Laptop sluggish- is it me or the computer?

VegasAly · Joined: Jun 17, 2008 Posts: 12

I'm trying to figure out if I'm pushing my laptop too far or if there is something else causing my laptop to run at 100% cpu usage almost all the time. I have tried to speed it up with the software PC Pitstop Optimize 2 and Uniblue SpeedUpMyPC to not success. Now I'm wondering if I'm just trying to do too much at once. Any advice or direction on how to determine if it's me or not wuld be very helpful.

I'm not sure what info I can give about the computer so here's a start...
IBM Z60t
Windows XP version 2002
SP 2
Intel Pentium M
processor 2.00Ghz
319 MHz, 1.99 GB ram

Specifically, I've noticed it running VERY slowly when I try to run website editing software from Coffee Cup, but it seem sto run at 100% cpu all the time.
I did find on the web a post about Adobe causing this problem b/c it constantly searched the web for updates but corrected that problem and still having the 100% cpu issue.
Wondering if I need to purchase more memory?
I've seen logs posted on here but not sure where to get those from.
Please help me.

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 924

First, how much FREE HD space do you have? (on boot drive & one with swap file on it if not the same)
Second, have you scanned for trojans, walware or any other viruses?
Third, when did you first notice this? ( after download, install, site visit, etc)
Forth, do you have any known "JUNK" like NORTON A/V on it. - (this is known to bog down computers & cause all kinds of problems.)
List what you DO have - A/V, firewall, walware scanner, etc.

With your specs, I'd point my finger at a virus, but it is also possible that it just needs to be cleaned up & given more room to work.

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1548 Location: Central FL, USA

Windows can be very HD intensive so you need to minimize HD usage.

That said, open your task manager and click on "Processes" and see what process is sucking up CPU time. That's a good place to start.

Then run "MSCONFIG", go into the startup tab and UN-Check every program you don't absolutely NEED to have running on boot up.

Tweaking the registry to get the "Kernal" loaded into ram on boot also seriously cuts down on HD usage by the OS.

Let me know if you're interested in doing that.

Well, that gives you someplace to start. Wink

Good Luck,
The Doctor Cool

goretsky

Hello,

Although it is normally used to help detect malware, Merijn's HijackThis program is a quick tool you can use to get an idea of what programs are running on your computer when it starts up.

You might want to try running the program, creating a log file, and posting the resulting log file back here so some of the forum members could look at it.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

Werebo

Allo Vegasaly and welcome to Lockergnome Forum

Just a quick amendment to Aryeh's suggestion above, re: the 'Hijack This' option.

If you decide to try this method, could you post the results here please? You'll get a faster response from our resident 'Hijack-Gnomies' then Wink

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1548 Location: Central FL, USA

Ever hear the expression, "There's nothing new under the sun" ?

I see this situation every week in my own work as a computer tech.

I won't go into the technical aspect of it, but, Laptops are NOT as fast or efficient as a desktop PC.
So, they really need to be run a little different than a desktop PC.

They are getting better, with more ram and even SATA2 hard drives.
But, the ones with IDE drives are still slow. It's just their nature. Wink

Then bog them down with Norton, a g'zillion Services running and of course the useless programs that run all the time in the background and you wind up with a little computer that will hardly run at all.

On the average laptop that's never been serviced by me before, I can improve the performance by 100% or better. Razz

Just UN-Installing Norton AV can make a huge improvement.
Many new PC's come with it already installed and it's the very first thing I remove. If McAfee is on the PC, it also gets removed. BLOATWARE!!!!

I replace Norton or McAfee with AVG 8.0 FREE. It's a much lighter weight AV program and doesn't load down the CPU and is actually a better AV/AS program.

Y'all have a great day now, Y'hear?
The Doctor Cool

Dee101 · Joined: Dec 09, 2007 Posts: 36

Uninstall Norton (use a Norton uninstall tool - NOT the Windows uninstaller in the control panel -- you can download it from their site). If its McAfee you have, go into McAfee's configuration and disable all components, go into Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Services, STOP and set to DISABLE all McAfee services, then reboot and run uninstall -- it will be much cleaner. AVG 8 is good.

