HijackThis Log...PC really slow

Hey guys,

For a while now my PC has been running really slowly. It takes forever to start up (and I mean FOREVER!, to the point where none of the things in msconfig can explain it), and whenever I try to open up a program (like Firefox, or Winamp) it takes forever to open them up, but once they are open it's fine. My PC runs fine until I ask it to do something, either opening a program, starting a certain task, etc. I've defragged my PC, I scan for viruses (NOD32) and scan for spyware/adware (Ad-Aware and Spybot Search & Destroy, and also Zonealarms spyware scanner). I've tried to get rid of any unecessary entries in msconfig (I tried taking away countless services, programs such as MSN, xfire, object dock, etc....but when taking away MSN etc, didn't make a single effect, I adding it back). Nothing has worked.

First, I'll give you my PC specs:

Computer Specs:

PC Model: HP Pavilion a1410n
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3800+ (Venice)
Clock: 2.4Ghz
Motherboard: Asus A8N-LA Socket 939, nVidia 6150 Chipset
Memory: 1024MB PC3200 DDR SDRAM (2 x 512mb)
GPU: nVidia GeForce 7300GS 512MB
HDD: 200GB
Operating System: Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 SP2

Now here's my HijackThis! Log:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 3:35:31 PM, on 30/04/2007
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.16414)

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:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\arservice.exe
C:\WINDOWS\eHome\ehRecvr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\eHome\ehSched.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7DEBUG\MDM.EXE
C:\Program Files\Eset\nod32krn.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllhost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\ARPWRMSG.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\RTHDCPL.EXE
C:\HP\KBD\KBD.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\RUNDLL32.EXE
C:\Program Files\Eset\nod32kui.exe
C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe
C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe
C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\usnsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Stardock\ObjectDock\ObjectDock.exe
C:\Program Files\Xfire\Xfire.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Program Files\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://ie.redirect.hp.com/svs/rdr?TYPE=3&tp=iehome&locale=EN_CA&c=Q106&bd=pavilion&pf=desktop
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://ie.redirect.hp.com/svs/rdr?TYPE=3&tp=iesearch&locale=EN_CA&c=Q106&bd=pavilion&pf=desktop
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.yahoo.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 Bar = http://ie.redirect.hp.com/svs/rdr?TYPE=3&tp=iesearch&locale=EN_CA&c=Q106&bd=pavilion&pf=desktop
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
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: HpWebHelper - {AAAE832A-5FFF-4661-9C8F-369692D1DCB9} - C:\WINDOWS\pchealth\helpctr\Vendors\CN=Hewlett-Packard,L=Cupertino,S=Ca,C=US\plugin\webhelper.dll
O3 - Toolbar: StylerToolBar - {D2F8F919-690B-4EA2-9FA7-A203D1E04F75} - (no file)
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AlwaysReady Power Message APP] ARPWRMSG.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RTHDCPL] RTHDCPL.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Recguard] C:\WINDOWS\SMINST\RECGUARD.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [KBD] C:\HP\KBD\KBD.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvMediaCenter] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvMcTray.dll,NvTaskbarInit
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nod32kui] "C:\Program Files\Eset\nod32kui.exe" /WAITSERVICE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [KernelFaultCheck] %systemroot%\system32\dumprep 0 -k
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ZoneAlarm Client] "C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Vistadrv] C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Administrator\My Documents\Vista Drive Status\vsdrv.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MsnMsgr] "C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [DAEMON Tools] "C:\Program Files\DAEMON Tools\daemon.exe" -lang 1033
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [igndlm.exe] C:\Program Files\IGN\Download Manager\DLM.exe /windowsstart /startifwork
O4 - Startup: Adobe Gamma.lnk = C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Calibration\Adobe Gamma Loader.exe
O4 - Startup: Stardock ObjectDock.lnk = C:\Program Files\Stardock\ObjectDock\ObjectDock.exe
O4 - Startup: Xfire.lnk = C:\Program Files\Xfire\Xfire.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~4\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~4\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: Run IMVU - {d9288080-1baa-4bc4-9cf8-a92d743db949} - C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Administrator\Start Menu\Programs\IMVU\Run IMVU.lnk (file missing)
O9 - Extra button: Internet Connection Help - {E2D4D26B-0180-43a4-B05F-462D6D54C789} - C:\WINDOWS\PCHEALTH\HELPCTR\Vendors\CN=Hewlett-Packard,L=Cupertino,S=Ca,C=US\IEButton\support.htm
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Internet Connection Help - {E2D4D26B-0180-43a4-B05F-462D6D54C789} - C:\WINDOWS\PCHEALTH\HELPCTR\Vendors\CN=Hewlett-Packard,L=Cupertino,S=Ca,C=US\IEButton\support.htm
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*
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://*.trymedia.com (HKLM)
O16 - DPF: {39B0684F-D7BF-4743-B050-FDC3F48F7E3B} (FilePlanet Download Control Class) - http://www.fileplanet.com/fpdlmgr/cabs/FPDC_2.3.4.105.cab
O16 - DPF: {5F8469B4-B055-49DD-83F7-62B522420ECC} (Facebook Photo Uploader Control) - http://upload.facebook.com/controls/FacebookPhotoUploader.cab
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/wuweb_site.cab?1164075356546
O16 - DPF: {8E0D4DE5-3180-4024-A327-4DFAD1796A8D} (MessengerStatsClient Class) - http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary/MessengerStatsClient.cab31267.cab
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://fpdownload2.macromedia.com/get/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab
O16 - DPF: {F6BF0D00-0B2A-4A75-BF7B-F385591623AF} (Solitaire Showdown Class) - http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary/SolitaireShowdown.cab31267.cab
O18 - Protocol: livecall - {828030A1-22C1-4009-854F-8E305202313F} - C:\PROGRA~1\MSNMES~1\MSGRAP~1.DLL
O18 - Protocol: msnim - {828030A1-22C1-4009-854F-8E305202313F} - C:\PROGRA~1\MSNMES~1\MSGRAP~1.DLL
O18 - Protocol: wlmailhtml - {03C514A3-1EFB-4856-9F99-10D7BE1653C0} - C:\Program Files\Windows Live Mail desktop\mailcomm.dll
O20 - Winlogon Notify: WBSrv - C:\PROGRA~1\Stardock\OBJECT~1\WINDOW~1\wbsrv.dll
O20 - Winlogon Notify: WgaLogon - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WgaLogon.dll
O21 - SSODL: WPDShServiceObj - {AAA288BA-9A4C-45B0-95D7-94D524869DB5} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\WPDShServiceObj.dll
O23 - Service: NOD32 Kernel Service (NOD32krn) - Eset - C:\Program Files\Eset\nod32krn.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (NVSvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
O23 - Service: TrueVector Internet Monitor (vsmon) - Zone Labs, LLC - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe

Thanks in advance.

 

First, CCleaner your computer. I know this might take forever, but on the other hand, it also might help

Also, try clearing your private data in Firefox, and also clear your Downloads window. This might help, as well as emptying your Recycle Bin.

Finally, this will also take forever, but run a Disk Cleanup Wizard (Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools). It took an hour for me (and my comp's squeaky clean! well, almost ) and it sped up my system noticeably.

There are a few things in your HijackThis log that are making Windows boot up slower than normal. It would help if you opened up HjT, did a scan, and placed checks beside the following:

O3 - Toolbar: StylerToolBar - {D2F8F919-690B-4EA2-9FA7-A203D1E04F75} - (no file)
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AlwaysReady Power Message APP] ARPWRMSG.EXE
O4 - Startup: Xfire.lnk = C:\Program Files\Xfire\Xfire.exe
O9 - Extra button: Run IMVU - {d9288080-1baa-4bc4-9cf8-a92d743db949} - C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Administrator\Start Menu\Programs\IMVU\Run IMVU.lnk (file missing)
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)

All entries that don't include (file missing) can be run manually.

You have a lack of O2s and O20s, which could potentially indicate Vundo. I'm not going to have you donwload VundoFix, because that would also take forever, so just rename HijackThis to asdf.exe. Do a scan and post another logfile. (Forever-land? Yep

 

I did everything you said. Here's my new log.

