Windows XP Inactive Processes

[AiponGkooja]

This has happened with a few programs now, and I don't know what's going on. I will try to start a program (Half-Life 2, MSN Messenger, Mozilla Firefox) and it won't do anything, but the process will show up in Task Manager and I can't "end task" on it. Any ideas?

 

[AiponGkooja]

Any suggestions? I have no idea what to do about this.

 

[xtknight]

First try rebooting to flush out the memory. If it still occurs, you could have spyware or just a picky/selfish program...most likely a C runtime DLL has been replaced or something to that extent. [[Don't do this. Read my post below!]] Open the command line (start menu run, type: cmd). Then sfc /SCANNOW. See if that helps it. That will revert crucial system files to the Windows default. I don't think this will kill any programs, but if you're unlucky it might. You need your WinXP CD available to do this (successfully). If it STILL happens, let me know (just make another reply to this thread).

 

[AiponGkooja]

Well, my computer has been up and running for a while, and only recently has it begun to do these things. Will reverting to default files mess things up if I've gone through lots of driver updates and Windows updates etc (such as getting SP2)?

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: AiponGkooja
Well, my computer has been up and running for a while, and only recently has it begun to do these things. Will reverting to default files mess things up if I've gone through lots of driver updates and Windows updates etc (such as getting SP2)?

It will if your XP CD isn't slipstreamed (integrated) with SP2. Sorry, I forgot about that. Uhh...hmm. Well I'm really not sure but my best guess is it will remove half of your SP2 which you won't want. The thing is, I'm not sure if it that's true. It would be silly to have a system file checker that wasn't compatible with service packs, wouldn't it?

 

[xtknight]

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=814510

Thankfully Microsoft has fixed this since Win2K SP4. So WinXP should be fine. SFC is coded in a way that it won't mess with the hotfixed files. So, no, it should not interact with your service pack. But don't hold me to it. Crap. Maybe not. I read here as an anecdote:

http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:ZI...ipStreamCD.htm+sfc+service+packs&hl=en

I recommend you don't do this!

But, here's one thing that will prevent this from happening. Look up a guide on how to slipstream SP2 to an XP CD. Do that. Then insert the slipstreamed XP+SP2 CD when SFC asks for a CD, even if it specifically asks for the original XP CD.

 

[xtknight]

Sorry about the triple post, but I just wanted to make sure didn't read my post before I edited it when I later find out that SFC is bad to use with your original CD.

Here's a guide on how to slipstream XP with SP2:

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sp2_slipstream.asp

Use only this new slipstreamed CD for SFC. Don't ever put your original XP CD in the drive when SFC asks for it, it's more than likely going to screw something up. You can also use this new CD when you want to install Windows and it will install SP2 for you. This will revert to Win XP SP2 which is fairly safe unless you installed additional hotfixes. You can integrate hotfixes also but you'll waste more time doing that than you will just reinstalling them after you revert to SP2 (reverting from your bloated XPSP2).

 

[AiponGkooja]

Yeah, I've seen that slipstreaming thing a few other times and wanted to try it. It never seems to let me download the program I need though, which is annoying. Actually, I kind of wanted to just reformat and install everything the right way, in the right order. I haven't gotten around to putting everything I would need onto CD's (slipstreamed SP2, Anti-virus prog w/ updated definitions, drivers, etc.) so I don't have to connect to the internet until it's fairly safe.

From the looks of that though I don't even need a program to do this? Hmm.... But does this allow you to not install all the options that you don't want/need from the XP or SP2 installs? Wish I could remember what that other program was, bah...


Edit: Yeah, it's nLite, and every time I click on a mirror to download the file it pops up with a window that says "Link to this page, not the files directly. Make sure to enable Referer before downloading. To do it fast temporary disable all firewall and antivirus programs. Left-click to download."

*Confused*

 

[AiponGkooja]

Ok, I think I have narrowed it down to just being my norton firewall. If I disable it, I can run firefox and hl2 just fine (haven't tried msn messenger yet), but if it is enabled these programs 1. don't work and 2. stay running in the background after they are closed (I can't "end task" on them in task manager). Any ideas as to why this is happening and how I can close those programs short of restarting my computer? Also, it'd be nice to know how to get them to work with the firewall on until I get around to hooking up my router again.

Thanks,
Aip