When the AVG is loaded, take the time to run a full scan. It will find some cookies and stuff -- don't worry too much about them -- while nothing is foolproof, it will likely find a virus/trojan/etc if there is one.

When that is done and any know viruses, etc are gone --

Also - get yourself a copy of CCleaner (www.ccleaner.com). Open it to the "tools" page, then the "Startup" button. It is likely you will have a lot of things loading at startup that you don't need.

Defrag your system. Run CCleaner first, then a good defragger (DkLite is still available by download, and there are several others) -- MS's defragger isn't very good.

One last note, running optimizer services over the web is iffy.

VegasAly · Joined: Jun 17, 2008 Posts: 12

Here is the log file from Hijack This.....

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 10:01:36 AM, on 6/27/2008
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.16674)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ibmpmsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware 2007\aawservice.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\IPSSVC.EXE
C:\Program Files\ThinkPad\ConnectUtilities\AcPrfMgrSvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\acs.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
C:\Program Files\Diskeeper Corporation\Diskeeper\DkService.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\InterVideo\RegMgr\iviRegMgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7DEBUG\MDM.EXE
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Lenovo\tvt_reg_monitor_svc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\TPHDEXLG.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\TpKmpSVC.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Lenovo\Scheduler\tvtsched.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Ulead Systems\DVD\ULCDRSvr.exe
C:\Program Files\ThinkPad\ConnectUtilities\AcSvc.exe
c:\program files\lenovo\system update\suservice.exe
C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPLpr.exe
C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\TpShocks.exe
C:\Program Files\ThinkPad\ConnectUtilities\SvcGuiHlpr.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\ThinkPad\UTILIT~1\EzEjMnAp.Exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Lenovo\PkgMgr\HOTKEY\TPHKMGR.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\THINKV~2\PrdCtr\LPMGR.exe
C:\Program Files\ThinkVantage\AMSG\Amsg.exe
C:\Program Files\Lenovo\PkgMgr\HOTKEY\TPONSCR.exe
C:\Program Files\Lenovo\PkgMgr\HOTKEY_1\TpScrex.exe
C:\Program Files\ThinkPad\ConnectUtilities\ACTray.exe
C:\Program Files\ThinkPad\ConnectUtilities\ACWLIcon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\rundll32.exe
C:\Program Files\Google\Gmail Notifier\gnotify.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spool\drivers\w32x86\3\hpztsb07.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Lenovo\Scheduler\scheduler_proxy.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\THINKV~2\PrdCtr\LPMLCHK.exe
C:\Program Files\Lenovo\AwayTask\AwaySch.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\DLA\DLACTRLW.EXE
C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\Core\smax4pnp.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe
C:\Program Files\Picasa2\PicasaMediaDetector.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Uniblue\SpeedUpMyPC 3\SpeedUpMyPC.exe
C:\Program Files\Plaxo\3.11.0.27\PlaxoHelper_en.exe
C:\Program Files\Audible\Bin\AudibleDownloadHelper.exe
C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\MailFrontier\mantispm.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Program Files\PayPal\PayPal Plug-In\RBroker.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Aly\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\07H7TG6A\HiJackThis[1].exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = www.google.com
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Connection Wizard,ShellNext = http://r.office.microsoft.com/r/rlidOfficeUpdate?clid=1033
