PC has suddenly started to crawl ? ("svchost.exe" lookssuspicious...)

[Guest ship]

Hi

 

Any thoughts about why my PC is suddenly running dead slow?

It is running Windows XP Pro (SP3).

 

I last updated it about 20 days ago. And then it started running slow

about 2 days ago.

I have now installe dall the latest patches but it is still dog-slow.

 

I have various things installed but which I have now EXITED

including:

Windows Search,

Google Desktop,

Logmein.com and

SpyBot - Search & Destroy.

 

I notice in Windows "Task Manager" that even just after on a cold re-

boot, I have 7 copies of "svchost.exe". They are not taking any CPU

time though.

 

In fact the CPU is running at about 2-3%. But when I open FireFox, it

takes a VERY long

time to open (about 90 seconds first time, and still about 15 seconds

to immediately

re-open it with nothing else open). Whereas msInternet Explorer

(normally fairly slow

to open now opens in about 8 seconds and re-opens in about 2 or 3

seconds

 

I am running AVG Anti-Virus Free (v8.0.138) - but it can't find any

viruses.

 

Any thoughts?

 

 

Ship

Shiperton Henethe

[Guest ship]

Re: PC has suddenly started to crawl ? ("svchost.exe" lookssuspicious...)

 

P.S. I always defrag quite regularly and there is plenty space in my

disk. (80GB c.25% free)

[Guest ship]

Re: PC has suddenly started to crawl ? ("svchost.exe" lookssuspicious...)

 

I am also suspicious of the new Windows Search which I can't quite see

how to switch off!

 

Ship

[Guest PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Re: PC has suddenly started to crawl ? ("svchost.exe" looks suspicious...)

 

Re: PC has suddenly started to crawl ? ("svchost.exe" looks suspicious...)

 

Unexplained computer behavior may be caused by deceptive software

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827315

 

Run a /thorough/ check for hijackware, including posting your hijackthis log

to an appropriate forum.

 

Checking for/Help with Hijackware

http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm

http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm

http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=5878

http://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_Removal_and_Prevention:_Introduction

http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm

http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/prevention.htm

http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot.html

http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm

http://defendingyourmachine2.blogspot.com/

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

 

When all else fails, HijackThis v2.0.2

(http://aumha.org/downloads/hijackthis.exe) is the preferred tool to use (in

conjuction with some other utilities). HijackThis will NOT fix anything on

its own, but it will help you to both identify and remove any

hijackware/spyware with assistance from an expert. **Post your log to

http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30,

http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22,

http://castlecops.com/forum67.html, or other appropriate forums for review

by an expert in such matters, not here.**

 

If the procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting this

isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and

independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA or Geek Squad) computer repair shop.

 

--

~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)

MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002

AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net

DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

 

ship wrote:

> Hi

>

> Any thoughts about why my PC is suddenly running dead slow?

> It is running Windows XP Pro (SP3).

>

> I last updated it about 20 days ago. And then it started running slow

> about 2 days ago.

> I have now installe dall the latest patches but it is still dog-slow.

>

> I have various things installed but which I have now EXITED

> including:

> Windows Search,

> Google Desktop,

> Logmein.com and

> SpyBot - Search & Destroy.

>

> I notice in Windows "Task Manager" that even just after on a cold re-

> boot, I have 7 copies of "svchost.exe". They are not taking any CPU

> time though.

>

> In fact the CPU is running at about 2-3%. But when I open FireFox, it

> takes a VERY long

> time to open (about 90 seconds first time, and still about 15 seconds

> to immediately

> re-open it with nothing else open). Whereas msInternet Explorer

> (normally fairly slow

> to open now opens in about 8 seconds and re-opens in about 2 or 3

> seconds

>

> I am running AVG Anti-Virus Free (v8.0.138) - but it can't find any

> viruses.

>

> Any thoughts?

>

>

> Ship

> Shiperton Henethe

[Guest db.·.. >]

Re: PC has suddenly started to crawl ? ("svchost.exe" looks suspicious...)

