Task bar lags on startup - VTTIMER.exe?

Discussion in 'Malware Help (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by lineofbirds, Mar 25, 2010.

  1. lineofbirds

    lineofbirds Private E-2

    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 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, however after reading about it, 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.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. lineofbirds

    lineofbirds Private E-2

    My other log files, and prefetch folder screenshot.
     

    Attached Files:

  3. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    This is not a malware issue. You should not use msconfig to control your startups.

    It sounds as if your onboard video card is dying. I suggest that you post in the software forum for further assistance.

    Since you are not having any malware problems, it is time to do our final steps:
    1. We recommend you keep SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for scanning/removal of malware. Unless you purchase them, they provide no protection. They do not use any significant amount of resources ( except a little disk space ) until you run a scan.
    2. If we had you use ComboFix, uninstall ComboFix (This uninstall will only work as written if you installed ComboFix on your Desktop like we requested.)
      • Click START then RUN and enter the below into the run box and then click OK. Note the quotes are required
      • "%userprofile%\Desktop\combofix" /uninstall
        • Notes: The space between the combofix" and the /uninstall, it must be there.
        • This will uninstall ComboFix and also reset hidden files and folders settings back to Windows defaults.
    3. Any other miscellaneous tools we may have had you install or download can be uninstalled and deleted.
    4. If running Vista, it is time to make sure you have reenabled UAC by double clicking on the C:\MGtools\enableUAC.reg file and allowing it to be added to the registry.
    5. Go to add/remove programs and uninstall HijackThis.
    6. Goto the C:\MGtools folder and find the MGclean.bat file. Double click on this file to run this cleanup program that will remove files and folders related to MGtools and some other items from our cleaning procedures.
    7. If you are running Vista, Windows XP or Windows ME, do the below:
      • Refer to the cleaning procedures pointed to by step 6 of the READ ME for your Window version and see the instructions to Disable System Restore which will flush your Restore Points.
      • Then reboot and Enable System Restore to create a new clean Restore Point.
    8. After doing the above, you should work thru the below link:
     
  4. lineofbirds

    lineofbirds Private E-2

    DAMMIT! I thought I did post in the software forum. Sigh.
    By the time I finished all the scans I guess I foolishly changed my mind...
    BTW I am NOT using msconfig to manage the problem, I only used it to try to find out what it was, then set it back to normal startup.
    Thanks for the response.

    -Moving my post now-
     
  5. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    I have replied to your thread in software. Good luck. :)
     

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