Pc Lagging CPU idle for long time...

[bewaniuk2005]

Hi,

I need help!!!

I have a Dell demension 3000 P4 3.0ghz windows home edtion service pack 3.

 

I cant seem to figure out why the pc is lagging so bad when i try to open programs from a game to firefox...

ive run every program from spyware to antivirus and comes up clean.

it takes over 7-9 mins just to open firefox or IE the green light on the tower is always running green.

can anyone help me in trying to solve my pc issues ive tried everything and i really need so help.

TY BOB

[Tony D]

I could be a malware issue and/or it could be a hardware issue.

 

Are you familiar with booting in Safe Mode? This way of booting loads only the essential resources for Windows to start. Many features won't work i.e. wireless networking, printing, etc and your screen will look larger than normal.

 

Why not give it a try and see if things work better in Safe Mode? To do this, restart your computer and while it's restarting tap the F8 key - that's the one above the numbers 7 and 8 on your keypad. You should be presented with a menu. Arrow to the Safe Mode option and let it boot. You can log in to either the Administrator account or your account.

 

Let us know how your computer works while booting in Safe Mode. Be aware that you will not have Internet access when you are in Safe Mode,

[bewaniuk2005]

Hi,

Yes it does run better in safe mode and also in the task menu now only 14 processes are running instead of 29 processes.

this morning the computer crashed 2 times and rebooted itself.

and also in firefox intoolbars theres ASK i cant find where to uninstall it from programs can you help me to try to uninstall that also.

so ill be waiting for your next reply to what to do.

TY for the fast reply BOB

[RandyL]

To remove the ASK toolbar in FireFox go to Tools>Add-ons and then look in the Extensions or Plug-ins.

 

Like Kelly said there is a good chance you are still infected. Toolbars can be dropped in by a wide variety of sources from being bundled with legitimate programs or malware.

 

I have heard that ASK can come bundled with Frostwire but I don't know that to be a fact.

 

If you are using any P2P or Torrent software remove them IMMEDIATELY. Next you should follow OUR guide for malware removal. Please follow the instructions carefully.

 

 

Your computer may 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.

 

It is in your best interest to note the following:

1. Please disable your resident security applications (such as AVG, Spybot, WinPatrol, etc.) before performing the below procedure so that they do not interfere with the process.
   
2. Perform all the steps in the order listed to avoid any conflicts.
   
3. If unsure, please stop and voice your doubts.
   
4. You might be required to go offline during the disinfection process. Therefore, it is recommended to print off the instructions below for ease of reference.
   

If you stick to the above guidelines, all should go smoothly.

 

 

 

================================================

STEP 1

1. Download ATF-Cleaner by Atribune.
   
2. Save the file to your Desktop.
   
3. Double-click on the file to run the program.
   
4. On the Main tab, check the Select All button.
   
5. Next, click on the Firefox tab (if applicable) and check the Select All button.
    
   Note: If you would like to preserve your saved passwords in Firefox, then click No at the corresponding prompt.
   
6. Now, click on the Opera tab (if applicable) and check the Select All button.
    
   Note: If you would like to preserve your saved passwords in Opera, then click No at the corresponding prompt.
   
7. Press the Empty Selected button and click OK to acknowledge the corresponding prompt.
   
8. Click on the Exit button to quit the program.
   

================================================

STEP 2

1. Please click here to download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware.
   
2. Save the file to your Desktop.
   
3. Double-click mbam-setup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
   
4. At the end, make sure a check mark is placed next to:
   1. 
      
   2. Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
      
   3. Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
      

[*]Click Finish.

[*]The program will download and update itself if it finds the necessity to do so. Please allow this.

[*]Once the program has loaded, select Perform full scan, then click Scan.

 

 

Note: Depending on your computer specifications, the scan may take some time to complete. Please wait patiently and do not interrupt the process.

[*]When the scan is complete, click OK, and then Show Results to view the results.

[*]Make sure that every entry is selected, and click Remove Selected.

