)
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://Muc.https.farm5.software.amadeusvista.com (HKLM)
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://*.amadeusvista.com (HKLM)
O15 - Trusted IP range: http://192.168.2.7
O16 - DPF: {051FE707-9706-11D5-A836-000102A7C938} (Amadeus Automatic Update) - http://certificates.amadeusvista.com...eATL26P502.CAB
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://www.update.microsoft.com/wind...?1224856404076
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://fpdownload2.macromedia.com/ge...sh/swflash.cab
O16 - DPF: {DAF7E6E6-D53A-439A-B28D-12271406B8A9} (RIM AxLoader) - http://mobileapps.blackberry.com/dev...e/AxLoader.cab
O16 - DPF: {F96020DD-C373-44A0-82B6-064EF0AEEAE3} (RegSiteClientTools Class) - http://certificates.amadeusvista.com...gSiteTools.cab
O18 - Protocol: grooveLocalGWS - {88FED34C-F0CA-4636-A375-3CB6248B04CD} - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\GrooveSystemServices.dll
O18 - Protocol: skype4com - {FFC8B962-9B40-4DFF-9458-1830C7DD7F5D} - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\Skype\SKYPE4~1.DLL
O23 - Service: Adobe Version Cue CS4 - Adobe Systems Incorporated - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Adobe Version Cue CS4\Server\bin\VersionCueCS4.exe
O23 - Service: Amadeus Automatic Update - Amadeus - C:\Program Files\Automatic Update\AutoUpdate.exe
O23 - Service: Apple Mobile Device - Apple, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
O23 - Service: Ati HotKey Poller - ATI Technologies Inc. - C:\windows\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
O23 - Service: Bonjour Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
O23 - Service: FLEXnet Licensing Service - Acresso Software Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Macrovision Shared\FLEXnet Publisher\FNPLicensingService.exe
O23 - Service: Google Update Service (gupdate1c994f75eb14f62) (gupdate1c994f75eb14f62) - Google Inc. - C:\Program Files\Google\Update\GoogleUpdate.exe
O23 - Service: Google Software Updater (gusvc) - Google - C:\Program Files\Google\Common\Google Updater\GoogleUpdaterService.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: Java Quick Starter (JavaQuickStarterService) - Sun Microsystems, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe
O23 - Service: NMIndexingService - Nero AG - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Nero\Lib\NMIndexingService.exe
O23 - Service: PrismXL - New Boundary Technologies, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\New Boundary\PrismXL\PRISMXL.SYS
O23 - Service: StarWind iSCSI Service (StarWindService) - Rocket Division Software - C:\Program Files\Alcohol Soft\Alcohol 120\StarWind\StarWindService.exe
O23 - Service: TrueVector Internet Monitor (vsmon) - Check Point Software Technologies LTD - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe
O23 - Service: Broadcom Wireless LAN Tray Service (wltrysvc) - Unknown owner - C:\windows\System32\WLTRYSVC.EXE

--
End of file - 11893 bytes

[Phantom010]

How much RAM do you have?

Try booting in Safe Mode and see if you're still experiencing the same issue with freezing.

If all goes well in this mode, I would suspect a software incompatibility. In that case, a Clean Boot could help you isolate the culprit(s).

[jclynn67]

My niece is also having issues with her HP ZD8000 laptop. May I post a Hijack this log on her computer if I can get it to work long enough to download it?

Thanks,
Jody

[Phantom010]

Originally Posted by jclynn67

My niece is also having issues with her HP ZD8000 laptop. May I post a Hijack this log on her computer if I can get it to work long enough to download it?

Thanks,
Jody

Please start your own thread as it becomes confusing to help more then one member in the same thread.

Thank you for understanding.

[sezabo]

I have 2GB of RAM.

After a boot in safe mode, I could see that there is no difference. Still the response time is extremely slow when loading any application and temporarily freezing continue.

[Phantom010]

Then,

It could also be your RAM. To test it, you can try a Memtest. Burn the ISO Image to a CD/DVD and boot from it. Then, follow the on screen instructions.

[sezabo]

I ran the MemTest several times overnight and it detected no errors.

However I came to know the reason of the problem. By pure luck I stumbled across an article talking about vsmon.exe (a zone alarm process that works in the background). I found out that this process is eating most of my CPU. I shutdown zone alarm and for 2 days my laptop is working perfectly.

I will try to find a way to stop vsmon.exe process or I will uninstall zone alarm completely.
The question is : I have been using Zone Alarm for 2 years but this problem appeared in the last 3 weeks or so. Dont know why.

Thank you for your posts.

[Phantom010]

vsmon.exe is an important process related to your ZoneAlarm firewall. If you kill the process, your firewall won't be working anymore.

I would completely remove ZoneAlarm and install a better alternative.

Or, you could try updating to the latest ZA version. There might be a fix for the issue.