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 9:29:53 PM, on 01/05/2007
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.16414)

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:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\arservice.exe
C:\WINDOWS\eHome\ehRecvr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\eHome\ehSched.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7DEBUG\MDM.EXE
C:\Program Files\Eset\nod32krn.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllhost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\ARPWRMSG.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\RTHDCPL.EXE
C:\HP\KBD\KBD.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\RUNDLL32.EXE
C:\Program Files\Eset\nod32kui.exe
C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe
C:\Program Files\Stardock\ObjectDock\ObjectDock.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\usnsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Program Files\HijackThis\asdf.exe

O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0\bin\ssv.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RTHDCPL] RTHDCPL.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Recguard] C:\WINDOWS\SMINST\RECGUARD.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [KBD] C:\HP\KBD\KBD.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvMediaCenter] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvMcTray.dll,NvTaskbarInit
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nod32kui] "C:\Program Files\Eset\nod32kui.exe" /WAITSERVICE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ZoneAlarm Client] "C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MSConfig] C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\MSConfig.exe /auto
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MsnMsgr] "C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe" /background
O4 - Startup: Adobe Gamma.lnk = C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Calibration\Adobe Gamma Loader.exe
O4 - Startup: Stardock ObjectDock.lnk = C:\Program Files\Stardock\ObjectDock\ObjectDock.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~4\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~4\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: Internet Connection Help - {E2D4D26B-0180-43a4-B05F-462D6D54C789} - C:\WINDOWS\PCHEALTH\HELPCTR\Vendors\CN=Hewlett-Packard,L=Cupertino,S=Ca,C=US\IEButton\support.htm
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Internet Connection Help - {E2D4D26B-0180-43a4-B05F-462D6D54C789} - C:\WINDOWS\PCHEALTH\HELPCTR\Vendors\CN=Hewlett-Packard,L=Cupertino,S=Ca,C=US\IEButton\support.htm
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
O16 - DPF: {39B0684F-D7BF-4743-B050-FDC3F48F7E3B} (FilePlanet Download Control Class) - http://www.fileplanet.com/fpdlmgr/cabs/FPDC_2.3.4.105.cab
O16 - DPF: {5F8469B4-B055-49DD-83F7-62B522420ECC} (Facebook Photo Uploader Control) - http://upload.facebook.com/controls/FacebookPhotoUploader.cab
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/wuweb_site.cab?1164075356546
O16 - DPF: {8E0D4DE5-3180-4024-A327-4DFAD1796A8D} (MessengerStatsClient Class) - http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary/MessengerStatsClient.cab31267.cab
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://fpdownload2.macromedia.com/get/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab
O16 - DPF: {F6BF0D00-0B2A-4A75-BF7B-F385591623AF} (Solitaire Showdown Class) - http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary/SolitaireShowdown.cab31267.cab
O20 - Winlogon Notify: WBSrv - C:\PROGRA~1\Stardock\OBJECT~1\WINDOW~1\wbsrv.dll
O20 - Winlogon Notify: WgaLogon - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WgaLogon.dll
O21 - SSODL: WPDShServiceObj - {AAA288BA-9A4C-45B0-95D7-94D524869DB5} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\WPDShServiceObj.dll
O23 - Service: NOD32 Kernel Service (NOD32krn) - Eset - C:\Program Files\Eset\nod32krn.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (NVSvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
O23 - Service: TrueVector Internet Monitor (vsmon) - Zone Labs, LLC - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe


Also, I don't use any MS Office programs on this PC, so if there's anything in there relating to that which can be taken off, tell me. Thanks.

Edit: I've downloaded VundoFix, and I'm scanning right now.

 

Not even Microsoft Word? You evil

That doesn't really narrow things down... is your computer still deadly slow?

 

Well, I restarted before I started VundoFix. The startup is noticeably faster, but still not normal at all. I also tried to open TuneUp 2007 (while VundoFix is running) and I've noticed that it has opened much quicker then it has before. I tried opening the Control Panel, firefox, etc, and it seems to be much more responsive. However, there can still be some improvement.

Even after all this improvement, it still feels as if theres a virus or spyware on my PC that none of my virus or spyware scanners are detecting. In a way I'm hoping that VundoFix finds something so that I can fix it.

Edit: VundoFix didn't find anything. I've just finished uninstalling some of the last HP crap on my PC. I'm gonna go through everything again and uninstall anything i don't need...again! After that I'm gonna use Tuneup 2007's registry cleaner, and the i'll to a registry defrag. That should help (because I've heard some bad things about HP's crapware, so maybe theres some registry keys that aren't helping either....also a registry defrag is just as good as a HDD defrag). Then I'll see if I need to defrag my HDD. The last time I did that was in April, but you never know.

