[feelmybrain]

I am having serious performance issues with one of my Dell laptops. My CPU appears to be running at 100% even when the system is idle. Performance is seriously lagged as I will have to wait a minute or two for a program to open after double clicking its icon. I ran a chkdsk, but it is telling me the system volume is clean. I also ran MalwareBytes and MSSE both which did not find any infected items. Here are my specs:

Dell Studio 1555
Windows 7 Home Premium (64-Bit)
Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 @ 2.20GHz
4 GB RAM
C Drive 394 GB of 451 GB free

It is a relatively new system so I am unsure what the problem could be.
Thank You!

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Hello,
This is usual in infected machines, and normaly I would send you to the malware forum.
But first lets look at what is running on your computer. It may be that there is a resource hog running.
You can download a free program called whats running
OR since this would take time;
Click the start button,
Type msconfig ,
Right click on MSCONFIG at the top of the window and select run as administrator
When the msconfig window opens select start up at the top of the window.
list what is running (just the name on the right) here.
You will be tempted to do this in safe mode, but I need you to do this in normal boot please.

[hfcg]

Hello,
This is usual in infected machines, and normaly I would send you to the malware forum.
But first lets look at what is running on your computer. It may be that there is a resource hog running.
You can download a free program called whats running
OR since this would take time;
Click the start button,
Type msconfig ,
Right click on MSCONFIG at the top of the window and select run as administrator
When the msconfig window opens select start up at the top of the window.
list what is running (just the name on the right) here.
You will be tempted to do this in safe mode, but I need you to do this in normal boot please.

[feelmybrain]

Thank you for taking the time to help me. I was thinking malware too, but after coming up with clean scans I was a bit stumped.

Startup from MSConfig (ran as admin):
Synaptics Pointing Device Driver
IDT PC Audio
Quickset
Intel Common User Interface
Intel Common User Interface
Intel Common User Interface
Microsoft Security Client
msnmsgr
ares
Google Update
DataSafeOnline
Cyberlink PowerDVD
Dell Webcam Central
Roxio Burn
Dell Support Center Updates
Adobe Acrobat
Adobe Reader and Acrobat Manager
MobileMe
Quicktime
iTunes
Java Platform SE Auto Updater 2.0
Dell Dock
InstallShield

[hfcg]

Startup from MSConfig (ran as admin):
Synaptics Pointing Device Driver
IDT PC Audio
Quickset
Intel Common User Interface
Intel Common User Interface
Intel Common User Interface
Microsoft Security Client
msnmsgr
ares
Google Update
DataSafeOnline
Cyberlink PowerDVD
Dell Webcam Central
Roxio Burn
Dell Support Center Updates
Adobe Acrobat
Adobe Reader and Acrobat Manager
MobileMe
Quicktime
iTunes
Java Platform SE Auto Updater 2.0
Dell Dock
InstallShield

The red entries do NOT need to be running all o0f the time and these should be UNchecked.
However, ARES is a P2P program that opens up your system to ANY one.
Pleasego to the malware forum and let the malware experts guide you first. When they give you the OK come back to this post please.

[feelmybrain]

Hey, one of the friendly helpers at the Malware forum said my system is now clean. The laptop is running much better now after uninstalling the dell remote access program and running the quick fix from OTL. It feels like brand new again! This forum has been incredibly helpful.

Edited by feelmybrain, 12 April 2011 - 04:31 PM.