Re: Slow Vista: hundreds of warnings, errors and critical issues?

"edsager" <> wrote in message
news:5565EE86-73A2-4490-8330-...
> Hello,
>
> I did a clean install of Vista Ultimate on a separate partition and am
> booting Vista 32-bit with XP Pro 32-bit. No problems with the booting and
> I
> only use the XP partition when using my high-speed scanner and Kofax VRS
> Pro.
> The rest of the time I am on Vista. I have Office 2007 Ultimate on the
> Vista partition.
>
> It takes some 15-25 seconds to open such programs as MS Word (and another
> 10-15 seconds before I can start typing into Word), Access and Excel.
> Outlook is also quite slow. Internet Explorer is as slow as Word and when
> I
> try to right click a link in IE, it takes 4 or 5 seconds…every single time
> (at least it is consistent: I have timed approximately 65 such right
> clicks
> and the result is always 4 or 5 seconds). Many of my programs will show,
> “Not Responding� on the title bar at least a few times every time I use
> the
> software for more than 15 minutes (eventually the software
> continues/responds, but it takes several seconds, during which I am
> frustrated and twiddling my thumbs). All this occurs whether the Indexing
> Service is still indexing or even when it claims the indexing is complete
> (I
> limited the Index Searching to less than ½ the extensions which are marked
> for indexing with the default settings, including no indexing XML files,
> which helped sped up the computer a lot).
>
> I am listing below a few of the errors I have so that anyone searching the
> forum can come across a potential solution.
>
> I have all updated drivers (I check for new ones weekly—it takes more than
> 2
> hours each time).
>
> My system specifications are as follows:
> Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe Motherboard
> AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+
> 4 GB DDR400 (PAE enabled)
> GeForce 6800 GS (256 MB GDDR3)
> 250 GB Western Digital internal SATA HDD
> 500 GB SeaGate external SATA HDD
>
> My questions are as follows: how do I find out how to fix these errors on
> Vista?
>
> Does anyone have a fix for any of the errors listed below or mentioned
> above?
>
> Please do not respond that I need to go back to XP. I am committed to
> Vista
> and find a lot of good therein, but it is incredibly slow with running
> programs which ran much faster in XP Pro.
>
> Thank you,
> edsager
>
> When I look into the Event Viewer, I see such recurring Critical errors as
> the following:
> (1) This device took longer to initialize, resulting in a performance
> degradation in the system start up process:
> File Name : STORAGE\VolumeSnapshot\HarddiskVolumeSnapshot1
> Friendly Name : Generic volume shadow copy
> Version :
> Total Time : 3959ms
> Degradation Time : 3564ms
> Incident Time (UTC) : 5/9/2007 7:00:03 AM
>
> (2) Windows has started up:
> Boot Duration : 195772ms
> IsDegradation : false
> Incident Time (UTC) : 5/9/2007 10:06:44 AM
>
> (3) Windows has started up:
> Boot Duration : 214385ms
> IsDegradation : false
> Incident Time (UTC) : 5/9/2007 8:10:30 AM
>
> (4) Windows has started up:
> Boot Duration : 305752ms
> IsDegradation : false
> Incident Time (UTC) : 5/8/2007 11:45:28 PM
>
> (5) Information about the system performance monitoring event:
> Scenario : System Responsiveness
> Analysis result : Analysis could not be performed in time. There is a
> possible serious performance issue
> Incident Time (UTC) : 5/9/2007 9:37:02 PM
>
> I also see recurring Errors as the following:
>
> (1) The Trend Micro Protection Against Spyware service hung on starting.
>
> (2) Initialization failed because the driver device could not be created.
> Use the string "0015F2CA698C" to identify the interface for which
> initialization failed. It represents the MAC address of the failed
> interface
> or the Globally Unique Interface Identifier (GUID) if NetBT was unable to
> map from GUID to MAC address. If neither the MAC address nor the GUID were
> available, the string represents a cluster device name.
>
> (3) IRQARB: ACPI BIOS does not contain an IRQ for the device in PCI slot
> 13
> [or 12 or 11], function 0. Please contact your system vendor for technical
> assistance.
>
> And finally, recurring Warnings:
>
> (1) Detection of product '{91120000-0051-0000-0000-0000000FF1CE}', feature
> 'VisioCore' failed during request for component
> '{45263A41-952C-4331-A44D-420BAB4E5C46}'
>
> (2) Detection of product '{91120000-0051-0000-0000-0000000FF1CE}', feature
> 'ProductFiles', component '{6252B847-BADA-43D4-9252-E39767FA40A1}' failed.
> The resource 'HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.pip\' does not exist.
>
> (3) The content source
> <mapi://{s-1-5-21-4224208133-1263148859-1211768109-1000}/> cannot be
> accessed.
>
> Context: Windows Application, SystemIndex Catalog
>
> Details:
> A server error occurred. Check that the server is available.
> (0x80041206)
>
>
> (4) This device took longer to initialize, resulting in a performance
> degradation in the system start up process:
> File Name : STORAGE\VolumeSnapshot\HarddiskVolumeSnapshot1
> Friendly Name : Generic volume shadow copy
> Version :
> Total Time : 3959ms
> Degradation Time : 3564ms
> Incident Time (UTC) : 5/9/2007 7:00:03 AM
>
> (5) This application took longer than usual to start up, resulting in a
> performance degradation in the system startup process:
> File Name : explorer.exe
> Friendly Name : Windows Explorer
> Version : 6.0.6000.16386 (vista_rtm.061101-2205)
> Total Time : 15034ms
> Degradation Time : 10034ms
> Incident Time (UTC) : 5/9/2007 12:58:44 AM
>
> (6) This startup service took longer than expected to startup, resulting
> in
> a performance degradation in the system start up process:
> File Name : plugplay
> Friendly Name : User-mode Plug-and-Play Service
> Version : 6.0.6000.16386 (vista_rtm.061101-2205)
> Total Time : 346ms
> Degradation Time : 186ms
> Incident Time (UTC) : 5/8/2007 11:45:28 PM
>
> (7) This application took longer than usual to start up, resulting in a
> performance degradation in the system startup process:
> File Name : WerFault.exe
> Friendly Name : Windows Problem Reporting
> Version : 6.0.6000.16386 (vista_rtm.061101-2205)
> Total Time : 18572ms
> Degradation Time : 13572ms
> Incident Time (UTC) : 5/8/2007 12:12:04 PM
>
> (8) This process is using up processor time and is impacting the
> performance
> of Windows:
> File
> Name : \Device\HarddiskVolume3\Windows\System32\SearchFil terHost.exe
> Friendly Name : Microsoft Windows Search Filter Host
> Version : 6.0.6000.16386 (vista_rtm.061101-2205)
> Thread time : 717ms
> Blocked Time : 86ms
> Incident Time (UTC) : 5/9/2007 6:54:57 PM
>
> (9) This service caused a delay in the system shutdown process:
> File Name : MSSQL$MSSMLBIZ
> Friendly Name :
> Version :
> Total Time : 3799ms
> Degradation Time : 419ms
> Incident Time (UTC) : 5/9/2007 10:05:10 AM
>
> (10) Windows has shutdown:
> Shutdown Duration : 36799ms
> IsDegradation : false
> Incident Time (UTC) : 5/9/2007 10:05:10 AM
>
>