 

@DeadMan45:

You don't have to do this, but, I would backup whats important to you (i.e. family photos etc.) and reformat if its been >1-2 years since you did a full format and O.S. reinstall.

Just make sure you know where your CDs are for Windows etc. before you do it. Your product key should be on the side of your case and the Windows CD might be relabeled (and maybe redone) as an "HP Recovery" disk or similar.

I have a similar PC (AMD Athlon 64 3200+, 1GB DDR800, Gigabyte 6800 GT, 2x 74GB Raptors - RAID 0 and a 250GB Western Digital HDD. Antec 430W PSU)

It always seems to run pretty quick. You mentioned you defragged which is good. Did you re-analyze the HDD after it was done to make sure the defrag was successful?

Just wondering, how full is your HDD? Once they are >75% full, or even >50% in some scenarios, (from my own knowledge and experience) it considerably slows down your PC.

Peace

 

My PC is under 1 year old. It will be 1 year old this summer. My PC only came with a HP Recovery Disc, although the key number and windows info is still printed on the side of the PC. Am I able to completely format my HDD and then reinstall windows with that recovery disc? Or is it only used to restore your PC to how it was at the time of purchase? Also, after uninstalling some uneeded programs, my HDD is a little less than 50% full. So no problem there. And when I defragged my HDD (using Diskeeper), after it was done it showed a chart that was mostly blue (optimized files) with still a few pink files (not optimized, but not slow either), not including the green immovable files. I didn't defrag in safemode either. Is it better to do that?

Anyways, if doing all of what I explained doesn't help, I'm going chalk it up to good ol' HP (not), since nothing else can explain this, unless I have a very very new virus. In that case I'll just format using my HP Recovery disc.

 

edited by ddp

 

edited by ddp

 

@DeadMan45:

You should be fine with how new your system is. I wouldn't have suggested a format had I known how long you have had it.

The HP disk would probably restore your PC to how it was when you purchased it, but I am not 100% sure on that.

You don't need a real-time Anti-Spyware scanner and as long as you are careful you don't really need a Real-Time AV either. But, if you feel safer then go right ahead. Personally I would get rid of the real time Anti-Spyware scanner (keep the Anti-Virus scanner) and just do bi-weekly or monthly scans with Ad-Aware and Spybot.

I am not sure, based on what you have said, what would cause your PC to slow down. It seems based on your posts that it should be fine. NOD32 (you keep it updated right? ) would catch anything new pretty quick.

One thing that strangely helped my computer, I take my air compressor (just hold the nozzle a decent length away from the mobo!) about once every six months and get all the dust out. This helps it run cooler (more stable!) and helps things run smoother as well athough it doesn't provide a major boost.

 

i apologize, i guess i did not read the forum rules good enough. sorry for any inconviece i have caused to anyone especially deadman45. wont happen again. i guess you learn somthing new everyday. thanks, mike

 

I don't use the real-time scanning option on Spybot, or any spyware scanner. I only scan now and then. However, i do, and will keep using NOD32's real-time AV scan, as well as do a system scan now and then.

I nolong suspect of viruses. I always keep everything up to date, I scan regularly, and if none of these have detected anything (and NOD32 is very good) then I most likely don't have than type of problem. That that only leaves it to a 2 other options: 1) HP sucks, even though I have gotten rid of all of the HP crapware that I am aware of. Or 2)My CPU is running a little hot. Although I've checked my CPU Temp with Everest not too long ago. I guess cleaning my Fan wouldn't hurt though.

Also, it isn't a "high CPU usage" or "high memory usage" problem.

Edit: I'm on a differant PC ATM, but I had just talked to my bro on the phone just now and he was using my PC and just happened to mention that he noticed how much faster my PC was and that it also shutdown like lightning. So it could be fixed.

 

Oh, I though you mentioned using some sort of real-time Anti-Spyware in your 1st post. Sorry!

High CPU and Memory usage usually are not a problem but it depends on what you are doing when they occur.

When you get a chance cold boot (fully power down) your machine and see if you notice a difference before you did the stuff Fredil mentioned.

Let us know how it works out!

Peace

 

Being an hp machine you should have a partitioned harddrive, so in computer management or "my computer" you should see what appears to be two hdd's one will be FAT32 4-6GB in size and labled D ? the other is labeled C ? & is formatted in NTFS,on booting the comp you should see "for recovery options F8 or F10" F8 is to boot into safe mode ,F10 is for system recovery or reformat so hold f10 while comp boots.

