This is bothering the hell out of me!

[Lilian]

I have a laptop with a 2.3 ghz Pentium M processor,  1 GB of DDR2 Ram, a 256mb Geforce Go 6800 Ultra card, 100gb of HD space with 8gb free.

I have run the latest versions of Ad-Aware, Spybot and Microsoft Defender, as well as AVG Free to search for trojans. Cleared all that crap off.

I have run scandisk. Twice.  And defragmented. Twice.


What is happening is my computer regularly gets this rythmic lag, every 1-2 seconds there will be a moment of slowdown that is VERY noticeable when any music or sound is played.  My computer also IDLES at 20-30% CPU usage when there are _no_ programs running.  All the time.  Even when there is nothing but the bare essentials up.  It is also taking much longer to start things up, and the explorer is liking to lock up more often.


This seems to have just come on randomly. Does anyone know where I might go from here?

[GothicFires]

I am often amazed at how many programs are running when i did not actively open them. when you notice the lag open up task manager and look at the process tab. If you click on Mem Usage twice it will list all the process from highest mem usage to lowest. I often find that yahoo messenger hangs up on me but it should give you an idea of what is taking up your memory... the cpu list is there too to see why you are constantly running at 30%.  That's pretty high.

As for booting, programs are sneeky. check your START/program files/start folder to see if any thing is in there. make sure your IMs are not set to run or sign in automatically when the computer boots as it causes your computer to boot slower.

you can also go to the Control panel / administrative tools/ services - any process that is set to automatic, check and see if you need that process to be automatic or not (if you are not sure leave it alone)

you mentioned having a 100GB hard disk. is this 1 partition or more? Even with 1GB of ram, virtual memory is still used and you need space on your 'c' drive. I generally up the virtual memory space on my computers with multiple drives.

note instructions here were given on XP home. other windows platforms probably will vary a bit

[Lilian]

Process manager notes that all active programs cap out at, maximum, 10% usage.. it averages at about 5% when I'm using firefox. There are no programs starting up that shouldn't be. All of it's checked out.

Also, this is one partition for everything. So nothing sneaking away. =3

It doesnt say that any IMs are hanging - and I know when they are.  (Trust me, I've had my.. seperate.. fun with them =P *Cough* AIM *Cough* Y!M)

[Lilac]

Well what programs -are- you running? O_o

[Lilian]

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 11:24:39 PM, on 9/12/2006
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\csrss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Autodesk Shared\Service\AdskScSrv.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgamsvr.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgupsvc.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgemc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wdfmgr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\MsPMSPSv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\alg.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wscntfy.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ntvdm.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MsMpEng.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\MOZILL~1\FIREFOX.EXE
C:\Documents and Settings\Hawk\Desktop\HijackThis.exe

O2 - BHO: Yahoo! Toolbar Helper - {02478D38-C3F9-4EFB-9B51-7695ECA05670} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn2\yt.dll
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: UberButton Class - {5BAB4B5B-68BC-4B02-94D6-2FC0DE4A7897} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common\yiesrvc.dll
O2 - BHO: YahooTaggedBM Class - {65D886A2-7CA7-479B-BB95-14D1EFB7946A} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common\YIeTagBm.dll
O2 - BHO: IeCatch2 Class - {A5366673-E8CA-11D3-9CD9-0090271D075B} - C:\PROGRA~1\FlashGet\jccatch.dll
O3 - Toolbar: ICQ  Toolbar - {855F3B16-6D32-4fe6-8A56-BBB695989046} - C:\Program Files\ICQToolbar\toolbaru.dll
O3 - Toolbar: FlashGet Bar - {E0E899AB-F487-11D5-8D29-0050BA6940E3} - C:\PROGRA~1\FlashGet\fgiebar.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Yahoo! Toolbar - {EF99BD32-C1FB-11D2-892F-0090271D4F88} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn2\yt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: jBrowse Toolbar - {9E5BD40E-6287-11D6-9772-0002A5DD2483} - C:\PROGRA~1\jBrowse\JBO.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [msnmsgr] "C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\msnmsgr.exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\RunOnce: [ICQ Lite] C:\Program Files\ICQLite\ICQLite.exe -trayboot
O8 - Extra context menu item: &ICQ Toolbar Search - res://c:\Program Files\ICQToolbar\toolbaru.dll/SEARCH.HTML
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Yahoo! Search - file:///C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common/ycsrch.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: FlashGetでダウンロード - C:\Program Files\FlashGet\jc_link.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: FlashGetで全てダウンロード - C:\Program Files\FlashGet\jc_all.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: Sothink SWF Catcher - C:\Program Files\Common Files\SourceTec\SWF Catcher\InternetExplorer.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: Yahoo! &Dictionary - file:///C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common/ycdict.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: Yahoo! &Maps - file:///C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common/ycmap.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: Yahoo! &SMS - file:///C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common/ycsms.htm
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_04\bin\npjpi150_04.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_04\bin\npjpi150_04.dll
O9 - Extra button: Yahoo! Services - {5BAB4B5B-68BC-4B02-94D6-2FC0DE4A7897} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common\yiesrvc.dll
O9 - Extra button: AIM - {AC9E2541-2814-11d5-BC6D-00B0D0A1DE45} - C:\Program Files\AIM\aim.exe
O9 - Extra button: Share in Hello - {B13B4423-2647-4cfc-A4B3-C7D56CB83487} - C:\Program Files\Hello\PicasaCapture.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Share in H&ello - {B13B4423-2647-4cfc-A4B3-C7D56CB83487} - C:\Program Files\Hello\PicasaCapture.dll
O9 - Extra button: ICQ Lite - {B863453A-26C3-4e1f-A54D-A2CD196348E9} - C:\Program Files\ICQLite\ICQLite.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: ICQ Lite - {B863453A-26C3-4e1f-A54D-A2CD196348E9} - C:\Program Files\ICQLite\ICQLite.exe
O9 - Extra button: FlashGet - {D6E814A0-E0C5-11d4-8D29-0050BA6940E3} - C:\PROGRA~1\FlashGet\flashget.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: &FlashGet - {D6E814A0-E0C5-11d4-8D29-0050BA6940E3} - C:\PROGRA~1\FlashGet\flashget.exe
O9 - Extra button: Sothink SWF Catcher - {E19ADC6E-3909-43E4-9A89-B7B676377EE3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\SourceTec\SWF Catcher\InternetExplorer.htm
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sothink SWF Catcher - {E19ADC6E-3909-43E4-9A89-B7B676377EE3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\SourceTec\SWF Catcher\InternetExplorer.htm
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe (file missing)
O16 - DPF: {27527D31-447B-11D5-A46E-0001023B4289} (CoGSManager Class) - http://gamingzone.ubisoft.com/dev/packages/GSManager.cab
O16 - DPF: {39B0684F-D7BF-4743-B050-FDC3F48F7E3B} (FilePlanet Download Control Class) - http://www.fileplanet.com/fpdlmgr/cabs/FPDC_2.1.2.76.cab
O16 - DPF: {6BEA1C48-1850-486C-8F58-C7354BA3165E} (Install Class) - http://updates.lifescapeinc.com/installers/pinstall/pinstall.cab
O16 - DPF: {931C1175-E08E-4ADA-9AED-4A2828AE1011} (PbEbkick Control) - http://210.166.234.104/activex/pbebkick.cab
O16 - DPF: {B38870E4-7ECB-40DA-8C6A-595F0A5519FF} (MsnMessengerSetupDownloadControl Class) - http://messenger.msn.com/download/MsnMessengerSetupDownloader.cab
O16 - DPF: {C15B7EA2-A360-43E8-A591-5FAEDC7C4E1D} - http://www.altnet.com/install/adm4.cab
O16 - DPF: {FE02AB79-9738-4040-B892-6B9495ACE7B6} (SatX4C Control) - https://charge1.soft-denchi.jp/satx/satx.cab
O18 - Protocol: msnim - {828030A1-22C1-4009-854F-8E305202313F} - "C:\PROGRA~1\MSNMES~1\msgrapp.dll" (file missing)
O20 - Winlogon Notify: MCPClient - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\Stardock\mcpstub.dll
O20 - Winlogon Notify: WgaLogon - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WgaLogon.dll
O23 - Service: Autodesk Licensing Service - Autodesk - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Autodesk Shared\Service\AdskScSrv.exe
O23 - Service: AVG7 Alert Manager Server (Avg7Alrt) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgamsvr.exe
O23 - Service: AVG7 Update Service (Avg7UpdSvc) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgupsvc.exe
O23 - Service: AVG E-mail Scanner (AVGEMS) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgemc.exe
O23 - Service: RaySat_3dsmax8 Server (mi-raysat_3dsmax8) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3dsMax8\mentalray\satellite\raysat_3dsmax8server.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (NVSvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
O23 - Service: StarWind iSCSI Service (StarWindService) - Rocket Division Software - C:\Program Files\Alcohol Soft\Alcohol 120\StarWind\StarWindService.exe