You need to do some very basic troubleshooting. If possible remove the drive
with XP on it. Make sure you have the latest BIOS for your motherboard.
Physically disconnect all external devices except a keyboard and mouse. Run
a memory testing program for at least five hours. Do a clean install of
Vista creating the partition and formatting it from within the install. Do
not use an existing partition. Do not install anything other than Vista. No
drivers, no programs, nothing. The only drivers you should install are hard
drive controller drivers and only if needed to recognise the drive during
the install. How does Vista run? Any errors? Yes, diagnose and fix the
problems. No, start installing drivers testing after every driver. Once you
have all the drivers installed then start installing programs, again testing
after every program is installed. There are no shortcuts. You have to start
at the beginning and work through things one at a time until you discover
what is causing the problem. From the plethora of errors you are receiving
you have installed quite a few programs and drivers. Any one of them or a
combination of them could be at fault. Once you have figured out what is
causing the problem you can reinstall the drive with XP and set up the dual
boot.

--
Kerry Brown
Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
http://www.vistahelp.ca

Hello Kerry Brown!

I can certainly see the benefit of doing what you suggest; however, my main
job is not working on my computer--my main job is my real job. I simply do
not have time to go through all the troubleshooting ideas you have mentioned.
These problems have seriously hampered my ability to do my work.

Also, I have seen the error logging and performance information in Vista,
and it is quite impressive. I am unsure why the problems which plague my
computer cannot be diagnosed and fixed via those means. What you are
suggesting is simply not feasible for anyone who has a job and needs their
computer to work. It appears that from what you suggest, it will take
several dedicated days to complete the analysis and installations, not to
mention downloading updates and looking to make sure I have the latest
drivers. I simply do not have that time and believe there must be some other
way of troubleshooting.

