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Resolved Need to speed up very slow computer this weekend

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by Barry, 2013/11/09.

  1. 2013/11/09
    Barry

    Barry Geek Member Thread Starter

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    I'm visiting my mother this weekend and want to speed up her very slow computer. So far, this is what I have done:
    Uninstalled Bitdefender 2012
    Installed Microsoft Security Essentials
    Run: Malwarebytes, Ccleaner, Auslogics Defrag and Auslogics Registry Defrag, ADWCleaner, JRT.
    All programs are slow to startup and run.

    These are the programs that run on startup:
    ctfmon.exe
    Adobe ARM
    DivX Download Manager
    ISUSPM Startup
    MSC
    Quick Time Task
    WMC_AutoUpdate

    IE
    Diagnose Connection Problems
    Messenger
    DivX HiQ
    DivX Plus Web Player
    DriveLetterAccess
    Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper
    JQSIEStartDetectorImpl Class

    Firefox
    Adblock Plus
    Adblock Plus Pop-up Addon
    Element Hiding Helper for Adblock Plus
    IE Tab +
    IE Tab 2
    Adobe Acrobat
    DivX OVS Helper Plug-in
    DivX Web Player
    Google Earth Plugin
    Google Update
    IE Tab Plug-in 2.0.
    IE Tab Plug-in 2.2.
    Java Deployment Toolkit
    Microsoft® DRM
    Microsoft® DRM
    Picasa
    Shockwave Flash
    Silverlight Plug-In
    Virtual Earth 3D 4.00100226006 plugin
    Windows Media Player Plug-in
    Windows Presentation Foundation
    Yahoo Application State Plugin

    Chrome
    Gmail
    Google Search
    You Tube

    Scheduled Tasks
    Adobe Flash Player Updater
    GoogleUpdateTaskMachineCore
    GoogleUpdateTaskMachineUA
    Microsoft Antimalware Scheduled Scan
    MpIdleTask
    PCDoctorBackgroundMonitorTask
    SystemToolsDailyTest

    Context Menu
    Directory Browse with Paint Shop Pro
    Directory MBAMShlExt
    Directory WinRAR
    Drive Browse with Paint Shop Pro Studio
    Drive DriveLetterAccess
    File MBAMShlExt
    File WinRAR
    File Yahoo! Mail

    I'll only be here for the next 37 hours, so I need to do this quickly. What recommendations do you have?

    Also, please let me know which of the startup programs don't need to be running. For instance, PCDoctor was uninstalled from this computer years ago and doesn't show up in add/remove programs, so probably could be turned off.
    This is an old Dell desktop
    Dell Dimension DIM3000
    Intel(R)
    Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.80GHz
    2.79 GHz, 1.00 GB of RAM
    WinXP Home Edition SP3
     
    Last edited: 2013/11/09
  2. 2013/11/09
    MrBill

    MrBill SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    Quick time and Adobe Arm don't need to run on startup. How are you disabling these start up items. Hope not from MSConfig. Probably doesn't need Quick Time to start with.

    http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml The first one that is 59 KB is the one you want. Pretty simple to use. Look thru all the tabs when you get it downloaded and running. Stop what you want then reboot.

    More RAM would not hurt either. 1 GIG isn't much. You can go to Crucial and they have a program that you can run and will show you what you have and what can be added. Don't have to get it from them. http://www.crucial.com/systemscanner/ Download the scanner. When you are finished, it will uninstall itself. It is good at what it does.
     

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  4. 2013/11/09
    James Martin

    James Martin Geek Member

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  5. 2013/11/09
    Barry

    Barry Geek Member Thread Starter

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    Thank you for your feedback. I used Ccleaner to disable Quicktime and Adobe ARM, along with PCDoctor and Browse with Paint Shop Pro. Any other suggestions as to what else to disable?
    I talked with her about buying a 2GB kit, but she isn't ready to make that move.
    What other suggestions might be out there?
     
  6. 2013/11/09
    Barry

    Barry Geek Member Thread Starter

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    I used http://www.shouldiremoveit.com/index.aspx and http://pcdecrapifier.com/, but they primarily focus on unnecessary programs, not ones that run behind the scenes, like startup programs. I did disable the install shield, as suggested by the second program, so I no longer have ISUSPM starting up.
    What about the browser programs listed, along with the scheduled tasks and context menu?
    Are there other suggestions of programs to run or changes I can make in this computer by Sunday?
     