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = *.local
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: DriveLetterAccess - {5CA3D70E-1895-11CF-8E15-001234567890} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\DLA\DLASHX_W.DLL
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: OToolbarHelper Class - {EAD3A971-6A23-4246-8691-C9244E858967} - C:\Program Files\PayPal\PayPal Plug-In\PayPalHelper.dll
O3 - Toolbar: PayPal Plug-In - {DC0F2F93-27FA-4f84-ACAA-9416F90B9511} - C:\Program Files\PayPal\PayPal Plug-In\OToolbar.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SynTPLpr] C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPLpr.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SynTPEnh] C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TpShocks] TpShocks.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TP4EX] tp4ex.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [EZEJMNAP] C:\PROGRA~1\ThinkPad\UTILIT~1\EzEjMnAp.Exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TPHOTKEY] C:\PROGRA~1\Lenovo\PkgMgr\HOTKEY\TPHKMGR.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LPManager] C:\PROGRA~1\THINKV~2\PrdCtr\LPMGR.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AMSG] C:\Program Files\ThinkVantage\AMSG\Amsg.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DiskeeperSystray] "C:\Program Files\Diskeeper Corporation\Diskeeper\DkIcon.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ACTray] C:\Program Files\ThinkPad\ConnectUtilities\ACTray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ACWLIcon] C:\Program Files\ThinkPad\ConnectUtilities\ACWLIcon.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PWRMGRTR] rundll32 C:\PROGRA~1\ThinkPad\UTILIT~1\PWRMGRTR.DLL,PwrMgrBkGndMonitor
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [BLOG] rundll32 C:\PROGRA~1\ThinkPad\UTILIT~1\BatLogEx.DLL,StartBattLog
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TPKMAPHELPER] C:\Program Files\ThinkPad\Utilities\TpKmapAp.exe -helper
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [{0228e555-4f9c-4e35-a3ec-b109a192b4c2}] C:\Program Files\Google\Gmail Notifier\gnotify.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HPDJ Taskbar Utility] C:\WINDOWS\system32\spool\drivers\w32x86\3\hpztsb07.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TVT Scheduler Proxy] C:\Program Files\Common Files\Lenovo\Scheduler\scheduler_proxy.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LPMailChecker] C:\PROGRA~1\THINKV~2\PrdCtr\LPMLCHK.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AwaySch] C:\Program Files\Lenovo\AwayTask\AwaySch.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DLA] C:\WINDOWS\System32\DLA\DLACTRLW.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SoundMAXPnP] C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\Core\smax4pnp.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SoundMAX] C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\SoundMAX\Smax4.exe /tray
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RoxWatchTray] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Roxio Shared\9.0\SharedCOM\RoxWatchTray9.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PC Pitstop Optimize Scheduler] C:\Program Files\PCPitstop\Optimize\PCPOptimize.exe -boot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ZoneAlarm Client] "C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [amsg] C:\Program Files\ThinkVantage\AMSG\Amsg.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Picasa Media Detector] C:\Program Files\Picasa2\PicasaMediaDetector.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Uniblue SpeedUpMyPC] C:\Program Files\Uniblue\SpeedUpMyPC 3\SpeedUpMyPC.exe -s
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [PlaxoUpdate] C:\Program Files\Plaxo\3.11.0.27\PlaxoHelper_en.exe -a -t
O4 - Global Startup: Audible Download Manager.lnk = C:\Program Files\Audible\Bin\AudibleDownloadHelper.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: Software Installer - {D1A4DEBD-C2EE-449f-B9FB-E8409F9A0BC5} - C:\Program Files\Lenovo\PkgMgr\\PkgMgr.exe
