Fighting with CPU usage and general slowness

[PaulPool]

A couple months ago my CPU was steady at 100%, and it really slowed my eMachines T3256 down. (Yeah I know it's an old and weak computer) I did the usual scanning, cleaning, deleting, it wasn't enough. I did some research on turning off running services, that brought my CPU to about 25% and holding. Over time it went down a little bit more, but it was bearable.

For the past couple days it started shooting up to 100% again. Also, it would come back down to the teen's, but still doing anything was ridiculously slow even at those levels. So I spent the afternoon working on it. Here's what I did:

Update and run Malwarebytes, found two trojans.
Update and run Ad-aware, found 1 High-risk malware of TAI value of 10, restarted. (my younger siblings use this computer, so I have to fix their messes)
Update and run CCleaner registry and cleaner repeatedly, and with Tools uninstalled a couple programs as well as deleting all but 5 restore points and turned off all but the necessary startup programs.
Ran the Windows Disk Cleanup after it, and that cleaned a lot of files and compressed stuff.
Did Windows Microsoft update, twice.
Uninstalled a few more programs that I could find.
Cleaned my desktop of unused files pictures and folders, and then moved everything that wasn't a shortcut to my documents. (Much less cluttered desktop now)
Deleted cookies and history from browsers.
Defragmented disk.

Particularly I noticed that my Internet browsers are huge hogs of the CPU, taking it all up when I run them. After doing all that my computer is running better, but still not at what it should be. I have Comcast ISP. Here is my hijackthis log file. Is there anything I'm missing?

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 6:36:30 PM, on 12/9/2009
Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v8.00 (8.00.6001.18702)
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\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\TGTSoft\StyleXP\StyleXPService.exe
C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware\AAWService.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Findbasic\findbasic139.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Viewpoint\Common\ViewpointService.exe
C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\AIM\aim.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\mmc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\DfrgNtfs.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
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
O1 - Hosts: ::1 localhost
O1 - Hosts: 91.212.127.227 antiviraprof2009.microsoft.com
O1 - Hosts: 91.212.127.227 antiviraprof2009.com
O1 - Hosts: 91.212.127.227 www.antiviraprof2009.com
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: Windows Live Sign-in Helper - {9030D464-4C02-4ABF-8ECC-5164760863C6} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live\WindowsLiveLogin.dll
O2 - BHO: JQSIEStartDetectorImpl - {E7E6F031-17CE-4C07-BC86-EABFE594F69C} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\lib\deploy\jqs\ie\jqs_plugin.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LXBUCATS] rundll32 C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\DRIVERS\W32X86\3\LXBUtime.dll,_RunDLLEntry@16
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [STYLEXP] C:\Program Files\TGTSoft\StyleXP\StyleXP.exe -Hide
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Aim] "C:\Program Files\AIM\aim.exe" /d locale=en-US
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-20\..\Run: [velomaruvi] Rundll32.exe "C:\WINDOWS\system32\najebofi.dll",s (User 'NETWORK SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\Run: [DWQueuedReporting] "C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\MICROS~1\DW\dwtrig20.exe" -t (User 'SYSTEM')
O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\Run: [DWQueuedReporting] "C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\MICROS~1\DW\dwtrig20.exe" -t (User 'Default user')
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Reader Speed Launch.lnk = C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\reader_sl.exe
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {CD67F990-D8E9-11d2-98FE-00C0F0318AFE} - (no file)
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
O14 - IERESET.INF: START_PAGE_URL=http://www.emachines.com
O16 - DPF: {0CCA191D-13A6-4E29-B746-314DEE697D83} (Facebook Photo Uploader 5 Control) - http://upload.facebook.com/controls/2008.10.10_v5.5.8/FacebookPhotoUploader5.cab
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://www.update.microsoft.com/win...ls/en/x86/client/wuweb_site.cab?1192989359741
O16 - DPF: {70BA88C8-DAE8-4CE9-92BB-979C4A75F53B} (GSDACtl Class) - http://launch.gamespyarcade.com/software/launch/alaunch.cab
O16 - DPF: {AA07EBD2-EBDD-4BD6-9F8F-114BD513492C} (NeffyLauncherCtl Class) - http://disteng.nefficient.com/disteng/neffy/NeffyLauncher.cab
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://fpdownload2.macromedia.com/get/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553550000} - http://fpdownload2.macromedia.com/get/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab
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: Findbasic Service - Unknown owner - C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Findbasic\findbasic139.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: Java Quick Starter (JavaQuickStarterService) - Sun Microsystems, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe
O23 - Service: Lavasoft Ad-Aware Service - Lavasoft - C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware\AAWService.exe
O23 - Service: lxbu_device - Lexmark International, Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\lxbucoms.exe
O23 - Service: StyleXPService - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\TGTSoft\StyleXP\StyleXPService.exe
O23 - Service: Viewpoint Manager Service - Viewpoint Corporation - C:\Program Files\Viewpoint\Common\ViewpointService.exe

