[CamilleMuir]

Greetings and Salutations:

Compaq Armada E500 running NT4 w/SP4 running at 100% CPU usage at all times.
services.exe 50 - 60%
lsass.exe 40-50% depending on how much services.exe is taking)

Every thing I try to do is extremely s l o o o o o w. The mouse pointer moves around well (smooth and at the proper rate) but when I click on something (even the X to close task manager) I might as well go get a cup of coffee.

A little history:
This laptop belongs to my boss, an engineer. He has a very specialized drawing program on this computer that he absolutely does not want to lose and it cannot be replaced.
He tried to install a linksys wireless adapter which is not compatible with NT4.
This caused an inablitly to start up>> STOP errors and memory dumps. I ran the Emergency Repair Disk and can now startup, but with the above mentioned problems.

Any suggestions?

[Advertisements]

hi, welcome to geektogo
three options here:
untidy system, malware or hardware of which an untidy system is the easiest and quickest one to deal with
have a look at the below steps, go through the lot
if the problem still remains, go the the malware removal forum here, if the problem remains after that you will know that it is hardware
Time to use your "runbox" to clean your computer,
(all these steps are done with the run box then)

deleting the prefetch files
-----------------------------
runbox command
- press keyboard buttons: winkey + r
- paste in the slot: prefetch
- press: enter
(the prefetch folder opens)
- press: ctrl + a
(select all is the same)
- press: shift + del
(deletes without prompt)

disc clean up
---------------
runbox command
- press keyboard buttons:winkey + r
- paste: cleanmgr.exe
- choose drive(normally C: )
- press: enter
(this process can take a long time)

checkdisk
------------
runbox command
- press the keyboard buttons: winkey + r
- paste in the slot: chkdsk /f /r
- press: enter
( black window appears)
- press: Y button
- press: enter
- reboot the comp
(this process is the longest, worse the screen may be
lost before hours later the computer arrives at the welcome screen)

disc defragmenter
----------------------
runbox command
- press the keyboard buttons: winkey + r
- paste in the slot: dfrg.msc
- press enter
(this process can take a long time)

deleting internet cookies, files and history
-------------------------------------------------
- press the keyboard buttons: winkey + r
- paste in the slot: inetcpl.cpl
- press: enter
- click: delete cookies
- click: delete file
- click: clear history

disable unwanted startups
------------------------------
runbox command
- press: winkey + r
- paste: msconfig
- press: enter
- click tab: start ups
- keep: the AV and firewall entriies enabled,
- disable: 100% unused or unneeded entries
- Unsure about the start up: http://www.bleepingc...r.com/startups/
(IMPORTANT: enable all startups before running the Hijackthis program)

[fleamailman]

hi, welcome to geektogo
three options here:
untidy system, malware or hardware of which an untidy system is the easiest and quickest one to deal with
have a look at the below steps, go through the lot
if the problem still remains, go the the malware removal forum here, if the problem remains after that you will know that it is hardware
Time to use your "runbox" to clean your computer,
(all these steps are done with the run box then)

deleting the prefetch files
-----------------------------
runbox command
- press keyboard buttons: winkey + r
- paste in the slot: prefetch
- press: enter
(the prefetch folder opens)
- press: ctrl + a
(select all is the same)
- press: shift + del
(deletes without prompt)

disc clean up
---------------
runbox command
- press keyboard buttons:winkey + r
- paste: cleanmgr.exe
- choose drive(normally C: )
- press: enter
(this process can take a long time)

checkdisk
------------
runbox command
- press the keyboard buttons: winkey + r
- paste in the slot: chkdsk /f /r
- press: enter
( black window appears)
- press: Y button
- press: enter
- reboot the comp
(this process is the longest, worse the screen may be
lost before hours later the computer arrives at the welcome screen)

disc defragmenter
----------------------
runbox command
- press the keyboard buttons: winkey + r
- paste in the slot: dfrg.msc
- press enter
(this process can take a long time)

deleting internet cookies, files and history
-------------------------------------------------
- press the keyboard buttons: winkey + r
- paste in the slot: inetcpl.cpl
- press: enter
- click: delete cookies
- click: delete file
- click: clear history

disable unwanted startups
------------------------------
runbox command
- press: winkey + r
- paste: msconfig
- press: enter
- click tab: start ups
- keep: the AV and firewall entriies enabled,
- disable: 100% unused or unneeded entries
- Unsure about the start up: http://www.bleepingc...r.com/startups/
(IMPORTANT: enable all startups before running the Hijackthis program)