 

Re: PC has suddenly started to crawl ? ("svchost.exe" looks suspicious...)

 

the svchosts are not

always the problem

and there are a lots

of things that can

slow down the pc.

 

the two things to try

is:

 

1) is see if the o.s.

has become corrupted

by booting into the

safemodes and examining

the performance of windows

 

and/or

 

2) reboot normal/regular

windows in a clean state:

 

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353

 

------------

there is another technique

you can use as well while

in windows.

 

open the task manager

and simply begin killing/ending

any and all processes that

it permits you to.

 

if a process is the issue

then you will be closer

to identifying it.

 

incidentally, when you

kill explorer.exe you

will unload the registry.

 

so go to the first tab and

relaunch explorer.exe as a

new task.

--

 

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>

 

"ship" <shiphen@gmail.com> wrote in message news:3bdf7aa9-b6b8-42d3-9584-5fb50536fd24@f36g2000hsa.googlegroups.com...

> Hi

>

> Any thoughts about why my PC is suddenly running dead slow?

> It is running Windows XP Pro (SP3).

>

> I last updated it about 20 days ago. And then it started running slow

> about 2 days ago.

> I have now installe dall the latest patches but it is still dog-slow.

>

> I have various things installed but which I have now EXITED

> including:

> Windows Search,

> Google Desktop,

> Logmein.com and

> SpyBot - Search & Destroy.

>

> I notice in Windows "Task Manager" that even just after on a cold re-

> boot, I have 7 copies of "svchost.exe". They are not taking any CPU

> time though.

>

> In fact the CPU is running at about 2-3%. But when I open FireFox, it

> takes a VERY long

> time to open (about 90 seconds first time, and still about 15 seconds

> to immediately

> re-open it with nothing else open). Whereas msInternet Explorer

> (normally fairly slow

> to open now opens in about 8 seconds and re-opens in about 2 or 3

> seconds

>

> I am running AVG Anti-Virus Free (v8.0.138) - but it can't find any

> viruses.

>

> Any thoughts?

>

>

> Ship

> Shiperton Henethe

>

[Guest Gerry]

Re: PC has suddenly started to crawl ? ("svchost.exe" looks suspicious...)

 

Re: PC has suddenly started to crawl ? ("svchost.exe" looks suspicious...)

 

 

How much RAM?

 

Try Ctrl+Alt+Delete to select Task Manager and click the Performance

Tab. Under Commit Charge what is the Total, the Limit and the Peak?

 

You should be able to gather more information from Task Manager. With

the Processes tab open select View, Select, Columns and check the boxes

before Peak Memory Usage and Virtual Memory size. What are the figures

for the 6 processes using the largest amounts?

 

Do you leave the computer on 24/7

 

I would be interested in seeing a Disk Defragmenter report. Open Disk

Defragmenter and click on Analyse. Select View Report and

click on Save As and Save. Now find VolumeC.txt in your My Documents

Folder and post a copy. Do this before running Disk Defragmenter as it

is more informative.

 

 

 

You might find HD Tune (freeware) gives you a clearer picture of what is

going on. HD Tune only gives information and does not fix any problems.

 

Download and run it and see what it turns up.

http://www.hdtune.com/

 

Select the Info tabs and place the cursor on the drive under Drive

letter and then double click the two page icon ( copy to Clipboard )

and copy into a further message. What mode is supported and what is

active?

 

Select the Health tab and then double click the two page icon ( copy to

Clipboard ) and copy into a further message. Make sure you do a full

surface scan with HD Tune.

 

--

 

 

 

Hope this helps.