[*]Restart your computer.

================================================

STEP 3

1. Please click here to download SUPERAntiSpyware (Free Version).
   
2. Save the file to your Desktop.
   
3. Double-click SUPERAntiSpyware.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
   
4. Open SUPERAntiSpyware.
   
5. Under Configuration and Preferences, click the Preferences button.
   
6. Click the Scanning Control tab.
   
7. Under Scanner Options make sure the following fields checked:

   [*]Click the Close button to leave the control center screen.

   [*]On the main screen, under Scan for Harmful Software click Scan your computer.

   [*]On the left, make sure you check mark All the Fixed Drives.

   [*]On the right, under Complete Scan, choose Perform Complete Scan.

   [*]Click Next to start the scan. Please be patient while it scans your computer.

   [*]After the scan is complete, a Scan Summary box will appear with potentially harmful items that were detected. Click OK.

   [*]Make sure every entry has a check mark next to it and click Next.

   [*]A notification will appear that Quarantine and Removal is Complete. Click OK and then Finish to return to the main menu.

   [*]Restart your computer.

   ================================================

   STEP 4
   1. Please visit the ESET Online Scanner, using Internet Explorer to initiate the scan.
       
      Note: If you are running Windows Vista, then you will need Administrative privileges to complete the latter part of the procedure. To do so, right-click on the Internet Explorer icon in the Start Menu and select the Run As Administrator option in the shell context menu.
      
   2. Check mark the YES, I accept the Terms of Use box.
      
   3. Click the Start button.
      
   4. Click the Install button on the following screen.
      
   5. Click Start. This will will initialize and update the scanner engine.
      
   6. Check mark the box beside Remove found threats.
      
   7. Click the Scan button. This will start the scan. Please be patient while it is in progress.
      
   8. Restart your computer.
      

   ================================================

   STEP 5
   1. Click on Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools and select System Restore.
      
   2. Choose the radio button marked Create a Restore Point on the first screen and click Next. Give the restore point a name then click Create. The new point will be stamped with the current date and time. Keep a note of this so you can find it easily should you need to use System Restore.
      
   3. Next, click on Start > Run, type Cleanmgr and click on OK.
      
   4. Click on the More Options tab.
      
   5. Click the Clean Up button in the System Restore section to remove all previous restore points except the most recent one.
      

   This will remove any infected files that have been backed up by Windows. The files in "System Restore" are protected to prevent any programs changing those files. This is the only foolproof way to ensure the deletion of those files.

    

   Note: Do not clear restore points on a regular basis as doing so will clear all previous restore points even those that you may need. System Restore is a useful tool to revert your computer back to a working condition if something goes wrong.

    

   Re-enable all your security applications and please return here and tell us how the computer seems to be operating.

    

   Happy Safe Computing!

Close browsers before scanning
Scan for tracking cookies
Terminate memory threats before quarantining

[bewaniuk2005]

Hi,

Ty i will do all the steps you have requested.

But ive looked in Extensions for the ask toolbar and theres nothin there its only showing in the view toolbars so is there another way to remove it i dont see the program anywhere in extensions or in add or remove in the control panel?

ill get back to you when ive completed your steps ty for all your help.

BOB

[RandyL]

Yes please perform all the steps including removing any P2P or torrents first as I just installed the ASK toolbar and it does show up in Extensions.

 

[ATTACH]232.vB5-legacyid=483[/ATTACH]

[bewaniuk2005]

Hi,

Im sorry for not getting back ive completed all your steps i will let you know how the computer is running so far the only slow program is Firefox its 838pm here in chicago so i will open some other things to see if the computer idles like it did before.

im running NOD 32 again to see if all has been cleared and then i will report back to this post.

one other thing while i was getting the online scanner when i installed it the very moment it went to my desktop my keyboard and mouse quit working everything is connected but yet no keyboard or mouse.

ty for all your help and ttu soon...