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O11 - Options group: [JAVA_IBM] Java (IBM)
O16 - DPF: {0E5F0222-96B9-11D3-8997-00104BD12D94} (PCPitstop Utility) - http://www.pcpitstop.com/pcpitstop/PCPitStop.CAB
O16 - DPF: {1842B0EE-B597-11D4-8997-00104BD12D94} (iCC Class) - http://www.pcpitstop.com/internet/pcpConnCheck.cab
O16 - DPF: {6E32070A-766D-4EE6-879C-DC1FA91D2FC3} (MUWebControl Class) - http://www.update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/c...nt/muwe
O16 - DPF: {FFB3A759-98B1-446F-BDA9-909C6EB18CC7} (PCPitstop Exam) - http://utilities.pcpitstop.com/optimize2/pcpitstop2.dll
O20 - Winlogon Notify: ACNotify - ACNotify.dll (file missing)
O20 - Winlogon Notify: RDM+ - C:\Program Files\RDM+\notify.dll (file missing)
O23 - Service: Ad-Aware 2007 Service (aawservice) - Lavasoft - C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware 2007\aawservice.exe
O23 - Service: Ac Profile Manager Service (AcPrfMgrSvc) - Lenovo - C:\Program Files\ThinkPad\ConnectUtilities\AcPrfMgrSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Atheros Configuration Service (acs) - Atheros - C:\WINDOWS\system32\acs.exe
O23 - Service: Access Connections Main Service (AcSvc) - Lenovo - C:\Program Files\ThinkPad\ConnectUtilities\AcSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Apple Mobile Device - Apple, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
O23 - Service: Bonjour Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
O23 - Service: Diskeeper - Diskeeper Corporation - C:\Program Files\Diskeeper Corporation\Diskeeper\DkService.exe
O23 - Service: Google Updater Service (gusvc) - Google - C:\Program Files\Google\Common\Google Updater\GoogleUpdaterService.exe
O23 - Service: ThinkPad PM Service (IBMPMSVC) - Lenovo - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ibmpmsvc.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\1050\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: IPS Core Service (IPSSVC) - Lenovo Group Limited - C:\WINDOWS\system32\IPSSVC.EXE
O23 - Service: IviRegMgr - InterVideo - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InterVideo\RegMgr\iviRegMgr.exe
O23 - Service: RDM+ Local Service (RDMPLocalService) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\RDM+\rdmpserv.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Roxio UPnP Renderer 9 - Sonic Solutions - C:\Program Files\Roxio\Digital Home 9\RoxioUPnPRenderer9.exe
O23 - Service: Roxio Upnp Server 9 - Sonic Solutions - C:\Program Files\Roxio\Digital Home 9\RoxioUpnpService9.exe
O23 - Service: LiveShare P2P Server 9 (RoxLiveShare9) - Sonic Solutions - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Roxio Shared\9.0\SharedCOM\RoxLiveShare9.exe
O23 - Service: RoxMediaDB9 - Sonic Solutions - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Roxio Shared\9.0\SharedCOM\RoxMediaDB9.exe
O23 - Service: Roxio Hard Drive Watcher 9 (RoxWatch9) - Sonic Solutions - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Roxio Shared\9.0\SharedCOM\RoxWatch9.exe
O23 - Service: System Update (SUService) - Lenovo Group Limited - c:\program files\lenovo\system update\suservice.exe
O23 - Service: ThinkVantage Registry Monitor Service - Lenovo Group Limited - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Lenovo\tvt_reg_monitor_svc.exe
O23 - Service: ThinkPad HDD APS Logging Service (TPHDEXLGSVC) - Lenovo. - C:\WINDOWS\System32\TPHDEXLG.exe
O23 - Service: IBM KCU Service (TpKmpSVC) - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\TpKmpSVC.exe
O23 - Service: TVT Scheduler - Lenovo Group Limited - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Lenovo\Scheduler\tvtsched.exe
O23 - Service: Ulead Burning Helper (UleadBurningHelper) - Ulead Systems, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Ulead Systems\DVD\ULCDRSvr.exe
O23 - Service: TrueVector Internet Monitor (vsmon) - Zone Labs, LLC - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe

