Another slow computer

SWario · Oct 22, 2010

Another computer from a coworker. The complaint for this one is simply, "It's real slow, takes forever to boot and get anything done." My suspicion is that it just doesn't have enough RAM to keep up with the user's needs, but I ran some scans anyway just to be safe.

Specs
Dell Optiplex GX280
Pentium 4 3.40GHz
512MB RAM
74.4GB HD (64.9GB free)
Windows XP Professional SP3

Process

Uninstalled unneeded software.

Followed your "READ & RUN ME FIRST" guide.

Followed your "Windows XP Cleaning Procedure" through Step 3.

Notes
I manually updated the definitions for SAS and MB because I don't trust foreign machines (especially ones with complaints of slowness) on my network. I had to run ComboFix twice because the Recovery Console was not installed for the first run.

System performance has improved greatly since the machine is no longer booting up with memory usage above its physical RAM amount, but I wanted to check with you folks to see if I'd missed something. Logs are attached.

SWario · Oct 22, 2010

Remaining logs attached here.

Kestrel13! · Oct 22, 2010

Yes try upgrading memory to 1GB and see how things run then.

I am not seeing any malware in those logs other than what bits and bobs were already removed.

By the way, SUPERantispyware was out of date:

Important Notice: A new version of SUPERAntiSpyware is available.

Please uninstall your current version (this is necessary).

Then download this SUPERAntiSpyware

Install this new version. It may tell you that you need to reboot to complete the installation. You must reboot at this time.

After the reboot, run SUPERAntiSpyware and immediately click the Check for Updates button to get more updates for the database.

Now run a new full scan of your system.

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

We recommend you keep SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for scanning/removal of malware. Unless you purchase them, they provide no protection. They do not use any significant amount of resources ( except a little disk space ) until you run a scan.

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" /uninstall

Notes: The space between the combofix" and the /uninstall, it must be there.

This will uninstall ComboFix and also reset hidden files and folders settings back to Windows defaults.

Go back to step 6 of the READ ME and renable your Disk Emulation software with Defogger if you had disabled it.

Any other miscellaneous tools we may have had you install or download can be uninstalled and deleted.

If we had you download any registry patches like fixme.reg or fixWLK.reg (or any others), you can delete these files now.

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.

Go to add/remove programs and uninstall HijackThis.

Goto the C:\MGtools folder and find the MGclean.bat file. Double click on this file to run this cleanup program that will remove files and folders
related to MGtools and some other items from our cleaning procedures.

If you are running Win 7, Vista, Windows XP or Windows ME, do the below:

Refer to the cleaning procedures pointed to by step 7 of the READ ME
for your Window version and see the instructions to Disable System Restore which will flush your Restore Points.

Then reboot and Enable System Restore to create a new clean Restore Point.

After doing the above, you should work thru the below link:

How to Protect yourself from malware!

SWario · Oct 24, 2010

Odd that SAS was out of date, I downloaded it from here on October 4, which was after the release data of October 1 for the newer version. Regardless, I downloaded the new version, installed it, manually updated it, and scanned according to these directions. It cheerily informed me that no malware was found. I've attached the log here to verify this and the version of SAS.

I'll keep SAS and MBAM on the computer and explain to the user what they are.

Uninstalled ComboFix as directed.

Computer does not have any Disk Emulation software.

Deleted miscellaneous tools (RootRepeal).

No registry patches to delete.

Not running Vista.

HijackThis was not present in the Add/Remove Programs list or in the Program Files folder.

Ran C:\MGtools\MGclean.bat as directed.

Toggled System Restore as directed.

The user has McAfee Total Protection which should provide realtime antivirus, antispyware, and firewall. I have installed Spybot and SpyWare Blaster according to the provided instructions. I have installed the latest stables of Firefox and Chrome as additional browsers. I have also updated Flash Player. I will be connecting it to the Internet later and running Windows Update to get his computer up to date.

Thanks for your help!

Also, is your avatar from the Casshern live action movie?

Kestrel13! · Oct 24, 2010

Thanks for your help!
Click to expand...

Most welcome!

Also, is your avatar from the Casshern live action movie?
Click to expand...

I have no idea. I downloaded it from some desktop background/wallpaper site.

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Another slow computer

SWario Sergeant

Attached Files:

SASLog.txt

mbam-log-2010-10-22 (04-08-44).txt

ComboFix 01.txt

ComboFix 02.txt

SWario Sergeant

Attached Files:

RRlog.txt

MGlogs.zip

Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

SWario Sergeant

Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member