Slow computer - No malware

Hi,
I have been advised by the guys at Malware removal to come here as I have run through all the possible malware problems and as far as they can tell my notebook is clean. The problem I have is that for no apparent reason my laptop has slowed right down and the egg timer appears to be almost perminently present.

I am hoping that someone can help me check that none of my software is conflicting and causing problems.

I am also seeking advice through the hardware forum, but nothing yet.

Anything that you can advise will be greatfully received.

Doc Marten

 

Here is a good place to start
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=106650

 

Shanemail,

thanks for the quick response.

I forgot to mention that I have already done the basic computer maintenance and all other help threads that is why I have come to the last resort and asked here for help.

Thanks

Doc Marten

 

Tim,

thanks for the reply. Every funtion I try is slow for example if put my cursor over 'all programs' it is several seconds before all programs come up. If I start any programs it takes up to a minute to load. The 'egg timer' comes on randomly at regular intervals.

I hope this explains it.

Doc

 

Do you have CCleaner installed & if so, have you run it? Have you done a disk clean-up, which is located at: open up "My Computer", right click on your "Local Disk"-- usually your C drive, then click on properties from drop down menu. Click on "Disk Clean-up", check all boxes & click "ok". Also you might try a "Scan Disk" & a "Defrag" which are also located by following above instructions & then clicking on the "Tools" tab. How much RAM does your laptop have? To find out this info: Click on "Start", right click on "My Computer", click "Properties" in drop down menu. On the window that opens, look under the section called "Computer" which will show you your processor type & speed, your hard drive size, & your amount of RAM.

Just some ideas. Keep us posted.

Good Luck
Shanrene

 

Set the services to use only what is needed.
Some automatic services can be set to manual or disable.

http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.ht

 

Doc,

Excellent people helping you! I just went back and read all your posts concerning this problem. As Dell replaced your faulty/bad motherboard, did they check the other components for being OK after the faulty board was replaced?

Only asking because the slowness mentioned could be caused by background processes that are running as TimW suggested, but could also be caused by a hard drive that is beginning to fail and having trouble reading/finding the files.

 

Do you know how to check your "msconfig" settings to see what's loading at start-up? You probably do...but just in case here goes: Click on "Start", then on "Run", then type in msconfig & hit enter or ok. Click on the box marked "Selective Start-up" then click on the "Start-Up" tab. You can then "Disable All". You may want to re-check the boxes for your Anti-Virus & Firewall. Those are really the only things you need running at start-up, as everything else you can get to by either a desktop icon or by clicking Start & then All Programs. Thought I would explain this process, just in case you were unsure. Have you checked yet on how much RAM you have, etc...? Anyway, Good Luck & keep us posted on your progress.

Shanrene

 

Another thing you may want to try is a ScanDisk & Disk Defragment. Don't know if these things would cause the hourglass to stay on...that sounds more like RAM issues & too many programs running in the background, etc...Just an added thought. Thanks! shanrene

 

Plenty of good advice going through -
If you go to Devices, you can double click on any item to bring up its properties, and see if that device is working properly, and, on some (like the graphics card) will show a tab for resources, and that should show if a device has a conflict.
Otherwise, go to start, accessaries, system tools, system information, hardware resouces, conflicts/sharing.
Also you can look while there at components, problem devices.
As has also been suggested, Ram, and hard drive can be checked.
HARD DRIVE TESTER
http://www.majorgeeks.com/DiskCheckup_d3464.html
RAM TESTER
http://majorgeeks.com/Memtest86_d1247.html
Also if you have AVAST, ADOBE READER, ZONE ALARM, as well as many other software installations, it can be worth disabling add ins to Explorer, as these have had their faults, and have been known cause too much cpu usage, slowing you to a crawl.

 

Shanrene123, your information about going to "msconfig" on run was a tremendous help to me. My system has been really running slow while on the net. I found a tab about "services" that showed what was running. There I found "automatic updates" running. I disabled it, I can run manual updates at anytime. This really helped to speed up my internet searching and other internet functions. Thank you so much. I am disabled and on a very limited budget. Finding this site will all of its freeware, forums and support is GREATLY appreciated! ;-)

 

Ok guys,

Firstly sorry for delay, laid up in bed for a while.

I will answer questions in order as I work through them so please bear with me for time and possible repetition.

Mark Trent,
sorry for missing your post but the answer is a Dell Inspiron 1300 working on XP.

Shanrene 123,
Thanks for the reply. I have installed and run CCleaner, I have also done the disc clean up (I have 50.1GB available of a capacity of 55.8 GB). I have downloaded and run IObit SmartDefrag as suggested by basic computer maintenance thread. Processor 1.70GHz 504MB of RAM.


Blackeyefan
Thanks for the reply. not sure about this as I have been advised to use msconfig by people on this site may times before, but I remain open minded.

TimW
Hi again. I have been through a lot with the malware boys but I will check if still have a load of stuff still running in the back ground, as above with very little computer experience I don't want to delete something I shouldn't so this could take a while.


Novice
Hi yes some great help here and I am sorry I have been laid up for a few days and not been able to action this stuff, but getting to it now. No Dell didn't take any further action as far as I know. The notebook is only 13 months old so I am concerned that it could be the hard drive failing, however I have run the diagnostics (top of the post) and it appeared to not show anything major.


Shanrene,
Hi again. I have run through the msconfig stuff (I didn't know what I was doing so thanks) ......praise the lord!!! I have just found Zone Labs here in the start up, although I removed the program some time ago after advice from other members. I have disabled it and the computer appears to be back to normal. I have also disabled the following:

C:\Program files\Intel\wireless\bin\ZCfgSvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Intel\wireless\bin\ifrmewrk.exe/tf Intel PROSet/wireless
C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 8.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe

I also have the following and wondered if I should disable it:
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe

Baklogic
thanks for advice. Even though I think I have it sorted by disabling ZoneAlarm from the start up I tried to go through your two suggestions. I downloaded and ran DiskCheckup and to be honest it gave me a lot of information that I had no idea what to do with but on the bright side it didn't highlight any snags as far as I could see. I downloaded Memtest86 but couldn't run it as my computer didn't recognize an iso file.

Everyone,

Thank you very very much for your time and support this truly is a wonderful site and I am very proud to be a member of it. How can I repay all the help that I have received from Malware, through Hardware to Software forums?

A very happy Doc Marten

 

Zone alarm residual was the problem, then- glad you found it.
Sorry, the floppy version of memtest86 is available , if you scroll down to the underlined author, and click on it for the memtest86+ 1.70 from the author.
http://www.memtest.org/download/1.70/memtest86+-1.70.floppy.zip

 

Baklogic,

thanks will give that a go.

Doc

 

TimW,

Thanks, in that case I think I will leave it there.

Doc