 

Gerry

~~~~

FCA

Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

 

ship wrote:

> Hi

>

> Any thoughts about why my PC is suddenly running dead slow?

> It is running Windows XP Pro (SP3).

>

> I last updated it about 20 days ago. And then it started running slow

> about 2 days ago.

> I have now installe dall the latest patches but it is still dog-slow.

>

> I have various things installed but which I have now EXITED

> including:

> Windows Search,

> Google Desktop,

> Logmein.com and

> SpyBot - Search & Destroy.

>

> I notice in Windows "Task Manager" that even just after on a cold re-

> boot, I have 7 copies of "svchost.exe". They are not taking any CPU

> time though.

>

> In fact the CPU is running at about 2-3%. But when I open FireFox, it

> takes a VERY long

> time to open (about 90 seconds first time, and still about 15 seconds

> to immediately

> re-open it with nothing else open). Whereas msInternet Explorer

> (normally fairly slow

> to open now opens in about 8 seconds and re-opens in about 2 or 3

> seconds

>

> I am running AVG Anti-Virus Free (v8.0.138) - but it can't find any

> viruses.

>

> Any thoughts?

>

>

> Ship

> Shiperton Henethe

[Guest witan]

Re: PC has suddenly started to crawl ? ("svchost.exe" lookssuspicious...)

 

On Aug 13, 7:03 pm, ship <ship...@gmail.com> wrote:

> I am also suspicious of the new Windows Search which I can't quite see

> how to switch off!

>

> Ship

 

I had a similar problem a sometime back, and it was because the

harddisks had slipped down into "PIO" memory access, rather than the

normal DMA. You can check this by right-clicking "My computer" >>

Hardware > Device Manager > IDE ATA/ATAPI Controller:and then Primary

IDE channel and Secondary IDE channel. The slipping into PIO happens

usually because of disk error, including too long a spin-up time.

[Guest witan]

Re: PC has suddenly started to crawl ? ("svchost.exe" lookssuspicious...)

 

On Aug 13, 7:03 pm, ship <ship...@gmail.com> wrote:

> I am also suspicious of the new Windows Search which I can't quite see

> how to switch off!

>

> Ship

 

 

I had a similar problem a sometime back, and it was because the

harddisks had slipped down into "PIO" memory access, rather than the

normal DMA. You can check this by right-clicking "My computer" >>

Hardware > Device Manager > IDE ATA/ATAPI Controller:and then Primary

IDE channel and Secondary IDE channel. The slipping into PIO happens

usually because of disk error, including too long a spin-up time.

[Guest Jim]

Re: PC has suddenly started to crawl ? ("svchost.exe" looks suspicious...)

 

Re: PC has suddenly started to crawl ? ("svchost.exe" looks suspicious...)

 

 

"witan" <tsr1936@gmail.com> wrote in message

news:9367c252-3af0-4a19-b776-42bb29b9d09f@b38g2000prf.googlegroups.com...

On Aug 13, 7:03 pm, ship <ship...@gmail.com> wrote:

> I am also suspicious of the new Windows Search which I can't quite see

> how to switch off!

>

> Ship

 

I had a similar problem a sometime back, and it was because the

harddisks had slipped down into "PIO" memory access, rather than the

normal DMA. You can check this by right-clicking "My computer" >>

Hardware > Device Manager > IDE ATA/ATAPI Controller:and then Primary

IDE channel and Secondary IDE channel. The slipping into PIO happens

usually because of disk error, including too long a spin-up time.

 

 

Also, the driver is permanently set for PIO mode. The fix is to remove the

driver and reboot. During startup,

XP will load the driver from the \i386 folder.

Jim

[Guest Ken Blake, MVP]

Re: PC has suddenly started to crawl ? ("svchost.exe" looks suspicious...)

 

Re: PC has suddenly started to crawl ? ("svchost.exe" looks suspicious...)

 

On Wed, 13 Aug 2008 06:58:56 -0700 (PDT), ship <shiphen@gmail.com>

wrote:

> Hi

>

> Any thoughts about why my PC is suddenly running dead slow?

> It is running Windows XP Pro (SP3).