[CamilleMuir]

HI! Thanks for the welcome, and the help!
I tried everything you suggested. Here's how it went:

deleting the prefetch files
-----------------------------
Cannot find 'prefetch' (or one of its components). Make sure the path & filename are correct and that all required libraries are available.

disc clean up
---------------
Cannot find 'cleanmgr.exe' (or one of its components). Make sure the path & filename are correct and that all required libraries are available.

checkdisk
------------
Ran fine. No problems found.

disc defragmenter
----------------------
Cannot find 'dfrg.msc' (or one of its components). Make sure the path & filename are correct and that all required libraries are available.

It has probably never been defragged. C:|Properties|Tools|Defragmentation = No defragmentation tool is currently installed.

deleting internet cookies, files and history
-------------------------------------------------
As far as I know, this system has never been connected to the internet.
This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Create an association in My Computer by clicking View and then clicking Options.


disable unwanted startups
------------------------------
Cannot find 'msconfig' (or one of its components). Make sure the path & filename are correct and that all required libraries are available.

A few other things I tried:
------------------------------
Linksys Wireless-G Adaptor is not listed in Add/Remove Programs.

The UNINSTALL for Linksys Wireless-G says the program is missing.

Service Pack 6a will not install, not enough free space.

------------------------------
Wow! Out of curiosity, I checked System Properties- it could definetly benefit from more RAM and a larger HD (if it will take it-- I'll have to look into that later)
System:
Microsoft Windos NT 4.00.1381
Compaq Computer Corporation
x86 Family 6 Model 8 Stepping 6
AT/AT Compatible
195,956 KB RAM
C: free space: 154MB Capacity: 1.98GB

There's some train tracks not far from the office. I'm thinking this system might visit those tracks here pretty soon. *evil grin*

*Deep Breath* *Sigh* Ok, I'm over that.

Let's keep going. What should I do next?

[nollijible]

It appears that your Page File size is too small. This is due to a full (near full) hard drive and results in the RAM having to take over to compensate. (seen this numerous times... especially on NT4 systems)

If you can free up some drive space, I think you will see the speed pick up a bit as the memory usage drops.

Also, tell the boss it's time for an upgrade!

[fleamailman]

sorry my fault I saw under your avatar that you have XP and thought that this system was XP then

Edited by fleamailman, 20 December 2006 - 12:35 PM.

[CamilleMuir]

nollijible: I'm trying to delete unneeded files, it just takes F O R E V E R R R R R to do anything. I ran CCleaner, it could only find and get rid of 1.45MB of junk. Believe me, I have made the upgrade suggestion every way that I know how... he's not budging.

fleamailman: No problem...


Any other suggestions?

[CamilleMuir]

Soooo... I've run Ccleaner again and freed up a (very) little space. I now have 209 MB free. Still running 100% cpu usage:
services.exe 50 - 60%
lsass.exe 40-50% (depending on how much services.exe is taking)
Any ideas?
Edit/Delete Message

[1101doc]

You may want to check this:http://www.neuber.com/taskmanager/process/lsass.exe.html Unfortunately, most of the references I find elsewhere seem to point to malware.
"Sasser"

As far as "Services" are concerned, since this machine does not connect to the Internet,
there are probably many "Services" that are not needed. Ditto if not part of a local network.
Read here for a good overview of XP services: http://www.theelderg...vices_guide.htm Not sure where to go for NT. Use Sysinternals Process Explorer to see which Services are responsible: http://www.microsoft...ssExplorer.mspx A double click on a "scvhost" should give you a tabbed dialog box, "Services" tab will have the list of hosted services.

Most of the .dlls that the system couldn't find should be in C:\Windows\system32\dll cache
(.exes also) May need to "show hidden system files" to get there.

To free up some more space, call up event viewer and delete all the logs. If it's never been done you may get several megs that way. Did you use "Issues" in CCleaner? If not, just dumping all those old invalid Reg entries could be significant space. Instead of saving the backup to a file,
how about saving to a CD? Any other files in there that could be put to CD? Even temporarily?

Try a defrag with another utility. Auslogics is quick: http://www.download....4-10567503.html

Good luck-I hope it's not a malware problem