Seriously Slow System - directed here by Malware Removal

Hi guys, my Laptop, for no apparant reason decided to slow right down to the point where it is pretty unusable right now. Difficult to explain, when Windows is started and you get the "windows startup tune" the computer is seriously labouring to play it and the sound is fragmented. The same is true playing any media files, videos or music, etc. When I click on the "start" button on the task bar it can take up to 45 seconds for the menu to appear, which is obviously not right and has never done this previously.

I have plugged in an external hard drive and removed all of my media files, photos etc to free up some space on the C: drive, I have worked throught the malware scanning and removal process in the malware forum and have been given a clean bill of health in that respect.
I have defragged the C: drive, defragged the registry, and run chkdsk on the C:, changed the startup properties to reduce the number of programs activated on startup. None of these things have helped, so just to be on the safe side I have also replaced my 1GB of Ram with 2GB in case the memory was playing up. This has made no difference.

On of the things I have noticed is that the system resources seem to be really high even when nothing is running, so I thought I would list the processes running when I am doing nothing other than using the internet, would anyone out there be able to tell me if any of the processes are malicious or not needed so I can go about fixing this?

As we speak I have IE open and task manager during which time I have running:

taskmger.exe
wscntfy.exe
aolsoftware.exe
aolsp scheduler.exe
svchost.exe
KHALMNPR.exe
hpswp_clipbook.exe
KEM.exe
alg.exe
iexplore.exe
ctfmon.exe
igfxpers.exe
hkcmd.exe
igfxtray.exe
aolsoftware.exe
avgcsrvx.exe
svchost.exe
TEKS_Service.exe
Wbload.exe
wanmpsvc.exe
svchost.exe
svchost.exe
svchost.exe
svchost.exe
CTSVCCDA.exe
avgwdsvc.exe
svchost.exe
svchost.exe
inCDsrv.exe
svchost.exe
svchost.exe
svchost.exe
lsass.exe
services.exe
winlogon.exe
csrss.exe
AOLacsd.exe
smss.exe
avgnsx.exe
avgnsx.exe
avgemc.exe
spoolsv.ee
explorer.exe
system
system idle process

Are any of these malicious or unnessercary?

In case it makes a difference I am running XP Home Edition ver 5.1, have 2GB of RAM, 1.5ghz Celeron M processor.

Cheers guys, sorry for the super long message!!!!!!

 

First off, I personally stay away from Registry cleaners or defraggers. Just seem to make more problems.
Open Task Manager and see how many and what programs are in the Startup list. Lots of programs put themselves there when they don't need to be. They can be started when needed.

 

When I get a system thats real slow and hogging process I tend to sort them by processor usage and see whats hogging the processor first. If nothing is really hogging the processor then I check to see where all the ram is being allocated.

Another place to check is to go to pcpitstop.com and run their free tests in IE. They can point you in th direction of some useful changes to make.

And thereways the possibility that your ram or disk may be crapping out on you so grab a copy of the Ultimate Boot CD off the web and test those.

 

Do you know if you changed anything just before the slowdown, is diskmanager's hardware properties are clean? You've done just about everything for a slowing system but that's not your issue as it was a sudden drop in response! When you first boot up, does the hard drive thrash around during all this slowness, did you test your memory just for insurance?

Since you've gotten rid of your system restores, there's only one thing left to do if everything above is clean. Sometimes there's just no saving an OS so then you would have to restore back to factory condition.

However, don't wipe it just on my say-so, someone else may have more ideas to try first. Good luck.

 

If it's a sudden slow down but with a clean chit from malware forums - like augiedoggie said run-
http://www.majorgeeks.com/HD_Tune_d4130.html
And
http://www.majorgeeks.com/MemTest_d350.html

Let us know how it goes..
If you get a green light from the above.
Post a screenie of task manager. Check *Show all processes*

Also a screenshot of startups using -http://www.majorgeeks.com/CCleaner_Slim_No_Toolbar_d4191.html

Cheers...

 

Thanks for the suggestions, I have just completed the HD Tune test (it took all night!!) I have attached the results. The scan found 2 damaged "blocks" during the scan, which if my assumptions are correct means there is 44mb of damaged area on my Hard Drive. Strangely the other part of the scan says that the hard drive is fine. Would these results indicate a problem with the hard drive that would create the symptoms I am experiencing?

I have not done memtest yet as I replaced the RAM 3 days ago on the assumption that it was the RAM that was playing up - made no difference!!:cry

 

How did you restrict startups. If msconfig - set it back to normal and use

http://majorgeeks.com/Startup_CPL_d619.html

Did you add a stick or replace the entire 2GB ram.