>

> I last updated it about 20 days ago. And then it started running slow

> about 2 days ago.

 

 

A sudden unexplained drop in performance like that is extremely likely

to be caused by malware infection.

 

> I have now installe dall the latest patches but it is still dog-slow.

>

> I have various things installed but which I have now EXITED

> including:

> Windows Search,

> Google Desktop,

> Logmein.com and

> SpyBot - Search & Destroy.

>

> I notice in Windows "Task Manager" that even just after on a cold re-

> boot, I have 7 copies of "svchost.exe".

 

 

That's normal.

 

> They are not taking any CPU

> time though.

>

> In fact the CPU is running at about 2-3%. But when I open FireFox, it

> takes a VERY long

> time to open (about 90 seconds first time, and still about 15 seconds

> to immediately

> re-open it with nothing else open). Whereas msInternet Explorer

> (normally fairly slow

> to open now opens in about 8 seconds and re-opens in about 2 or 3

> seconds

>

> I am running AVG Anti-Virus Free (v8.0.138) - but it can't find any

> viruses.

 

 

Viruses are only one kind of malware. Non-viral malware, such as

spyware, remains a distinct possibility (also note that no anti-virus

program is perfect, and even viral malware is still a possibility).

 

--

Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

Please Reply to the Newsgroup

[Guest Daave]

Re: PC has suddenly started to crawl ? ("svchost.exe" looks suspicious...)

 

Re: PC has suddenly started to crawl ? ("svchost.exe" looks suspicious...)

 

ship wrote:

> Any thoughts about why my PC is suddenly running dead slow?

> It is running Windows XP Pro (SP3).

>

> I last updated it about 20 days ago. And then it started running slow

> about 2 days ago.

> I have now installe dall the latest patches but it is still dog-slow.

>

> I have various things installed but which I have now EXITED

> including:

> Windows Search,

> Google Desktop,

> Logmein.com and

> SpyBot - Search & Destroy.

 

Something obviously happened 2-3 days ago. It might have been an

automatic update. It might have been something you purposefully or

accidentally did. (Do you recall anything in particular?)

 

If your issue is not malware-related (malware should always be ruled out

first), the first thing I would suspect is logmein.com. See:

 

https://secure.logmein.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=17525&mpage=1嗄

 

I doubt exiting will fix your problem. A process or two are probably

still running in the background. Use msconfig or Autoruns to disable

logmein and see what happens.

 

Maybe the problem is with Windows Search.

 

Maybe the problem is with a recent Windows update. You can uninstall the

most recent updates (assuming they occurred in the past couple days) and

try a System Restore to three days ago.

[Guest Unknown]

Re: PC has suddenly started to crawl ? ("svchost.exe" looks suspicious...)

 

Re: PC has suddenly started to crawl ? ("svchost.exe" looks suspicious...)

 

When was last time you ran disk clean up?

"ship" <shiphen@gmail.com> wrote in message

news:3bdf7aa9-b6b8-42d3-9584-5fb50536fd24@f36g2000hsa.googlegroups.com...

> Hi

>

> Any thoughts about why my PC is suddenly running dead slow?

> It is running Windows XP Pro (SP3).

>

> I last updated it about 20 days ago. And then it started running slow

> about 2 days ago.

> I have now installe dall the latest patches but it is still dog-slow.

>

> I have various things installed but which I have now EXITED

> including:

> Windows Search,

> Google Desktop,

> Logmein.com and

> SpyBot - Search & Destroy.

>

> I notice in Windows "Task Manager" that even just after on a cold re-

> boot, I have 7 copies of "svchost.exe". They are not taking any CPU

> time though.

>

> In fact the CPU is running at about 2-3%. But when I open FireFox, it

> takes a VERY long

