Windows update processes hangs computer after log on

Hey,

I'm having some problems under one of my accounts on my machine (the account
has administrator priviliges). I'm running XP Pro SP2 with everything updated.

The problem is that when I log on and the desktop appears, I'm not able to
start up any programs for 3 to 5 min. When I try to start any program, the
cursor changes for a few seconds to the hourglass and then changes back to a
normal pointer, but nothing displays.

If I'm fast enough, I'm still able to start up the task manager just after
log on. I can't see anything special in there (no high cpu usage, no network
usage, ...). Now if I try to start up any program, the program appears in the
task manager (under processes) but the program itself doesn't appear for 3 to
5 min. After 3 to 5 min everything works just normal and any program I try to
start from then on, opens immediately.

I've been able to figure out this problem is related to three processes :
wmiprvse.exe - network service
wmiprvse.exe - system
wuaudt.exe - system

When I try to open IE, Outlook express and explorer for example, nothing
happens as stated before. But if I kill the above mentioned processes, those
programs open and from then on I can use my computer normal again.

There are two changes I made to my computer on the same day, before I ran
into this kind of problem. First I switched to Microsoft Update (instead of
windows update) and I installed Windows Media Player 11beta.

I have two other accounts (the computers default administrator account and
one limited account), both of them don't have this problem at all. The only
difference might be that those two accounts haven't finished the "Welcome to
Windows Media Player 11" screen. On my account I've allready been using WMP11
(great player btw).

I've also uninstalled Microsoft Update but nothing has changed.

I know those three processes are a "phone home" kind of thing from
microsoft also used for Windows/Microsoft update, but they're not supposed
to hang my computer are they?

Any ideas as to what I can do to solve this issue? I'm not realy thinking of
uninstalling WMP11, since I've put a lot of time into organising and
completing my music...

Regards,
Davy

Davy <> wrote:

> The problem is that when I log on and the desktop appears, I'm not
> able to start up any programs for 3 to 5 min. When I try to start any
> program, the cursor changes for a few seconds to the hourglass and
> then changes back to a normal pointer, but nothing displays.
>
> [snip]
>
> I have two other accounts (the computers default administrator
> account and one limited account), both of them don't have this
> problem at all.

Check the start-up list for each account, to see whether there is something
different in the affected account. You can do this by using "msconfig"
under each account in turn. If you find certain applications being started
in the affected account, which are not mentioned under the other accounts,
then you have a potential suspect(s).

> I know those three processes are a "phone home" kind of thing from
> microsoft also used for Windows/Microsoft update, but they're not
> supposed to hang my computer are they?

If you are running a third-party firewall, disable it temporarily and
re-instate Windows Firewall for your protection. Does that solve your
problem? With a third-party firewall, the installation of WMP11 and
Microsoft Update might mean that you have to re-authorise some network
access permissions that were previously granted to earlier versions of the
same EXE or DLL file(s).

--
Robin Walker [MVP Networking]

Hey Robin,

I checked the startup list for all accounts and they are identical. When I
stated that the problem didn't occurred on the other accounts, turned out to
be incorrect. The exact problem does occur on the other accounts, but a bit
later.

I'm using windows firewall, but still tried to disable and enable again with
no results. I even uninstalled WMP11Beta (as described in the microsoft FAQ
about WMP11Beta), because I'm getting really frustrated about this issue, but
the problem still remains.

Any other ideas?

Thanks,
Davy


"Robin Walker [MVP]" wrote:

> Davy <> wrote:
>
> > The problem is that when I log on and the desktop appears, I'm not
> > able to start up any programs for 3 to 5 min. When I try to start any
> > program, the cursor changes for a few seconds to the hourglass and
> > then changes back to a normal pointer, but nothing displays.
> >
> > [snip]
> >
> > I have two other accounts (the computers default administrator
> > account and one limited account), both of them don't have this
> > problem at all.
>
> Check the start-up list for each account, to see whether there is something
> different in the affected account. You can do this by using "msconfig"
> under each account in turn. If you find certain applications being started
> in the affected account, which are not mentioned under the other accounts,
> then you have a potential suspect(s).
>
> > I know those three processes are a "phone home" kind of thing from
> > microsoft also used for Windows/Microsoft update, but they're not
> > supposed to hang my computer are they?
>
> If you are running a third-party firewall, disable it temporarily and
> re-instate Windows Firewall for your protection. Does that solve your
> problem? With a third-party firewall, the installation of WMP11 and
> Microsoft Update might mean that you have to re-authorise some network
> access permissions that were previously granted to earlier versions of the
> same EXE or DLL file(s).
>
> --
> Robin Walker [MVP Networking]
>
>
>
>