I have a problem with my computer - it runs very slow, sometimes it takes few minutes before starting i.e. browser or a folder. I make a format of my hard drive, but it didn’t help. I think this could be some kind of virus. Could you help me?
I’ve made a full scan with Avast (no results of infections), then another scan at booting, which came up with some infections I deleted - they’re in the screen I attach.
I also made scan with MBAM with no results and scan with OTL. Logs from both programs are in attachments.
[*]Then click the Run Fix button at the top
[*]Let the program run unhindered, reboot the PC when it is done
[*]Open OTL again and click the Quick Scan button. Post the log it produces in your next reply.
Yes, I installed screaming bee and the program “Morphvox” (which changes voice at Skype) out of curiosity - I played with it twice. But I installed it some time after my PC dramatically slowed down.
Can/should I delete it? Because I don’t need it anymore and it’s not necessary, so I could just get rid of it.
I attach two logs:
“11152013_152013.txt” which was shown after executing your script and reboot (maybe it’ll be useful),
“OTL.txt” which is the log from the Quick Scan that you asked to do.
I just did what you asked - PC seems to start up faster, and maybe works a little faster, but still it took me 3-4 minutes to open browser and this topic to reply. I can’t really tell if there is an improvement in speed or is it just my placebo effect, but even if it goes faster it does it only a little bit.
What is more, the shortcut buttons on my mouse stopped working and there is a window of msconfig showing up every time I turn on PC. Is it OK?
Yes, I do defragmentation from time to time (every 2-3 weeks). Last time I did defragmentation few days ago, but I could do it again, so I will today.
The funny thing is that I have been normally using my computer a couple of years, always with the same configuration - Windows XP with simple programs like Opera browser, Office, Adobe Reader, Skype, avast etc. And for this couple of years my PC was working like a flash, everything has been loading with normal speed and I never have problems.
How is that possible that suddenly now it stopped working the normal way it was? Could it be a hardware issue? I don’t know, maybe my RAM is damaged (can it be damaged?)?
Launch the Task Manager (Control+Alt+Del keys) and check if a process take too much CPU usage (almost 100% by example). If it’s one of SVCHOST.exe processes, download Process Explorer here http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx. With Process Explorer, you can view the services launched by SVCHOST just by moving the mouse over it. If you have an excessive CPU usage for a SVCHOST process, then I think you can suspect one of services launched by SVCHOST NETSVCS. In particular, WUAUSERV (corrupted Windows Update service?) or NETMAN (corrupted key value in Windows Register?). If you have encountered this CPU usage problem, it’s easy to check if it’s a fault of a service launched by Windows at booting.
Run the command CMD or open the console and type these commands: NET STOP wuauserv(to stop the Windows Update Service, to see if CPU came back to normal usage)
If the problem of slow PC still exist, then type the following command: NET STOP netman(to stop Network Connections Service, to see if CPU came back to normal usage)
Don’t panic, the services will be restarted after reboot or you can use the commands NET START wuauserv or NET START netman.
If stopping one of the two services have solved the problem (until reboot) then there is a solution for your computer.
If it’s not a problem of excessive CPU usage (or Virus/RootKit problem), then you can:
Check the file-system with the CHKDSK /F command.
Try to boot in SAFE-MODE (F8 key). Is it OK? Then you don’t have really hardware problem (just a software problem?).
Check the SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology) values of your disk. Is it safe?
Check the RAM with MEMTEST86? Corrupted ram give BSOD, but you don’t have this problem?
Boot with a LiveCD (Linux or WinPE). If system is stable during hours, then your hardware is OK! But 256 or 512 MB is the real minimum to start a LiveCD.
Mattata,
I don’t really think your PC have hardware problem. If it’s the classic “100% CPU usage” problem, then you can try the given advice… And I think you’ll receive good helping support by essexboy. But, I have to shut my mouth now… Because moderator warn me that I don’t be qualified to give malware removal advice, here! My first message posted before mikaelrask was deleted. (EDIT: Warning from moderator removed)
I don’t have a problem with CPU usage, I opened system task manager while my PC was slowly working (for example while I was waiting for Opera to start up) and there were not any program that used too much of processor. Only a few percent of CPU were used, so this is probably not the CPU usage problem. The hard drive was working a lot (I could hear it), but the processor wasn’t.
I didn’t have BSOD even once since I formatted my disk a few months ago. Should I still check it with MEMTEST86?
I did CHKDSK like you said, there was “0 KB in damaged sectors” (log in attachments)
I did SMART analyse, although there are some “red” parameters, the SMART status says “GOOD” (log in attachments)
I’ll check the liveCD and SAFE-MODE today and tell you what are the results of this test.
Do you have any other ideas what should 'cause the slow working PC? I’ll aprecciate any help!
The problem with XP is that over time, as updates are installed along with new programmes the system gets tired (not very technical I know) When I was running XP I used to do a full reinstall every year or so to de-clog it.
As the hard drive is working hard could you check what size swap file you have
- Right Click on My Computer and click on *Properties*
Click on the Advanced tab
Uner the Performance section, click on Settings
Click on the Advanced tab
Under the Virtual Memory section, click on Change
Select the C: drive (partition)
From this point, you can adjust the minimum and maximum size (MBs) to 3069
Click OK/Apply until you get out of all those screens
You will be prompted to restart your computer. Before you click “OK” at that prompt, make sure you finish any work that you are doing or save anything you are doing so as to not lose anything.
Also bear in mind that most programmes now are designed to work on Vista or better with at least 2Gb of RAM. So over time programmes will increase in size and requirements. So 500Mb of RAM three years ago was good, you are now seeing programmes which require that much just by themselves, without factoring in windows requirements
I can confirm that. Even 2 GB are not much nowerdays. My last laptop had 2 GB RAMand Vista 32 bit, and even the half of Ram
was used by the system itself.
My Chrome is using about 135 Megabytes with 2 open tabs at the moment. Same with Firefox.
I can see your point! You’re right, the programmes are still being updated and upgraded, so they use more and more memory, so it is very possible that my computer is slowing down with time as it can’t “deal” with all those processes.
It leads me to a question: can buying extra memory solve my computer’s problem with speed? I have DDR1 RAM in my PC, and they’re cheap as I looked in shops, so I could easily buy for example 2 GB (4x512 MB). Will it be enough to have normally working PC?
I’m afraid it’s not possible, I have a quite old computer and my mainboard (Intel D915PGN) won’t work with DDR3. This is what is written in the instruction in summary:
Memory:
• Four DDR SDRAM Dual Inline Memory Module (DIMM) sockets
• Support for DDR 400 MHz and DDR 333 MHz DIMMs
• Support for up to 4 GB of system memory
I hope I interpreted it in the right way, I mean, DDR means DDR and not DDR2 or DDR3, right?
Memory Type: DDR PC2700, DDR PC3200, DDR (non-ECC)
Maximum Memory: 4GB
Currently Installed Memory: 512MB
Total Memory Slots: 4
Available Memory Slots: 2
In this situation, will it be good and affect the performance if I buy 4x512 MB of DDR and install them in 4 slots? Of course after getting out the 2x256 I currently have?
