Drop down selection freezes

Question

After logging in, the first time I click on a selection from ANY drop down menu, the selection that I choose freezes on the screen, and I can see it until I restart my computer.

This is an example, because this is kinda hard to explain.

I log in.

I open a program.

I want to save the file, so I use the drop down menu to do so.

The word SAVE AS will freeze onto my computer screen, even though everything still works fine.

Hope this helps explain the issue, but I can't find ANY answers on this.  Thanks in advance

Answer 1

Hi,

What antivirus/antispyware/security products do you have on machine? Include any you have EVER had on this

machine including those you uninstalled (they leave remnants behind which can cause strange issues).

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Do these :

Start - type this in Search Box ->  COMMAND   find at top and RIGHT CLICK  -  RUN AS ADMIN

Enter this at the prompt - sfc /scannow

How to analyze the log file entries that the Microsoft Windows Resource Checker (SFC.exe) program

generates in Windows Vista cbs.log

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928228

Also run CheckDisk so we can rule out corruption as much as possible.

How to Run Check Disk at Startup in Vista

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67612-check-disk-chkdsk.html

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After the above :

How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows Vista

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

How to troubleshoot performance issues in Windows Vista

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950685

Optimizing Microsoft Windows Vista Performance

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/959062

To see all that is loading bootup - wait a few minutes without doing anything - then Right Click TaskBar -

Task Manager - take a look at Appplications - Processes - Services - this is a quick reference (if you have

a little box on Lower Left - Show for All Users then check that).

How to Check and Change the Startup Programs in Vista

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/79612-startup-programs-enable-disable.html

A quick check to see which are loading is Method 2 there - using MSCONFIG then post a list of those here.

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Tools that should help :

Process Explorer - Free - Find out what files, registry keys and other objects processes have open, which DLLs

they have loaded, and more. This uniquely powerful utility will even show you who owns each process.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx

Autoruns - Free - See what programs are configured to startup automatically when your system boots and you

login. Autoruns also shows you the full list of Registry and file locations where applications can configure auto-

start settings.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx

Process Monitor - Free - Monitor file system, Registry, process, thread and DLL activity in real-time.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896645.aspx

There are many excellent free tools at Sysinternals

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/default.aspx

WhatsInStartUP - Free - This utility displays the list of all applications that are loaded automatically when Windows

starts up. For each application, the following information is displayed: Startup Type (Registry/Startup Folder),

Command -Line String, Product Name, File Version, Company Name, Location in the Registry or file system,

and more. It allows you to easily disable or delete unwanted programs that runs in your Windows startup.

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/what\_run\_in\_startup.html

There are many excellent free tools at NirSoft

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/index.html

Window Watcher - Free - Do you know what's running on your computer? Maybe not. The Window Watcher tells all, reporting every window created by every running program, whether the window is visible or not.

http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptwinwatch.asp

Many excellent free tools and an excellent newsletter at Karenware

http://www.karenware.com/

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Vista and Windows 7 love updated drivers so here is how to update the major ones.

This is my generic how to for proper driver updates :

This utility makes it easy to see which versions are loaded :

DriverView - Free - utility displays the list of all device drivers currently loaded on your system. For

each driver in the list, additional useful information is displayed: load address of the driver, description,

version, product name, company that created the driver, and more.

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/driverview.html

For Drivers check System Maker as fallbacks and Device Maker's which are the most current.

Control Panel - Device Manager - Display Adapter - write down the make and complete model of your

video adapter - double click - Driver's tab - write down the version info. Now click UPdate Driver (this

may not do anything as MS is far behind certifying drivers) - then Right Click - Uninstall - REBOOT

this will refresh the driver stack.

Repeat that for Network - Network Card (NIC), Wifi, Sound, Mouse and Keyboard if 3rd party with their

own software and drivers and any other major device drivers you have.

Now go to System Maker's site (Dell, HP, Toshiba as examples) (as rollback) and then Device Maker's site

(Realtek, Intel, Nvidia, ATI as examples) and get their latest versions. (Look for BIOS, Chipset and software

updates at System Maker's site while there.)

Download - SAVE - go to where you put them - Right Click - RUN AD ADMIN - REBOOT after each installation.

Always check in Device Manager - Drivers tab to be sure the version you are installing actually shows up. This

is because some drivers rollback before the latest is installed (sound drivers particularly do this) so install a

driver - reboot - check to be sure it is installed and repeat as needed.

Repeat at Device Makers - BTW at Device Makers DO NOT RUN THEIR SCANNER - check manually by model.

Manually look at manufacturer's sites for drivers - and Device Maker's sites.

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/driverssupport/ht/driverdlmfgr.htm

How to Install a Device Driver in Vista Device Manager

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/193584-device-manager-install-driver.html

If you update drivers manually then it is a good idea to disable Driver Installations in Windows Updates,

this leaves Windows Updates ON however it will not install drivers which will usually be older and cause

issues. If Updates suggests a new driver then HIDE it (Right Click on it) and then go look for new ones

manually if you wish.

How To Disable Automatic Driver Installation In Windows Vista - Drivers

http://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips/how-to-disable-automatic-driver-installation-in-windows-vista/

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc730606(WS.10).aspx

Hope these help.

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Rob - Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.