Dear Essexman:

Apologies for not replying to your post. It basically stated the following:

I have a Dell Dimension 8300 desktop with 2 Gb RAM, processing speed 2.92 GHz. Using Windows XP Pro for my OS. During the past several weeks my computer has gotten slower ... now almost at a "crawl". Some apps won't even start (e.g. trying to open as .csv file in Excel when Excel is already open with an .xls file.) I've also noticed occasional "sounds (similar to a short "ding" or "bloom" sound) that occur for no apparent reason. Webroot Spyware and McAfee anti-virus have not detected any open problems, though I have about 12 adware items in Quarantine from Webroot. I have run a "Hijack This" and have a log available. Can anyone help?


I checked today and found you had rely and the post had closed. Since I hadn't recieved any answers to my post earlier I have only been monitoring it infrequently lately. My apologies. Anyway, I took your suggestion to download and run OTScanit in accordance with your instructions. Attached is the text log from that. I went back 90 days. The slowdown on my computer may have started earlier than that (i.e. in the last 150 days or so).

Thanks so much for your initial reply. I will await your instructions!

Hi you would have been better PM'ing me to reopen the thread

But I believe I can see your problem and the reason no malware is detected You show that you are running both McAfee and Trend Micro Antivirus and firewall programmes

It is no wonder you are experiencing severe slowdowns. Please remove one entirely and see if that makes an improvement

I appreciate your suggestion, EssexBoy. I did uninstall TrendMicro Anti-Virus. It has helped speed up the computer somewhat, though it still remains slower than it was a few months ago. For example, using a webcam with any Messenger or IM application results in a mouse that incredibly slow and the CPU running at 100% capacity. Again, thank you for you help.

Mark

Lets go for a quick clean and tidy

Please download ATF Cleaner by Atribune.
This program is for XP, Vista and Windows 2000 only

Double-click ATF-Cleaner.exe to run the program.
Under Main choose: Select All
Click the Empty Selected button.

If you use Firefox browser

Click Firefox at the top and choose: Select All
Click the Empty Selected button.
NOTE: If you would like to keep your saved passwords, please click No at the prompt.

If you use Opera browser

Click Opera at the top and choose: Select All
Click the Empty Selected button.
NOTE: If you would like to keep your saved passwords, please click No at the prompt.

Click Exit on the Main menu to close the program.
For Technical Support, double-click the e-mail address located at the bottom of each menu.

Then download and run Auslogics disc defragmenter

EssexMan, you have been a wealth of knowledge. I did download and run ATF Cleaner, selecting "All" and then "Empty Selected". I was not given the option, though to go to Firefox (my default browser), so didn't perform that operation/

I also ran the Auslogics disk defrementer. I have less the 15% free space on the drive (more like 11%), so I ran it a few times.

The results have definitely speeded up my system significantly. though I still though have trouble using a webcam (Logitech) with Messenger/IM apps and my Webroot SpySweeper program has errors and can no longer be installed. Not sure how to address this other than go to the companies' websites and inquiring.

Finally, to free up more space, is there a good free shareware to eliminate "junk files"?

Thank you again! I hope you have a nice weekend.

Mark

There is a little tweak programme I use that you might like to try - it has a fully functional 30 day free trial http://www.tuneup-software.co.uk/products/tuneup-utilities/ but ATF is a good cleaner. Plus clearing the restore points will gain some space

Now the best part of the day ----- Your log now appears clean

A good workman allways cleans up after himself so...Download and run this small programme and hit the cleanup button. It will remove all the programmes we have used plus itself

XP
Now to get you off to a good start we will clean your restore points so that all the bad stuff is gone for good. Then if you need to restore at some stage you will be clean. There are several ways to reset your restore points, but this is my method:

• Select Start > All Programs > Accessories > System tools > System Restore.
• On the dialogue box that appears select Create a Restore Point
• Click NEXT
• Enter a name e.g. Clean
• Click CREATE

You now have a clean restore point, to get rid of the bad ones:

• Select Start > All Programs > Accessories > System tools > Disk Cleanup.
• In the Drop down box that appears select your main drive e.g. C
• Click OK
• The System will do some calculation and the display a dialogue box with TABS
• Select the More Options Tab.
• At the bottom will be a system restore box with a CLEANUP button click this
• Accept the Warning and select OK again, the program will close and you are done

VISTA
To manually create a new Restore Point

• Go to Control Panel and select System and Maintenance
• Select System
• On the left select Advance System Settings and accept the warning if you get one
• Select System Protection Tab
• Select Create at the bottom
• Type in a name i.e. Clean
• Select Create

Now we can purge the infected ones

• Go back to the System and Maintenance page
• Select Performance Information and Tools
• On the left select Open Disk Cleanup
• Select Files from all users and accept the warning if you get one
• In the drop down box select your main drive i.e. C
• For a few moments the system will make some calculations
• Select the More Options tab
• In the System Restore and Shadow Backups select Clean up
• Select Delete on the pop up
• Select OK
• Select Delete

You are now done

Now that you are clean, to help protect your computer in the future I recommend that you get the following free program:

• SpywareBlaster to help prevent spyware from installing in the first place.
• SuperAntispyware Run weekly to keep your system clean

It is critical to have both a firewall and anti virus to protect your system and to keep them updated.

To keep your operating system up to date visit

• Secunia Software inspector To check your programme update status
• Microsoft Windows Update

To learn more about how to protect yourself while on the internet read our little guide How did I get infected in the first place ?
Keep safe

Since this issue appears to be resolved ... this Topic has been closed. Glad we could help.

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