Slow browsers and page loading

Internet pages are slow loading...sites with a lot of stuff, like Jango.com and Blockbuster.com do not load completely and are glitchy and slow. Sometimes pages time out, or I get the "Website not found" message and I have to refresh the page several times before it will load.

I went through the Malware procedure and the Forum, some Malware was found and deleted. However, the problem persists. TimW from the Malware forum sent me over here.

Thank you.

 

g'day jones08

it would help others to help you if you could give more details regarding type of internet connection ie,dialup ,adsl ect and what browser you are using.

 

Sorry about the sketchy info. I wasn't thinking.

I am running Windows XP Media Edition.

Manufacturer MEDIONPC
Model MS-6747
Number Of Processors 1
Processor Description Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz
Total Memory 512MB
Total Hard Drive 149GB
Display MD7317TC, 17.1" (34cm x 27cm)
BIOS Version IntelR - 42302e31 Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG Phoenix-Award BIOS v6.00PG

I am using Cox Communications Broadband.

Computer is about 4 years old. I am a novice, so I had help doing some tests.

I ran Malware scans and have been told that I deleted some Malware. However, Root Repeal would not run--it just locked up my computer.

I used Aqua Mark to do benchmark test--all was fine. All temps have tested fine. Memtest was fine.

Speedtest seems ok: http://www.speedtest.net/result/537829787.png

The problem happens with IE 7, Opera, and Firefox. It doesn't matter which. And I am using no add-ons (that I know of). I certainly didn't add any.

I've have been going through computer nightmares for the past few months.

I always seem to have problems when there is a Windows update. But the big problems began when I tried updating to IE 8. It was around then that I completely lost internet connection, began crashing and getting Blue Screen error.

I quickly deleted and re-loaded IE7 but my computer was still screwed.

One of the main solutions was to disable my NVidia Display Drivers and re-load a much earlier driver (back from 2005). Now at least my system seems stable with no more crashing and/or Blue Screens. But I have this annoying page loading issue.

Thanks for answering!

 

Hello There,

You could always try another browser to load up the pages. Have you considered of trying opera 10.00 that is quite fast at browsing.

But we could use a little more information on your system and your internet before we can really help you.

 

This was done already:

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=195938

I followed the directions carefully and that's how I got here. TimW from the malware section said that I was clear, and to try this forum.

However, as I said in the link included above, everything was followed carefully, except Root Repeal would not run.

 

Okay...there are a few that repeat. I will include them:

wscntfy.exe
ctfmon.exe
eraser.exe
firefox.exe
rundll32.exe
avgnt.exe
flockbox.exe
taskmgr.exe
DetExplexe
UnlockerAssistant
ehmsas.exe
Dit.exe
ehtray.exe
explorer.exe
alg.exe
svchost.exe
RioMSC.exe
nvsvc32.exe
MDM.EXE
jqs.exe
esched.exe
mainserv.exe
avguard.exe
iexplore.exe
svchost.exe
sche.exe
scardsvr.exe
spoolsv.exe
svchost.exe (local)
" (Network)
" (System)
" (Network)
" (System)
lsass.exe
services.exe
winlogon.exe
csrss.exe
smss.exe
fxss.exe
uphclean.exe
wdfmgr.exe

I only have 512 RAM, but I don't see how that matters, as everything was operating just fine--pages were loading fast and not timing out.

This all is still the aftermath of updating IE.

 

You could also try putting another 512mb memory stick in there too. Windows XP runs better on 1GB of memory than 512mb it does state that minimum is 512mb but the programs and start up will load up slow and laggy.

hope this helps
Andy

 

If by that you mean from IE7 to IE8, then I would be tempted to uninstall IE8 via Add/Remove. That forces the system to revert to IE7.

If that is successful then you could take your PC off Automatic Updates and set it to notify you when updates are available, and install them manually avoiding IE8.

That is what I have done, but for a different reason. I use the IE7Pro add-in, and it doesn't get along well wih IE8.

 

ctfmon.exe cannot be disabled (will always automatically reload at the next boot) if you use anything other than the default US English 101-key keyboard, see http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=282599 to try to disable it

 

To clarify: at the time, I did run the uninstall for IE 8. But, for some reason, when IE7 came back, it would not run.

I don't know if that had to do with the driver problem I was having, or if I messed up something.

So, I had to download IE7 again. Then I was back in business and everything had been running fine.

It was sometime after that things started slowing down and pages didn't load completely and I got timeout errors and pages not found errors.

Now, today, as a matter of fact, I tried to start up Firefox and it will not start up at all. I double click the icon, and I get the little hour glass for a minute, but nothing loads.

 

I ran sfc /scannow. It ran fine with no message or errors or anything.

The instructions led me to a clean re-install of Firefox and it runs.

Same problems.

 

Firefox had just suddenly stopped loading. It was a new problem. In following the directions in the link, I was led to no other choice but a clean install and it has been running today.

By "same problems" I meant: slow browsers and page loading on both IE and Firefox.

I have tried Opera as well it was no different.

It's most noticeable on my favorite page, which is Jango.com. I have been listening to Jango for months without a problem but since this all started, Jango doesn't run right. It freezes up, doesn't play, and often just times out.

It is the same with Blockbuster.com. I have always used the site alot to review movies and put them into my queue. Now, it often freezes, or times out when I click a link.

