[Inactive] Not responding... Not responding...

[Cassel]

Today, i noticed my computer becoming very very very sluggish. It would go "Not responding" for several minutes on just about any click.

I have Windows7 (currently cannot get more of the specifics of the computer due to its sluggishness)

I downloaded the malwarebyte's Anti-Malware on a USB stick, moved it to my computer's desktop. That was a looooooooooong process as it would be "not responding" for every click. Finally got it there, ran it as instructed, and i got an error message that it failed. So, as instructed, i renamed the file, and ran it a second time. This time it went ok until i got another message saying it could not rename a file in the destination directory. Move File failed; code 183. I had the choices of Abort, Retry or Ignore. I chose Retry and it ran ok. I updated MBAM and started scanning. Now, it says it is scanning, time elapse 1 minutes 41 seconds, but that has been the display for over half an hour now (still showing 1 minute 41 seconds). Since my screensaver came up, i moved my pen to see how it was going. Now, it is still at 1 minute 41 seconds, but i have a "not responding" message on top of the window, with the turning cursor, over and over and over again.

Should i restart from scratch? I MIGHT have to restart the computer (which will take a loooooooooooong time too!)

[Cassel]

It probably got scared of me posting here. It started responding, and is displaying "time elapse 22 minutes 25 seconds". I guess i'll have to be veeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyyyy patient!

[Cassel]

It has been scanning for over 9 hours now. Is that normal?

[jdc2000]

It could be normal, however, once the scan completes, if no malware is found, I would suggest running the hard drive manufacturer's diagnostic software. It could be a hard drive issue as well. The Ultimate Boot CD has the tools you need for that. You might think about backing up any files you don't want to lose also.

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

[Cassel]

When i left this morning, it had not yet found any threat, but i`ll see when i get home tonight.

[Broni]

If it's not done yet, stop it and proceed with other steps.

[Cassel]

I came home and mbam was still scanning (over 20 hours it said), so i stopped it. I went on to the next step. The computer is sooooooo slow, that although i am double-clicking on the randomly name file on my desktop. It popped up to say that this file was about to make changes, and i said ok. Now, the cursor is turning and turning and has been turning for about half an hour, without getting anywhere. I restarted the computer, and double-clicked on that file. It SEEMS to want to work (i can see the frame of the window) but it has been turning and turning for 20 minutes now. (told you it was sloooooooooooow).

[Cassel]

I am not sure if it has done the automatic quick scan or not. Right now, i can see the buttons on the right, and i COULD click on SCAN but the rest (the inside) of the window is blank, so, should i or shouldn't i click on SCAN?

[Broni]

As I said before, leave MBAM alone for now and proceed with other preliminary scans.

[Cassel]

I did skip mbam, i am at the GMER step.

[Broni]

OK....

[Cassel]

So, do i click on SCAN now or wait until something else shows up? Or should i go yet to the next step?

[Broni]

Skip GMER as well.

[Cassel]

What should i expect to see with GMER, in that black window? I am not sure if things are done or just in limbo (since the computer is so slow). Right now, it shows a few lines ending with the line: Logical Drives Mask:

Is there more to come or is it all?

[Broni]

That window should close at some point and a log should pop-up.
If it's stuck, skip GMER as well.