Sick system

My client's laptop is going really really slowly.
I've done:

AVG - clean
spyware - clean
malware - clean
hijack this - clean
CCleaner and Defrag done

I did a Memtest - nothing wrong there.
I performed storage tests with TuffTest - interestly, the Internal Controller Diagnostic Test failed, but the Seek Test and the Surface Analysis passed!!

I downloaded the manufacturer's disk test, and that passed. Then I ran SMART with the Stellar Smart Early Disk Warning System - the Fitness level on every test was 100%, except that the Seek Error rate is 32% and the Write Error Count is 22%! These don't look right.

All the processes, memory and CPU usage look fine,

51C - CPU Temp, 38C - HDD

Nothing out of the ordinary in the Event Log either.
BIOS is latest BIOS

Systems specs:

Fujitsu Siemens Amilo Pro V7010
Fujitsu PL501 motherboard
BIOS: Fujitsu Siemens / Phoenix 1.10 28/12/04

This is strange:

BelArc reports it has got 1024MB memory in slot 1, and then directly under Installed Memory, it says there's only 480MB!

FUJITSU MHT2040AT 40GB HDD
Windows XP SP3

My mate tested the disk on a Linux system and he said it was fine.

Whats happening?!

 

a) To check how much RAM your system is using, open the task manager and check total physical memory under performance.

b) Check your IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers in device manager. When you open up Primary and Secondary IDE channel, they should both be in Ultra DMA mode, not PIO

c) Check you available hard drive space and make sure there is about 4 Gigs free.

Other than that, the only other test I can think to do is to format the hard drive. This, of course, would delete all the files on that HDD.

 

Latest news:

I downloaded Process Explorer; screenshot attached' I have shut down MSN, which was hogging a lot of system memory and CPU.
(I think there is a rogue process running)
I've also downloaded Security Task Manager, screenshot attached, and I also downloaded Hijack This!
I don't like that GrooveModule entry in the STM

 

The system has got 479MB RAM.

Here's the screenshot of the startup items

 

Here is the BelArc report for her system, and also the CCleaner Startup list.

Also, one of the places I worked - my boss asked me to use msconfig all the time! So now I know not to!

 

First, I'd recommend following this guide for some basic maintenance. Then you should boot in to the Recovery Console using your Windows install disc, and run disk error checking with the following command; type chkdsk c: /r and press Enter. There's a space before and after the "C:". Running chkdsk can take some time, like a long, long time, I've seen it take over 10 hours in extreme cases, so start it before going to bed and be sure the laptop is plugged in and NOT only running on the battery. When the chkdsk has finished, type exit to restart the PC. If you don't have the XP install CD, you can schedule chkdsk to run at a restart; click Start > Run and type cmd and press Enter. This will open the Command Prompt window. Then type the same chkdsk command I mentioned above. You will get a question about forcing a dismount (or something similar), answer "No". You will then get a question similar to "Do you want to run chkdsk the next time the system restarts?" and to this you'll answer "Yes". Then type exit to close the command prompt window and to return to the Desktop. The next time you restart the PC, disk error checking will run. At times, chkdsk may look like it has locked up, it hasn't. You may see the percentage progress counter actually go backward from time to time, this is normal so don't worry about it. After running a full chkdsk, you may notice the system running A LOT better than it was. You can then do all the other suggestions for speeding up the system start up, etc....
Good Luck!
:-D

[dlb]

 

What shall I do about AVG not being in the startup entries?

 

It has speeded up quite a lot, as it found one or more errors!
Shall I still go through the Majorgeeks 'READ AND RUN ME' page?

 

I am going to, because the system is still slow; I may put Stellar Smart on it again to see if the fitness of the Read and Write data has increased

 

I didn't delete or disable it, so something must be stopping it from starting up

 

Here are the screenshots from StartupCPL (I've only included the ones with entries in, plus the Deleted tab so that you can see I've not deleted or disabled AVG!

 

You may have unchecked AVG from Starup CPL's HKLM/RUN. Is it listed there. If so put a check.

You need to revert msconfig to "Normal StartUp" before using Startup CPL.
Cheers..

 

I have done all the scans in your Windows XP Cleanup Procedure, and they are attached

 

Here is the mglogs.zip file

 

Actually you haven't completed this as per the CleanUp Procedure as it specifically requires that you start a new thread in the Malware Forum where our Authorized Malware Fighters will assist you. The Software Forum is not the correct place and nor should malware advice be given here.

Please follow all instructions of the Read and Run Me First. Start a new thread in the Malware Forum and attach your logs. You may find you can not re-post some of these logs. You will need to provide the Malware Fighters in that case with a link to this thread so they can access them easily.

So this is your client's computer? So you are running a business, correct?

 

Yes, that is correct