--
End of file - 5757 bytes

 

[x5frt]

My answer to you is to reformat your computer. I takes only 30 mins. I personally wont waste time on this.
Please backup your photos and precious files

 

[PaulPool]

After restarting, then shutting down and letting the computer sit for a bit, it seems to be running somewhat like it was before. It's been a while since I've blown the dust out of the inside of the case... but that shouldn't be affecting my performance to this degree. Still gets slower when I'm running even a couple things, but then again this pc is a few years old I can't expect it to run like it did when I first bought it. However, this happened last time too, and then later, bam, went up to 100% cpu again. That is why I posted on here.

I downloaded Kaspersky Anti-virus 2010. After running the smart scan I clicked on report on the top right. I didn't see any log to post, just the graphs... but it didn't find anything.

 

[linkin]

What you need is CCleaner, Auslogics Disk Defrag and Auslogics Registry Cleaner. they are all free.

 

[PaulPool]

I have CCleaner already. Here is the report from the Registry cleaner:

Registry keys processed: 22455
Registry problems found: 382
Registry problems fixed: 382
Failed to remove: 0
Registry cleaning started: 12/10/2009 11:38:53 AM
Registry cleaning finished: 12/10/2009 11:39:01 AM
Total time: 8 second(s)
Computer performance before: 100.0%
Performance gain: < 1%

And the registry defrag:

Registry hives processes: 9
Registry analysis started: 11:45:10 am
Registry analysis finished: 11:45:22 am
Registry analysis total time: 0 minutes 12 seconds
Registry size before: 44,912.0 Kb
Registry size after: 41,636.0 Kb
Registry size improvement:
7.3%
Performance improvement:
2.6%

It is noticeably faster. I'll report more when I have a chance to test out it better becuase I gtg now.

 

[linkin]

You need the Disk Defrag, as in HDD. If you want the easy way out, and if you have windows install discs, just reformat your computer.

You'll need all your drivers first, specificall: GPU, Network, add in cards etc, and all the programs that you use like firefox etc.

Reformatting is easy, you just stick the CD in your drive and restart, it should boot from the disc. the rest is straightfoward.

Out of curiosity, what CPU are you using?

 

[PaulPool]

I have an eMachines T3256, so AMD Athlon XP 3200+ Processor 512MB PC2700 DDR Memory 160GB 7,200rpm HD. I'm burning rubber here, haha.

Sorry I misread your post, I saw defrag and clicked on the Registry defrag.

And no I don't have the disk anymore. I don't remember how I reformatted last time without it, but I did somehow. Here's the report from the disk defrag:

Disk Size 149.05 GB
Free Space Size 115.14 GB
Clusters 39072080
Sectors per cluster 8
Bytes per sector 512
Started defragmentation at 12/10/2009 6:41:58 PM
Completed defragmentation at 12/10/2009 6:45:04 PM
Elapsed time 00:03:06
Total Files 85727
Total Directories 7894
Fragmented Files 1573
Defragmented Files 1573
Skipped Files 0
Fragmentation Before 2.05% ||
Fragmentation After 0.00%

It seems to be more-or-less back to normal, I know I can't expect much. My next computer I am building myself, but becuase of other expenses it keeps getting pushed to the back burner.

 

[linkin]

Glad you got your computer working normal. i just fixed mine, it wouldn't boot. Had to reseat my CPU and Memory before it worked again.

 

[PaulPool]

I was doing some research on software overclocking, and found nTune for my Nvidia card from here http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/overclocking-software,2059.html

Did the 3 hour fine tuning, and it seemed to really put the polish on the priming I did with your guys help. It's running at satisfactorily acceptable for a computer this age. Though when I try to up the system clock it crashes, even by the smallest increment. Oh well. The error window at startup also disappeared. Just wanted to share as that site seemed like it had a good list of freeware, sorry for the bump.