In Desperate Need of Tune Up

My laptop is running very slowly, it's at an almost standstill point. I've done the very basic maintenance procedures, scan disk, defrag, etc. but I'm still having problems. I'm not computer saavy enough to try anything else on my own. I need some advice on where to start.

I have McAfee Virus scan, which slows everything down when a scan is running. I hate it. Any recommendations on a good virus program, that won't hijack my computer?

I'm getting a message now about virtual memory being too low.

Thanks,

Frankie

Here's my basic cleanup. others may vary.

Msconfig. stop things that really don't need to run at boot.
Defrag. you did that
Antivirus. I stand by AVG Free and Paid.
Antispyware. MalwareBytes and Superantispyware. Sometimes Threatfire but then i uninstall it.
Ccleaner
Then defrag again.
How much ram do you have. I say min of 1GB others say less.
ADD/Remove Programs. get rid of stuff you don't really use.

I'm running McAfee with no issues on my laptop. There is better of coarse, but it was free for 3yrs., so its not always the problem. If your looking to change , try Vipre from Sunbelt (not free) or Comodo Internet Security (free, and its a sleeper) before you try AVG (imo). Malwarebyte's Anti-malware program is great and the free version works well as a backup to your primary AV.
The other cleanup options are sound advice, I follow the same routine. If your running any desktop search engines , like Google, etc. get rid of them unless you cannot compute without it.
As for ram, 1 for XP , 2 for Vista . Memory is affordable nowadays and the best upgrade you can do yourself.

And disable any programs that startup that do not need to.

Disable scheduled every day scan. No need for it.
There are better AVs, than McAfee.
I don't recommend AVG, ver. 8.0, though.

- Avast! free antivirus: http://filehippo.com/download_avast_antivirus/
- Avira free antivirus: http://www.free-av.com/en/download/index.html
- free Comodo Internet Security (firewall + AV): http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/

Thanks for all the suggestions. I am really kind of stupid when it comes to computer stuff, but I can follow directions, as long as I'm able to ask a lot of questions :D

How do I do the msconfig? I know it's start, run, and then I type in msconfig, but I don't know what to do after that.

PS: This is going to be a slow process for me! Sorry! :confused:

This is for XP. Vista has one nag that pops up.


http://netsquirrel.com/msconfig/msconfig_xp.html

Once you have msconfig open, take what is listed there, yes the words are cryptic and plug them the searc box at http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php

0r http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/startups/

Please, post some computer info:
- processor type, amount of RAM (hold Windows key, hit Pause/Break key)
- hard drive size/free space (open "My Computer", right click on hard drive letter, click "Properties")

Download HijackThis:
http://www.trendsecure.com/portal/en...kthis/download
Click on Download HijackThis Installer
Post HijackTHis log.

Here's the computer info:

37.2 GB
used: 6.64
free: 30.6

XP Pro 2002 - Svc Pck 3

Mobile Intel(R) Pentium (R)
4-M CPU 2.00 GHz
1.99 GHz
512 MB Ram

I don't know what most of this means...I just know I have a lot of free space....LOL

What about HJT?

What is HJT? I didn't see that anywhere

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by doguenanny

What is HJT? I didn't see that anywhere

---

Post #9.
Where you were asked and a link given.

Don't forget....add another 512mb of memory. You won't be disappointed.

Each of these guys sell quality memory and have a configuration tool to help match your system.

http://www.corsairmemory.com/
http://www.crucial.com/
http://www.kingston.com/

Ok, I ran the hjt stuff, is this what you want me to post?

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 8:42:47 PM, on 11/28/2008
Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.16735)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.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\spoolsv.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\AOL\ACS\AOLacsd.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\MSC\mcmscsvc.exe
c:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\mcafee\mna\mcnasvc.exe
c:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\mcafee\mcproxy\mcproxy.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcshield.exe
C:\Program Files\McAfee\MPF\MPFSrv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\wanmpsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\pctspk.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\dla\tfswctrl.exe
C:\Program Files\Real\RealPlayer\RealPlay.exe
C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\1040464383\ee\AOLSoftware.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_07\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\McAfee.com\Agent\mcagent.exe
C:\Program Files\SiteAdvisor\6172\SiteAdv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\RALINK\Common\RaUI.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcsysmon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\WINWORD.EXE
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\NOTEPAD.EXE

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://search.myidentitydefender.com/smallsearch.html
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/c...faces?siteId=2
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://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
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: (no name) - {089FD14D-132B-48FC-8861-0048AE113215} - C:\Program Files\SiteAdvisor\6253\SiteAdv.dll
O2 - BHO: DriveLetterAccess - {5CA3D70E-1895-11CF-8E15-001234567890} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\dla\tfswshx.dll
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_07\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: scriptproxy - {7DB2D5A0-7241-4E79-B68D-6309F01C5231} - C:\Program Files\McAfee\VirusScan\scriptsn.dll
O3 - Toolbar: AOL Toolbar - {4982D40A-C53B-4615-B15B-B5B5E98D167C} - C:\Program Files\AOL Toolbar\toolbar.dll
O3 - Toolbar: McAfee SiteAdvisor - {0BF43445-2F28-4351-9252-17FE6E806AA0} - C:\Program Files\SiteAdvisor\6253\SiteAdv.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PCTVOICE] pctspk.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATIModeChange] Ati2mdxx.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [dla] C:\WINDOWS\system32\dla\tfswctrl.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [UpdateManager] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Sonic\Update Manager\sgtray.exe" /r
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AOLDialer] C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\ACS\AOLDial.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RealTray] C:\Program Files\Real\RealPlayer\RealPlay.exe SYSTEMBOOTHIDEPLAYER
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HostManager] C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\1040464383\ee\AOLSoftware.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_07\bin\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [mcagent_exe] "C:\Program Files\McAfee.com\Agent\mcagent.exe" /runkey
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SiteAdvisor] C:\Program Files\SiteAdvisor\6172\SiteAdv.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe Reader Speed Launcher] "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 8.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - Global Startup: America Online 9.0 Tray Icon.lnk = C:\Program Files\America Online 9.0\aoltray.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\OSA9.EXE
O4 - Global Startup: QuickBooks Update Agent.lnk = C:\Program Files\Common Files\Intuit\QuickBooks\QBUpdate\qbupdate.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Ralink Wireless Utility.lnk = C:\Program Files\RALINK\Common\RaUI.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: &AOL Toolbar search - res://C:\Program Files\AOL Toolbar\toolbar.dll/SEARCH.HTML
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_07\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_07\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: AOL Toolbar - {4982D40A-C53B-4615-B15B-B5B5E98D167C} - C:\Program Files\AOL Toolbar\toolbar.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: AOL Toolbar - {4982D40A-C53B-4615-B15B-B5B5E98D167C} - C:\Program Files\AOL Toolbar\toolbar.dll
O9 - Extra button: Real.com - {CD67F990-D8E9-11d2-98FE-00C0F0318AFE} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Shdocvw.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O16 - DPF: {30528230-99f7-4bb4-88d8-fa1d4f56a2ab} (Installation Support) - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common\Yinsthelper.dll
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://fpdownload2.macromedia.com/ge...sh/swflash.cab
O23 - Service: AOL Connectivity Service (AOL ACS) - AOL LLC - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\AOL\ACS\AOLacsd.exe
O23 - Service: Ati HotKey Poller - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Services (mcmscsvc) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\MSC\mcmscsvc.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Network Agent (McNASvc) - McAfee, Inc. - c:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\mcafee\mna\mcnasvc.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Scanner (McODS) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcods.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Proxy Service (McProxy) - McAfee, Inc. - c:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\mcafee\mcproxy\mcproxy.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Real-time Scanner (McShield) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcshield.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee SystemGuards (McSysmon) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcsysmon.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Personal Firewall Service (MpfService) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\Program Files\McAfee\MPF\MPFSrv.exe
O23 - Service: WAN Miniport (ATW) Service (WANMiniportService) - America Online, Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\wanmpsvc.exe

--
End of file - 7159 bytes

I just checked the startup programs in the Bleepingcompupter database.

When I clicked Apply, I got a message telling me

"An Access Denied Error was Returned While Attempting to Change a Service, You May Need to Log On Using An Administrator Account To Make the Specified Changes"

How do I get around that?

The following items were flagged as U. Should I uncheck them or not?

pctspk
sgtray
mcagent

Also, for some of the programs listed in the bleeping computer search results, I didn't see the filename in my system configuration, but I unchecked it anyway. Is that okay?

Thanks,
Frankie

PS: Is it hard to add memory? How is that done?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by doguenanny

The following items were flagged as U. Should I uncheck them or not?

pctspk
sgtray
mcagent

---

• The "pctspk.exe" program is part of a PCTEL modem package. PCTEL modems are often found in notebooks. "pctspl.exe" is started with the registry key:
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
  PCTVOICE=pctspk.exe
  If you use the modem, do not disable this task.
  
  
• The "sgtray.exe" program is a utility from Veritas Software Corporation. It installs itself in the system tray bar and serves to remind you to backup your files. This is a non-essential process. Disabling or enabling it is down to user preference.
  
  
• The "mcagent.exe" program is a process belonging to McAfee Internet Security suite. This process ensures the computer's virus definitions are up to date by communicating with the McAfee VirusScan server on the internet. This program is important for the stable and secure running of your computer and should not be terminated.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by doguenanny

PS: Is it hard to add memory? How is that done?

---

Normally, no, it's not hard at all. Simply power down, pop in another RAM chip, and power back up.

If you'll give us the brand and exact model number of your computer we should be able to help you figure out which RAM chip(s) you need and locate some instructions.

The laotop is a Dell Latitude Model #PP01L.

PP01L is a part number.
Per chance it is a :

Dell LATITUDE C640

Quote:

---

When I clicked Apply

---

Where?

Quote:

---

An Access Denied Error was Returned While Attempting to Change a Service

---

Do you have HP printer?

We have to solve the above problem, before we can "fix" anything with HJT.

It is a Dell Lattitude C640. And the changes that I made to the start up programs went through......don't know why I got the warning. I don't have a printer program on this computer.

A Dell Latitude C640 has two memory slots that can each hold up to 512MB of RAM (1GB total).

Note: 1GB of RAM is the 'sweet spot' (meaning best bang for the buck) when running Windows XP.

512GB DDR PC2700 200-pin SODIMMs start at $13.99 at Newegg.com:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...28PC%202700%29

I've had good luck with Kingston ValueRAM:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820172117

Here's a link to Dell's instructions for adding/replacing RAM:

http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...es.htm#1000098

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by doguenanny

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
...
End of file - 7159 bytes

---

I am by no means a HijackThis expert but, if it were my machine, I would remove the the following two entries:

• R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://search.myidentitydefender.com/smallsearch.html
• O2 - BHO: (no name) - {02478D38-C3F9-4efb-9B51-7695ECA05670} - (no file) - (Ycomp*_*_*_*.dll - Yahoo Companion!, Yahoo Companion!)

http://search.myidentitydefender.com comes from CyberDefender, which is pretty well known security company. It had little bit shady past, but it seems to be OK now. Not, that I recommend it.

I'll remove it, I don't even know how it got there! Is there anything else in the log that seems to be a problem?

Best take a good look in ADD/REMOVE for strange unknowns.

This is R1 entry, so it can be removed only through HJT, or registry edit.

How do I remove the identitydefender file through HJT?

Open HJT, checkmark:
- R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://search.myidentitydefender.com/smallsearch.html
Click "Fix checked" button, and you're done.