  7. 2013/11/09
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Hi Barry.

    Under Startup programs remove the following entries:

    DivX Download Manager

    WMC_AutoUpdate

    For the scheduled tasks remove the following:

    PCDoctorBackgroundMonitorTask

    SystemToolsDailyTest


    Download HijackThis to the desktop. Run the program and on the Main Menu click the button that says Do a system scan and save a logfile. Post the HijackThis log in your next reply.

    Run Check Disk on the hard drive to repair any errors in the file system. To do this click Start< My Computer. Right click on your hard drive and click on Properties. Then once the hard drive properties dialog box opens, click on the Tools Tab. Under where it says Error-checking click on the Check Now button. Ensure that both the Automatically fix file system errors and the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors checkboxes are both checked. After that is done click on the Start button. Check Disk will ask you to schedule the disk check when you restart the computer. Click on yes to do this and then restart the computer to allow check disk to run.

    Have you installed all the latest updates for Windows XP?
     
  8. 2013/11/09
    Barry

    Barry Geek Member Thread Starter

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    Evan, WMC_AutoUpdate refused to be disabled, so any suggestions you may have would be appreciated. It didn't respond at all. I was hesitant to disable SystemToolsDailyTest, as it looks like it is part of the Dell system, but I did disable it, along with the other items. I'm posting the Hijack This log, and then I'll restart the computer for the disk check. Thanks.

    Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.4
    Scan saved at 2:04:35 PM, on 11/9/2013
    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\csrss.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\Microsoft Security Client\MsMpEng.exe
    C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
    C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
    C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
    C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
    C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
    C:\Program Files\Microsoft Security Client\msseces.exe
    C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
    C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
    C:\WINDOWS\system32\HPZipm12.exe
    C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
    C:\WINDOWS\System32\alg.exe
    C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
    c:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v3.0\WPF\PresentationFontCache.exe
    C:\Program Files\CCleaner\CCleaner.exe
    C:\Documents and Settings\millie\Desktop\HijackThis.exe
    C:\WINDOWS\system32\wbem\wmiprvse.exe

