Super Slow desktop, need some 1st grader language please

B

Breathe

New Member
Hi - my desktop is SUPER slow. Everything takes forever. It is an older machine -- from 2001... :eek:
I tried to search through this forum to get some help but unfortunately, your terminology is completely over my head :confused: .
Can anyone here help a basic user?

I don't use my computer for anything other than email, basic stuff, internet surfing. There is no gaming or any DVD watching or anything here...

I've got TrendMicro scanning everything. I've run Ad-Aware and it is clear....

Any help is appreciated. I'd like to just dump this off somewhere and have someone just clean it up but I'm broke and in a bad spot at the moment. Anything you can do to point me in the right direction would be great.

And - while I don't know much of the lingo, I can follow directions easy -- so if you need more info on my desktop, just tell me how to get it and I'll post it!

TIA!;)
 
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/support/howto/download.mspx

Now then, download and install all those. Be sure every thing's up to date(they should give the option to update when you run them) Once everythings good, restart your machine. Right before the Windows XP(assuming that's what you're running) appears, start pressing F5. You should get a screen with an option for "Safe Mode" Select this and let your PC do it's thing. Once in safe mode, you should hopfully see an Administrator option. Select this. Run all the scanners you have(virus, spyware, etc etc) After this, reboot your machine to normal mode.

If you're still having issues(or if nothing was found) run Hijackthis
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download3155.html
Save a log and post it here. You can skip the above steps and go right to this if you want, but I suspect you just have lots of spyware...
 
try super AVG free, superantispyware, and Spybot search and destroy.
Also, you can try to delete all your temp files and stuff. www.ccleaner.com is a good tool for this.

type msconfig in the run command. the 2 tabs on the right should be start up and services. Check the hide all microsoft products. Then, uncheck anything you dont need, ie messengers and other stuff that doesnt need to be running in the background
 
OK, I ran everything and there is some minimal improvement (I think) -- I should play more before I come to a conclusion.

I decided to run Hijackthis after everything else in case there is anything else that I need to do... Here are the results:
Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 9:32:08 AM, on 1/27/2007
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.5730.0011)

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:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MsMpEng.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgamsvr.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgupsvc.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~1\PcCtlCom.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~1\Tmntsrv.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~1\tmproxy.exe
C:\Program Files\Linksys Wireless-G Wireless Network Monitor\WLService.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~1\TmPfw.exe
C:\Program Files\Linksys Wireless-G Wireless Network Monitor\WMP54GS.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\devldr32.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgcc.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\Internet Security 2006\pccguide.exe
C:\Program Files\MEDIC\bin\sprtcmd.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_09\bin\jusched.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\1.2.1128.5462\GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe
C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\TeaTimer.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\BRMFRSMG.EXE
C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office10\OUTLOOK.EXE
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\WINWORD.EXE
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE
C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\hijackthis\HijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.cnn.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 Explorer\Main,Window Title = Road Runner High Speed Online
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_09\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar3.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar3.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVG7_CC] C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgcc.exe /STARTUP
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [pccguide.exe] "C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\Internet Security 2006\pccguide.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MEDIC] "C:\Program Files\MEDIC\bin\sprtcmd.exe" /P MEDIC
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_09\bin\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MSMSGS] "C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [swg] C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\1.2.1128.5462\GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ccleaner] "C:\Program Files\CCleaner\ccleaner.exe" /AUTO
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SpybotSD TeaTimer] C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\TeaTimer.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Reader Speed Launch.lnk = C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\reader_sl.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\OSA.EXE
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office10\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_09\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_09\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - %windir%\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - %windir%\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe (file missing)
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: [INTERNATIONAL] International*
O16 - DPF: {01113300-3E00-11D2-8470-0060089874ED} (Support.com Configuration Class) - http://activation.rr.com/install/downloads/tgctlcm.cab
O16 - DPF: {8AD9C840-044E-11D1-B3E9-00805F499D93} (Java Runtime Environment 1.5.0) - http://javadl-esd.sun.com/update/1.5.0/jinstall-1_5_0_09-windows-i586-jc.cab
O23 - Service: AVG7 Alert Manager Server (Avg7Alrt) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgamsvr.exe
O23 - Service: AVG7 Update Service (Avg7UpdSvc) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgupsvc.exe
O23 - Service: Google Updater Service (gusvc) - Google - C:\Program Files\Google\Common\Google Updater\GoogleUpdaterService.exe
O23 - Service: Trend Micro Central Control Component (PcCtlCom) - Trend Micro Incorporated. - C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~1\PcCtlCom.exe
O23 - Service: Trend Micro Real-time Service (Tmntsrv) - Trend Micro Incorporated. - C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~1\Tmntsrv.exe
O23 - Service: Trend Micro Personal Firewall (TmPfw) - Trend Micro Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~1\TmPfw.exe
O23 - Service: Trend Micro Proxy Service (tmproxy) - Trend Micro Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~1\tmproxy.exe
O23 - Service: WMP54GSSVC - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Linksys Wireless-G Wireless Network Monitor\WLService.exe" "WMP54GS.exe (file missing)

Means nothing to me so thanks in advance for letting me know what it all means! Do I "fix checked" on any of these?

jasonz - I had a look but I didn't see anything that I could disable on those 2 tabs. I'm not really sure what they all mean though. On Services, it looks like AVG7 stuff and Trend Micro stuff and Windows Defender. Under Startup, there is Google Toolbar Notifier (??), Java Jusched (??), Medic sprtcmd (??)ctfmon (??) - I have no idea what this is -- the rest looks like AVG and Trend Micro, CC Cleaner, Spybot, Microsoft Office, and Adobe Reader something.

THANKS very much for your help....

I downloaded RegCleaner a week or so ago (based on stuff I read here about slow pcs) but to be honest, I was completely clueless about what to do with it. I'm going to just put that on the back burner until I get a handle on this other stuff you all have mentioned (much more understandable for a 1st grader!).

Do I need to run Spybot and Windows Defender every so often? If so, I'll set a reminder to do it.

Also, I'm up for renewal of Trend Micro --- keep it or is it just not cleaning enough? I would imagine that if I'm paying something for security, then it should have caught the things that Spybot and Defender caught, right?? Now I'm wondering if that is $$ down the drain.

Thanks very very much... I wish there was a "worship/bow down" smiley on this board but I don't see one!
 
Is there any reason you have trend and AVG installed? Having both running certinally couldn't help your performance.

I see a few processes that could be removed, but nothing looks bad... Perhaps you're just expecting too much out of your computer :P
 
OK - thanks! I removed Trend Micro. I added AVG free spyware (I only had the virus one).

So, my plan now, is to monthly:
Check AVG Free Virus for updates and then run it.
Check AVG Free Spyware for updates and then run it.
Check Spybot for updates and then run it.
Check Windows Defender for updates and then run it.
Check CC Cleaner fur updates and then run it.

Seem right? Should I do any of it more frequently than monthly?

Thanks so much. I am noticing improvement and I'll just know that the rest is the best for my pc. :D
 
Not sure if this has been posted yet, but have your done a simple Disk cleanup / Defrag

Could also do a registry defrag, also Adaware SE may be able to help

Just some extra suggestions.. :)
 
That's where the 1st grader language helps --- how do I do a simple disk cleanup defrag? Registry defrag - ?

I have done adware....
Thanks!
 
avg products check for updates and scan your computer automatically on startup of the computer(for me thats daily)and it should be as avg has a lot of updates

to do a disk cleanup click start>my computer>right-click your c drive>select properties>there should be a button that says disk cleanup

to defrag do the same thing but after your in the properties window select the tools tab and click on defragment now(then select your c drive and click on defragment)
 
Last edited:
Breathe said:
That's where the 1st grader language helps --- how do I do a simple disk cleanup defrag? Registry defrag - ?

I have done adware....
Thanks!
Click to expand...

CCleaner has a built in reg cleaner, i think its the issues button. One of those on the left.

And if you do any iffy web brousing, you may want to run the spyware/malware a little more frequently.
 
Thanks everyone! I've done everything!

You know, when I do the disk cleanup it shows that 94% of my disk is free... so I guess it isn't so much space that is causing things to be so slow.

Anyhow, it is much improved.

One final thought -- when I do the registry cleaning (and I think this also came up with Spybot and/or Defender), it asks if I want a registry backup. I've said yes so far but I'm assuming I don't want to keep a bunch of backups, right? Can I delete the older one after each run? Do I even need to do this (keep a backup) considering how I use my pc?
Also - when it finds issues, I've just selected the option for it to Fix All... I mean, as a 1st grader, I don't really understand what it has to do to fix it....
Again, for what I'm using my pc for, I take it I'm not going to really run into problems in general by doing this - right?

Yes, yes, one day, I'll figure this stuff all out. In fact, it is something I'm interested in. But at the moment, I'm at home (not working) with a baby so my time (and $$) is hard find.

Thanks again -- I hope this post can help others checking in that don't get the lingo yet either!!!
 
Backing up the registry, if you choose to do so, makes a really small text file and will not really affect you HD. And i just realized how young you are. Seem smart for a 10 year old. Welcome to the forum. You can get a lot here.
 
jasonz said:
Backing up the registry, if you choose to do so, makes a really small text file and will not really affect you HD. And i just realized how young you are. Seem smart for a 10 year old. Welcome to the forum. You can get a lot here.
Click to expand...

I seriously doubt he's 10 with a child :rolleyes: that's his post count not age
 
Nor am I male ... ;)

I was just going to respond to the other poster....

I do have a 10-month old but I'm 20 or so years older than 10! :eek:
 
Gents (or Ladies) -
One final question --- when I run Spybot and Defender, MUST I be in safe mode? Maybe I'm lazy.... I'd rather just run it straight away.
Thanks again!
 
Breathe said:
Gents (or Ladies) -
One final question --- when I run Spybot and Defender, MUST I be in safe mode? Maybe I'm lazy.... I'd rather just run it straight away.
Thanks again!
Click to expand...

You run it in safemode only when your computer is malfunctioning in its normal operations. If you're just doing a routine scan, then you can just run it right away.
 
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