Large amount of hard drive activity

Discussion in 'Malware Help (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by JDecatur, Nov 11, 2006.

  1. JDecatur

    JDecatur Private E-2

    I have been trying to restore the speed of my Toshiba laptop since now anytime I do anything the hard drive starts thrashing. I have run virus and spyware scans using multiple programs and also performed checkdisks and defrags on the hard disk. The scans were performed in normal and safe mode and only minor objects were detected and there has been no improvment to the speed of the system.

    At times I see either svchost.exe or explorer.exe hogging most of the CPU.

    I have run HijackThis and the log file is attached.

    Any assistance would be appreciated.

    Thank you,

    Jonathan
     

    Attached Files:

    JDecatur, Nov 11, 2006
    #1
  2. DavidGP

    DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

    Hi


    You do have mywebsearch installed which is not really classified as malware but is known to slow a PC down, so I would remove that, also you have alot of startups that run at boot, 35 if my math is right, many will be needed but many not.. and could slow your PC down, but to be fully sure of the malware aspect and if anything malware is causing a slowdown in your PC then please run throught he full guide of ours below.

    Please follow our standard cleaning procedures which are necessary for us to provide you support. Also there are steps included for installing, running, and posting HijackThis logs as attachments.
    • Run ALL the steps in this Sticky thread READ & RUN ME FIRST Before Asking for Support
    • Make sure you check version numbers and get all updates.
    • Very Important: Make sure you tell us the results from running the tutorial...was anything found? Were you unable to complete any of the scans?...Were you unable to download any of the tools?...Did you do the on-line scans as suggested? etc.
    • After doing ALL of the above you still have a problem make sure you have booted to normal mode and run the steps in the below link to properly use HijackThis and attach a log:
    Downloading, Installing, and Running HijackThis

    Make sure you also rename HijackThis.exe as suggested in the procedures. Use analyse.exe for the new name. This is very important due to some new infections going around.


    ​
    • When you return to make your next post, make sure you attach the following logs and that you have run these scans in the following order too:
      • CounterSpy - ONLY IF you were not able to run Windows Defender
      • Bitdefender - from step 6
      • Panda Scan - from step 6
      • runkeys.txt - the log from GetRunKey.bat
      • newfiles.txt - the log from ShowNew.bat
      • HijackThis
    NOTE: You can only attach 3 files in a single message so it will require that you use two messages to attach all of these logs!
     
    DavidGP, Nov 11, 2006
    #2
  3. JDecatur

    JDecatur Private E-2

    I have gone through all of the steps laid out in your Read & Run Me First Tutorial.

    At this time, I still have slow performance.

    If possible, could you please review the uploaded files from the various processes I followed?

    The first 3 files are in this post and I will attach the last two in a following post.

    Thank you for all of your time and help.

    Jonathan
     

    Attached Files:

    JDecatur, Nov 12, 2006
    #3
  4. JDecatur

    JDecatur Private E-2

    Here are the remaining two files.

    Thanks again.

    Jonathan
     

    Attached Files:

    JDecatur, Nov 12, 2006
    #4
  5. bjgarrick

    bjgarrick MajorGeeks Admin - Malware Expert

    Do you have MacroVision safeCast copy protection software installed?

    Scan with HijackThis and check the boxes for the following entries:
    ( Make sure ALL browser windows are closed when you click FIX )

    R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://g.msn.com/0SEENUS/SAOS01?FORM=TOOLBR
    R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://g.msn.com/0SEENUS/SAOS01?FORM=TOOLBR
    R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchURL,(Default) = http://as.weatherstudio.com/dp/search?x=wKX1ILEOi+UdWpSlz2q9Dzn13Emww/YwHECjUPqK hQ/6oA/YYLTPPcjj0v44CPXawbaFMxd6FQID9W98qoo1xWOON2ughJLOwlX9fbYWgtwxFe6AL+yXwl52 snXut2NdWaaagXjcCHw=

    R3 - URLSearchHook: (no name) - - (no file)

    O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [UserFaultCheck] %systemroot%\system32\dumprep 0 -u
    O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [KernelFaultCheck] %systemroot%\system32\dumprep 0 -k
    O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [eTrust PestPatrol Active Protection] none

    Again, make sure ALL browser windows are closed when you click FIX.

    Next, run CCleaner to clean up cookies and temp files.

    Next Reset Web Settings & Default Security Settings

    To Reset Web Settings:
    Right click on your desktop Internet Explorer icon and select Properties. Then click the Programs tab and then click "Reset Web Settings". Now go back to the General tab and set your home page address to something useful like www.majorgeeks.com. Click Apply. Click Delete Cookies, Click Delete Files and select Delete all Offline content too, Click OK. When it finishes Click OK.

    If you do not have an Internet Explorer icon on your Desktop, click Start, Control Panel (for some systems it may be Start, Settings, Control Panel), Internet Options, Programs tab and then click "Reset Web Settings". Now go back to the General tab and set your home page address to something useful like www.majorgeeks.com. Click Apply. Click Delete Cookies, Click Delete Files and select Delete all Offline content too, Click OK. When it finishes Click OK

    To Default Security Settings:
    Right click on your desktop Internet Explorer icon and select Properties. Then click the Security Tab and click Default Level for Internet, Local Intranet, Trusted Sites, and Restricted Sites.

    Note for IE 7 users:
    Select Internet Options, then the Advanced Tab and then the Reset button under Reset Internet Explorer Settings.

    Finally, I would like you to flush your System Restore points. Please follow the instructions in the below:

    • Disable and Re-enable System Restore

    • Turn OFF System Restore to flush any bad Restore Points.

    • Then, follow the instructions at the bottom of the linked page to Re-enable the Restore Utility which will create a fresh restore point.
    After you complete the above reboot once more and then scan with HijackThis and attach the new log.

    Let me know of any problems you may have encountered with the above instructions and also let me know how things are running now.
     
    bjgarrick, Nov 12, 2006
    #5

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