    R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://www.dell4me.com/myway
    R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://search.piccshare.com/?channel=sfus304
    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
    O2 - BHO: Increase performance and video formats for your HTML5 <video> - {326E768D-4182-46FD-9C16-1449A49795F4} - C:\Program Files\DivX\DivX Plus Web Player\npdivx32.dll
    O2 - BHO: Use the DivX Plus Web Player to watch web videos with less interruptions and smoother playback on supported sites - {593DDEC6-7468-4cdd-90E1-42DADAA222E9} - C:\Program Files\DivX\DivX Plus Web Player\npdivx32.dll
    O2 - BHO: PCTools Site Guard - {5C8B2A36-3DB1-42A4-A3CB-D426709BBFEB} - (no file)
    O2 - BHO: DriveLetterAccess - {5CA3D70E-1895-11CF-8E15-001234567890} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\dla\tfswshx.dll
    O2 - BHO: PCTools Browser Monitor - {B56A7D7D-6927-48C8-A975-17DF180C71AC} - (no file)
    O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - {DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jp2ssv.dll
    O2 - BHO: JQSIEStartDetectorImpl - {E7E6F031-17CE-4C07-BC86-EABFE594F69C} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\lib\deploy\jqs\ie\jqs_plugin.dll
    O3 - Toolbar: (no name) - {42CDD1BF-3FFB-4238-8AD1-7859DF00B1D6} - (no file)
    O3 - Toolbar: (no name) - {0B53EAC3-8D69-4b9e-9B19-A37C9A5676A7} - (no file)
    O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MSC] "c:\Program Files\Microsoft Security Client\msseces.exe" -hide -runkey
    O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
    O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\Run: [Spyware Doctor] "C:\Program Files\Spyware Doctor\swdoctor.exe" /Q (User 'SYSTEM')
    O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\Run: [Spyware Doctor] "C:\Program Files\Spyware Doctor\swdoctor.exe" /Q (User 'Default user')
    O8 - Extra context menu item: + &Download Express: download this file - C:\Program Files\Download Express\Add_Url.htm
    O8 - Extra context menu item: Add to Google Photos Screensa&ver - res://C:\WINDOWS\system32\GPhotos.scr/200
    O9 - Extra button: Spyware Doctor - {2D663D1A-8670-49D9-A1A5-4C56B4E14E84} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\shdocvw.dll
    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
    O15 - Trusted Zone: http://software.canon-europe.com
    O15 - Trusted Zone: http://www.usa.canon.com
    O15 - Trusted Zone: *.dell.com
    O18 - Protocol: skype4com - {FFC8B962-9B40-4DFF-9458-1830C7DD7F5D} - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\Skype\SKYPE4~1.DLL
    O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: Browseui preloader - {438755C2-A8BA-11D1-B96B-00A0C90312E1} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\browseui.dll
    O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: Component Categories cache daemon - {8C7461EF-2B13-11d2-BE35-3078302C2030} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\browseui.dll
    O23 - Service: Adobe Flash Player Update Service (AdobeFlashPlayerUpdateSvc) - Adobe Systems Incorporated - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Macromed\Flash\FlashPlayerUpdateService.exe
    O23 - Service: DSBrokerService - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\DellSupport\brkrsvc.exe
    O23 - Service: Google Update Service (gupdate1cb078bb810eb5a) (gupdate1cb078bb810eb5a) - Google Inc. - C:\Program Files\Google\Update\GoogleUpdate.exe
    O23 - Service: Google Update Service (gupdatem) (gupdatem) - Google Inc. - C:\Program Files\Google\Update\GoogleUpdate.exe
    O23 - Service: Google Updater Service (gusvc) - Google - C:\Program Files\Google\Common\Google Updater\GoogleUpdaterService.exe
    O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\11\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
    O23 - Service: Java Quick Starter (JavaQuickStarterService) - Sun Microsystems, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe
    O23 - Service: Mozilla Maintenance Service (MozillaMaintenance) - Mozilla Foundation - C:\Program Files\Mozilla Maintenance Service\maintenanceservice.exe
    O23 - Service: Intel NCS NetService (NetSvc) - Intel(R) Corporation - C:\Program Files\Intel\PROSetWired\NCS\Sync\NetSvc.exe
    O23 - Service: Pml Driver HPZ12 - HP - C:\WINDOWS\system32\HPZipm12.exe
    O23 - Service: Skype Updater (SkypeUpdate) - Skype Technologies - C:\Program Files\Skype\Updater\Updater.exe

    --
    End of file - 6149 bytes
     
  9. 2013/11/09
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    In HijackThis select the following checkboxes:

    R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://www.dell4me.com/myway
    R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://search.piccshare.com/?channel=sfus304
    O2 - BHO: PCTools Site Guard - {5C8B2A36-3DB1-42A4-A3CB-D426709BBFEB} - (no file)
    O2 - BHO: PCTools Browser Monitor - {B56A7D7D-6927-48C8-A975-17DF180C71AC} - (no file)
    O3 - Toolbar: (no name) - {42CDD1BF-3FFB-4238-8AD1-7859DF00B1D6} - (no file)
    O3 - Toolbar: (no name) - {0B53EAC3-8D69-4b9e-9B19-A37C9A5676A7} - (no file)
    O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {CD67F990-D8E9-11d2-98FE-00C0F0318AFE} - (no file)


    Then click on Fixed Checked button to remove those items from the machine.

    I don't see the WMC_AutoUpdate entry running on startup or as a process in your HijackThis log.

    Did you install the Spyware Doctor program or was that program already present on the machine?

    Could you download Autoruns and post a screenshot of the Logon Tab for me? Thanks.
     
  10. 2013/11/09
    Barry

    Barry Geek Member Thread Starter

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    I forgot to mention last time, but all the updates are current. I did install Spyware Doctor on this computer many years ago, but I also uninstalled it. Apparently, not everything was removed.
    Checkdisk went through without a hitch and showing no signs anything needed to be fixed.

