PC Running Sloooooooooooooow

[hess303]

Thought PC was running out of memory because my hard drive was almost filled with downloaded video files so I got rid of half of them. But still, PC is running as slow as it has ever run. PC is not even a year old yet. Please Help! Ran Hijack This, whose log file I will include if needed.

Windows Vista Home Premium

A speedy reply will be greatly appreciated.

[Sylvander]

"so I got rid of half of them"
That's vague.
How exactly did you "get rid of them"?
If you only deleted them [sent them to the Recycle Bin], then you didn't free up any space on the partition.
[Files in the bin still occupy space; they need to be deleted from the bin or "Erased" to free up the space they occupy].

[hess303]

Simply deleted the files as one would ordinarily delete a file - right click, delete. Then deleted them from my Recycle Bin folder. Have also run CCCleaner.

How does one "Erase" rather than delete a file?

[Sylvander]

"How does one "Erase" rather than delete a file?"
I installed Eraser (http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=37015) [version 5.82.0.0 I'm running].

Once installed, to Erase files it's only necessary to highlight the item[s] [folders/files] to be erased and right-click on them, then click "Erase" on the context menu.

You configure Eraser with the number of patterns of 1's & 0's to overwrite the item.
"Erased" items no longer occupy space.
And they are practically irrecoverable; the more patterns the more unlikely to be recoverable, no matter how much resources thrown at the task.
.

[classicsoftware]

Post your Hijackthis log.....

[hess303]

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 10:59:18 AM, on 10/3/2008
Platform: Windows Vista (WinNT 6.00.1904)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.16711)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\Program Files\Common Files\LogiShrd\LVCOMSER\LVComSer.exe
C:\Windows\system32\Dwm.exe
C:\Windows\Explorer.EXE
C:\Windows\system32\taskeng.exe
C:\hp\support\hpsysdrv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\RtHDVCpl.exe
C:\Windows\system32\schtasks.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\hkcmd.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\igfxpers.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\logishrd\LComMgr\Communications_Helper.exe
C:\Windows\system32\igfxsrvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSvcHst.exe
C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\TeaTimer.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmpnscfg.exe
C:\Windows\system32\SearchFilterHost.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://ie.redirect.hp.com/svs/rdr?TYPE=3&tp=iehome&locale=en_us&c=81&bd=Presario&pf=desktop
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://ie.redirect.hp.com/svs/rdr?TYPE=3&tp=iehome&locale=en_us&c=81&bd=Presario&pf=desktop
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar,LinksFolderName =
O1 - Hosts: ::1 localhost
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {02478D38-C3F9-4efb-9B51-7695ECA05670} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: Spybot-S&D IE Protection - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: NCO 2.0 IE BHO - {602ADB0E-4AFF-4217-8AA1-95DAC4DFA408} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\coShared\Browser\2.6\coIEPlg.dll
O2 - BHO: Symantec Intrusion Prevention - {6D53EC84-6AAE-4787-AEEE-F4628F01010C} - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\SYMANT~1\IDS\IPSBHO.dll
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_01\bin\ssv.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Veoh Browser Plug-in - {D0943516-5076-4020-A3B5-AEFAF26AB263} - C:\Program Files\Veoh Networks\Veoh\Plugins\reg\VeohToolbar.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Show Norton Toolbar - {7FEBEFE3-6B19-4349-98D2-FFB09D4B49CA} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\coShared\Browser\2.6\CoIEPlg.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [hpsysdrv] c:\hp\support\hpsysdrv.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RtHDVCpl] RtHDVCpl.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HP Health Check Scheduler] [ProgramFilesFolder]Hewlett-Packard\HP Health Check\HPHC_Scheduler.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateReg] "C:\Windows\system32\jureg.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IgfxTray] C:\Windows\system32\igfxtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HotKeysCmds] C:\Windows\system32\hkcmd.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Persistence] C:\Windows\system32\igfxpers.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LogitechCommunicationsManager] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\LogiShrd\LComMgr\Communications_Helper.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Reboot] "C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\mbam.exe" /runcleanupscript
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MSConfig] "C:\Windows\system32\msconfig.exe" /auto
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NeroFilterCheck] C:\Program Files\Common Files\Ahead\Lib\NeroCheck.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe" -osboot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [UnlockerAssistant] "C:\Program Files\Unlocker\UnlockerAssistant.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Malwarebytes Anti-Malware (reboot)] "C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\mbam.exe" /runcleanupscript
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [osCheck] "C:\Program Files\Norton 360\osCheck.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [AlcoholAutomount] "C:\Program Files\Alcohol Soft\Alcohol 120\axcmd.exe" /automount
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Veoh] "C:\Program Files\Veoh Networks\Veoh\VeohClient.exe" /VeohHide
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [WindowsWelcomeCenter] rundll32.exe oobefldr.dll,ShowWelcomeCenter
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SpybotSD TeaTimer] C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\TeaTimer.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [WMPNSCFG] C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\WMPNSCFG.exe
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [Sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /detectMem (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [WindowsWelcomeCenter] rundll32.exe oobefldr.dll,ShowWelcomeCenter (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-20\..\Run: [Sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /detectMem (User 'NETWORK SERVICE')
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~3\Office12\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_01\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_01\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: Send to OneNote - {2670000A-7350-4f3c-8081-5663EE0C6C49} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~3\Office12\ONBttnIE.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: S&end to OneNote - {2670000A-7350-4f3c-8081-5663EE0C6C49} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~3\Office12\ONBttnIE.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~3\Office12\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {DFB852A3-47F8-48C4-A200-58CAB36FD2A2} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Spybot - Search & Destroy Configuration - {DFB852A3-47F8-48C4-A200-58CAB36FD2A2} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O13 - Gopher Prefix:
O23 - Service: Automatic LiveUpdate Scheduler - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Symantec\LiveUpdate\AluSchedulerSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Event Manager (ccEvtMgr) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSvcHst.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Settings Manager (ccSetMgr) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSvcHst.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Lic NetConnect service (CLTNetCnService) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSvcHst.exe
O23 - Service: COM Host (comHost) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\VAScanner\comHost.exe
O23 - Service: HP Health Check Service - Hewlett-Packard - c:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\HP Health Check\hphc_service.exe
O23 - Service: LiveUpdate - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Symantec\LiveUpdate\LuComServer_3_4.EXE
O23 - Service: LiveUpdate Notice - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSvcHst.exe
O23 - Service: LVCOMSer - Logitech Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\LogiShrd\LVCOMSER\LVComSer.exe
O23 - Service: Process Monitor (LVPrcSrv) - Logitech Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\LogiShrd\LVMVFM\LVPrcSrv.exe
O23 - Service: LVSrvLauncher - Logitech Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\LogiShrd\SrvLnch\SrvLnch.exe
O23 - Service: NBService - Nero AG - C:\Program Files\Nero\Nero 7\Nero BackItUp\NBService.exe
O23 - Service: StarWind AE Service (StarWindServiceAE) - Rocket Division Software - C:\Program Files\Alcohol Soft\Alcohol 120\StarWind\StarWindServiceAE.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Core LC - Unknown owner - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\SYMANT~1\CCPD-LC\symlcsvc.exe
O23 - Service: XAudioService - Conexant Systems, Inc. - C:\Windows\system32\DRIVERS\xaudio.exe

--
End of file - 7897 bytes

[classicsoftware]

Before we go further, plesase tell us exactly what you have done toclean the system up. If you have scanned with something please let me know and post any logs from said cleanups..

[hess303]

I've used CClean, & Malawarebytes Anti-Malware. Spybot Search&Destroy too. But I don't think a log is saved there. I, also, recently downloaded and installed Norton 360, trial version and took a scan. None of these came up with anything, that I know of. That is to say if there was something showing, it wasn't anything obvious. They never flagged anything as critical. I will need to look for the Malawarebytes log. I did the latest scan using it yesterday. I hope it was saved somewhere. I'll have to get back with you on that.

Thank you for your patience and informed assistance.

[classicsoftware]

MBAM saves the log and I would like to look at it...

[hess303]

This is the latest log that the program saved. It's an old one. I'll run a new scan and save that one and post it later.

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.24
Database version: 1012
Windows 6.0.6000

5:08:58 AM 8/8/2008
mbam-log-8-8-2008 (05-08-58).txt

Scan type: Full Scan (C:\|D:\|E:\|)
Objects scanned: 120974
Time elapsed: 1 hour(s), 8 minute(s), 16 second(s)

Memory Processes Infected: 0
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 0
Registry Values Infected: 0
Registry Data Items Infected: 0
Folders Infected: 0
Files Infected: 0

Memory Processes Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Memory Modules Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Values Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data Items Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Folders Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Files Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

It has, in the past, detected quite a number of Trojans and the such and quarantined them. I could provide that list as well if you should wish.

[hess303]

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.28
Database version: 1152
Windows 6.0.6001 Service Pack 1

10/4/2008 2:08:22 PM
mbam-log-2008-10-04 (14-08-22).txt

Scan type: Full Scan (C:\|D:\|E:\|F:\|)
Objects scanned: 138020
Time elapsed: 1 hour(s), 37 minute(s), 54 second(s)

Memory Processes Infected: 0
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 0
Registry Values Infected: 0
Registry Data Items Infected: 0
Folders Infected: 0
Files Infected: 0

Memory Processes Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Memory Modules Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Values Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data Items Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Folders Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Files Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

[classicsoftware]

This:

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MSConfig] "C:\Windows\system32\msconfig.exe" /auto

Troubles me. It is either bad or you have not enabled everything in MSConfig and things can still be hiding.

[hess303]

What will be my best plan of action? How do I make sure that everything of MSConfig has been enabled? Or is there another way to remedy the problem?

[classicsoftware]

Go to Start->Run-> msconfig

Click on the startup tab. Make sure everything is checked.......

[hess303]

Been there. Done that and now my PC is back to normal speed. Thanks heaps!!!!! Both for your patience and informed, invaluable assistance.

[classicsoftware]

Now that you are clean, you need to keep it that way. Please follow the rules below. Pay careful attention to number 4. Since the release of Service Pack 2 for Windows XP, Microsoft has greatly improved the security of Windows. The majority of attacks now occur in other software. Adobe Acrobat Reader is the most attacked program right now. You need to keep your software up to date and the Secunia PSI is the best way to go.

You had spyware so it needed to be cleaned anyway, now you need to keep it that way.

How to Protect Yourself While On-Line


Make sure you have an up to date Antivirus. Scan Regularly. There are many free versions:

AVAST (http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html)
AVG (http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/2/)
Antivir (http://www.free-av.com/antivirus/allinonen.html)


Make sure you have a software firewall and if you are on broadband, get behind a NAT router. There are also free versions:

Kerio (http://www.sunbelt-software.com/Home-Home-Office/Sunbelt-Personal-Firewall/)
Sygate (http://www.filehippo.com/download_sygate_personal_firewall/)
Zone Alarm (http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/catalog/products/sku_list_za.jsp%3bjsessionid=BzJnZDxzyCUCcyZMB2t0Q co5IgutuYlrOMI5snmy1ZptQ2vOr1l1!776180791!-1062696904!7551!7552!-2099742426!-1062696903!7551!7552)

Keep Windows up to date. Visit Windows Update (http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com) and Office Update (http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/downloads/default.aspx) regularly.
Keep all of your software up to date. You can check on your software with the Secunia Software Inspector (http://secunia.com/software_inspector/). Sign up for e-mail notification and they will tell you when to check your system again.
Use Firefox (http://www.mozilla.org/products/) with the NoScript (http://noscript.net/) extension as your web browser.
Download, install and keep an updated version of SpywareBlaster (http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sbdownload.html).
Do NOT click on links in any I.M. program.
Use Thunderbird (http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/thunderbird/) in place of Outlook or Outlook Express.
Use Foxit Reader (http://www.download.com/Foxit-PDF-Reader/3000-2079_4-10313206.html) with the PDF Download (https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/636) extension instead of Adobe Acrobat Reader.
DO NOT open attachments from ANYONE. Download them, and scan them with your AV before opening and only if your expect to receive them.
If you use IE download a copy of IE-Spyad (http://www.spywarewarrior.com/uiuc/resource.htm).