Computer is so slow! Where do I start?!?

Polly · May 22, 2008

Hi Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help!

What a great site I am really impressed with how helpful you guys are - THUMBS UP TO YOU!

OK I need help with my computer but I must admit I really don't know where to start - what information you need etc. Would any one mind helping me from scratch? I kind of idiots step by step guide to breathing life in to my computer... :confused:

We had a lot of trouble with the PC soon as we got it off ebay. My sister got it off the seller and saw it working in Southend and when we got it to the house in Kent in didn't work. Our neighbour had a look and said we needed a new motherboard. So we got a new motherboard. We then got some extra RAM for it. It was a 256mb now it is 1gb. (although it does say on the System Properties<General page it has 256mb of RAM whilst on other pages it'll say about 1000mb of RAM) We also got a new graphics card for it ATI Radeon 9200 Series.

Our neighbour installed the RAM and graphics card a few weeks after he had installed the motherboard and got it working for us. But with the increased RAm and new graphics card it is still dead slow. Almost like a Commadore 64 it feels on some days!!! I can load up the internet go and make a cup of tea and sandwich and by the time I get back it is still loading up Internet Explorer!?!

I'm sure you probably need a lot more system information to identify what I need to tweak about - if you could please perhaps tell me a few steps to finding this information then I will do so and send it.

I can't play games as it is to slow. My mother and I only seem to use the computer for Internet, email, Word, Excel etc. Its driving my mother crazy as she is trying to run a business and buying this computer was meant to have been just right for running these programs.

I would love to be able to play games on this PC and we would both love it to be much faster. I know it should be much faster as it sometimes goes at such an unaturally slow speed...

If anyone reading this has the time to help me get this PC running to its potential I would be so grateful from the bottm of my heart I really would!

Cheers!

maynardvdm · May 22, 2008

Hi Polly

Welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help.

Firstly Download and run hijack this. Do a system scan and save a log file, then copy and paste that log file here.

Heres the link:

TrendMicro™ HijackThis™ Download

Polly · May 22, 2008

Thank you for your reply! Here is the info:

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2

Scan saved at 00:26:05, on 23/05/2008

Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)

MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.16640)

Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:

C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe

C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe

C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\MSC\mcmscsvc.exe

c:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\mcafee\mna\mcnasvc.exe

c:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\mcafee\mcproxy\mcproxy.exe

C:\Program Files\McAfee\MPF\MPFSrv.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\VTTimer.exe

C:\WINDOWS\SOUNDMAN.EXE

C:\Program Files\CyberLink\Shared Files\RichVideo.exe

C:\Program Files\CyberLink\PowerDVD\PDVDServ.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe

C:\Program Files\Thomson\SpeedTouch USB\Dragdiag.exe

C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_03\bin\jusched.exe

C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\cli.exe

c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\agent\mcagent.exe

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe

C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\Digital Imaging\bin\hpohmr08.exe

C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\Digital Imaging\bin\hpotdd01.exe

C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\Digital Imaging\bin\hpoevm08.exe

C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcsysmon.exe

C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\Digital Imaging\Bin\hpoSTS08.exe

C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\cli.exe

C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe

C:\Program Files\Real\RealPlayer\RealPlay.exe

C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcshield.exe

C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe

C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe

C:\Documents and Settings\Sue\My Documents\Polly\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = Live Search

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = Google

R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = MSN.com

R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = Live Search

R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = Live Search

R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = MSN.com

R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant =

R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch =

O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll

O2 - BHO: RealPlayer Download and Record Plugin for Internet Explorer - {3049C3E9-B461-4BC5-8870-4C09146192CA} - C:\Program Files\Real\RealPlayer\rpbrowserrecordplugin.dll

O2 - BHO: scriptproxy - {7DB2D5A0-7241-4E79-B68D-6309F01C5231} - C:\Program Files\McAfee\VirusScan\scriptsn.dll

O2 - BHO: (no name) - {7E853D72-626A-48EC-A868-BA8D5E23E045} - (no file)

O2 - BHO: Windows Live Sign-in Helper - {9030D464-4C02-4ABF-8ECC-5164760863C6} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live\WindowsLiveLogin.dll

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [VTTimer] VTTimer.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [soundMan] SOUNDMAN.EXE

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RemoteControl] "C:\Program Files\CyberLink\PowerDVD\PDVDServ.exe"