As I stated in an earlier post, I have gone the route of reinstallation
(though I did not do the analysis after every installation; by the way, what
specifically do you mean by, "start installing programs, again testing after
every program is installed?") several times for a variety of reasons
(including some of the errors involved here) since acquiring Vista some 6
weeks ago. Fortunately, I never activate Vista, so I do not need to haggle
with MS. Also, any future installations of Windows XP Pro will take another
telephone call to MS. Again, more time.

I am not looking for shortcuts, but I am attempting to avoid long-cuts. Why
can I not use the error logging and performance information in Vista to find
the problems and fix those rather than cut out everything good and bad and
simply start over...again?

I hope when people give advice on these boards (which I am EXTREMELY
grateful for the assistance) they take into account the real-world
implications and conditions. I realize the end result of your suggestions
may eventually save me more time than what I am expending right now, but we
do not know that is the case and I have to balance a massive disruption in my
work over days vs. moderate slowdown (relatively speaking) by staying with
Vista vs. acute, mild slowdown by going back to XP Pro for most of my
computing needs.

I have installed quite a few programs and hardware with drivers, but I do
not think I have installed more hardware with drivers than many (if not most)
others.

Vista worked great in Safe Mode. If it is not realistic to use the error
logging and performance information in Vista to solve the problems, first, I
will be surprised because at the Vista Launch Event in Seattle, WA I was told
that most "issues" with Vista can be diagnosed and a fix found via checking
the error logging and performance information in Vista; but second, I can
unplug all devices except my keyboard (I will even use an older USB keyboard
instead of my new MS bluetooth), uninstall drivers and then reinstall and
check Vista's performance. Beyond that (which I can do in a day), I can see
nothing else to do to keep using Vista.

Thank you both for your responses and any help you can give as to how to use
the error logging and performance information in Vista to troubleshoot and
fix the problem, or whether you believe it would be fruitful to remove
hardware & drivers and reinstall them one by one, all comments would be
greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
edsager

Basically, something happened, between when you installed Vista and when you
noticed the problem. Where, exactly, that happened will, of course, point to
the root of the problem. I'm betting it's a device driver. By the way, you
never said exactly what hardware you added and installed - that may make a
difference.

But, yeah, the best way to find the culprit is to start with a clean system
and work your way thru it.

For what it's worth, I reloaded my laptop with Vista Ultimate, several dozen
apps, all the latest drivers and security fixes, in less than 24 hours
realtime.

As for the performance measuring tools, they indeed might be able to point
you to the problem, especially if they monitor what happens inside device
drivers. Unfortunately, I have little experience using this tool.

Did you ever look at your startup stuff with Microsoft's Autoruns?

Dana Cline - MCE MVP

"edsager" <> wrote in message
news:2F10A375-B3C5-43C3-8FF3-...
>
> As I stated in an earlier post, I have gone the route of reinstallation
> (though I did not do the analysis after every installation; by the way,
> what
> specifically do you mean by, "start installing programs, again testing
> after
> every program is installed?") several times for a variety of reasons
> (including some of the errors involved here) since acquiring Vista some 6
> weeks ago. Fortunately, I never activate Vista, so I do not need to
> haggle
> with MS. Also, any future installations of Windows XP Pro will take
> another
> telephone call to MS. Again, more time.
> edsager
>

