Hi:This occurred after I had opened the System Configuration Utility (SCU) and removed some items from the startup menue.After typing and entering my password the time it takes to get to the start mode has gotting very long.Then first I get a gray window that says:a. Used SCU:b. it's in diagnostic mode or selective mode:c. undo changes made to the SCU.Then the SCU opens. I'm not sure what to do.I looked at another WINXP machine and mine is set up similarly to the other PC. They have different programs.Any ideas?Tom 1 person needs an answerI do too

One thing you can try is,Right click the taskbar on a blank space, and select properties, on the start menu tab, select customize, on the bottom select use default settings, apply/ okay or save.Boot your computer.

Hi:This occurred after I had opened the System Configuration Utility (SCU) and removed some items from the startup menue.After typing and entering my password the time it takes to get to the start mode has gotting very long.Then first I get a gray window that says:a. Used SCU:b. it's in diagnostic mode or selective mode:c. undo changes made to the SCU.Then the SCU opens. I'm not sure what to do.I looked at another WINXP machine and mine is set up similarly to the other PC. They have different programs.Any ideas?Tom Hi Tom.By default Windows Xp system configuration notification will appear upon reboot every time after you alter services or start-up items withing the configuration utility. Simply place a check mark in the box to not show the message again.First, please describe your current anti-virus software, as well as, any malware scanners you have and how often you scan your computer.I don't vote for myself I'm not here for the points. If this post helps you, vote. Visit my forum @ http://repairbotsonline.com/

Dissed: Thanks for your suggestion.I tried but it did not resolve problem.Tom

Hi: Windows Security essentials- always onNorton 360 v4.0 Full deep scan done today and constant monitoring.This problem was present before Norton installed.Tom

Hi: Windows Security essentials- always onNorton 360 v4.0 Full deep scan done today and constant monitoring.This problem was present before Norton installed.TomThanks for the details. While the problem may have existed prior to the installation of Norton, having both Norton and MSE is certainly an issue. First, you should never have two anti-virus software. Not only will it dramatically affect the computer's performance, both on start-up and overall usage, but can and usually will conflict with one another lessening your protection.Before making a recommendation of which you should remove I would like to know your system specs. For example, the amount of installed ram, processor speed and number of cores. The total size of your hard drive, used space and free space. I will, however, tell you now that Norton is a system hog meaning it will use alot of resources.Finally, scanning with Norton, as well as, having "constant" real-time protection is not conclusive of malware by any means. No anti-virus software has a 100% detection rate. Moreover, anti-virus software are not designed to detect some forms of malware. For this reason, you need a malware scanner such as Malwarebytes or SuperAntiSpyware preferably with real-time protection. These are not the same as anti-virus and therefore the real-time protection of a malware scanner and an anti-virus software will not conflict and cause problems. There is one exception to this rule. MSE recommends you do not have any other scanners of any type with real-time protection installed when using their product. This, however, can be circumvented by making exceptions within MSE or by using an additional scanner without real-time protection.JoelI don't vote for myself I'm not here for the points. If this post helps you, vote. Visit my forum @ http://repairbotsonline.com/

Try creating a new User Profilehttp://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Fix-a-corrupted-user-profileHope this helps, Gerry Cornell

Joelj1964:First, Thanks for your detailed response.I will try to dig out all the info you asked for.Before installing norton, I read on a MS site that Essentials does not conflict with other AV. That is why I went with Norton.Norton seems to to working well on this machine. I know thati've had Norton in the past and just removed it because of interferrence. Butthis 360 version seems ok.I'm not selling for Norton. Just giving my impression after only a few days of experience with it.I have intel p4 single core about 2.2GHZ processor, 1GB memory, 160GB HDD (120GB free).In view of the fact that I already have norton installed, do you recommend that i remove one AV program or the other? My guess is that 95% coverage by both does not equate to 100% coverage. Makes sense to me.I think that I will replace this HDD and re-install WINXP on a new drive that I ordered today. Should I settle for MS Security Essentials which is free at this time?I thought that the NORTON package covered the various kinds of malware as well as worm attacks. I'll need to learn more about that part of your comment.Will watch for more from you.Thanks again, Tom

Hi:Thanks for your comment.I will check the link. I have tried setting up a new profile. It did not change anything. I'm getting a message that says that my actions require me to sign in as the administrator after I had already done so.Tom

