Computer running slow--possible Facebook/Flash Connection

[beachgal]

Hi! First of all, I've run the entire Windows XP cleaning procedure as described here. My logs are attached in this and the next post. Unfortunately, problems continue to occur.

I purchased a used laptop last fall. The laptop was remarkably fast at first. However, a couple months into using it, I found that it was very, very slow. The fan/hard drive seemed to run for very long, continuous stretches, and CPU usage was sometimes 100%. I'm using AVG Anti-Virus and, though I update it consistently and have run several scans, it hasn't found anything amiss.

Several odd things have happened and all of them have occurred while I was accessing Facebook on Internet Explorer, but I haven't clicked on any e-mail links, tried to view videos that someone sent or anything noted in information about Facebook viruses. Here's a list of things that have been happening:

• Suddenly, while on Facebook, dozens of IE windows (or dozens of tabs would open within the IE window I was using) would open. I'd be unable to keep up with closing them. I usually closed the whole bunch and then turned off my wireless so I didn't have access to the Internet. When I rebooted and turned the wireless back on, all was fine. This has happened three times (twice with windows, once with tabs) with about 2-3 weeks between each occurrence.
• Flash was unable to run on several occasions. This resulted in a pop-up error message that told me I had to close the window. Eventually, I tried deleting Flash and reinstalling after following directions for fixing possible issues between Flash and my version of IE. The problem hasn't happened as much, but it has happened once or twice since then.
• There seem to be an inordinate number of svchost programs running in the Processes window (today, there are 6). I ran the program that shows what each was doing (see image below), but nothing seems untoward, at least to my untrained eyes. Am I missing something?
  
• Yesterday, Internet Explorer closed completely, out of the blue, while I was using the "Pieces of Flair" application on Facebook.

I'm using IE 7 and am running Windows XP on an HP Compaq laptop. If you need any other information, please let me know. I'd love any help you can give on fixing the issues that may be present. Thank you!

[beachgal]

Here's the last log. Thanks!

[TimW]

Your logs are clean.....have you tried using a different browser? Perhaps you should pursue this in the software forum.

If you are not having any other malware problems, it is time to do our final steps:

1. We recommed you keep SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for scanning/removal of malware. Unless you purchase them, they provide no real time protection. They are useful as backup scanners. They do not use any significant amount of resources ( except a little disk space ) until you run a scan.
2. If we had you use ComboFix, uninstall ComboFix (This uninstall will only work as written if you installed ComboFix on your Desktop like we requested.)
   
   • Click START then RUN and enter the below into the run box and then click OK. Note the quotes are required
   • "%userprofile%\Desktop\combofix" /u
     
     • Notes: The space between the combofix" and the /u, it must be there.
     • This will uninstall ComboFix and also reset hidden files and folders settings back to Windows defaults.
     
     
   • Delete the C:\combofix folder from combofix (if it exists)
   
   
3. Any other miscellaneous tools we may have had you install or download can be uninstalled and deleted.
4. If running Vista, it is time to make sure you have reenabled UAC by double clicking on the C:\MGtools\enableUAC.reg file and allowing it to be added to the registry.
5. Go to add/remove programs and uninstall HijackThis.
6. You can delete the C:\MGtools folder and the C:\MGtools.exe file. You can also delete the C:\MGlogs.zip
7. If you are running Vista, Windows XP or Windows ME, do the below:
   
   • Refer to the cleaning steps in the READ ME for your Window version and see the steps to Disable System Restore which will flush your Restore Points.
   • Then reboot and Enable System Restore to create a new clean Restore Point.
   
   
8. After doing the above, you should work thru the below link:
   
   • How to Protect yourself from malware!
   
   

[beachgal]

Thanks for your help, Tim!

I'm glad the logs are clean. Is there any chance that there could be something else on the computer that wasn't caught by this process? Considering the economy and the fact that my husband's company is doing layoffs in 2 weeks, I'm trying to avoid extra expenses, but maybe I need to buy and install MacAfee on this computer or take it to a local computer fix shop?

I'll try using Firefox for a while and see if that helps. If not, then I'll post in the software forum. Will they need the same logs? I don't want to delete them if they'll be needed longer.

[TimW]

You wouldn't be able to attach them in software since they are already attached in this thread. You can always link to this thread.

I would try FF and see if the problem exists. You could also try contacting facebook and asking about the necessary flash program for their website.