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LanguageShortcut] "C:\Program Files\CyberLink\PowerDVD\Language\Language.exe"

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [VTTrayp] VTtrayp.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [speedTouch USB Diagnostics] "C:\Program Files\Thomson\SpeedTouch USB\Dragdiag.exe" /icon

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [sunJavaUpdateSched] C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_03\bin\jusched.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe Reader Speed Launcher] "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 8.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe"

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATICCC] "C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\cli.exe" runtime -Delay

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [mcagent_exe] C:\Program Files\McAfee.com\Agent\mcagent.exe /runkey

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe" -osboot

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe

O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTFMON.EXE (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')

O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-20\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTFMON.EXE (User 'NETWORK SERVICE')

O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTFMON.EXE (User 'SYSTEM')

O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTFMON.EXE (User 'Default user')

O4 - Global Startup: hp psc 1000 series.lnk = ?

O4 - Global Startup: hpoddt01.exe.lnk = ?

O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL

O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe

O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe

O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe

O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe

O16 - DPF: {48DD0448-9209-4F81-9F6D-D83562940134} (MySpace Uploader Control) - http://lads.myspace.com/upload/MySpaceUploader1006.cab

O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://www.update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/wuweb_site.cab?1198268524734

O16 - DPF: {6E32070A-766D-4EE6-879C-DC1FA91D2FC3} (MUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/muweb_site.cab?1202410326171

O16 - DPF: {A90A5822-F108-45AD-8482-9BC8B12DD539} (Crucial cpcScan) - http://www.crucial.com/controls/cpcScanner.cab

O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://fpdownload2.macromedia.com/get/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab

O23 - Service: Ati HotKey Poller - ATI Technologies Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe

O23 - Service: ATI Smart - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ati2sgag.exe

O23 - Service: McAfee Services (mcmscsvc) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\MSC\mcmscsvc.exe

O23 - Service: McAfee Network Agent (McNASvc) - McAfee, Inc. - c:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\mcafee\mna\mcnasvc.exe

O23 - Service: McAfee Scanner (McODS) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcods.exe

O23 - Service: McAfee Proxy Service (McProxy) - McAfee, Inc. - c:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\mcafee\mcproxy\mcproxy.exe

O23 - Service: McAfee Real-time Scanner (McShield) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcshield.exe

O23 - Service: McAfee SystemGuards (McSysmon) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcsysmon.exe

O23 - Service: McAfee Personal Firewall Service (MpfService) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\Program Files\McAfee\MPF\MPFSrv.exe

O23 - Service: Pml Driver HPZ12 - HP - C:\WINDOWS\system32\HPZipm12.exe

O23 - Service: Cyberlink RichVideo Service(CRVS) (RichVideo) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\CyberLink\Shared Files\RichVideo.exe

--

End of file - 7285 bytes

AdvancedSetup · May 22, 2008

Hello Polly

Well there appears to be at least a couple of items that should not be running on the system. This will probably take a while to run and complete but please follow the instructions below which should be able to remove this malware.

Welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help

Your computer could be infected with Malware.

Malware is software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner's informed consent.
It is a portmanteau of the words malicious and software.
The expression is a general term used by computer professionals to mean a variety of forms of hostile, intrusive, or annoying software or program code.

Required Cleanup Steps

Run a Temporary files cleaner
Disable the Spybot Search & Destroy TEA TIMER if enabled
Run 2 Anti-Malware scanners
Run and Online Anti-Virus / Anti-Malware Scanner
If continued Malware type activity is present you may be asked to post a TrendMicro™ HijackThis™ Log file

The reason to run multiple scanners is to ensure that no single scanner is missing something.

The time it takes will vary depending on your system and your internet connection speed.

Typically the SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes scanners will take between 10 to 90 minutes.

The ESET online scan should take between 1 to 3 hours.

In most cases, these scans will suffice to clean and disinfect your computer.

Heavily infected systems or slower PCs can take much longer to scan and clean.

For best results print the following instructions and bookmark this Web page

To keep this guide printer-friendly, use your cursor to highlight the contents below.

From your browser select File - Print and in the printer dialog box under "Print range"

click the

Selection

choice to print out these instructions for removal of malware.

http://kixhelp.com/wr/images-freepchelp/printer-selection.gif

__________________________________________________

STEP 1

Disable Spybot Search & Destroys' TEA TIMER: (if installed)

Run Spybot-S&D in Advanced Mode.
If it is not already set to do this Go to the Mode menu select "Advanced Mode"
On the left hand side, Click on Tools
Then click on the Resident Icon in the List
Uncheck "Resident TeaTimer" and OK any prompts.
Restart your computer.

