This is a post at the other board by Angelface1961 on Fri Jan 09, 2009

Angelface wrote:

Hi I have had my Acer Laptop for 5 months now. Windows Vista. I have AVG anti virus and Zone Alarm for my Firewall. I do disc check and defrag regularly. I also run CCleaner regularly. AVG runs weekly. I have not added anything major to my computer in quite a while, Nothing minor either for that matter. Tend to surf the same sites all the time. A few weeks ago I noticed that if I did not restart my computer every couple days it would get slow to respond. When I would restart it it would sometimes take a while to shut down, but it would shut down with in a couple minutes. Now I can hit restart and set my laptop down and check back on it and no matter how long I wait it will shut everything down I think but the background picture or a black screen. Can not seem to get past this point. I usually have to shut it down with the off button. Then when I restart I go to the F8 screen that gives me the option of safe mode or starting normally. I have restarted in safe mode and did a restore point back as far as it would let me, about 2 weeks. Did not help. Tried a couple other points but that did not help either. Anti virus scan comes up clean. Ran A squares got some tracking cookies but that was all. Did not do anything else yet in the sticky on So I think I have a virus....wanted to see what you all suggested. Any suggestions will be helpful. My laptop works great except for this...

Note to Repa:

Spoiler:
	I replied to the post and invited to come to this board. FPB is still running very slow as they are transfering the database to their infrastructure and they think it will take a week

Hi not sure this is related, but I looked in advanced tools looking for Defrag and found Reliabillity and Performance Monitor. It says my Microsoft 6to4 Adapter, cannot start properly. It may not have the correct driver installed or may be experiencing a hardware failure. The plug and play for this device for 10. It also sat the plug and play for this device is ROOT\6TO4MP\0000. THe resolution is to 1. verify the correct driver is installed 2. Try updating the driver using Windows Update 3. Check the manufacturer for an update 4. Attempt install and then reinstall the device manager.


Device manager says everything is fine.

Is this related? Any suggestions?

I am working on Sticky 2? The Maintainance one. Thanks in advance for your help.

Did I understand you correctly to say that you now cannot get into normal mode, only safe mode with your Acer Laptop?

Microsoft 6to4 Adapter is used for communication in mixed environment including both IPv4 and IPv6. If you haven’t deployed IPv6 network in your local network, you may disable 6TO4 adapter in Device Manager. However, this should not be causing the problem you describe, but you could try it anyway.

If you cannot get into normal mode, it will be difficult to help you from the forum if you don't find any viruses or other malware with your scanners in safe mode. A HijackThis log would help if malware is causing the problem, but it has to be run in normal mode (see Tut#6 in the Tutorials forum).

I am not that familiar with Vista but I suspect that something may be corrupt in the registry or you may have a corrupt or missing module or modules. A repair install of Windows may fix the problem, or it may not. You can do a recovery from bootup by doing the following:

1. Power the system on.

2. When the system is powered on, immediately tap the Alt and F10 keys together at the same time when the Acer splash screen appears.

3. It should state "Please wait a moment..." with the Acer logo in the upper left hand corner.

4. At the eRecovery Management menu it will ask you how to restore. Look for a "repair install or repair reinstall" option, or something to that effect, if it has one. This will allow you to over-write windows without losing any files or settings. You may need to have your recovery disc available. If this option is not available, it will likely do a destructive recovery, which means that all files and applications will be over-written and your system will be restored to the way it was when you got it.

If you are not sure of what to do, I would advise against the above unless you have all the files you want backed up somewhere other than on your hard drive, unless it is your last resort.

Since your laptop is only 5 months old, it should still be under warranty with Acer. To resolve your problem quickly, I would suggest calling their tech support line 1-800-816-2237 to get help there. They should guide you through steps over the phone to isolate and identify your problem and guide you through the fix, if it can be done over the phone, or they will recommend other action, such as repairing or replacing your laptop (for free). They also have support email and a knowledge base on their website, although I didn't see anything in their knowledge base that sounded like your problem.

Let me know if you have any other questions. If you respond, please give me your Acer model number and clear up my question about what you can and cannot do regarding whether you can get into normal mode or not.

I read your post again, and it appears that I didn't read it correctly. I see that you are not having trouble getting into normal mode, but only that you cannot restart from normal mode because your laptop gets stuck in the shutdown process, and you have to power down manually with the off button. Sorry about the confusion on my part.

If you have called Acer and resolved your problem, you can ignore the below. However, it would be nice to know what the resolution was, if you would please post it.

There are a number of reports of problems with Zonealarm and restart/shutdown on new Acer laptops. Zonealarm also gets a lot of bad user reviews from those who are running on Vista. Here are a Few Forum Links that Resolved conflicts with ZA on ACER Computers:

1.) http://forum.zonelabs.org/zonelabs/board/message?board.id=inst&message.id=83461

2.) http://forum.zonelabs.org/zonelabs/board/message?board.id=inst&message.id=78568

3.) http://forum.zonelabs.org/zonelabs/board/message?board.id=inst&message.id=82909

Since your problem seemed to develop quite sometime after installing ZoneAlarm (I assume this from what you say in your post), your problem sounds slightly different than what is discussed in the forums above. However, I would suggest that you exit Zonealarm so that it is not running, enable Windows Firewall and then uninstall Zonealarm completely. Be sure the folder for Zonealarm in C:\Program Files is completely empty or the folder is gone, and see if that fixes your problem.