--
End of file - 12091 bytes

VegasAly · Joined: Jun 17, 2008 Posts: 12

I have 89.0 GB capacity, using 41.3 and have 47.6 free space.

I've run ad watch and ad aware. Would those catch a virus?

I use the Zone Alarm Security Suite so not sure if I have Norton or Macafee junk on here.

Not sure when the sluggishness started. According to SpeedUpMyPc, my stats are as follows...
Internet: 0
Memory: 35
Disk R/W: 32
CPU usage: 100 (almost always reads this, even after I optimize)

Not sure how to list what I have on here. Should I copy the programs from the start>all programs list?

VegasAly · Joined: Jun 17, 2008 Posts: 12

Reviewing the processes...
CPU
taskmgr.exe 02
vsmon.exe 02
SpeedUpMyPc.exe bouncing from 02 to 13
services.exe 02
amsg.exe bouncing from 00 to 11
aawservice.exe bouncing 02 to 05
Scanningprocess.exe bouncing from 57 to 23
firefox.exe from 14 to 28
System Idle Process as high as 81

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 924

You pretty much answered what I wanted to know.
Not sure but think you have an antivirus in the zonealarm suite so other than that it looks as if you have SOME protection.

Unless someone sees something I missed & has a better idea...
I suggest you throw some more at it though, try;
Trend Micro online HOUSECALL (antivirus scanner)
Spybot search & destroy
Avast - as it will do a boot time scan automatically if needed (you don't need to worry about the FREE REGISTRATION KEY to do this - unless you decide to keep it)

That ought to at least tell you if you have any "nasties" lurking that didn't get detected by the other stuff - if you DO, you will need to run the scans until it at least reports clean & then possibly a few more to make sure you got them all.

NOTE, you can only have ONE antivirus running at at a time as they will "KILL" one another.

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1548 Location: Central FL, USA

VegasAly,
Read your own HJT log (you were given the correct place to post that, so our HJT experts can find it and make suggestions)
I read it and I almost chocked at that long RUN list.
It would hardly fit on my 19" monitor screen.
Those are program that are loading every time you boot up that little PC.

You need maybe six of those programs, to run your touch pad, etc.....the rest are just loading down your PC and doing you absolutely NO good at all.
In my own HJT log, there are less than four items in this section.

I won't tell you what to eliminate, since this is NOT the HJT section.
But it MUST be done if you're ever going to get that PC running right.

You asked the question about if adaware is a anti-virus program.
It looks for AD-Ware, and SPY-Ware,,,, NOT Viruses, Trojans, Dialers, Keyloggers and Worms.
You need a good Anti-Virus program like AVG 8.0 FREE to do that.
I would NEVER use Norton, McAfee, or even ZoneAlarm for my computer security.
All of those are way too HEAVY and suck up too many system resources.

Wasn't your original topic "is it me or my computer" ?(paraphrasing)
My answer has to be, "Both".
The little computer isn't very efficient anyway, loaded with junk, right out of the box, and then you've got three pounds of crap in a one pound bag. If you don't clean up that mess, your little PC will never run right.
Post your HJT log in the 'HJT Log' section and you'll get experienced help in minimizing the junk.

Forum rules dictate that we not try to analyze HJT logs here. Wink

Good Luck,
The Doctor Cool

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 924

Doc is right, & I must admit, I have a tendency to just skip over LONG, LONG posts at times. (especially HIJACKS - usually to "greek" anyway) So, sorry, really didn't look at it, my bad. -- Been a bad WEEK for me, all around. My apologizes for not being up to par.

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1548 Location: Central FL, USA

HJT logs, when you're on site and trying to get a PC running right would just be a waste of time. I never use HJT. Rolling Eyes

I go right to MSCONFIG and shutdown everything that's not required to run the computer. That leaves maybe three or four on a desktop and five or six on a Laptop. (Because the laptop needs the drivers for the touch pad. )
If the user is using an external mouse, those can be disabled too.

Then I look in the Startup folder to see what's been stuck in there by some program or another. Not needed? Out it goes!

Finally I run two scripts.....one to shut down about a dozen redundant Services and one to Tweak the Registry to improve performance and quicken shutdown time.