We really need to see a screenshot of Task manager processes..

Cheers..

 

I have attached 2 screenies of the taskmanager process list as the list is so long I have to scroll down to show all of them, even when the window is maximised.

I was running 1GB or ram in x2 500mb sticks, I removed both of them and added to brand new 1GB sticks to make the 2GB I am currently running so all of the old ram has been removed.

 

well the screenies dont show any abnormal CPU usage!!

Is this always the case?? Can you monitor TM and see when a process is acting up and the box slows down.

Any errors in event viewer? What OS and service pack are you on - is windows updated?

You had an issue with AVG8 in a previous thread (If memory serves me). Not uninstalling etc has that been resolved. I see it running in your processes.What Av were you using earlier? I'm kinda shooting from the hip, so don't mind.

You did not mention how you restricted starups.

Cheers

 

I am running XP with SP3, I was restricting startup with Msconfig but have now set this to normal and am using the startup program from the link provided. I have still not managed to uninstall AVG, even with Revo, but the performance problems started way before I began having problems with AVG.

What is event viewer? :confused

 

I'm posting from a Vist LT so I'm unable to navigate - you being on XP

There is always help at hand on MG so wait for a response.

Did these issues arrive with SP3. Check for driver etc updates available on your Lappies site.

You really need to resolve AVG before anything. I'm presuming you're on the net without an AV!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers..

 

What is the consensus regarding Antivirus software? Looking for free and easy to use Had enough of AVG and the problems I have been having with it

 

Nellington,

A few comments on your task manager list. Although there doesn't appear to be any major memory hogs, I think the list is quite unnessarily long. Among other items, you have photoshop and a bunch of AOL services running, I don't believe these are necessary. Also, see this link regarding CTSVCCDA.EXE, http://www.neuber.com/taskmanager/process/ctsvccda.exe.html

Does booting in safe mode speed things up? If so, this may be your issue. I use ccleaner to mange start-up programs and I've attached a picture of my startup. There are only 3 programs showing and the Jave updater isn't even necessary. My task manager shows only about 15 items. I'm using Vista Home Premium with just 1G of ram and I boot in about 55 seconds and everything runs super fast.

Regarding AVG, if you are having problems, and I have, what worked for me was to install AVG8, then uninstall being sure to not save personal preferences, then reinstall again. This advice actually came from the AVG forums.

Good Luck!

 

Dr.

I've seen that thread before. However, if I choose "selective startup" under MsConfig, then msconfig.exe shows as being loaded in the task manager. On the other hand, if I use ccleaner to remove programs from startup, I cannot find any reference to either msconfig or ccleaner in the task manager, so it appears no resources are being devoted to it...or am I missing something.

I have also used Startup manager downloaded from here, but that offers users the option of stopping some essential services. So in the classes I teach to beginning seniors, I've felt it was safer to use ccleaner because no essentials services are listed.

Please correct me if I am missing something regarding ccleaner.

Thank you.

 

Oh of course, that makes everything perfectly clear! At least it might if it weren't in the lost language of Atlantis.

Guess this is one where I'll just have to take an expert's word for it and change my ways. (I trust this isn't one of those "If you can't dazzle 'em with brilliance, baffle 'em with bull****).

Thanks Doc, I'll start using a regular startup manager. I apologize if this is a thread hijack, not my intention.

 

Hehehe, msconfig is a troubleshooting tool for experts to use for diagnosing problems, I've used it a few times to edit my boot.ini file when I had absolutely no other choice short of a complete reinstall. Utilities are fine but when one doesn't know the possible consequences of using said application, one should stay away from them. Just my opinion.

I now release this thread back to normal discussion.:-o

 

to Nellington
You could try Avira AntiVir. A good AV if you can put up with the nagging to upgrade after every update.
to brandypeppy
As drmoriarty has stated, utilities are fine tools if the user knows what they do and know what they themselves are doing. That is 1 reason why registry cleaner use is discouraged. People assume that the cleaner knows what to do, so they just click OK. Most times the cleaner removes something that doesn't need to be removed. Then you get bigger problems.

 

Thanks for that, with regards to AVG, I can't install AVG8 or uninstall the old version or anything!! It gives me the same error message everytime I try to do something with it!!! I am using the startup program suggested in post #7!!
Still no speed up What do people think about the hard drive scan I posted in #6? Could the two red bits be the problem?

 

Unless someone here can help with the AVG, you can try their forum.

http://freeforum.avg.com/index.php

Regarding the slowness, I checked my home computer and I only have 10 items in my TM. It really seems you are running too many programs though you HD error report may indicate otherwise. Have you tried safe mode boot, both for speed test and uninstalling AVG?