Joelj1964:First, Thanks for your detailed response.I will try to dig out all the info you asked for.Before installing norton, I read on a MS site that Essentials does not conflict with other AV. That is why I went with Norton.Norton seems to to working well on this machine. I know thati've had Norton in the past and just removed it because of interferrence. Butthis 360 version seems ok.I'm not selling for Norton. Just giving my impression after only a few days of experience with it.I have intel p4 single core about 2.2GHZ processor, 1GB memory, 160GB HDD (120GB free).In view of the fact that I already have norton installed, do you recommend that i remove one AV program or the other? My guess is that 95% coverage by both does not equate to 100% coverage. Makes sense to me.I think that I will replace this HDD and re-install WINXP on a new drive that I ordered today. Should I settle for MS Security Essentials which is free at this time?I thought that the NORTON package covered the various kinds of malware as well as worm attacks. I'll need to learn more about that part of your comment.Will watch for more from you.Thanks again, Tom Thanks for the reply. You have asked questions and/or addressed several issues. I will attempt to respond to them in order. 1. I'm not certain where you read that having MSE alongside another anti-virus software will not result in conflicts. When installing MSE the following messages appears;"Uninstalling existing antivirus or antispyware programs before installing Microsoft Security EssentialsIf you use more than one antivirus or antispyware program at the same time, your computer may experience decreased performance, become unstable, or restart unexpectedly. Before you install Microsoft Security Essentials, you should disable or uninstall other security-related programs." 2. Based on the information you have provided regarding your system specs I would recommend you uninstall Norton due to it's enormous system resource usage. My personal preference is Avast 5.0. In my opinion it provides better protection than MSE. MSE is a good anti-virus software for computers with minimal system resources. While your computer is not a quad four it has the ability to run a more secure software than MSE. 3. Let me clear the record about Norton. In no way do I contend that Norton is a bad anti-virus software. There are two problems with Norton. First, and perhaps foremost, is it's popularity. The creators of malware target the most popular anti-virus software meaning cracks will occur with Norton much more often than with a less popular software. The same is true for McAfee. By creating malware which escapes detection by Norton malware creators are able to target more users.The second problem with Norton is it's resource usage. It really is a system hog causing systems with less resources to crash and some software to malfunction. I don't vote for myself I'm not here for the points. If this post helps you, vote. Visit my forum @ http://repairbotsonline.com/

TomAs the Administrator in Safe Mode?Hope this helps, Gerry Cornell

TomAs the Administrator in Safe Mode?Hope this helps, Gerry CornellHi Gerry. The original issue seems to be a mute point now as the OP has stated he has ordered a new hard drive and intends to re-install. I do, however, understand your persistence. I too am not one to simply re-install at any and every issue. I like to try to resolve it. For future reference if nothing else.I don't vote for myself I'm not here for the points. If this post helps you, vote. Visit my forum @ http://repairbotsonline.com/

Gerry: I will check to see if Admin is in "safe mode".Joel: I respect your comments which I find convincing.I also like your idea of determining the cause/effect of a problem.Startup is only one of the problems that I have.I haven't mentioned the other because it is one that I tried to resolve with ROXIO.Perhaps I should start another thread on that problem. Perhaps it might be the cause of my startup problem.I don't have to re-install immediately. I have this additional computer which is slower then my primary system. It will do for now.Should I give details of my original problem with ROXIO?Tom

Gerry: How would I check to determine if it is in "safe mode".I know that I can select "safe or normal modes" at startup after pressing an "F" key to get to those options. Is there another way to set safe mode?Tom

One way to access Safe Mode is to keep taaping the F8 fub=ntion key in Safe Mode. You can also access through msconfig.http://www.pchell.com/support/safemode.shtmlHope this helps, Gerry Cornell

To prevent further confusion I will refrain from further comment to this thread. However, I would strongly encourage you to include all issues when posting for help. While some issue may, in the eyes of someone untrained, be unrelated, they can and often are completely related and even perhaps the cause of the same.I don't vote for myself I'm not here for the points. If this post helps you, vote. Visit my forum @ http://repairbotsonline.com/

joelj: I apologize for the confusion. I looked forward to your assistance here. Yet I appreciate the comments you have offered and will adjust my thinking accordingly.I also appreciate the comments of others and thank all.I have removed several programs from my startup menu and my computer is starting up much quicker.Sincerely, Tom