If this fixes your problem, and if you are connected to an external firewall (router), Windows Firewall is sufficient unless you are a very adventureous surfer and go to websites that you are unfamiliar with, without checking them out first. The only advantage of a software firewall other than Windows Firewall under this configuration is if you should get something bad on your machine that calls home, Zonealarm and other vendor firewall software detects and notifies you of that, but Windows Firewall doesn't. However, the likelihood of that happening is very small if you practice safe surfing and don't open emails from senders you don't know. If you don't have a router, I would suggest that you get one asap. Your system will be much less vulnerable, even if you are running a software firewall other than Windows Firewall. If you still prefer to use a software firewall, look into Comodo. This firewall gets pretty good reviews and is lighter on resources than Zonealarm.

If your problem is not fixed, post back and we'll go from there.

Hi I know I checked yesterday and did not see your posts...so not ignoring you was running the different programs from the maintainence tutorial. I also deleted some things on my computer that were not essential that I added about the time my issue started. The only thing questionable was a trojan? attached to one of My Sandi Patti songs in My Music. A couple of the tools you listed in the Tutorial are not compatible with Vista. I am still running some of the programs.

I removed Zone Alarm. It said to restart my computer. I had to prompt it a couple times after waiting a couple minutes. It went to a black screen and then to my desktop background. I had to shut it off by the power button. I checked my start up menu and Zone Alarm is gone. I will try restarting my computer and let you know how it goes.

I have no router. I have a long ethernet cord. I have seriously thought of getting one but have to wait for the budget to settle down again. I will report back....

I just restarted my computer to get into safe mode and it restarted as smooth as can be. Hokey pete here I thought I would have to move a mountain stand on my head and who knows what else. That was almost too easy. I will let you know if I have anymore issues.

Thank you!

Ok a follow up question... my windows firewall needs to be turned on every time I restart my computer...Ok so It has been only 2 times, but still. What am I missing?

But is it a false positive?


Just a curious question:

Have you checked to see if it's actually on when you "click on the ballon to correct"... if yes.... what SP are you on?

Hi

Ok you lost me on part of what you said cuz clicking where you said to click. if I did it right did not yield the results you said they should.

I am using AVG Free. Windows Defender (up to date) could not find Windows Live One Care.

Clicked on Security Center It brings up Security Essentials . Clicking on Firewall it gives the option to turn tells you if it is on or off and has a second level that says 2 or more firewalls running at the same time can conflict. That must be its hint that I have another firewall. Not sure what it is tho. When I click on the left hand side Firwall it gives me the option of turning it on or off change the settings. But none of the other stuff you said. Well it said I could let a prgram through I clicked on the advanced tab and it showed network connections and I could restore defaults.

WHen I did "Type services.msc in Vista's Start Menu Search Bar and hit Enter to open up Services. Here ensure that the Windows Firewall Service is started and set on Automatic. " it wne to my Mozilla and tried to open a web page and got a page load error.

I am tired so I will work on this tomorrow or the next day depending on the state of my world. Ok?

I think I am not thinking straight. my eyes are crossing.



I will type at you tomorrow.

Well that is a possibility, Sam, although I can't think of why other than some uncompatibility since there is no firewall with the version Angelface is using. But, I remember that Linda was having some kind of conflict with AVG products on her laptop which also was a Vista machine, but they were of a different nature than this.

Of all the forums I've read addressing this problem, I've not come across one that had a solution that worked (except one guy said he updated Windows Defender and that fixed his problem), and a lot of the posters were using AVG. So, disabling AVG temporarily, or uninstalling it might be worth a shot to see what happens.

BTW Sam, AVG Free Antivirus Version 8 is the latest basic Antivirus/Anti-Spyware that is being supported. Anyone running Version 7.5 needs to upgrade to Version 8.0, if that is what they want to stick with. AVG Free contains only base-level protection, like checking files as you open them and running scans for viruses and spyware. It does not examine web content or downloads, so if it finds something from these sources, it is after the fact when scans are run. You can read about what AVG Free does not do here:

http://free.avg.com/download-avg-anti-virus-free-edition#why-webshield

and what Avast Home Edition (free) does do here:

http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html

What Avast does, and does very well without being heavy on system resources, is what you will only find in the paid-for version of AVG and other paid-for antivirus programs from other vendors. After reading the above 2 links, which application would you prefer to have protecting your computer? (a rhetorical question to everyone reading this)

Hi

Its amazing what some sleep can do for a body....

Ok with your extra notes found my way through your directions. A Question

Went to services found Windows Firewall double clicked got to properties It has 4 tabs

On the LOG ON tab it gives you choices of LocaL System and the one mine is set on Local Service with a password and confirm password. THe password is filled in I suspect what the password might be but not sure.

On the Recovery Tab it has First Failure restart service as the choice
2nd Failure restart service as the choice
3rd faikure take no action as the choice

the choice options for all 3 are take no action restart service run program restart computer

Are these correct? Should the choices be changed?


BTW it is set to Automatic Ran Norton Removal Tool it was in French (I think) so am guessing it ran fine.


Vista is so different from XP and it is like a toddler, you have to do things its way or it will not cooperate, I have been looking for the Run menu since I got my laptop. Never thought to look for it in accessories.

My AVG Free is version 8 I am now going to uninstall AVG Free and see what happens. Then restart my computer.