__________________________________________________

STEP 2

Follow these instructions carefully.
Download ATF-Cleaner from
Snapfiles.com
to remove un-needed temporary files from your computer that may contain malware.
You can also download it from
Majorgeeks.com
When you run ATF-Cleaner, check the items as shown below for Main.
For FireFox, be sure to click on the FireFox tab on top and check the items as shown below for FireFox
NOTE:
If you don't have FireFox or Opera installed then they will be grayed out and can be ignored
Then click on "Empty Selected".

http://kixhelp.com/wr/images-freepchelp/atf-cleaner01.gif

.

http://kixhelp.com/wr/images-freepchelp/atf-cleaner02.gif

__________________________________________________

STEP 3

Install and run the free version (not the Professional version) of SUPERAntiSpyware from
SUPERAntiSpyware.com
- Accept any prompts to allow SUPERAntiSpyware to install the latest rules and infection definition files.
- You do not have to send them your e-mail address, just click next.
- You can leave the automated check for updates on.
- You can uncheck "Send a diagnostic report to research center" if you don't want to send the information.
- DO NOT
  allow SUPERAntiSpyware to protect your Home Page settings.
- On the
  Top Left
  select the
  Scan your computer
  button.
- Make sure there is a CHECK MARK on all
  Fixed Drives
  .
- Click "Perform a Complete Scan". Click "Next" to Repair issues found and reboot the computer when prompted to do so.

__________________________________________________

STEP 4

Install and run
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
from
Malwarebytes - (direct download)
- Accept all defaults for the installer
- Allow the program to update the definitions
- Click on the
  Quick Scan
  and click Next.
- If any items are found allow it to clean them and then Reboot your computer.

__________________________________________________

STEP 5

Run an online scan with ESET from
Free Virus Scan: Use ESET's Online Antivirus Scanner
- You
  must
  use Internet Explorer for this online scan. FireFox, Opera, etc will not work for this scan.
- Accept the terms and click "Start".
- Once the scanner is ready, check "Remove found threats" AND "Scan unwanted applications".
- Click "Start" to begin the scan.
- When completed restart your computer

__________________________________________________

Make sure your internet firewall security is enabled, and then please return to

Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help

and tell us how the computer seems to be operating.

At that time, you will receive instructions to assist you in removing malicious programs from your Add/Remove program list if warranted.

If required this is the download link for

TrendMicro™ HijackThis™

Unless instructed to by the Technician helping you then do not download this tool.

Once you and the Technician agree that your system appears to be clean then you should delete all your System Restore points and recreate a new one.

Please follow the instructions here

How to turn off and turn on System Restore in Windows XP

How to turn off and turn on System Restore in Windows Vista

Polly · May 23, 2008

Ok several hours later...

I have completed steps 1 -5. The scans did find a few items that shouldn't be running on the computer but it doesn't seem to have improved the speed of the PC...It is still slow as a tortoise... Here is a new scan log from the hijack this site if it is of any help...

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2

Scan saved at 16:02:52, on 23/05/2008

Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)

MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.16640)

Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:

C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe

C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe

C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE

C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\MSC\mcmscsvc.exe

c:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\mcafee\mna\mcnasvc.exe

c:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\mcafee\mcproxy\mcproxy.exe

C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcshield.exe

C:\Program Files\McAfee\MPF\MPFSrv.exe

C:\Program Files\CyberLink\Shared Files\RichVideo.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe

c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\agent\mcagent.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\VTTimer.exe

C:\WINDOWS\SOUNDMAN.EXE

C:\Program Files\CyberLink\PowerDVD\PDVDServ.exe

C:\Program Files\Thomson\SpeedTouch USB\Dragdiag.exe

C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_03\bin\jusched.exe

C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\cli.exe

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe

C:\Program Files\SUPERAntiSpyware\SUPERAntiSpyware.exe

C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\Digital Imaging\bin\hpohmr08.exe

C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\Digital Imaging\bin\hpotdd01.exe

C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcsysmon.exe

C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\Digital Imaging\bin\hpoevm08.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\HPZipm12.exe

C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\Digital Imaging\Bin\hpoSTS08.exe

C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\cli.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe