[RESOLVED] Mom's PC slowing down and CPU running @ 51%

[MPTech]

My mother (65+, bless her heart) asked me to take a look at her PC, as it has slowed down and become sluggish.
As a simple preliminary cleanup, I ran CCleaner, TFC, and Defrag'd the HDD. I also went into Startup and unchecke'd everything.

This all helped, but when I looked at the Task Manager / Performance: it showed the PC running @ 51% CPU (Dual Core Pentium E2200) and 1.48g PF Usage (with 2g of Ram).

This seemed high to me, after I turned everything else off. I even ran EndItAll to kill everything and still high.

Suggestions?

[Steve R Jones]

When you sorted the list in task manager via the CPU column - what was running the most?

[MPTech]

Didn't look, I'll check tonite.

[Welshjim]

This was written some time ago but may still help. (And forgive the duplications of what has already been posted)


1) Have you scanned the PC for viruses, spyware, etc.? (Be sure to use programs with updated reference definition files.) Delete whatever these programs recommend. And if you did find such malware, you may want to follow the suggestions here http://discussions.virtualdr.com/sho...d.php?t=167915
2) Disk Cleanup. There are several ways to reach it. One is Start|All Programs|Accessories|System Tools|DiskCleanUp. That will start a scan of the PC to tell you what files might be deleted or compressed. (The scan takes a while.) I would certainly delete Temporary Internet Files, Temp files, Downloaded Program Files. See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310312 for details.
3) Then I would run ErrorChecking. (left click on MyComputer||right click on C:\ drive icon (assuming that is your hard drive)|Tools|Error Checking. Check the box "Automatically fix file system errors". Click Start (within the error checking window). You will be told to reboot. Do so. Error checking will then run as part of the reboot. It can take a while.
4) Start|Run|type MSCONFIG|OK|Startup tab. WinXP actually needs very few thirdparty programs (the ones you see in msconfig) to run at start. Antivirus, Firewall, Antispyware, programs associated with wireless connections such as mouse, network, etc. would be among the few. Uncheck the box to the left of any program you feel you do not need at startup. Click Apply. This site will help you make decisions what you do and do not need http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php
5) Run Disk Defragmenter. ((left click on MyComputer||right click on C:\ drive icon (again assuming that is your hard drive)|Tools|Disk Defragmenter|Defrag Now click Analyze) Unless the analysis shows defragmentation is not needed, proceed to run Defragment. That also takes a while.

[MPTech]

I sorted the list in Task Manager and found aawservice.exe running @ 50% CPU!! (isn't that adaware??!!) I unistalled it.

I also ran MalWareBytes and found 2 issues and removed them:
Hijack.ControlPanelStyle and PUM.Hijack.StartMenu

I also turned off everything in Startup and unchecked most of the non-MS services.

Task Manager now reports 1% CPU and 116mb PF usage and boots up MUCH faster and runs MUCH better!

THANKS!!!!!

now I need to load a new anti-virus / malware. Any suggestions? (will MalWareBytes prevent too?)

[Horatio]

I have set quite a few people up with Microsoft Security Essentials lately (as well as the on demand Malewarebytes scanner)

http://www.microsoft.com/security/pc-security/mse.aspx

It's not quite as aggressive as Avira Antivir, but for someone like your mom who, I'm sure has pretty sane surfing habits it would be worth a try..

It is very unobtrusive and won't bother or nag her. Once you install it you can forget about it.

[SpywareDr]

I sorted the list in Task Manager and found aawservice.exe running @ 50% CPU!! (isn't that adaware??!!) I unistalled it.

"aawservice.exe" is one of Lavasoft's Ad-Aware files. Lavasoft's Ad-Aware is an antispyware application.

http://www.lavasoft.com/

(The reason for the 50% CPU usage may have been because it was in the middle of doing a scan?)

[MPTech]

Thanks! I've used MSE before and like it. (agreed, I've installed Avira and Avast! before and the nag screens are annoying)

I don't believe Ad-Aware was still scanning, I let it run overnite and it was still reporting 50%+ the next morning. but I can't say with 100% certainty). I do know that it was probably a very old version, if that makes a difference.
Should I bother with installing the latest Ad-Aware, or just stick with MalWareBytes and MSE?

Thanks again guys, she's going to be very happy!

[SpywareDr]

Should I bother with installing the latest Ad-Aware, ...

Nope.

... or just stick with MalWareBytes and MSE?

There you go.

[MPTech]

Excellent! Thanks!

I'm considering this Resolved. Your help has been greatly appreciated and I'm sure my mom would thank you too!

[SpywareDr]

No problem.

[Welshjim]

MPTech--Based on Post #5, I guess I should say "You are Welcome"!

[A31Chris]

Another thing is you might want to explain to her that running around all the time and web surfing and such in an admin profile is not really ideal. You might consider creating another user profile on the PC that is a limited account for her to spend most of her time on web surfing and such. It will really help knock down undesirable things getting on the PC.