"edsager" <> wrote in message
news:2F10A375-B3C5-43C3-8FF3-...
> Hello Kerry Brown!
>
> I can certainly see the benefit of doing what you suggest; however, my
> main
> job is not working on my computer--my main job is my real job. I simply
> do
> not have time to go through all the troubleshooting ideas you have
> mentioned.
> These problems have seriously hampered my ability to do my work.
>
> Also, I have seen the error logging and performance information in Vista,
> and it is quite impressive. I am unsure why the problems which plague my
> computer cannot be diagnosed and fixed via those means. What you are
> suggesting is simply not feasible for anyone who has a job and needs their
> computer to work. It appears that from what you suggest, it will take
> several dedicated days to complete the analysis and installations, not to
> mention downloading updates and looking to make sure I have the latest
> drivers. I simply do not have that time and believe there must be some
> other
> way of troubleshooting.
>
> As I stated in an earlier post, I have gone the route of reinstallation
> (though I did not do the analysis after every installation; by the way,
> what
> specifically do you mean by, "start installing programs, again testing
> after
> every program is installed?") several times for a variety of reasons
> (including some of the errors involved here) since acquiring Vista some 6
> weeks ago. Fortunately, I never activate Vista, so I do not need to
> haggle
> with MS. Also, any future installations of Windows XP Pro will take
> another
> telephone call to MS. Again, more time.
>
> I am not looking for shortcuts, but I am attempting to avoid long-cuts.
> Why
> can I not use the error logging and performance information in Vista to
> find
> the problems and fix those rather than cut out everything good and bad and
> simply start over...again?
>
> I hope when people give advice on these boards (which I am EXTREMELY
> grateful for the assistance) they take into account the real-world
> implications and conditions. I realize the end result of your suggestions
> may eventually save me more time than what I am expending right now, but
> we
> do not know that is the case and I have to balance a massive disruption in
> my
> work over days vs. moderate slowdown (relatively speaking) by staying with
> Vista vs. acute, mild slowdown by going back to XP Pro for most of my
> computing needs.
>
> I have installed quite a few programs and hardware with drivers, but I do
> not think I have installed more hardware with drivers than many (if not
> most)
> others.
>
> Vista worked great in Safe Mode. If it is not realistic to use the error
> logging and performance information in Vista to solve the problems, first,
> I
> will be surprised because at the Vista Launch Event in Seattle, WA I was
> told
> that most "issues" with Vista can be diagnosed and a fix found via
> checking
> the error logging and performance information in Vista; but second, I can
> unplug all devices except my keyboard (I will even use an older USB
> keyboard
> instead of my new MS bluetooth), uninstall drivers and then reinstall and
> check Vista's performance. Beyond that (which I can do in a day), I can
> see
> nothing else to do to keep using Vista.
>
> Thank you both for your responses and any help you can give as to how to
> use
> the error logging and performance information in Vista to troubleshoot and
> fix the problem, or whether you believe it would be fruitful to remove
> hardware & drivers and reinstall them one by one, all comments would be
> greatly appreciated.
>
> Thank you,
> edsager
>


I work on computers for a living. Most of the time you can use the logs in
Vista to point to where the problems might be. With experience gained over
many years you may be able to take a few shortcuts but the method I outlined
is how I would troubleshoot based on what you posted. The errors are coming
from many different programs. Even though XP works fine I suspect there may
be a hardware problem, particularly RAM or a needed BIOS update. Vista uses
the RAM very differently from XP loading into different areas and using all
the RAM as a cache. This often causes Vista to find bad RAM on a system that
has been running XP just fine. If it's not RAM or a BIOS update then I don't
know of any shortcuts to the procedure I outlined. The same method would be
used for troubleshooting XP, Linux, or even a Mac. It's not specific to
Vista. There are too many seemingly random errors even in what you posted to
point to any one driver or program. Even though OS' are getting much better
at diagnosing problems there are always cases where you have to go back to
basic troubleshooting. Yours appears to be such a case.

--
Kerry Brown
Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
http://www.vistahelp.ca

Hello Dana and Kerry:

Thank you both very much for all your suggestions.

Dana--I have used Autoruns and that has helped me to remove certain
programs. The hardware I installed consists of a Creative XFi sound card,
two (2) multiple format DVD burners, a high-speed duplex scanner, a
monochrome multifunction laser printer, an inkjet printer, 2.1 speakers,
external modem, external SATA HDD, mouse, bluetooth keyboard (I also
installed though rarely use a USB keyboard), and just the regular stuff
inside the case.

Kerry--

I thank you for sharing with me your experience. I understand where you are
coming from and agree that your way would be the most effective in getting to
the root of the problem, and to do so in a linear (and therefore, much
easier) fashion.

I do have the latest BIOS for my motherboard according to the ASUS website
(their website actually doe not list any drivers for Windows Vista) and 1/2
the RAM is quite new. I have done the memory diagnostic that comes with
Vista as well as some others which seem to be quite popular on the Internet.
(I do not remember the names of the software offhand, but one of the software
includes calculating pi.)

I think I may have just fixed my problem: I uninstalled the Business
Contacts Manager for Outlook 2007 and my speech recognition software is fast,
and opening the software I mentioned in a previous post start up within 1 to
3 seconds of the Safe Mode start times. Wow. Even with IE, when I
right-click, the menu comes up in approximately 1.5 seconds vs. the 4-5
seconds it normally would take. Accessing the Internet also seems faster.

Last question: is there any reason why the "NT Kernel & System" process
would take up anywhere from 33% to 58% for some 6 to 7 minutes after closing
programs and booting up?