BOB

[bewaniuk2005]

Hi,

Ive completed all your steps and the computer is still lagging and idling a very long time could it be all the processes running theres over 37 of them and a few are services that are no longer needed because the programs are uninstalled but yet there services are still running like AOL alcohol 120 and i know a process is windstarservice.exe im just throwing up some ideas of what might be the problem of why the CPU keeps running at 100% so ill be waiting for your next step to try to resolve my computer issues and ty for all your help!!!

BOB

[bewaniuk2005]

HI ,

Ive seen in the task manager in processes 8 processes of SVChost.exe is that normal?

Please let me know what else i can do the system is clean and free of all virus and everything.

BOb

[Tootech]

A few checks I can suggest to try and narrow down the fault....

 

Have a look in Event Log for any events relating to disk errors - they are under the System tab. To get there - Control Panel>Administrative Tools>Event Log.

 

Have you at some time used System Restore to cure a fault, and restored back to a time before Service Pack 3 was installed? That kind of thing seems to make a real mess, and can cause the type of delays that you refer to.

 

Can you open msconfig - do this

 

Click Start>Run and type msconfig and then press Enter

 

Click on the Startup tab. Make the Startup Item and Command columns slightly wider so the full entry can be read.

 

Take a screenshot, and scroll down and take another if you need to get all the entries.

 

Post the screenshots here.

[bewaniuk2005]

Hi,

While I was waiting i stopped some of the services in my last reply in msconfig the pc seems to be running better since ive stopped them but ill wait for your reply on what else needs to be done the system is clean no virus ty for all your help im inclunding my screenshots in this post.

BOB[ATTACH]237.vB5-legacyid=501[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH]238.vB5-legacyid=502[/ATTACH]

[Tootech]

Looking at your msconfig I wasn't sure whether or not you have AVG and Eset installed and running.

 

I saw your system tray and it's confirmed. You really ought not run two AV programs at once, it can cause so many problems.

 

Go back to msconfig and untag the Memturbo program.

 

Temporarily uninstall both antivirus programs - does your PC run better now?

[bewaniuk2005]

Hi,

I did what you requested i uninstalled ESet NOD 32 kept AVG turned off MEMTurbo and the startup now is about 1 min instead when we started up to 10 mins!!!

the only issue left is when I try to open Firefox it seems to take a bit longer to open like sometimes up to 3 mins to load everything else is running fine...

ty for all youir help here so ill be waiting for your reply on what to do with firefox is up to date just been opening very slowly.

Thanks BOB

[Tootech]

That's excellent news!

 

There was some sort of problem with the two AV programs. I'd stick with Eset if it is paid for, if not, have a look at Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help recommeded security products. If you want to stick with free products, Avast or Antivir are much better tools than AVG.

 

You mentioned something called windstarservices.exe - i'ts not in your startup of msconfig, and I couldn't find much useful info on it.

 

So.....run msconfig again, this time go to the Services tab, tag the box called Hide All Microsoft Services, take a screen shot and post it please.

 

Perhaps an uninstall/ reinstall of Firefox is a good idea at this point.

 

Back up any Firefox Bookmarks you have, then uninstall it. Then, open Windows Explorer and navigate to here

 

C:\ Documents and Settings\Your User Name\Application Data\Mozilla

 

and delete the Mozilla folder. It holds your Firefox profile data.

 

Reboot, download and reinstall Firefox - how is it now?

 

Looking back through the thread, there has been mention of Toolbars, can you confirm that there are NO toolbars installed anymore ?

 

Just a couple of other checks.....

 

How much memory do you have installed on your PC?

 

Have you defragmented your hard drive recently?

 

Both will affect performance, and I'm just trying to get a feel of what to expect from the PC you have.

[bewaniuk2005]

Hi,

I have 2gb ram and also i just defraged the hard drive just 2 weeks ago on the c and g drives.

ill report back with the next update soon ty for all your help.

BOB

[bewaniuk2005]

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP!!!

THE PC IS WORKING THE BEST IVE SEEN IN 3 YRS!!!

BOB