System Running Very Slow And Sluggish

Several weeks ago, I started a thread in the Malware section as my sluggish system symptoms appeared to be attributable to malware infestation.

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/index.php?threads/system-sluggish.312993/

Under the able guidance of Krestel13!, all potential "bad guys" have been removed. Unfortunately, the problem persists and I am now wondering if the system sluggishness is due to either software or hardware maladies.

Any help is welcomed as my patience with this problem is rapidly dwindling. Thank you.

 

Drill down into Reliability Reports and report back with the details: http://lifehacker.com/how-to-troubleshoot-windows-10-with-reliability-monitor-1745624446

Anything specific that seems to trigger these events, can you replicate them easily? Or just 'random'?

 

satrow,
Wow, thanks for this lead. I will run the monitor and post anything I find.

 

Satrow,

I ran the Reliability Monitor and the report does not show any particular event(s) which I can determine as being the culprit. I've tried to attach a copy of the file but am not able to. I have the .xml file saved on a thumb drive and can see it listed, however, when I look for it as part of the "upload a file", the file does not display.

 

Zip the xml file and attach the zip (Right-click the xml file > Send to > Compressed Folders).

 

satrow,

I don't know what happened but I posted a zipped copy of the Reliability Monitor file on Wednesday and now it is gone. Do you want me to repost it?

 

Oh, yes please

 

Thanks. I don't know what happened. I did upload it on Wednesday and saw it but when I check this morning the entry was gone.

 

Satrow,

Is there anything else I can provide or try? I am beginning to think that somehow my Windows 10 OS got corrupted and needs to be reinstalled.

 

Until that MG member comes back to look at that report, if you haven't done it already, it would be worth saving any files/data that you don't want to risk losing on to a USB pen drive or recordable DVDs, depending on how much data you have that you wish to back up for security.
Also, running sfc /scannow, using an Administrator Command Prompt, to check the integrity of the system files won't do any harm.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/kb/929833

You can also run a non-invasive check of the Hard Drive using chkdsk
This article applies to all Windows OSs including Windows 10
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/guide-to-using-check-disk-in-windows-vista/

Neither of the above will automatically solve any problems related to sluggishness but they are still worth doing just in case.

 

Scanning through the xml, looks reasonable until the 5th of November and then it all begins to fall apart, Windows not shutting down correctly, etc.

Last installations/updates before 'major' problems that has been repeated multiple times since:

2016-11-06T16:31:26.713 Windows was not properly shut down <--- frequent error since this occurrence.

2016-11-05T08:19:00.415 SAMSUNG Android ADB Interface
2016-11-05T08:18:46.939 SAMSUNG Mobile USB Composite Device
2016-11-05T08:18:34.639SAMSUNG Mobile USB Modem
2016-11-05T08:12:52.423 SAMSUNG Mobile MTP Device
2016-11-05T04:56:29.614 Adobe Acrobat Reader DC
2016-11-05T04:56:29.614 Adobe Acrobat Reader DC
2016-11-05T04:53:25.238 Adobe Acrobat Reader DC

2016-11-04T16:55:40.545 Mail and Calendar
2016-11-04T16:55:14.298 Skype Preview
2016-11-04T16:51:02.187 Microsoft People
etc.

I would certainly disconnect and uninstall the Samsung device and software/drivers during troubleshooting, also the Acrobat Reader, though a clean install might avoid any glitches/bugs collected via a rushed Windows Update as well as any damage done by the infections.

 

Max,

Thanks, if I can, I will give sfc /scannow a try. One of the frustrating things about this problem I am having is the system going off somewhere/hanging and not enabling me to do any functions/tasks or lengthy read/write functions, etc., such as saving of data. As I write this reply on my desktop, I am trying to get the command prompt but it is taking an inordinate amount of time.

satrow,

Thank you for the feedback. Many of the "improper shutdowns" were due to my forcing shutdown...holding power button down. I did this because the system appeared to be hung. As stated at the beginning, I suspected malware infestation and did forced shutdowns earlier--Oct 2016 in order to run many of the malware removal apps. Upon successful removal, the problems persisted which brought me to this venue for help.

As for the SAMSUNG Android related activities, some of those are related to my using the application PDANet to connect the laptop to the internet via my cellphone.

I will get back to both of you with results of your recommendations.

 

Question: Is tethering allowed by your Cell Phone carrier?

 

UPDATE: Max and satrow

Max ,
I was able to initiate sfc /scannow on my laptop and the routine ran until the 20% completion mark before the system hung. Should I re-initiate another scan, or several in succession, when the prior ones stops to see if it will run to completion?

satrow,
As for the uninstalling/disconnecting my SAMSUNG from my laptop, the only application to which this applies is PDANet. I have been using it for several years whenever I travel away from home to locations where I do not have internet access. I have had no prior problems using this application. Lastly, I am at a lost for exactly how this would be done short of uninstalling the complete app.

Another item which I have noticed lately is a dialogue box occasionally appearing which requests I log into my Microsoft account. Did you see any indications of this routine being present or harmful and potentially being a problem and/or taking control of my laptop?

mdonah,

I don't know for sure if it is or isn't allowed. I would guess that they would prefer I purchased this capability as an option from them.

 

Kiholo, I followed your thread on the malware forum, the past few weeks. I'm glad Kes' and TimW gave their blessing to you. A couple things, you might try are found here in another thread I was on earlier tonight ... see post#7 here: http://forums.majorgeeks.com/index.php?threads/sluggish-pc-no-idea-what-to-do.314430/ Let us know any results, good or bad. GL

 

It might be worth trying to run sfc /scannow in Windows SAFE MODE.

 

It would also involve Rooting your Android phone which may void it's warranty — but, that's a topic not appropriate to this thread.

 

StruldBrug, thanks, I will look into that thread.

Max, I will give that a shot.

mdonah, I considered that route but didn't want to void the warranty. Luckily, I found the PDANet app which gave me the capability yet avoided rooting.

Guess, my saga continues...

 

Max, I was able to initiate sfc /scannow and it ran to completion with no problems found.

StruldBrug, I was able to run both CrystalDisk and HDSentinel. The apps report GOOD and PERFECT, respectively.

Lastly, I looked into my Microsoft account and found all options for all kinds of things turned ON. They are all now turned OFF. I hope I am not premature in stating this but the sluggishness is gone and my system appears to be functioning normally.

I will monitor and report back.

 

Did you read Post #7 in the link I gave above?

 

Yes. I ran both hard drive apps and they identified no problems.

 

Those two apps were not provided by me, but were given in Post #2 by Just Playin! I'll repeat Post #7 here to make life easier:

You might clean out some software files with something like Ccleaner http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/ccleaner_standard.html
Just use the default setup for now. Just "Analyze" and "Run Cleaner" and don't use other features. Check what is in startup with this tool, here: http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/whatinstartup.html
If you right click on each item, you can select "disable", but do not delete. Try disabling one or more and reboot to see if you get some improvement. "Reenable" those which have no effect. Its a trial and error process to find the culprits, making a slow start. Let us know if this helps.