BleepingComputer.com: Taskbar Keeps Freezing

Hello, and thanks in advance for your help.

I have been using Windows Vista x32 for a while now with no problems, but starting a week ago, the taskbar has kept freezing on me at random times. When this happens, I am unable to click on any taskbar icons (including the Start button), and I cannot change my volume. Right clicking on the taskbar results in a message saying "windows explorer is not responding". I can restart the taskbar from this message and the bar will work fine right then, but will eventually freeze again later. Luckily my desktop items still work, including Firefox 3"

I reduced the number of programs that run on startup, but that didn't work. Virus and spyware scans from AVG turned up with nothing.

I would check the Processes tab of Task Manager (right click on the Task Bar and select Task Manager) to see what's hogging resources.
Additionally, once in the Processes tab, I'd click on the View menu item, then on Select Columns, then place a check mark next to IO Reads and click OK to accept the changes. Then expand the Task Manager window so you can see all the info and wait for it to start freezing. The name of the process that's hogging the most CPU, Memory, or IO Reads is likely to be the culprit.

Let us know what the process is and we can work from there.

Thanks, usasma! When the taskbar last froze, there were two processes that were constantly increasing in I/O reads: csrss.exe and hpqtra08.exe (HP Digital Imaging Monitor). They are also the two highest processes in I/O reads.

I would suggest uninstalling the HP Imaging devices software from your system. Go to Control Panel...Programs...Uninstall a program and remove any HP programs that may be associated with your imaging device. Once it's uninstalled, test to see if that fixed it. If it did, and you still want the HP stuff on your system, install a fresh copy that you can download from the HP downloads site located here: http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/en/suppor...Display=drivers

I uninstalled HP devices and the taskbar was freeze-free for a whole day, but it froze again as soon as I loaded a youtube video. The csrss.exe process is still the highest one on the list.

I've noticed something new: when I restart my taskbar, the startup icon for AVG says that it is scanning, although opening AVG itself shows otherwise. Right clicking the icon and selecting "continue/stop all scans" does nothing.

New symptoms: when restarting the taskbar at first, the battery icon appears, but it can't be clicked on, and the wireless connection and sound icons don't load at all. It will only fix itself if I wait about five minutes after restarting the taskbar and then open the control pannel. I have also started to hear the computer "pop" whenever the taskbar freezes or corrects itself, even if the sound is off.

As much as I hate bumping . . .


. . . BUMP