[karen.v]

Hello All and Happy Holidays!!


Can somebody kindly help me figure out which processes to eliminate at startup?

I currently have 53 things running, including an AOL that I don't use and Google Homepage, which doesn't even function properly.

I actually just use the basics and want to clean the startup so everything will run nicer.


I've run Cleanup, but not all of the Anti-Spyware programs, and haven't downloaded Hijack this.


Thanks much.

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Hello and welcome

Some of those processes may be linked to malware. I recommend that you run a few AntiMalware programs, and see if they find anything.

Please go to this thread, and follow all the instructions on that page.

Edited by Slikkie, 27 December 2006 - 01:56 PM.

[Slikkie]

Hello and welcome

Some of those processes may be linked to malware. I recommend that you run a few AntiMalware programs, and see if they find anything.

Please go to this thread, and follow all the instructions on that page.

Edited by Slikkie, 27 December 2006 - 01:56 PM.

[karen.v]

Oh my!!
This is taking an awfully long time on a system that is so terribly bogged down to begin with.

This has been 4+ hours of nothing but.

The ewido scan took 2 hours and I don't think there's even a report for it.

The Panda Scan cut off when I lef it for a minute and the screen saver came on.

I had to uninstall AOL because every reboot took 10 minutes++. Now it's under 10, but still long and painful each time.

Can you please just tell me which anti-spyware programs it is essential to run, so that I can do that and then continue with getting rid of other processes -- ??

Thanks for your help.


I might as well try Panda again in the meantime.

Edited by karen.v, 27 December 2006 - 06:03 PM.

[fleamailman]

ok, just out of interest, how many things are enabled in the startups of msconfig, my bet is that you have far too many things starting up by themself on boot, up to you but as a rule of thumb you only need your protection and those things you really want to startup

[karen.v]

19 processes enabled.

My spyware scans aren't really yielding anything (4 with Ewido and 1 with Panda, though it's only got less than halfway through each of the 4 times I've run it).

Google desktop looks like a huge pain, and seems to be slowing up other programs when its not loading properly. I am reluctant to uninstall, however, since the Uninstall message says it is part of the system.

I'll Restart again and try Panda AGAIN, but I'll have to sit and watch it for about 1 hour. That will put this not even half-finished process at about 8 hours, and make me think that the whole thing might be much more efficient??

Regards.

Edited by karen.v, 27 December 2006 - 07:28 PM.

[karen.v]

Okay, another hour of nothing.

I re-set my screen saver for 120 minutes and Panda still cut off after 202,017 files.

Now, what does this mean?
Reboot AGAIN (8 minutes) and run Panda for the 6th time?

Sure, I'll do that.
Thanks.

[Retired Tech]

Try another online scan, scans which do not complete can be indicative of malware

Online Scans

Panda Scan

House Call

If Trend Micro freezes during updating, close then retry

Trend Micro Spyware Scan

Kaspersky Online Scan

If none of the scans will run to completion

Please follow the procedures outlined here: Malware Removal Guide

You will need a PC which can connect to the internet

Run all the programmes as advised then post a current Hijack This Log in a new topic in the Malware Forum

For the purpose of accurate malware analysis, Hijack This Logs are only dealt with in the Malware Forum. Posting them anywhere else will result in a delayed response

If you are unable to run any of the programmes, please ask for advice in the Malware Forum

If the scans do run to completion

Items in blue which are underlined are clickable to give more information about the process

Click start then run, type prefetch then press enter, click edit then select all, right click any file then click delete, confirm delete

Click start, all programmes, accessories, system tools to run disc clean up, then from system tools, run disc defragmenter.

Click start then run, type sfc /scannow then press enter, you need the XP CD

Windows File Protection will show a blue onscreen progress bar, when the bar goes, reboot

If you do not have an XP CD you can borrow a same version as was originally installed XP CD, if you downloaded SP2 then you need an SP1 XP CD

If you do not have an XP CD and are unable to borrow one, run the scan, click skip if it asks for the CD, if it keeps asking, click cancel.

If it kept asking for the XP CD then system files are missing

Click start then run, type chkdsk /f /r then press enter, type Y to confirm for next boot, press enter then reboot.

Windows will appear to load normally then either the monitor will show progress or the screen will go blank, do not disturb this.

This will take an hour or so before it gets to the desktop.

Download and install Tune Up 2007 Trial

Run Tune Up Disc Clean Up

Run Tune Up Registry Clean Up

Click Optimize and Improve to run Reg Defrag, which will take a few minutes and need a reboot. You should disable the antivirus programme to run this and check it is running after the reboot

After the reboot, click optimize then system optimizer to optimize the computer, select computer with an internet connection from the drop down menu, this also requires a reboot

After the reboot, click optimize then system optimizer to accelerate downloads, select the speed just above your actual connection speed, this requires a reboot

After the reboot, click optimize then system optimizer to run system advisor

[zbd]

You can try these.

http://computercleanup.blogspot.com/

[Johanna]

http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml
Use StartUpCPL to control what programs begin with the computer's boot. It will put a tab called "Start Up" in your Control Panel that allows you to select what to keep, or not. Do not disable your firewall or anti-virus software.
HTH
Johanna

[karen.v]

Thank you very much for the responses.
It has been over 10 hours of downloading and installing java environments and running scans and re-running them. In the end, I hope I got enough of them to work to get the help.

Thanks for the good advice Johanna.
I might as well post in the Malware forum now and hopefully someone can help figure out what to eliminate entirely.

[Slikkie]

I'm glad you got it sorted. Yes, it would be a good idea to make sure that your PC is completely free of malware by posting a HJT log in the Malware Removal forum.