It's very annoying.

Most other sites load okay. Not as fast as in the past, but not to the point of annoyance. It seems that the more content there is, the more apparent the problem. And it was not like this a few months ago.

Thanks, Halo, I will try what you suggested when I get home. I don't know anything about proxies or DNS.

I am on a home wireless network, so will safe mode with networking work?

The signal reads strong on the wireless, and as I posted in the above link, my Speed Tests seem to be pretty good. Also, this problem does not happen on my laptop on the same network.

 

Sucessfully flushed

The Netgear Wireless Assistant is not visible in Safe Mode With Networking. I could not figure out how to connect to the internet.

I'm sorry, I don't know what these are. I certainly did not set up anything like this that I know of

 

plodr, I don't recall ever noticing ctfmon.exe running on a PC with Office 2K on and a quick search on the MS site turns up nothing earlier than Word 2002.



jones08, I just looked through the HijackThis log from your malware forum post, I see no sign there that you are using any proxy or alternative DNS service.

What I did see there is that you have Super Ad Blocker installed (or at least, the remnants left behind from a previous install), I am wondering whether this may be causing your browsers to choke on certain websites.

Another possibility is that the CA web scanner (again, from the HJT log) is causing the slowdowns and timeouts.


Regarding your Netgear Wireless Assistant not being available in Safe Mode with networking, I think most of us would prefer you to set this to allow Windows to manage your wireless connection (there should be an option for that in the Netgear settings), it cuts out a layer and may allow the wireless connection to function in Safe Mode with networking.

 

I couldn't get get the wireless to work through the windows set up... and I couldn't find a section in Netgear that allowed me to do it. I will keep trying.

In the meantime, can I disable or delete CA webscanner and Super ad blocker? If so, how? Do I run Hijack this?

 

To make Windows take charge of your wireless network, go to Network Connections and right-click your wireless connection > choose Properties > Wireless Connections (tab) and check the box "Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings". Once this is set and tested to function correctly (you may need to insert any passwords again), perhaps networking will be usable within Safe Mode with networking (this should also disable any third-party addons within IE). If your sites are reachable and fast-loading in Safe Mode, then consider disabling SAB/CA webscanner.


SuperAdBlocker and the CA webscanner should both be removeable via Add/Remove programs but for testing purposes (this may not disable them both system-wide, I think they may affect FF too), Internet Options > Programs > Manage Addons - here you will need to change the drop-down to see all the add-ins and disable the ones which may be affecting your browsing.

You may need to restart the PC after disabling them, once you have tested, simply re-enable them and reboot to revert to the earlier settings.

 

Neither SuperAdBlocker nor CA webscanner show up in add/remove programs, nor in the program tree when I looked in start > explore.

I couldn't find CA webscanner in Manage Addons drop-down box either.

And for some reason, I cannot get the network to work when windows takes charge... though, if I'm understanding correctly, it doesn't seem like that is the problem.

 

I ran CCleaner (as I usually do) until zero issues were found.
Should I run HJT again?

I am still timing out on pages and having the same page loading problems, even though Speed Test still says my internet speed is good.
:cry

 

One possibility not so far considered is your mtu setting. If this setting is off base it can account for all of your symptoms - pages not found, slow loading etc, and happening in all browsers.

Download and run TCP Optimizer. The program does not install in your comp, it is a freestanding utility. To use it follow these simple steps -

- Choose your maximum Connection Speed from the slider bar (the maximum available bandwidth, in kilobits per second)
- Choose your Network Interface, or check to Modify All Network Adapters
- Pick "Optimal settings" from the radio-buttons near the bottom of the program
- Click on the "Apply changes" button and reboot

Good luck

 

Thank you, but I have already tried that. I just ran it again for good measure, but it has not helped.

 

Yes, run HJT again and check to see if those entries are still listed please.

 

Yes, they are still listed. Should I remove them with HJT?

 

Hmm, I can't think of a better way to remove them, sorry - use HJT ... run CCleaner>Registry>Scan for issues again afterwards, reboot and test.

 

Okay, done. Unfortunately, no improvement.

 

Hmm, all I can think of right now is to remove all 'helpers' like Java (via JavaRa), Flash etc and run Ccleaner/reboot and test then reinstall them again, if the browsers are stalling on loading certain elements, this might show it up.

 

I removed and reinstalled Java and Flash...and if anything, things are a little slower.:banghead

 

Oh my. This is like 56k all over again.

 

Did you reinstall Flash and Java yet? EDIT - I reread and saw that you did.

 

Are SuperAdBlocker and CA Web Scanner still showing in HJT?



Reboot and wait a few minutes then call up Taskman and make a screenshot of the services running, include the Swapfile/Virtual Memory column then minimise Taskman. Start your browser and visit each of the sites that trouble you and call up Taskman. Try to get screen grabs or notes of the peak values.

 

No, Superadblocker and CA scanner are not showing up.

I don't understand why things are running even worse. Something must have happened with Java and Flash. Simple pages are even taking long to load. Major Geeks took me three tries to load. Kept saying "Page not found." I hit refresh a few times, then it slowly connects.

Maybe I re loaded Java and Flash wrong?

I removed them using Javara and Flash removal, then I re-installed them at my browser's prompt.

Here's the link for task man:
http://img24.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=image002pulewb.jpg