On Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:08:33 -0700, "myobic" <mind DeleteThis @yourownbiz.com>
wrote:
>I have no problem with my own computer (XP sp3) and Norton 360 when it comes
>to slowness or suspicion of spyware or virus activity
>However, my wife's computer hers keeps slowing down. I never seem to get it
>to speed up much- and a week later she is taking 10 minutes to start up,
>mouse is very slow to respond, doesn't like to go online (IE is very slow,
>freezes) however system resources are around 0-14% with all this slowness...
>I suspect outside use/intrusion...
>
>I have a router/firewall, so it has to be an outside website she has
>visited- she's a teacher, so she visits lots of 'forwarded emails' and
>researches lots of pictures through google.. .so I suspect some kind of
>intusion that way... but I don't see it like I might have on my own
>computer. (when someone is careful and can correlate activity and messages
>with slowdowns...vs when computers slow down and no one pays attention to
>installed 'stuff' it can get very frustrating and my wife gets upset with me
>for her problems <G>.)... sort of like running out of gas and then blaming
>hubby for not paying attention to the gas gage...
>
>booting up in safe mode took a very long time- it got hung up on something-
>it was very late and I forgot to write down what it was.
Thats a pity, try again.
>(should I
>re-install XP over itself? what are the risks?)
Yes, but that is a lengthy procedure with moderate chance of success.
The risk is that you loose a lot of time for none or little result.
>can anyone recommend a
>good drive scan/speed/drive health utility?
Free version of HD Tune. On the site of the manufaturer of the hdd you
will very probably find a util for testing health.
>
>details:
>System: xp sp3 IE8 computer less than 3 years old, 2GB RAM
>runs Norton AV Windows Firewall.
>
>I have scanned with Gould's "Cleanup" util, Glary Utils, malwarebytes.org
>virus scan (clean). Adware scan, Spybot S&D, Spyware blaster....
>
>I have looked at msconfig- have tried to eliminate some overhead- don't see
>anything that alarms me...yet... but way too much stuff appears there...
>turned it off to no avail. I think I will have to try uninstalling a bunch
>of stuff to see how that goes.
>
Asks your wife which of the installed software is not really necessary
en deinstall.
>Thanks
>
I am no expert, just a user with some experience.
1. Googling on 'computer slow' or something like that will learn you
much about this kind of problems.
2. General measures with a slow computer:
- use Ccleaner (make many settings!)for cleaning up
- scanning for viruses: perhaps Norton does not catch this virus (if
virus it is) so try one of the online virusscans that are offered for
free on the Web.
- Scan for malware other then viruses. You already did but you could
try SuperAntiSpyware too (free version).
- Take a look in the logbooks for system, applications and security.
Anything alarming?
She has XP SP3 but did she miss any security update because it did not
want to install?
IE8 causes still many problems for a bunch of users, deinstalling 8
makes IE7 reappear: has IE7 then all of its updates? If not, do
update.
Reinstalling Norton sometimes helps.
My 2 cents.
Massimo
Computer Security