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Topic: Computer freezes on shutdown |
Brint Hannay
From:
Maryland, USA
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Posted 20 Oct 2008 1:05 pm |
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This is something that started fairly recently, though I can't pinpoint when, so can't associate it with any specific action that was taken on the computer.
I'm using XP with SP3, and have the Norton Internet Security Package and Spybot, updated weekly. I also have SUPERAntispyware, installed a couple of days ago, at which time I UNinstalled Ad-Aware SE, but the issue I'm talking about was happening before either of those actions.
What happens is, after clicking "Log Off", a succession of two or three "End Program" boxes pop up--the one that says "If you choose to end the program now,etc." This hardly ever happened before, and now it always does. If I remain at the computer and click "End Now" for each as they appear, log off then happens normally. But if I just click Log Off and walk away, when I return I find a "The Program is Not Responding" box. If I then click End Now, all the icons and tool and task bars go off, leaving only the Desktop wallpaper, which remains indefinitely, and the computer responds to nothing (Ctrl+Alt+Del, etc.). I have to turn it off manually with the button on the computer itself.
The most consistent program that pops up in these End Program boxes is "sprtcmd". Others are "ccApp" and, in Internet Explorer (I generally use Firefox), "ieexplore".
What could be causing this, is it a symptom of significant problem, and how, if possible, can I correct it? |
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Wiz Feinberg
From:
Mid-Michigan, USA
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Brint Hannay
From:
Maryland, USA
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Posted 20 Oct 2008 11:26 pm
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Wiz, that's one of my suspicions as well. Norton, or perhaps conflict between Norton and SB. The computer has been starting up slower since renewing and updating Norton, and updating SB.
The Norton package was pre-loaded in the Dell computer when new. I've only renewed it because I'm uncertain what would be a better, less resource-hogging, way to maximize security. I've encountered a lot of opinion, here and elsewhere, that Norton is not the best option for various reasons, but what's good?
I Googled "sprtcmd" and found it's part of "Dell Support Center". I don't know how much value that has.
Update: I downloaded and installed Registry Booster from UniBlue, ran the registry scan and "repair" a couple of times, and now the problem I posted about seems not to be happening. |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 21 Oct 2008 2:03 am
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There have been a lot of posts lately on the Dell support forum about that sprtcmd and either failing to start or shutdown.
Here is the fix from the Dell forum:
Bring up the Command Window (Run Windows) by pressing Windows + R.
Type in msconfig and press Enter.
Under the General tab, choose the Selective startup bullet if you're not already using that mode.
Then, under the Startup tab, uncheck the boxes for dscactivate and SupportSoft sprtcmd.
Click Apply or OK and restart Windows.
When you startup your computer, you will get a message that says that you are starting up in a Selective startup. That is normal.
You can uninstall the program if you like or keep it and run it manually when you want it.
If you uninstall the program, you can install it again once the program is corrected.
Now uninstall the program.
Once the program is uninstalled, you can go back and set your startup for "Normal" on the General tab. |
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John Cipriano
From:
San Francisco
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Posted 25 Oct 2008 3:35 pm
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Brint: good to hear that you were able to solve the problem. But you were lucky that a registry "repair" fixed things. Usually letting some program tear up your registry has the potential to make things worse.
Should you need to down the road, the first place to look when troubleshooting a problem like this is to run eventvwr.exe (just type that in Start > Run). This gives you the log of system events. Most things the OS does, whether they succeeds or fail, end up in this log. Large programs like Norton will also use the system log. Chances are ccApp put something in the Application log when it got (and ignored) the signal to shut down.
Also, if you don't use Dell support center, it's possible to just uninstall it. You can always download it at Dell.com and install it again if you have a support issue and are worried that the phone support will want you to have it.
Here's some instructions if you or anyone else ever wants to remove it:
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Get msiinv here. Follow steps 1-4 on that site (which are basically, download and run msiinv). In the text file it generates, look for the package called "Dell Support Center". Make note of the "product code" that will look like this:
{E3BFEE55-39E2-4BE0-B966-89FE583822C1}. Note: it may actually be that one exactly, but it doesn't have to be. Then open Start > Run... and type in:
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| msiexec /x:{E3BFEE55-39E2-4BE0-B966-89FE583822C1} |
Replace the number in the curly braces with what you get get for "product code" under msiinv's entry for Dell Support Center.
Obviously, there's nothing wrong with leaving DSC on there, and I wouldn't recommend doing the above unless you're comfortable with installing and uninstalling software, etc.
(Many Windows programs these days are installed using what are called Windows installer packages. Their filenames end with ".msi". Msiinv.exe is a program that Microsoft puts out that makes a simple list of these for you. It's like going to Add/Remove programs in Control Panel, but will often contain things that aren't in Add/Remove Programs.) |
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