Finally, I go into ADD/Remove programs in the Control Panel and UN-Install all the WildTangent games, trials, demo's and anything else I find that's just not needed. (also, Norton, McAfee or any other bogus AV or AS software and any Rogues. )

Then I run a batch file on my Utilities CD to install my XPCleanup.bat program (VICleanup for Vista) and put a shortcut to it on the desktop. Then I run the program to clean out all the old temp files, and other junk files that have been stored on the HD since the PC was installed.
Sometimes that takes several minutes to run. Mad

Then I install AVG 8.0 FREE and Spybot Search & Destroy and get the latest updates and run a full scan with each.

If it's a Vista PC, I also set all screens and menu's to "Classic". Then turn off UAC. Don't forget to put the "My Computer" icon on the desktop before you select Classic Start Menu or you won't be able to find the "Computer" option. (Hint, Hint! )

Can you tell?....... I do this for a living! Wink

Making a laptop run like a real computer is DO'able, but it's NOT a five minute job. Typical Tune-Up time is about three hours. On a really screwed up PC, it can take four to five hours. Sad

Y'all have a great day now, Y'hear?
The Doctor Cool

goretsky

Hello,

I took a quick glance at your HijackThis log and did not see anything particularly malicious, however, there are quite a few programs starting on the computer each time it is turned on that probably do not need to run as they are either unnecessary, redundant or offer little benefit.

However, since the programs are not inherently malicious and you may want to run them once in a while, it might make more sense to just stop them from running each time the computer boots up, but leave them on the computer so you can use them when needed.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

pasquanel · Joined: Jun 20, 2005 Posts: 507 Location: Maine

I have been using WinPatrol for years now to control programs that load at startup. It's simple to use and is a free program!
The plus version which is available for a one time fee provides invaluable info on any program in your startup menu.
It also allows you to remove or simply disable any entry making it very simple to undo any opps you may make! Embarassed

It also provides protection from Trojans, Highjacks, Malware etc.
If like myself you have trouble discerning which startup programs are necessary and which are not WinPatrol is for you! Wink

You can get it here.....http://www.winpatrol.com/download.html

zlim · Joined: Mar 11, 2005 Posts: 2636

The scanning process, I discovered, is used by Zone Alarm's antivirus component. The aawservice is put there by AdAware, even though the free version can't use it, it is still consuming some of your CPU cycles.

I dumped AdAware when they started getting bloated. I use SpywareBlaster and SuperAntiSpyware which add no running processes. SuperAntiSpyware works the same as the old AdAware - I scan at my convenience. SpywareBlaster prevents most of the adware/spyware/nuisanceware from getting into the computer at all.

I also opt for an older version of ZoneAlarm that is just a firewall.
You can see here
http://www.oldversion.com/program.php?n=zalarm
how bloated ZA has become.
I run 4.5.594

You can remove AdAware and exchange ZA for an earlier version and see how that affects your computer's speed.

VegasAly · Joined: Jun 17, 2008 Posts: 12

As I've been advised, I'll be moving this thread to the Hijack This Logs shortly. I've been doing the preliminary steps advised on that log regarding running malwarebytes, AVG antivirus and superantispyware scans and will be posting those results asap.

Thank you so much for all of the help. The one step I've been advised on that I'm not so sure of is selecting which programs which are running during startup that aren't necessary. I'm not sure which ones are necessary and which aren't so not sure how to know which to uncheck. I will be downloading the Win Patrol as soon as the scans have completed and I've gotten the results posted.

Nisseviking · Joined: Aug 04, 2004 Posts: 47

Hello VegasAly

BlackViper has a great page that discusses what services can be disabled for various operating systems

zlim · Joined: Mar 11, 2005 Posts: 2636

Nisseviking, Windows services is not the same as having programs load at startup that are not needed. For example, Quicktime and RealPlayer used to insist on running when the computer started up, even though the need for them at startup wasn't there. So before we delve into windows services and confuse VegasAly, we want to be sure that two of the same type of program (like two antivrus programs) monitoring are not running. That will definitely slow down and possibly break any computer.