> time to open (about 90 seconds first time, and still about 15 seconds

> to immediately

> re-open it with nothing else open). Whereas msInternet Explorer

> (normally fairly slow

> to open now opens in about 8 seconds and re-opens in about 2 or 3

> seconds

>

> I am running AVG Anti-Virus Free (v8.0.138) - but it can't find any

> viruses.

>

> Any thoughts?

>

>

> Ship

> Shiperton Henethe

>

[Guest ship]

Re: PC has suddenly started to crawl ? ("svchost.exe" lookssuspicious...)

 

 

No idea.

What exactly is "Disck Clean Up" ?

And is it safe?

 

Ship

Shiperton Henethe

 

> When was last time you ran disk clean up?"ship" <ship...@gmail.com> wrote in message

>

> news:3bdf7aa9-b6b8-42d3-9584-5fb50536fd24@f36g2000hsa.googlegroups.com...

>

>

>

> > Hi

>

> > Any thoughts about why my PC is suddenly running dead slow?

> > It is running Windows XP Pro (SP3).

>

> > I last updated it about 20 days ago. And then it started running slow

> > about 2 days ago.

> > I have now installe dall the latest patches but it is still dog-slow.

>

> > I have various things installed but which I have now EXITED

> > including:

> > Windows Search,

> > Google Desktop,

> > Logmein.com and

> > SpyBot - Search & Destroy.

>

> > I notice in Windows "Task Manager" that even just after on a cold re-

> > boot, I have 7 copies of "svchost.exe". They are not taking any CPU

> > time though.

>

> > In fact the CPU is running at about 2-3%. But when I open FireFox, it

> > takes a VERY long

> > time to open (about 90 seconds first time, and still about 15 seconds

> > to immediately

> > re-open it with nothing else open). Whereas msInternet Explorer

> > (normally fairly slow

> > to open now opens in about 8 seconds and re-opens in about 2 or 3

> > seconds

>

> > I am running AVG Anti-Virus Free (v8.0.138) - but it can't find any

> > viruses.

>

> > Any thoughts?

>

> > Ship

> >ShipertonHenethe- Hide quoted text -

>

> - Show quoted text -

[Guest Tom [Pepper] Willett]

Re: PC has suddenly started to crawl ? ("svchost.exe" looks suspicious...)

 

Re: PC has suddenly started to crawl ? ("svchost.exe" looks suspicious...)

 

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310312

 

"ship" <shiphen@gmail.com> wrote in message

news:281308ad-c56a-4933-bd4f-176255b684c2@z66g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...

:

: No idea.

: What exactly is "Disck Clean Up" ?

: And is it safe?

:

: Ship

: Shiperton Henethe

:

:

: > When was last time you ran disk clean up?"ship" <ship...@gmail.com>

wrote in message

: >

: >

news:3bdf7aa9-b6b8-42d3-9584-5fb50536fd24@f36g2000hsa.googlegroups.com...

: >

: >

: >

: > > Hi

: >

: > > Any thoughts about why my PC is suddenly running dead slow?

: > > It is running Windows XP Pro (SP3).

: >

: > > I last updated it about 20 days ago. And then it started running slow

: > > about 2 days ago.

: > > I have now installe dall the latest patches but it is still dog-slow.

: >

: > > I have various things installed but which I have now EXITED

: > > including:

: > > Windows Search,

: > > Google Desktop,

: > > Logmein.com and

: > > SpyBot - Search & Destroy.

: >

: > > I notice in Windows "Task Manager" that even just after on a cold re-

: > > boot, I have 7 copies of "svchost.exe". They are not taking any CPU

: > > time though.

: >

: > > In fact the CPU is running at about 2-3%. But when I open FireFox, it

: > > takes a VERY long

: > > time to open (about 90 seconds first time, and still about 15 seconds

: > > to immediately

: > > re-open it with nothing else open). Whereas msInternet Explorer

: > > (normally fairly slow

: > > to open now opens in about 8 seconds and re-opens in about 2 or 3

: > > seconds

: >

: > > I am running AVG Anti-Virus Free (v8.0.138) - but it can't find any

: > > viruses.

: >

: > > Any thoughts?

: >

: > > Ship

: > >ShipertonHenethe- Hide quoted text -

: >

: > - Show quoted text -

: