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Member
my god. ok so im a little worried. on restart the avast behavior sheild was disabled. i did not do this. and its usually a sign something is happening on my computer.
also not sure why but 3 boot logs were creater. went to each and file save to log file. i went ahead and put up all 6 files for u.
http://www.mediafire...wrbx/compissues
all 3.72gb is uploaded now so give it like 30 mins afte this post to grab them.
Malware Expert
Apparently I need to adjust my instructions. The bootlog gets saved now as the first thing so no need to do the File SaveAs
You left bootlog turned on so go into msconfig boot tab and uncheck it.
You get a few errors when it tries to talk to the drive:
High Resolution Date & Time: 12/10/2018 12:22:59.4795585 AM
Event Class: File System
Operation: FileSystemControl
Result: INVALID DEVICE REQUEST
Path: \Device\HarddiskVolume1\
TID: 456
Duration: 0.0000054
Control: FSCTL_QUERY_DEPENDENT_VOLUME
It retries and is successful but this might indicate a potential problem with the drive.
I remember now that Avast causes some significant delays at boot and shutdown. You might as a test, download a new copy of Avast
https://www.avast.co...ST&locale=en-ww
Uninstall Avast, reboot then measure the shutdown and startup times then reinstall Avast.
Member
i might of misunderstood your instructions tbh. sorry about that. its off now.
uninstalled avast. restarted. then did the shutdown start test. the numbers are... 2:28 shutdown (from when shutdown is pressed to power completely off) start up 1:08 from when power button is pressed to i see the desktop, then another 58 seconds till i can actually open and use a program.
at this point im not sure if its even worth continuing. the times are better but i feel like you might be running out of ideas lol.
Malware Expert
Probably the only way we are going to speed this up is to replace the hard drive with an SSD. That's what I have in my Win 7 and it really boots quickly. Haven't tried it yet but Samsung's SSD come with a program that supposedly will move everything to your SSD and at the same time make the changes required to make it work. I've got one on order for my laptop so I will soon know if it works.
Member
holidays kill me. anyways all still seems to be fine. i did manage to speed the system up some. i did a disk defrag and a reg clean then defrag. speed it up back to how it use to be. so im happy about that. everything else seems to be working like before. only thing i can think of to mention is on occasion ill have to bluetooth icons in the task bar. one just says bluetooth and clicking it does nothing, while the other one (the normal one thats always there) has all the clickable options. i would like to say thank you very much for the help. and merry xmas.
ps if you want me to run any final scans please let me know. i wouldnt mind running another frst scan to double check everything. that tool seems very useful imo.
Malware Expert
You can run another FRST if you want to but if it's running OK there's probably no need.
Time to clean up:
If we used FRST to clean your PC:
right click on FRST.exe or FRST64.exe (whichever you used) and rename it to uninstall.exe. Then right click on uninstall.exe and Run as Admin.
If we installed Speccy it needs to be uninstalled. Process Explorer, VEW, AdwCleaner, JRT and their logs and Speccy's log can just be deleted.
Also make sure you have the latest versions of any adobe.com products you use like Shockwave, Flash or Acrobat. Flash is now the most malware targeted program so it must be kept up to date. Be careful with Adobe. They are fond of offering optional downloads like yahoo or Ask toolbars or that worthless McAfee Security Scan. Go slow and uncheck the optional stuff.
Whether you use adobe reader, acrobat or fox-it to read pdf files you need to disable Javascript in the program. There is an exploit out there now that can use it to get on your PC. For Adobe Reader: Start, All Programs, Adobe Reader, Edit, Preferences, Click on Javascript in the left column and uncheck Enable Acrobat Javascript. OK Close program. It's the same for Foxit reader except you uncheck Enable Javascript Actions.
If you use Chrome/Firefox/Edge then get the Ublock Origin extension. For IE go to adblockplus.org and get the program.
If Chrome/Firefox is slow loading make sure it only has the current Java add-on. Then download and run Speedy Fox.
http://www.crystalidea.com/speedyfox. Close Chrome/Firefox/Skpe. Hit Optimize. You can run it any time that Chrome/Firefox seems slow starting..
(If it complains about Chrome still running you can stop it with Task Manager or go into Chrome then go to:
chrome://settings/
Hit Advanced at the bottom of the page then scroll down to near the bottom where it says System.
Change
Continue running background apps when Google Chrome is closed
to Off (slide the blue thing to the left and it turns brown)
Close Chrome.
You can run it any time that Chrome/Firefox seems slow starting.
If the browser is still slow then go in and disable all of your extensions, close the browser and Optimize with SpeedyFox then restart the browser. If that helps then one or more of your extensions is at fault. Go back in and turn them on one at a time and see if you can figure out which ones slow things down the most.
If you use Facebook you need FB Purity: http://www.fbpurity.com/
To prevent a relatively new phishing attack: In Firefox, type:
https://www.xn--80ak6aa92e.com/
If the URL changes to https://www.apple.cominstead of the correct value
type:
about:config
in the URL box and hit Enter. You should get a new page of options (if you get a notice about voiding the warranty just cancel the warning). In the Search box put in
puny
You should only get 2 options:
"network.IDN_show_punycode"
We want it to say True but by default it is False so double click on it to toggle from False to True.
"network.standard-url.punycode-host" Leave this one at default of False.
Close and restart firefox.
If you are a Facebook user get the FB Purity extension for your browser:
http://www.fbpurity.com/
This will stop all of the suggested pages and ads so that Facebook loads much quicker.
Be warned: If you use Limewire, utorrent or any of the other P2P programs you will probably be coming back to the Malware Removal forum. If you must use P2P then submit any files you get to http://virustotal.combeforeyou open them.
Due to a recent rise in the number of Crytolocker infections I am now recommending you install:
https://www.bleeping...somware/dl/306/
It's currently a free version.
If you have a router, log on to it today and change the default password! If using a Wireless router you really should be using encryption on the link. Use the strongest (newest) encryption method that your router and PC wireless adapter support especially if you own a business. See http://www.king5.com...0637284.htmlandhttp://www.seattlepi...ted-1344185.php for why encryption is important. If you don't know how, visit the router maker's website. They all have detailed step by step instructions or a wizard you can download.
Special note on Java. Old Java versions should be removed after first clearing the Java Cache by following the instructions in:
http://www.java.com/...lugin_cache.xml
Then remove the old versions by going to Control Panel, Programs and Features and Uninstall all Java programs which are not the latest. If in doubt uninstall all. These may call themselves: Java Runtime, Runtime Environment, Runtime, JRE, Java Virtual Machine, Virtual Machine, Java VM, JVM, VM, J2RE, J2SE. Get the latest version from Java.com. They will usually attempt to foist some garbage like the Ask toolbar, Yahoo toolbar or McAfee Security Scan on you as part of the download. Just uncheck the garbage before the download (or install) starts. If you use a 64-bit browser and want the 64-bit version of Java you need to use it to visit java.com.
Due to multiple security problems with Java we are now recommending that it not be installed unless you absolutely know you need it. IF that is the case then go to Control Panel, Java, Security and slide it up to the highest level. OK.
Recommended software: (I'm not saying you should download these just that if you have a need for a new program these are safe and work)
Compression: 7-zip. Avoid WinRar and WinZip as the free versions have adware.
Video Player: VLC Unlike Windows Medi Player it never seems to need extra files to work.
Photo organizer and editor: Google's Picasa. While it has been discontinued by Google you can still get it at:
http://techfilehippo...-free-download/
Office like free program: Open Office: https://www.openoffice.org/download/
or
LibreOffice: https://www.libreoffice.org/
Free Anti-Virus: Avast
Free Malware prevention: MBAM: Free version at https://www.malwareb...m/mwb-download/
Can run with your anti-virus.
Paid Anti-Virus: Kaspersky or BitDefender
Utilities:
Root Kit Detector: MBAR: https://www.malwareb...om/antirootkit/
Process Explorer: Show you what is running on the PC. Like Task manager but better: http://live.sysinter...com/procexp.exe
WhoCrashed: Why did your system crash?
http://www.resplendence.com/downloads
Then click on Download free home edition
where it says:
WhoCrashed 5.51
Comprehensible crash dump analysis tool
for Windows 10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP/2012/2008/2003 (x86 and x64)
System Health:
Speccy:
http://www.filehippo.com/download_speccy (Look in the upper right for the Download
Latest Version button - Do NOT press the large Start Download button on the upper left!) Decline CCleaner if offered. Pay attention to SMART info on your hard drives and to temps. If in doubt about temps try:
SpeedFan: Try speedfan
http://www.filehippo...nload_speedfan/
Download, save and Install it (Win 7 or Vista right click and Run As Admin.) then run it.
Download Flash and Video. To save flash video. Works with Firefox. https://addons.mozil...lash-and-video/This allows you to start a recording and then switch to a different window and record another video.
With Win 10 only there is a new Game recorder program. It's supposed to only work for games but it works nicely to record any video you watch. Hit the Win key + Alt + r to start the recorder. The first time it asks you if it is looking at a game. Just tell it yes. After that it starts recording whenever you bring it up. Videos are saved to the Captures folder under Videos. You can only record what you watch so limited to only one video at a time. Best to go to full screen before starting the recorder.
Avoid:
Advanced System Care
SuperAntiSpyware
HitmanPro
Spybot S&D
Any P2P software especially if it comes from Conduit.
Registry Cleaners
Driver updating software.
PC fixing or Speed up software.
Running more than one anti-virus.
Seagate hard drives. If you have one it's going to fail on you so backup your data now!
Member
i wont waste any more of your time haha. so much info! but its given me some questions now. let me go down the list lol.
i actually dont really use adobe any more, or even java. other then pdf files nothing else seems to use them lol. i do have adobe acrobat reader. but i have that program so restricted. but i will double check the settings. thanks!
i just so happen to use chrome. i have the adblock plus extension, should i ditch that for ublock or keep both? and chrome does seem slow to start at times. but i dont have any java extensions, or any adobe extensions. so ill try that speedfox. thank you!
dont we all have FB? haha i mostly use it on my iphone tho. however still getting the extension.
didnt know limewire still exsisted. i do use utorrent, but i only get files from trusted users and i always scan them before opening. ofc this was with avg...
got the anti ransom program thank you.
o my network is very secure haha. thats one of the things i first learned years ago. i even have a bridge set up. but ya no default pw or user id. and highest security possible is in use. we are good there. tho i do seem to get a lot of... dos attacks? not sure what attack i just see it in my routers log weekly. kinda annoying.
i just checked, i dont even have java lol. wonder when that got deleted.
ok on the recommended programs. most of those i dont use. but i do love vlc. been using that for years. i use to have speed fan actually. but it sadly does not support this laptop. ive tried before.
why avoid spybot? thought that was a good program.
and what are your feelings on windows 7 manager by Yamicsoft?
do i want decrapmycomputer program?
do i want cccleaner?
hey now i have a 4tb seagate back up drive! lol been doing great for 2 years now.
Edited by darkmj16, 26 December 2018 - 07:40 PM.
Malware Expert
i have the adblock plus extension, should i ditch that for ublock or keep both?
Ublock Origin is better and doesn't let ads buy their way onto your PC so dumb adblock. Ublock Origin is faster too.
Limewire is supposed to be dead but I still see it installed. You get the idea tho.
Spybot's immunization basically adds a bunch of entries to your Hosts file. Not a good idea on Win 7 and even worse idea on 10. Slows down the networking. Also I think they mess with the permissions in the registry. If you just use the scan it's probably OK.
windows 7 manager by Yamicsoft is not one I am familiar with but I see on their website that it has a Registry Cleaner. We don't recommend registry cleaners. They cause more trouble than they are worth. Some of the other utilities might be of use.
decrapmycomputer - I prefer to just uninstall the stuff manually. It doesn't take that long.
ccleaner. Besides the registry cleaner it can be a bit too aggressive in removing files that it thinks aren't needed. It screwed up my PC once so I don't trust it.
For your seagate, connect it up and let speccy (or some other program like Speedfan or HD Tune) check the SMART info. If you see the number of bad sectors or read errors rising then it's time to clone it before it
fails
Member
adblock is gone!
ya i got the idea. i learned that early. i dont want virus or what not lol to much data to lose.
ya i only used spybots scans. but im not gona get it back. not very user freindly anymore.
i like win7 maniger. bunch of little tweaks and cleaners. the reg cleaner actually is pretty good. right with CCleaners. and it doesnt remove system keys. and bonus its got a reg defragger lol. which every now and then really does work. (if theres a lot of downloads coming and going, or any programs/files really. like in my case)
understood about decrap. never really used it. not even sure why i have it.
goodbye ccleaner! never really liked it, not sure why just didnt.
okie dokie. hows WD? i prefer them honestly, but this seagate was to good of a deal to pass. btw heres a screen shot of the SMART info on it.
USER-PC.txt 6.02KB
161 downloads
Malware Expert
On a Seagate you look at only the Real Values so we can probably ignore:
01
Attribute name Read Error Rate
Real value 0
Current 83
Worst 64
Threshold 6
Raw Value 000B490E50
Status Good
...
07
Attribute name Seek Error Rate
Real value 0
Current 75
Worst 60
Threshold 45
Raw Value 0001F8033D
Status Good
On most drives high Raw Values translate to high Real Values but Seagates are odd.
This is the only one with a non-zero real value:
BC
Attribute name Command Timeout
Real value 1
Current 100
Worst 99
Threshold 0
Raw Value 0000000001
Status Good
So watch it to make sure it doesn't get worse.
WD Blacks are the best drives on the market but tend to be a bit more. (That and SAMSUNG SSDs are all I buy for my own stuff) Blues are OK.
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