    Should these be removed, also?
    O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\Run: [Spyware Doctor] "C:\Program Files\Spyware Doctor\swdoctor.exe" /Q (User 'SYSTEM')
    O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\Run: [Spyware Doctor] "C:\Program Files\Spyware Doctor\swdoctor.exe" /Q (User 'Default user')

    Here is the Autoruns logon page:
     
    Last edited: 2016/01/17
  11. 2013/11/09
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    In Autoruns remove both of the Outlook Express items.

    In Hijackthis you can remove those two Spyware Doctor startup items as well.

    How is the computer running at this point?
     
  12. 2013/11/09
    Barry

    Barry Geek Member Thread Starter

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    I've removed the items. The Internet seems to be working a bit faster, while loading programs is just very slightly faster. Other than it still is quite slow, we have created one slight glitch. Microsoft Security Essentials no longer loads at startup, requiring a manual startup. Should I just place a shortcut in Start Menu, Programs, Startup, or would you recommend a different approach?
    Thanks for the help.

    Are there other options to explore or are we talking about needing to double the RAM from 1GB to 2GB?
     
  13. 2013/11/09
    James Martin

    James Martin Geek Member

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    For what it's worth, I am running XP Home on a 10 year old MSI board with a 1.73gz AMD processor and 1GB of Crucial RAM (I used the scan tool MrBill mentioned above), and I have never used the whole 1GB of RAM that I know of. I also ran Auto Desk 2008 on that machine at one time, and that program uses a lot of resources.

    You could open Task Manager (Ctrl, Alt, Delete) and see if the RAM maxes out. Mine never did. Course, your mother's Dell may beg to differ, and I am not disputing MrBill's advice either.
     
  14. 2013/11/09
    Barry

    Barry Geek Member Thread Starter

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    What I find strange is sometimes programs open quickly and other times they just hang for a minute or so. When I just opened up Task Manager, all the following programs seemed to start quickly. The Available and System Cache memories never get close to the Total Memory, yet the Paged and Nonpaged Memory always equal the total Memory, though that may be true for everyone. I've never looked at that before. Maybe there is a memory test I could run that would determine the actual needs of this computer. My mother is 91 years old, and not very computer savvy, so we don't need a hot rod for her. She just gets a bit impatient and frustrated when she has to wait.

    I do notice the CPU Usage frequently maxing out.
     
    Last edited: 2013/11/09
  15. 2013/11/09
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Lets make sure the virtual memory is set up properly.

    Click Start< Right Click My Computer and click Properties. In the System Properties window click the Advanced tab< Under where it says Performance hit the settings button. In the Performance Options window click the Advanced tab and under Virtual Memory click the Change button. In the Virtual Memory window make sure your hard drive is selected and select the option that says System Managed Size and click the Set button. Now click Ok on the Virtual Memory window to close it. Now in the Performance Options window click the Data Execution Prevention tab and select the option that says Turn on DEP for all programs and services except those I select. After that's done click Ok on all the windows to close them out and then reboot the computer.
     
  16. 2013/11/09
    elcajongunsfan Lifetime Subscriber

    elcajongunsfan Well-Known Member

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    FWIW Usually the best thing to do is flatten and re-install.
     
  17. 2013/11/09
    James Martin

    James Martin Geek Member

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    That's me in a nutshell. :D

    I usually reinstall the whole nine yards about every two years or so.
     
  18. 2013/11/09
    Barry

    Barry Geek Member Thread Starter

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    Evan, it looks like you hit the nail on the head. Everything appears to be working much better. Thank you. Now the question is what do we do about Microsoft Security Essentials?

    I attempted to save a Word document and the CPU peaked out, freezing out the operation for about 15 seconds (a straight line across the top of the CPU Usage History window), but overall, things are working much smoother.
     
    Last edited: 2013/11/09
  19. 2013/11/09
    retiredlearner

    retiredlearner SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    Download a fresh copy and reinstall. I had to do that with one of my XP comps last year. Neil.
     
  20. 2013/11/09
    Barry

    Barry Geek Member Thread Starter

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    I assume you are talking about Microsoft Security Essentials?

    I assume I am to uninstall the program before reinstalling it.
     
    Last edited: 2013/11/09
  21. 2013/11/09
    Barry

    Barry Geek Member Thread Starter

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    When the CPU peaks out, the process hogging all the resources appears to be MsMpEng.exe. Any suggestions on that?
     

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