Task bar lag on startup?

Discussion in 'Software' started by lineofbirds, Mar 26, 2010.

  1. lineofbirds

    lineofbirds Private E-2

    A while back I re-arranged, and hooked the network printer up to my computer. I also moved my scanner to another computer.
    when everything was hooked back up I noticed that my task bar was lagging on start up. All desktop links would work, though a little slower than I thought they should, but the task bar took forever to be accessible. It showed up, but I couldn't click on it for sometimes 10 minutes or more, more often it took 3 - 5 minutes.
    Shortly after that I noticed problems with my (VIA-chrome integrated-IG) video card - Using WMP, videos only played tiny, and only in black/white/red.
    Thinking I had a video card problem, knowing I needed a faster one anyway, we upgraded.
    The videos work fine now, but the task bar problem remains.

    I investigated the problem and noticed that if I use MSconfig to disable a start-up process called VTTIMER.exe in the windows/prefetch folder the task bar works fine. (I only used msconfig to test, then set it back to normal start up)

    I opened the prefetch folder to find out more about the file, and noticed that it said "date modified" - 12-5-2012 (strange). I did more investigating and found that VTTIMER.exe is supposed to be a driver file (or something like it) that was associated with my old VIA-Chrome IG card, and, from what I understand, it's not supposed to reside in prefetch, nor is it supposed to have a future modified date on it.
    I also went back into the prefetch folder and found that there are quite a few other files there that have future modified dates on them as well, though most of the files in the folder show 3-24-2010 as the "modified" date.

    I have run all of the scans I normally use, then followed the malware removal steps in "READ & RUN ME FIRST".
    (I was interrupted and forgot to change some settings in super antispyware, and so ran it again after root repeal - I am attaching the second log file, as it is more likely to have the correct information, I can send the other as well if it is needed)
    There didn't seem to be any infections, though I have no idea how to interpret the logs.
    I am attaching all the logs I generated, as well as a screenshot of the contents of the prefetch files along with their "date modified".

    I am hoping one of you with more experience and knowledge than myself can help me figure out what's causing this lag, and whether or not I should be concerned about this strange occurrence of VTTIMER, and it's friends.

    In case it has any relevance, I also remembered a couple other problems
    1. My music files (all of them) have disappeared from WMP library. They are still on my computer - just not in library.
    2. on start up just a few days before my original post, my confuzer froze on startup - didn't even get to the boot screen. I had to shut it down and restart, and it has been OK since, except for the task bar, and the WMP library problems.

    Scan logs are attached to this message as zipped folder, including a screenshot of the strange prefetch files.
    MGlogs will not attach again - do I need to delete other post or edit to remove the attachments?
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Mar 26, 2010
    lineofbirds, Mar 26, 2010
    #1
  2. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    As I stated in your malware thread, you are not showing any malware ( your logs indicate that as well ). I would suggest that if your on board video card is dead, you make sure you set it to disabled in device manager. There is no reason why you can't remove all the items in your prefetch folder. They only exist there to speed up the opening of programs.

    You could also remove everything related to the video card by doing this:

    Please disable all anti-virus and anti-spyware programs while we do the following (re-enable when you are finished):

    Run C:\MGtools\analyse.exe by double clicking on it (Note: if using Vista, don't double click, use right click and select Run As Administrator). This is really HijackThis (select Do a system scan only) and select the following lines but DO NOT CLICK FIX until you exit all browser sessions including the one you are reading in right now:
    After clicking Fix, exit HJT.

    Now copy just the bold text below to notepad (Do not include any space above the word REGEDIT). Save it as fixME.reg to your desktop. Be sure the "Save as" type is set to "all files" Once you have saved it double click it and allow it to merge with the registry.
    Make sure that you tell me if you receive a success message about adding the above
    to the registry. If you do not get a success message, it definitely did not work.

    Then use windows explorer to find and delete:
    C:\WINDOWS\system32\VTTimer.exe
     
    TimW, Mar 27, 2010
    #2
  3. lineofbirds

    lineofbirds Private E-2

    It was successful, and the time has improved. On start-up it only took a minute for the task bar to work this time.
    I do wonder however if that can be improved. I suppose I can live with it.
    Do I need to leave the fixME.reg file or can it be deleted now or moved?

    Thank you so much for your help, it's a relief to not have to wait so long to start working.
     
    lineofbirds, Mar 28, 2010
    #3
  4. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    You can remove the fixme. reg file from your desktop. And you are welcome. :)
     
    TimW, Mar 28, 2010
    #4

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