XP on a mega go-slow

[Clockwork Egg]

All,

 

I am running XP on a standard issue Dell pc with (i thought) little problems. It has recently however started to go on a mega go-slow and even opening IE takes an eternity. Could it be infested with something...or is it a problem with XP...or c) none of the above?

 

If anybody could point me in the right direction it would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks,

[Guest Wolfeymole]

You may well be that you have some nasties lurking in your machine Clockwork so lets run a few tests as 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 combination 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
  
  1. Disable the Spybot Search & Destroy TEA TIMER if enabled
     
  2. Run a Temporary file and cache cleaner (ATF)
     
  3. Run 2 Anti-Malware scanners
     
  4. Run an Online Anti-Virus / Anti-Malware Scanner
     
  5. Clear out old System Restore points
     
  6. 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)
  
  
  1. Run Spybot-S&D in Advanced Mode.
     
     
  2. If it is not already set to do this Go to the Mode menu select "Advanced Mode"
     
     
  3. On the left hand side, Click on Tools
     
     
  4. Then click on the Resident Icon in the List
     
     
  5. Uncheck "Resident TeaTimer" and OK any prompts.
     
     
  6. 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.
    
    
  • If your computer is running Window's Vista, then you
    must first
    start Internet Explorer as an Administrator. To do so, right-click on the
    Internet Explorer
    icon in the Start Menu and select "
    Run as administrator
    " from the popup context menu.
    
    
   
  • 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

[windowsvista]

All,

 

I am running XP on a standard issue Dell pc with (i thought) little problems. It has recently however started to go on a mega go-slow and even opening Internet Explorer takes an eternity. Could it be infested with something...or is it a problem with XP...or c) none of the above?

 

If anybody could point me in the right direction it would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks,

Try to:

1.Defrag every week

2.Disk cleanuip every week

3.clear browsing history every week

4.clear cookies everyweek

[Seth]

Try to:

1.Defrag every week

 

DO NOT defrag every week. It's totally unnecessary and will significantly decrease the life of the hard drive.

 

As a rule of thumb, don't defrag unless Window's suggests it.

 

Besides, in most cases defragging a modern hard drive will have no significant impact on speed. That's only true on very old drives.

[petef]

DO NOT defrag every week. It's totally unnecessary and will significantly decrease the life of the hard drive.

 

As a rule of thumb, don't defrag unless Window's suggests it.

 

 

Be aware, that defrag in Vista can be set to automatically run on a

daily, weekly, or monthly basis. Every Vista PC I've checked so far

has had this schedule set to run on a weekly basis, so I'm assuming

that this is the default setting.

 

Check your defrag schedule in Vista by checking the properties

of the hard drive then select Tools, and then click the

Defrag Now button. You will then see the option to modify

the defrag schedule.

 

---pete---

[theboxdist]

I had the same problem but I was lazy and went to the Pro's at mousemovers.com. They installed AVG antivirus for me and removed a shed load of adware and stuff also he used a free peice of software called cleanup by Steven Gould which he shifted loads and loads of unneeded files. Now it runs loads better although they did recommend to get myself a RAM upgrade to sharpen it even more.

 

Hopefully this is usefull

 

Simon

[Dalo Harkin]

You also need some sort of registry software - can be a major cause of slowdown - I use registry mechanic and its really good - I use it once fortnight.

[maynardvdm]

You also need some sort of registry software - can be a major cause of slowdown - I use registry mechanic and its really good - I use it once fortnight.

 

Read this: Debate on Registry Cleaners