[Dragoondawg25]

thats alot of programs but then again you said you have a 100gb hd with 8 gb free thats like saying you have a 30gb hd with about 1.7 free.  does this make sense your computer needs so much virtual hard drive to run its os as well as other programs and manage your reallocations properly.  do you happen to have an external hard drive that might free up a little more space, and above all else get a external drive save the important things on there and reformat the lap top.  I have one myself but not as big a drive as you do and i found a noticable difference when i reformated.

[Elvi]

AGV often ferrets away in the background on mine checking stuff.
Even when I don't have Outlook Express on, it still wanders through.

And I have noticed you have a hell of a lot of duplicated stuff on there Lilian, perhaps a quick route through to get rid of some of it?

[Akioth]

AVG does tend to scan in the background if it's left running. It also has a automatic run time if your computer as on. (Mine was set at 8am, But active scans should be seen fairly easily ^^; But other than that annoying habit of AVG I have no clue what could cause your problems.

[Jester]

I would be tempted to disable all startup items in msconfig and see how your machine works without accessing the internet. This may show if the problem is some sort of malware or something hardware related.

I note you have several toolbar BHO entries so would try the above without sarting I.E. this may give you a feel if the problem is OS\system or Hardware based. Like wise you could try the same experiment in safe mode.

To try and check if it is hard ware test your disk drive with manufactureers settings, and get a memory tester to check the memory:

Memory
http://www.memtest86.com/
http://pyropus.ca/software/memtester/

Disk

Samsung      http://www.samsungelectronics.com/hdd/support/utilities/utilities_index.html
Seagate      http://www.seagate.com/support/seatools/index.html
Maxtor/Quantum      http://www.maxtor.com/en/support/products/index.htm
Western Digital http://support.wdc.com/download/
IBM/Hitachi      http://www.hgst.com/hdd/support/download.htm#DFT
fujitsu/Seimens http://www.fcpa.fujitsu.com/download/hard-drives/#diagnostic
IBM/Hitachi      http://www.hgst.com/hdd/support/download.htm#DFT

I'm also wary of your statement "cleared all that crap off..."  - a lot of times it may look gone, but only a reformat/rebuild of windows really does the trick.

Also- run the CWShredder utility:  http://www.intermute.com/spysubtract/cwshredder_download.html
- this takes care of Cool WWW search, an especially bad bug...

[Lilian]

I shut down most of the services and anything else that started up.. it SEEMS to be working fine just now.  i had some trouble getting back online and it's still going a little slow, though the computer itself isnt lagging.

I'll see how it goes. But the last two days I couldnt even access anything because of a coupla hard drive scans that took over 18 hours each!

[Celestial Goblin]

A similar problem, lags and slowdowns and such.

I used an online virus scan and found quite a lot of spyware.

I can't delete those items because they are 'in use or read only'.

Using AdWare reboots my computer.

Can anyone recommend some utility to delete such files? I know i could try to manually remove all the registry keys, but that seems rather daunting...

[Jester]

Try registery mechanic. That should do the trick.

[Vekseid]

I use a program called killbox for such things.

Be sure to kill the explorer process before running it, and you will likely have to do it in safe mode.