Some kind of virus has my mom's xp laptop running VERY slow, but ok in safe mode

scoobyjax · Apr 27, 2014

Hello everyone. I am trying to fix my mom's computer but have so far been unable. The laptop is running but it is incredibly slow. When I first got on it a bunch of pop ops took over the screen. The computer would randomly go to other sites on it's own. It would go to a search sight called "clarosearch". Worst of all, it's incredibly slow. For example, from the desktop, it take about 45 seconds for the IE window to open when I click on the icon. It takes about that long to navigate to a page and so fourth.

I downloaded and ran a registry cleaner, spybot search and destroy, malwarebytes, and ad-aware. These found a bunch of problems and cleaned some up, I guess. The pop ups are gond and so is the strange search site, but the computer is still running just as slow. It's a paperweight. Getting another computer isn't really an option right now as my mom is unemployed and we're actually trying to get her resume online but we can't even do that right now with the way the laptop is acting. I downloaded hijackthis and ran a scan. Here is the log. Oh, and as the subject says, the computer runs fast and fine in safe mode. Please let me know if there is any other info that is needed as I'm not sure what to provide. Thank you in advance for any help or suggestions you can provide.

Kestrel13! · Apr 27, 2014

Welcome to Major Geeks!

Please read ALL of this message including the notes before doing anything.

Please follow the instructions in the below link:

READ & RUN ME FIRST. Malware Removal Guide

and attach the requested logs when you finish these instructions.

**** If something does not run, write down the info to explain to us later but keep on going. ****

Do not assume that because one step does not work that they all will not. MGtools will frequently run even when all other tools will not.

After completing the READ & RUN ME and attaching your logs, make sure that you tell us what problems still remain ( if any still do )!

Helpful Notes:

If you run into problems trying to run the READ & RUN ME or any of the scans in normal boot mode, you can run the steps in safe boot mode but make sure you tell us what you did later when you post logs. See the below if you do not know how to boot in safe mode:

Starting your computer in Safe mode

If you have problems downloading on the problem PC, download the tools and the manual update Malwarebytes ( links are given in the READ & RUN ME) onto another PC and then burn to a CD. Then copy them to the problem PC. You will have to skip getting updates if (and only if) your internet connection does not work. Yes you could use a flash drive too but flash drives are writeable and infections can spread to them.

If you cannot seem to login to an infected user account, try using a different user account (if you have one) in either normal or safe boot mode and running only RogueKiller and Malwarebytes while logged into this other user account. Then reboot and see if you can log into the problem user account. If you can then run the rest of the READ & RUN ME FIRST instructions on the infected account.

To avoid additional delay in getting a response, it is strongly advised that after completing the READ & RUN ME you also read this sticky:

Don't Bump! It Only Hurts You!!!

Any additional post is a bump which will add more delay. Once you attach the logs, your thread will be in the work queue and as stated our system works the oldest threads FIRST.

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Some kind of virus has my mom's xp laptop running VERY slow, but ok in safe mode

scoobyjax Private E-2

Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member