Computer Painfully Slow: Problem?

[viper275]

My computer is going very, very slowly and freezes frequently (and programs don't respond fairly frequently). I checked for spyware and there was a little, not much, but a little, and deleted it, then I checked for viruses and there was none. It's not an old computer, I've had it for about 8 months, and it was fine yesterday (it started this morning but I wanted to check it out). Any ideas on how to solve it?

This is Windows XP by the way.

 

[Civrules]

I don't know what else to say other than, maybe there are some viruses or spyware that were missed?
It's the only answer I can give. What virus/spyware scanners do you use?

 

[Volum]

You have uppdated virus/spyware programs right?

Also try checking if any programs are using much CPU usage

 

[viper275]

Norton Antivirus, Ad-Aware, and Spybot. They're updated. I'll look into programs using CPU usage though.

Edit: I just noticed, it's a lot faster in Safe Mode.

 

[Shadylookin]

click control+alt+delete click processes and see if you have unnecessary programs running in the background that are hogging a lot of memory. I would also try restarting it if you haven't already.

 

[Cedric Greene]

Open run
type "msconfig"
click "Services" tab
check "Hide All Microsoft Services" box
Let us know whats listed afterwards and also check "Startup" tab and let us know whats listed in there as well. You likely have way too much stuff starting when Windows boots.

 

[viper275]

Is there anything I can do from safe mode? I did control-alt-delete and ended a couple of programs, but then the computer froze. It also froze when I tried Cedric Greene's suggestion. But safe mode is fine.

 

[Comraddict]

how many running processes you have in regular mode?
I for example have 20-25.

you have bunch of spyware, and you need to get rid of it. on of easiest way is to go to safe mode and on msconfig startuyp tab deselect everything but AV stuff.

 

[Betrayed]

If anything else works, take copies of everything you need, and then format the computer.


EDIT: And I mean take the copies to CD's not inside the computer

 

[viper275]

Sorry I haven't responded in the last few days, been a bit busy.

@Comraddict: I went in regular mode and counted 53 in the processes tab. Some of it was stuff I chose to use (G-Mail notify, for example), some of it I didn't know much about. Could you be a bit more specific on what I should do in the msconfig tab (I don't want to accidentally delete something that will ruin the computer or anything)?
@Betrayed: Forgive my ignorance, but what specifically does formatting do and how do I do it (not that I will, I just would like to know)?

 

[viper275]

Any help? Please?

 

[eyrei]

Sorry I haven't responded in the last few days, been a bit busy.

@Comraddict: I went in regular mode and counted 53 in the processes tab. Some of it was stuff I chose to use (G-Mail notify, for example), some of it I didn't know much about. Could you be a bit more specific on what I should do in the msconfig tab (I don't want to accidentally delete something that will ruin the computer or anything)?
@Betrayed: Forgive my ignorance, but what specifically does formatting do and how do I do it (not that I will, I just would like to know)?

Open run
type "msconfig"
click "Services" tab
check "Hide All Microsoft Services" box
Let us know whats listed afterwards and also check "Startup" tab and let us know whats listed in there as well. You likely have way too much stuff starting when Windows boots.

This is a good start. After you have hidden the microsoft services, look at the rest and see if you know what they are. If you don't, you probably don't want them running, so uncheck them so that they don't run when you start your computer. You are more likely to find the culprit in the 'Startup' tab though, so if you want some more help, you will need to tell us what is there.

After you uncheck them, restart your computer and look again. If any you unchecked are once again checked, they are most likely spyware. Keep in mind that those anti-spyware programs aren't going to find everything, and many times when they remove something, it will come right back.

The best anti-spyware program out there is the beta version of microsofts anti-spyware program, which you can download for free at microsoft.com.

 

[viper275]

Okay...

In the Services tab, nearly everything non-Microsoft was Symantec (Norton Antivirus). I recognized a couple of them, which had something to do with the sound and graphics cards. Stuff that I didn't recognize or need, which only was AOL Connectivity Service and Creative Service for CD... (name continued).

In startup:

NvCpl
DVDLauncher
IntelMEM
CTSysVol
Rundll32 P17
UpdReg
tfswctrl
ccApp
UrlLstCK
SNDMon
cdaEngine0400
gnotify
gcasServ
Opware SE2
qttask
RealPlay
msmsgs
ctfmon
SNDMon
aim
FWLink
trustcast
Adobe Gamma Loader
America Online 9.0
UD Agent
PCM Service
qttask
jusched
ViewMgr

Some, like UrlLstCK look suspicious to me (the use of elite capitals doesn't seem like something Microsoft would do ) and 2 SNDMons and qttasks is kind of weird, but I'm not sure if that's normal. Some, that I knew what they were and don't use (like AOL 9.0), I unchecked.

Thanks for the help, btw.

Edit: Just restarted and it's a bit faster now. A little bit.

 

[Naked Paladin]

Most of the programs can be google'd to find out what they are exactly so that will help you figure out what you need and don't need.

 

[viper275]

Thank you, Naked Paladin. I did that and thought I should delete these:

DVDLauncher
UpdReg
cdaEngine0400
gnotify
Opware SE2
msmsgs
aim
FWLink
trustcast
UD Agent
PCM Service
ViewMgr

From what I found, most are optional things running in the background that I don't really need. Some, like cdaEngine0400, are spyware and should be gone anyway.

I thought I should post this, though, just to make sure (I googled them all). Any I missed or shouldn't delete?

 

[viper275]

I deselected them and it's still as insanely slow as it was before. No real change. What now?
Edit: By this I don't mean that it got slower, just not any different.

 

[viper275]

Any help, please?

 

[viper275]

Last bump, I guess...

Any ideas?

 

[Zelig]

In the processes tab, are any of the programs taking a large amount of cpu usage when its going slow?

And what's your commit charge at the bottom at the times that it goes slow?

 

[viper275]

There are lots there. Some of them, like gnotify, I deleted in msconfig but they are there. Could it be because of the System Configuration Utility thing that pops up? I tried to just check of the "Don't show this again" box, but the computer froze up then. Is there another way I could get it out of "diagnostic mode" (at least that's what I inferred from the error message that I would need to do).

228/1246, I think (it might be 1248 though).