Another way
In the programs list do you see "PC HELP & TO0LS" there should be a folder with a shortcut that says "COMPAQ SYSTEM RECOVERY" failing any of that check your computer manual or help & support in the programs list

EDIT: Forgot to mention do a defrag then if that still don't work it could be the harddrive is a 40GB 5400rpm model with 256MB ram,replace the hdd with a 7200rpm model hdd and increase ram to 1GB,You ask will it make a difference,my answer "BOY" it's like supercharging a car you will not believe the difference,but to image the hdd to another you will still need to reformat so that everything is nice and compacted before data transfer,don't forget that the more programs you install that start on bootup will cause slowness as well as laggy apps

You can email microsoft for the free SP2 update cd it'll save downloading thru MS update

 

@ Pop_Smith

I'll do that sometime tomorrow when I get the chance. I'll definately tell you guys how it works out.

@ scorpNZ

Yea, whenever I boot up my PC it always shows that recover console as an option. I'll either try that or use my HP Recovery disc if I feel the need to format. Also My HDD is 7200rpm, and I have 1gb RAM, and that's how it was when I bought it.

But, I think I'm going to go ahead and get Vista Home Premium (full, not upgrade) soon, and maybe even another 1gb Ram, just in case. Until then, I'm going to do everything you've all said, and if it doesn't work, I'll just bare with it and get Vista as soon as I can. If I do, would it be better to use the full format option on the Vista disc, or should I download the formating tool provided by my HDD manufacturer?

Thank you all for your help, I'll give you guys an update tomorrow.

 

I missed the specs of your machine,it's slightly faster than mine so should really be as quick i would advise to search thru tech republic ,zdnet archives for tweaks to speed up xp there are a number that can improve it which are not set by default and are not easy to find, there's also a registry tweak to defrag the boot files on the hdd

Re-reading your post it seems you've done all you can apart from running microsofts ram checker,it would seem a reformat is due but when reinstalling apps make sue there's no useless add-ons that are getting installed you know like install ccleaner and it asks you if you want yahoo etc,installing winamp and it has emusic ticked etc

http://www.processlibrary.com/quickaccess/ OK this tool will give details of what each process is in the task manager, which in turn will tell you if you can use ccleaners tool button "startup" ,to delete registry entries that start up programs when you can manually start them if you don't use them from day to day ,as an example i'll give a couple of processes you may see that can have the startup registry entries removed safely below

QTTIME = Quicktime player-automatically starts the quicktime app at boot it's an unecessary entry and is safe to delete

hpsysdrv = it's safe to delete that registry startup entry it just logs the amount of recoveries you've done nothing more

you'll need to use process library to see if any other entries you have are safe to remove,i'm not talking about removing apps or programs just removing their startup entries as most progs can be manually started unless it's a SYSTEM entry which should be left alone but only if it's a windows system process

lastly you're going to like this little app,there's two versions,download both but try the non install one first it'll give you an idea of why i've suggested it as the website is nothing to go by it's called RegToy
http://greenfield.kn.googlepages.com/home

You have enough room to dual boot vista on a second partition tho for performace and space sake i'd install it on a 2ndry hdd and dual boot that way,as you can then keep xp for the main work horse and use vista with very few installed apps for speed,i dual boot xp that way the 2nd hdd has the bare minimum installed and is real fast compared to the main hdd even tho both hdd's are the same size as yours and speed,oh by the way hdd's have different caches 8MB,16MB etc which can help speed things up a little

 

Christ my posts are getting longer...lol..

XP TWEAKS,you'll need to signup then you can download this to help with speeding things up some what,it would'nt hurt to subscribe to some of their tech emails they have stacks free download helpfull tips and software

http://downloads.techrepublic.com.com/download.aspx?&tag=nl.e101&docid=173620&promo=100511

http://downloads.techrepublic.com.com/abstract.aspx?docid=172663&tag=nl.e101

http://downloads.techrepublic.com.com/download.aspx?&tag=nl.e101&docid=178791&promo=100511

http://downloads.techrepublic.com.com/download.aspx?&tag=nl.e101&docid=172641&promo=100511

 

Nevermind. Sorry

 

DeadMan45, stay away from vista at least til sp1 comes out.