Windows XP starting problem

[Pragna]

Hello Friends

My name is Pragna,
I am facing problem with Microsoft Windows XP, everytime the computer boots with normal booting and opens untill the desktop and stops.

Then only the windows related programs can be opened like My Pictures,My Videos,files
can be transferred from one drive to another,files can be deleted and even some of the
images can be viewed in Windows Fax Viewer.....Sometimes the whole system hangs....

But any other executable program like Mozilla Firefox,Internet Explorer,Windows Media Player,or sometimes even the webshots will not work.If any executable file is opened then a popup comes on the screen like this

"windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. you may not have the appropriate permissions to access the items"

This popup will appear on the screen,if any executable file is opened until for almost 5 - 10
minutes(time is not exactly calculated),It gives an option of 'OK' to close this popup.
After this the computer starts to work normally with all the executable files opening up properly.

I do not know why the computer starts to act like this everytime I start my computer.
Everytime it will take too much time to open.I have recently formatted my system and this is the system configuration with some softwares i use...

AMD Athlon 64 Bit Processor 3000+ 1.8 GHz
MSI RS480M2-IL
512 MB RAM
160 GB Hard Disk
Microsoft Windows XP 5.1(With service pack 2)
Bitdefender Antivirus
Zonealarm Pro Firewall

Please do help me in solving this problem,Is there any problem with my hardware
or is there any software options that i have got to make.

Thank you

[saqib_khan]

Pragna this is a software problem. Try to boot from a XP cd & repair ur XP. Use a program like Ccleaner to remove some invalid registry keys & if possible don't use zonealarm(my opinion).

[Krazy_About_Technology]

As far as i sense it, its an after-effect of a virus removal, viruses which change the .exe file associations and gets launched whenever an exe file is double clicked. Have you removed any kind of viruses within last few days? Or it may also be caused by ZoneAlarm firewall sometimes. In any case, try doing a repair install of Windows XP. You can do this by booting from Windows XP cdrom. Press enter on the first screen and the press f8 to accept license agreement. Then after windows searches for existing installations and prompts you to repair your current installation, choose Yes. Your windows will be repaired and no settings will be lost. In most cases when you return to your desktop, you find it exactly like you left it, sans the problems. Try it!

And yes, disable your virus protection while repairing.

[cooldip10]

Repair Windows First. Then tell us if the problem still persists..
For repairing windows : Just put in your Windows CD in Drive and restart and boot from CD. You will find it in option there

[Pragna]

Hello Friends,

I am very grateful for your humble replies to my problem.

I did not try for going in to Windows repair as i had recently installed my Windows XP before two days and i had cleanly installed all the software's of my choices.
As for the fact i did not knew how to repair,i did it twice and i think i did not go along with the correct procedure,therefore the repair did not take place at all.

And i followed your opinion about removing Zone Alarm Pro....and Viola !! !! My computer started to work lightning fast with starting just like that after booting.ZoneAlarm was my faithful firewall for these many days,bit i did not know it would backstab me one day.

Thanks really for your Replies and suggestions....I am a better person now and even my computer is working better.

Thanks Very Much Saqib, Krazy & Cooldip10

REQ : Could U suggest me some good firewall that i can use

[Krazy Bluez]

Okay, this is personal but I prefer Comodo Firewall over ZoneAlarm, coz it's lightning fast and very easy to use and top of it all, it is fully free for personal use !

Get it at here !

[cooldip10]

Hey no thanks here!! We are here to help each other.
Very happy to know that your comp has started to work lightning fast..

May be there is something you can set in Zone Alarm which may increase it's speed.I am a Zone Alarm fan and I think there is a way out. My dad uses Zone Alarm Pro on his lappy (Never touched it since some break down happened and was scolded very badly). It works fine there + No start up issues also.

Try to disable the 'boot scanning' feature if there is some.
I use the free home version and am very happy with its service..

Hey no thanks here!! We are here to help each other.
Very happy to know that your comp has started to work lightning fast..

May be there is something you can set in Zone Alarm which may increase it's speed.I am a Zone Alarm fan and I think there is a way out. My dad uses Zone Alarm Pro on his lappy (Never touched it since some break down happened and was scolded very badly). It works fine there + No start up issues also.

Try to disable the 'boot scanning' feature if there is some.
I use the free home version and am very happy with its service..

[Pragna]

Hello Krazzy & Cooldip

Thank U for your suggestion on Firewall and choosing the better option for it.

Let me say i will go with Comodo Firewall,since i do not believe in Zone Alarm again.

Thanks Again

[dheeraj_kumar]

Zonealarm IS a good firewall, and one of the best. There is no need not to believe in it, since it gets the job done

I've been researching ZA as a part of my paper, and found that its core TrueVector Service, which is a rootkit, denies access to files till it scans them for virus/spyware as you specify in ZA settings. For the more technically inclined, When you open any file, the file handle is returned as 0, hence prompting the error from windows

[Pragna]

Hello Dheeraj

Thank You for your feedback on Zone alarm

[Zangetsu]

hey pragna...how many problems do u have winxp + nero problem + any other

[Pragna]

Hello Karan,

I have so many problems related to computer....it grows as the technology grows....But i have got myself a good forum,where i can discuss the problems and get answers,so that i can have a better life with my computer.

I had this Nero problem from so many days,i used to tackle with it alone....But i wanted some expert suggestions to solve it.

Thanks

[Zangetsu]

Originally Posted by Pragna

I have so many problems related to computer....it grows as the technology grows....But i have got myself a good forum,where i can discuss the problems and get answers,so that i can have a better life with my computer.

ok...ok...just chillin.....its good dat atleast ur problem is solved...
dont ever use two antivirus or two anti-spyware together ..they always conflict with each other...

i guess u r using a bitdefender antivirus 2008 & not bitdefender total security 2008

bcoz the latter one has a firewall with it so doesn't require ne xtra firewall

Originally Posted by Pragna

i used to tackle with it alone....

every body here in this forum tackle their problem first by themselves only...

Originally Posted by Pragna

But i wanted some expert suggestions to solve it.

No Body is an expert....only time makes them expert..