Again, thank you,
edsager

"edsager" <> wrote in message
news821AF8F-9AC1-4B57-A459-...
> Hello Dana and Kerry:
>
> Thank you both very much for all your suggestions.
>
> Dana--I have used Autoruns and that has helped me to remove certain
> programs. The hardware I installed consists of a Creative XFi sound card,
> two (2) multiple format DVD burners, a high-speed duplex scanner, a
> monochrome multifunction laser printer, an inkjet printer, 2.1 speakers,
> external modem, external SATA HDD, mouse, bluetooth keyboard (I also
> installed though rarely use a USB keyboard), and just the regular stuff
> inside the case.
>
> Kerry--
>
> I thank you for sharing with me your experience. I understand where you
> are
> coming from and agree that your way would be the most effective in getting
> to
> the root of the problem, and to do so in a linear (and therefore, much
> easier) fashion.
>
> I do have the latest BIOS for my motherboard according to the ASUS website
> (their website actually doe not list any drivers for Windows Vista) and
> 1/2
> the RAM is quite new. I have done the memory diagnostic that comes with
> Vista as well as some others which seem to be quite popular on the
> Internet.
> (I do not remember the names of the software offhand, but one of the
> software
> includes calculating pi.)
>
> I think I may have just fixed my problem: I uninstalled the Business
> Contacts Manager for Outlook 2007 and my speech recognition software is
> fast,
> and opening the software I mentioned in a previous post start up within 1
> to
> 3 seconds of the Safe Mode start times. Wow. Even with IE, when I
> right-click, the menu comes up in approximately 1.5 seconds vs. the 4-5
> seconds it normally would take. Accessing the Internet also seems faster.
>
> Last question: is there any reason why the "NT Kernel & System" process
> would take up anywhere from 33% to 58% for some 6 to 7 minutes after
> closing
> programs and booting up?
>
> Again, thank you,
> edsager
>


Glad to hear you got some of the problem fixed. It sounds like you still
have some problems left. Run the computer for a day or so then look in the
Reliability and Performance Monitor and Performance Information and Tools =>
Advanced Tools to see what shows up. You can also look in the Event Viewer.
Look in Applications and Services Logs => Microsoft => Windows. There are
around 50 logs in there that track performance, diagnostic, and other stats.

--
Kerry Brown
Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
http://www.vistahelp.ca

Replies inline below...

"edsager" <> wrote in message
news821AF8F-9AC1-4B57-A459-...
> Hello Dana and Kerry:
>
> Thank you both very much for all your suggestions.
>
> Dana--I have used Autoruns and that has helped me to remove certain
> programs. The hardware I installed consists of a Creative XFi sound card,
> two (2) multiple format DVD burners, a high-speed duplex scanner, a
> monochrome multifunction laser printer, an inkjet printer, 2.1 speakers,
> external modem, external SATA HDD, mouse, bluetooth keyboard (I also
> installed though rarely use a USB keyboard), and just the regular stuff
> inside the case.

Wow - that's a lot of stuff. Just for grins, unplug all the external stuff
except for keyboard/mouse and see how it goes. I have heard Creative has
some driver issues too, so make sure you keep current on those (as well as
display drivers, as they're still evolving).

> Kerry--
>
> I thank you for sharing with me your experience. I understand where you
> are
> coming from and agree that your way would be the most effective in getting
> to
> the root of the problem, and to do so in a linear (and therefore, much
> easier) fashion.
>
> I do have the latest BIOS for my motherboard according to the ASUS website
> (their website actually doe not list any drivers for Windows Vista) and
> 1/2
> the RAM is quite new. I have done the memory diagnostic that comes with
> Vista as well as some others which seem to be quite popular on the
> Internet.
> (I do not remember the names of the software offhand, but one of the
> software
> includes calculating pi.)
>
> I think I may have just fixed my problem: I uninstalled the Business
> Contacts Manager for Outlook 2007 and my speech recognition software is
> fast,
> and opening the software I mentioned in a previous post start up within 1
> to
> 3 seconds of the Safe Mode start times. Wow. Even with IE, when I
> right-click, the menu comes up in approximately 1.5 seconds vs. the 4-5
> seconds it normally would take. Accessing the Internet also seems faster.

I use Outlook 2007 but don't think I have the Business Contacts Manager
(unless it normally installs with Office). Weird that it would do
this...wonder what kind of service or startup program that runs?

> Last question: is there any reason why the "NT Kernel & System" process
> would take up anywhere from 33% to 58% for some 6 to 7 minutes after
> closing
> programs and booting up?

No idea what this is or does. You might try searching the net...or get the
Sysinternals utilities and see if you can detect what it's doing.

Dana Cline - MCE MVP