Security Essentials

[Khandro]

A new development over the last few days is that sometimes (not always)when I boot up my PC, I have a long - maybe 5 minute delay, and then I get a message 'Your computer may be at risk, no firewall is turned on - click this balloon to solve the problem' I do so and then get a window showing that Firewall, Auto Updates and virus protection are all 'On' and then my computer opens up as normal.
Any ideas as to what is causing this annoying delay please?

[douglas9401]

I had the same thing. I ran a full scan and if there was something in there that shouldn't have been it's gone now and the PC's fine again.
I did notice that it needed a good few updates right after so I guess there was something running interference somewhere.

[Alston]

What Operating System are you using and what Anti Virus programme do you have installed.? Also the Browser in use.?

Al.

[Khandro]

I'm using XP, Widows 7 home premium, my anti-virus programme is Security Essentials itself, and I use 'Super Anti-spyware' once a week.

[Alston]

Are you saying that you have two operating systems installed in your computer. i.e. Windows XP and Windows 7. ?

Al.

[Khandro]

Al; Sorry, no just XP, the W7 is on a separate lap top.

[SlackAlice]

If you start up in 'safe mode' do you still get a long delay before you get a usable desktop?
If no delay then you might have too many programs starting up and 'hogging' resources.

How much memory installed?

[Khandro]

SA; I just did a disc clean and defragment and I have 169GB free space. I keep getting told the firewall is not turned yet I see it is. Would it be advisable to temporarily uncheck the firewall and see if that speeds opening up - it took a full 5 minutes to boot up again this morning, waiting for "No firewall is turned on click this balloon to solve the problem" to appear.

[SlackAlice]

As I said try starting in 'safe mode' to see if the delay is still there. Then come back to us.

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/boot_failsafe.mspx?mfr=true

[Alston]

Thanks for confirming that your OS is XP.

I am now waiting with interest to see your further response to SA. It certainly could be too many programmes endeavouring to load on start-up.

Al.

[Khandro]

SA; Hmm! These things never seem to do quite what they are supposed to - well not for a Dummkopf like me. Trying to get into safe mode I followed your link and pressed F8 and it just continued to boot up as normal (tried it two times) - at least it was a normal start!
I'll wait and see if any changes take place. Thanks ever so much. K.

[SlackAlice]

Khandro,

You've got to be really quick ☺☺☺. As soon as you press the power button, start tapping F8, two hands helps.

[Alston]

SA....You and I know that quickly tapping F8 is required but this fact is never made really clear in published Windows Instructions.

Have another shot at it Khandro and, if things are still problematic, please say what Browser you are using (Internet Explorer, Google, Firefox, Safari; or whatever) and whether you have a number of 'Add-ons'. It would also be interesting to know the make and model of your computer .

Al.

Al.

[Khandro]

SA, Got it! yes it booted up OK in safe mode.

[Alston]

Great Khandro......We'll wait for you to up-date us, now that you are able to open up your computer in Safe Mode.

I wish to think that SA and I are able to solve your problem. It will probably be SA but I will claim some credit.☺☺☺

Al.

[SlackAlice]

Khandro
Query? Your post at 11.44 said you got a normal start? So, no delays to boot up now and all ok?

[Khandro]

Yes, I just started up again and it opened up fine, so fingers crossed maybe the fiddling about has cleared the fault, I'll come back, if it fails again thanks. I don't know what the 'safe mode' is (sounds like instructions from the Vatican :-) Can you use it as a procedure anytime, does it have limitations on what you can use your computer for once it is running?

[SlackAlice]

Safe Mode explained, it's a long read

http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=1643

[vetuste_ennemi]

Every so often I get something similar, Khandro. I'm running XP Professional Edition SP3 with MS Security Essentials. The message I get is that Anti-Virus is turned off. I get the same window as you, but virus protection is showned as being off. Nothing I do in that windows "solves" the problem. I don't get a delay in start-up. I can solve the problem by calling up Security Essentials from the lower right task bar and requesting an update to virus protection definitions. Sometimes it goes away of its own accord.

[Khandro]

v_e, SA & Al; Maybe these glitches are something we have to put up with in the interests of being secure from the threats the unpleasant b*******s trying to harm us. I'm sure Microsoft have our interests at heart. I'll keep you posted and try to digest that link.

[vetuste_ennemi]

Another fix I've found is to run a short scan.