Slow computer

[Plastic Nev]

Hi, sorry for the delay, I have been busy and away for a couple of days, and it looks like your problem had slipped the net a little. Not to worry, at least I am back:)

 

Is your Norton anti-virus now working correctly? If so one thing we haven't asked you is to open Norton and do a full scan for virus, see if it finds anything and let us know.

 

Next is to open Malwarebytes, click on the update to update it to the current status and scan again with that.

Also do the same again with the Superantispyware.

 

Let us know what you get, and where possible post the logs of what each one finds please.

Nev.

[old tymer]

http://extremetechsupport.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=512&stc=1&d=1241261103

[Plastic Nev]

Hi Old tymer, let us see what Malwarebytes, finds if anything, also Superantispyware, I want to be absolutely sure you are free of any malware before looking elsewhere for the slow running problem.

[old tymer]

http://extremetechsupport.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=513&stc=1&d=1241273649

 

Malware scan found nothing

[Plastic Nev]

Hi again, a lot of tracking cookies there, you can safely delete all of them.

 

Now to see what could be slowing things down, it could be a process running in the background that is using a large amount of your processor.

To help find if this is the case and what it is, go to "Start" > Run > and type in (without the quotation marks "taskmgr"

 

This will open a window, and if not already on "Performance" click on the "Performance" tab.

You should then see two graphs running in real time, if there is a few spikes but with lots of little ups and downs then we are at a dead end there.

 

However, if the graph shows a high to fairly high line continuously, and the CPU usage shows a figure more than 70% continuously, the next thing to look at is to click the "Processes" tab.

It shows the headers, Image name-- User name-- CPU-- Mem Usage.

Scroll down the list and look for a process with a continuously high figure under the CPU column, and let us know what it is.

[Goku]

Hello Tymer. The log is unreadable as a JPEG so it would be more fitting to paste it as text in your next reply. That would make things much more clearer. Thank you. :)

 

-- Goku

[old tymer]

Pops up to 40% max. Biggest memory user is ie explore at 44k.

[Plastic Nev]

OK it doesn't look like a process then, and I assume things are still slow? I will have to think and do a bit of research next.

In the mean time can you have a look at what is running in total, and see if any is not needed?

[old tymer]

Hi Nev, thanks for your perseverance. The slowness is when i first switch on and when i first log on to internet.

How can i tell which processes are not needed?

 

I have 7 processes titled svchost are these needed?

[Plastic Nev]

Hi again, yes they are needed. I really wanted a full list of them then I can advise from that. However I realise we don't as yet know enough about the machine itself. Can you tell us the Make, type, model number. Also can you find us the more technical details. You can find them on the general tab of system properties. to get there click "Start" then "Run" and type (without the quotation marks) "sysdm.cpl" then click OK.

[old tymer]

syst1.jpg

[old tymer]

process.JPG

[old tymer]

process1.JPG

[Tootech]

Can you download and install HijackThis from the link below

 

TrendSecure | TrendMicro™ HijackThis™ Quick Start Guide

 

Follow these instructions and post the list please.

 

 

1) Please open HijackThis.

2) Click on Open the Misc Tools section.

3) Under System tools, select Open process manager.

4) Click on the little clipboard icon

5) In your next reply, right-click in the reply window and select paste

[old tymer]

Process list saved on 09:12:44, on 03/05/2009

Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600)

[pid] [full path to filename] [file version] [company name]

448 C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe 5.1.2600.5512 Microsoft Corporation

696 C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe 5.1.2600.5512 Microsoft Corporation

740 C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe 5.1.2600.5755 Microsoft Corporation

752 C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe 5.1.2600.5512 Microsoft Corporation

916 C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe 6.14.10.4117 ATI Technologies Inc.

932 C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe 5.1.2600.5512 Microsoft Corporation

1072 C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe 5.1.2600.5512 Microsoft Corporation

1432 C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe 6.14.10.4117 ATI Technologies Inc.

1504 C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE 6.0.2900.5512 Microsoft Corporation

1708 C:\WINDOWS\System32\wltrysvc.exe

1720 C:\WINDOWS\System32\bcmwltry.exe 3.100.40.4 BT Voyager Corporation

1728 C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSvcHst.exe 106.2.0.21 Symantec Corporation

1960 C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\AppCore\AppSvc32.exe 1.1.1.2 Symantec Corporation

308 C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe 5.1.2600.5512 Microsoft Corporation

1136 C:\Program Files\Symantec\LiveUpdate\ALUSchedulerSvc.exe 3.2.0.68 Symantec Corporation

1972 C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSvcHst.exe 106.2.0.21 Symantec Corporation

2000 C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\dcfssvc.exe 1.1.4400.0 Eastman Kodak Company

160 C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe 6.0.110.3 Sun Microsystems, Inc.

2436 C:\windows\system\hpsysdrv.exe 1.7.0.0 Hewlett-Packard Company

2492 C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe 106.2.0.21 Symantec Corporation

2540 C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\DRIVERS\W32X86\3\E_S4I091.EXE 3.0.0.0 SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION

2548 C:\Program Files\Hp\HP Software Update\HPWuSchd2.exe 80.1.0.0 Hewlett-Packard

2568 C:\PROGRA~1\Yahoo!\YOP\yop.exe 2007.6.26.2 Yahoo! Inc.

2576 C:\PROGRA~1\Yahoo!\browser\ybrwicon.exe 2006.7.21.1 Yahoo! Inc.

2636 C:\HP\KBD\KBD.EXE 1.0.2.2 Hewlett-Packard Company

2688 C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe 4.8.0.31 Apple Computer, Inc.

2696 C:\WINDOWS\ALCXMNTR.EXE 1.5.0.0 Realtek Semiconductor Corp.

2720 C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jusched.exe 6.0.110.3 Sun Microsystems, Inc.

2724 C:\PROGRA~1\Yahoo!\browser\ycommon.exe 2006.3.2.1 Yahoo!, Inc.

3064 C:\WINDOWS\system32\wltray.exe 3.100.40.4 BT Voyager Corporation

3112 C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe 5.1.2600.5512 Microsoft Corporation

3128 C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe 2.0.301.1654 Google Inc.

3296 C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe 4.7.0.3001 Microsoft Corporation

3372 C:\Program Files\TomTom HOME 2\HOMERunner.exe 2.5.1.36 TomTom

3500 C:\Program Files\SUPERAntiSpyware\SUPERAntiSpyware.exe 4.26.0.1002 SUPERAntiSpyware.com

3544 C:\PROGRA~1\Yahoo!\MESSEN~1\ymsgr_tray.exe 1.0.0.1 Yahoo! Inc.

2300 C:\PROGRA~1\Yahoo!\YOP\SSDK02.exe 3.2.0.37 Symantec Corporation

2612 C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe 4.8.0.31 Apple Computer, Inc.

564 C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\SYMANT~1\CCPD-LC\symlcsvc.exe 1.9.2.35

808 C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe 7.0.6000.16827 Microsoft Corporation

176 C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe 2.0.0.2 Trend Micro Inc.

[old tymer]

Can anybody see anything obviously out of place?

[Tootech]

Just going through it, I can see a few things we can deal with.

 

If you are now using a Netgear wireless adapter, go back to Add/Remove Programs and uninstall the BT adapter software.

 

If you are not using Norton any more, go back again to Add/Remove Programs and uninstall anything Norton, including Liveupdate.

 

Then, go here and download the removal tool

 

Download and run the Norton Removal Tool

 

Run it and restart your computer.

 

Go here

 

Java Downloads for All Operating Systems - Sun Microsystems

 

And update your Java.

 

You have the BT Yahoo browser and messenger running, if you don't use them uninstall them - it will free up some system resource.

 

Also, looking at your system spec, Sempron 3000/512MB RAM, I'd recommend doubling your RAM to 1GB, and when you have cleared it out, defragment the hard drive.

[old tymer]

Don`t say i didn't warn you folks.

Lost wireless again. Dev mngt showed icon with an apostrophe, and a code 10. Did a scan with reg cure and lost icon?

Tried to uninstall/re install drivers nothing. netgear adapter does not light up.

Do you think this adapter is b******d?

 

Didn't get to take any of the steps above.

[RandyL]

Hi old tymer;

About your connection issue I have no idea.

 

However I must caution you on your continuing use of registry cleaners. Most are completely worthless. Even those that might have some merit can not only break programs but also leave Windows in a state that only a reinstall can cure.

 

I have yet to see a registry cleaner do anything but harm. They should only be used by an expert as a tool, not a cleaner. Read this; Registry Cleaners

[old tymer]

O.k Randy Cheers.

[Tootech]

I am beginning to wonder if you have a hardware fault, or a Windows installation that is not running properly and needs reinstalling.

 

One wireless adapter going wrong is not common, but it does happens, and I've seen a few of those BT USB wireless adapters fail. But for two, different makes to fail a few weeks apart - na, that doesn't add up.

 

It may be a USB power problem - to check that try using a USB flash drive in the port you would usually use for your wireless adapter. If it works, count that out.

 

It may be a driver/Windows fault, at this stage I'd recommend a Windows reinstall to attempt to alleviate the problem.

 

It may also be that the best course of action is to install an internal PCI wireless card. They are more stable and much less prone to problems.

 

My feeling is that the best course of action is to take it to a repair shop to be diagnosed, and maybe have your data backed up and Windows reinstalled, depending on what is found.

[old tymer]

O.K. We seem to be almost there. Before reading the last post i had already ordered a new netgear dongle. Have had this in for 2 weeks now and seems ok fingers crossed. Have followed the previous instructions and start up is much quicker.

My final concern is do i have enough security with the free malwarebytes and superanti spyware?

Cheers Old Tymer

[Plastic Nev]

Hi old tymer again,

You could add SpywareBlaster, but otherwise your OK with what you have, but you didn't say if you are still using the Norton anti-virus?

If you look at the list you will see many references to Symantec and therefore Norton. If it is still in subscription, leave it alone for now, but when it comes up for renewal, remove it and go for one of our recommended anti-virus.

Symantec Norton is a renowned hog of system resources that can be part of your slower system.

I will also add that as Tootech advised, increas your Ram size, this will speed things up a bit as well.

[old tymer]

Hi Plastic Nev, I removed my version of Norton supplied by BT and yes that along with the Spybot i bought was the biggest user. Which is the reccomended free anti virus?

How do i increase my RAM ?

Cheers.

[RandyL]

Have a look at Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help Recommended Security products

 

Avira's Antivir is good as well as Avast.