MajorlySlow PC (XP) Tried everything. ???

Thanks all for your patience.

Lets see...
I've uninstalled as many apps as possible.
I've run CCleaner till I'm blue.
I've run SpyBot S&D
I've run RegScrubXP.
I've run JKDefrag.

Then I downloaded some DV video (from my Camera, not internet), and happily engaged in some video editing. A day later I sat down to pick up where I left off, and now the computer is so slow it takes 3-5 MINUTES to open up just about any app, or even get an already running app just to open a new window. Sometimes it takes a minute or so just to get a window to CLOSE.

Also, whereas the day before I could play a piece of DV smoothly, now it is jerky and broken up. If I look under the performance tab of WTaskManager, I note the CPU usage is always at 100%. I don't know, but I wouldn't guess this is normal.

I've re-run SpyBot S&D & run the DELL PC CHECKUP scan under DELL Support Center, and everything looks OK to me. Virus definitions are up to date. XP SP3 was downloaded & installed recently, but I ran fine for a while after that. Firefox is in the latest version.

I'm pretty much out of ideas, and am wondering if the OS is corrupt (& didn't bother to tell me) or I've got hardware issues. I don't even know where to start. Everything seems to run fine, assuming I don't mind wasting an entire weekend on a 15 minute task.

Any leads anyone can give me will be much appreciated!

Regards!

 

You say the CPU is at 100%. So, open the Task Manager, click the Processes tab, and see which process is using up the CPU. It is normal for the System Idle Process to be 98%-99% and it doesn't register as using resources. So, post the process that's using all the CPU, or a screen shot of the task manager in action would be better....

 

You might also try downloading Advanced Windows Care V3 fromhttp://majorgeeks.com/Advanced_SystemCare_3_d5927.html and run "Diagnose System". From there you can check "hijacked settings" on your computer to see if you have any processes running that may be malicious:tas. I've found a lot of crap on my system that way.

Good luck.

 

Thank you geekatheart

I've downloaded the tool you suggested. A bunch of 'problems' were found and fixed with the configuration settings, but interestingly enough, nothing showed up as being hijacked. The system does seem a bit faster, but is still more majorly molasses-like than not.

Thank you also dlb.

Attached is a snapshot of the TM in action. It tells me how much memory a particular process is using, but I don't know how that translates to CPU usage. If there is something there that captures your attention, please let me know!

Thank you both for all your help, and thank you for your patience while I try this stuff out. It is truly appreciated!

Towtruck

 

towtuck in your tm it appears that motivesb.exe is using alot of your cpu this is not an essential proccess open task manage click on it and end proccess if you have ccleaner open the program go into the tools tab click on the startup tab see if you can locate motivesb.exe in the list and delete it from startup this will stop it from running

 

Click on Show all processes.
Also kill the MotiveSb.exe and see if that helps.
An article on the above process.
http://www.auditmypc.com/process/motivesb.asp

Oops Iwunder has already posted.

 

Thank you, iwunderdownunder and sikvik

If this is indeed slowing things down, I will remove it to get some performance improvement. However I have had the 'SBC Self Support Tool' (of which motiveSB.exe is all or a part) running for almost two years, but have never had the types of problems I have now, so I wonder if there isn't something else going on.

Unless some updates have causing conflicts??

Thanks again. I'll report on the results of removing motiveSB.

Towtruck

 

What happens in safe mode?

 

Excellent question, studiot

I'm afraid I'm not savvy enough to know how to correctly enter safe mode, or what to do when I get there. I thought it was just a command-line environment.

Can you (or someone else point me to a good link that might help me.) I'd hate for anyone to be typing that much. I'll google it right now and see what I come up with.

Thanks!
Towtruck

 

Thank you Halo

I was just going to post to the effect that I had done some homework and knew a bit about safe mode and how to get in, but you beat me to it.

Thanks for telling me what I should be checking for. That implies to me that I should still be able to get most Apps running (WORD, maybe WMM), or how else would I know if it was slow?

One of the links (http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=1643&page=1)
was talking about using SIGVERIF to locate bad drivers. I don't know if a bad (or old) driver could be causing a problem for me, or if bad drivers are only an issue when the system doesn't boot or run at all, but in any case, I figure it can't hurt to see if there are better drivers than the one I have.

Also
Is it possible that there is some spyware/malware that spybot S&D didn't detect? I have heard some reference to Xoftspy, and wonder if thatis worth trying.

Thanks!!

 

in regards to the motivesb.exe if you are not using the program the cpu entry in your task manager should be zero as it is running at 62 when you use another program it will slow your computer down there is obviously some sort of error with the program as you say you have been using it for some time with no problem but if your not using the program it shouldn't be using your cpu if you take the entry out of startup you can still manually use the program when you need to it just wont startup when you turn the computer on. xoftspy is an excellent spyware program i have used it in the past but you have to pay for it as for spy bot search and destroy it is also a good free program i no longer use either i just use avg8.0 as it the does the job of both virus and spyware in one program

 

Working in Safe Mode as I type. Lightning Fast. Love it. I guess the CPU & HD are fine.

Now to try to delete MotiveSB. Thanks for all the help.

Towtruck

 

alright!!

used msconfig to remove motivesb (and a few other things) from the startup. Runs much faster now. Like it!

Only thing is, for some reason, every time I start up, I get a message saying I was in diagnostic mode, and it wants me to put everything back the way it was. Did I miss some 'Save New Settings' button?

Y'all are great. I'm up n' running again. Sure wish I knew about msconfig earlier!!!

Thanks!
Towtruck

 

Well yes msconfig is meant to run in normal mode. Other modes are meant for diagnostic purposes.

When you have found the problem you should use other means to control it and return msconfig to normal mode.

You will need to either prevent a program starting with windows from its own options/setttings/preferences (best way)
or
Delete the associated run key in msconfig. But before you do it this way you should return msconfig to normal mode or you will confuse the registry.

 

Thank You Studiot & MarkTrent

I'm learning a lot and gathering a nice little collection of system tools to help me. I'll use your suggestions a tonight, and then I think I'll be good to go!

Thanks also to iwunderdownunder for your tip about avg8.0. I missed that the first time I read your post.

Thanks again to all who have helped. Hopefully this has been able to help others as well!

towtruck

 

glad to see you have it all sorted towtruck this is a great site with lots of knowledgeable people to help you out in a fix

 

Yes, there are some very helpful people here! Thanks again to all.

As I already had CCleaner, so I used that to remove my startups. I also remembered to do the same on my wife's account, as I understood each account has it's own startup list. I'll be making some notes for the future as well, so it'll be easier to fix things if I have a problem later.

Thanks again to all!
Towtruck