Re: Slow computer

My W7 laptop became very slow. I ran Ad Aware full scan - it took many
hours. It found and removed 2 Trojans. My slow problem was corrected.


"J.Jack.J." <> wrote in message
news:566728ce-607e-4448-abc1-...
> My Vista laptop is very slow -- takes 20 mins after bootup before it
> can so anything; slow to open folders; slow to download web pages;
> slow to launch apps etc.
> Is this likely to be due to the large amount of data I have on my
> desktop?
> Have done a defrag fairly recently.
> SP1 and SP2 installed.
> Malware and virus scan reveal nothing.
> With thanks in advance.

J.Jack.J. wrote:
> I must say I have just run a Spybot scan and it has picked up a lot
> of things that MAlwarebytes didn't, one being that Sysguard false AV
> programme. Another being Hobar. Am surprised Malwarebytes didn't
> find them.
> Does Adaware still have a softward conflict with Spybot?
> If so, I take it that if I uninstall Spybot, it won't undo my
> immunise if I don't ask it to?
> With thanks.

If you are *still* finding malware (other than cookies) on your system when
you run more than a couple of antimalware applications - it's time to format
and start over. Your chances of getting it guaranteed clean and running
properly are so slim any other way, it's pitiful.

Few people enjoy starting over from scratch on their computer - but
sometimes it is the only way to get to a fully functional point. I believe
you are at that point.

Of course, the ability to do that depends on what resources you have as
well.

- Backups of your files and such (documents, spreadsheets, internet
favorites/bookmarks, pitcures, music, drawings, emails, contacts,
installation files, product keys/serial numbers, usernames/passwords, etc
and so on...)
- Installation media for your operating system and other installed
applications as well as the proper product keys/serial numbers/registration
information you might need to get them working properly again.
- List of hardware in/connected to your machine and the hardware device
drivers needed to be installed so that thw Windows operating system of your
choice can properly communincate with the hardware devices in question.

If you have the above - my suggestion is - to you, J.Jack.J, to format the
computer (wipe the drive completely - zero-write if possible) and do a clean
installation.

Now - it may be that the actual task is something you are not willing or
able (have the confidence in your own abilities) to do - and that is fine.
If you have a friend/family member you can 'bribe' with a meal, a drink or
two, or whatever that does have the ability/confidence - have them do it.

However - the BACKUP, Installation Media and List of Hardware and Drivers
are tasks anyone should be able to do and *you* should do before anything
else. It only benefits you, only you can guarantee you have everything
*you* would want (unless whomever just makes a backup image of the system
in-as-far as the data you might need back later) and if *you* do it - you
only have *you* to blame for anything missing.

I say this knowing all of your other issues via your other two postings. I
say this knowing you just got SP1 and SP2 installed on that system (which -
by the way - having to do that manually says a lot about that system in
terms of how much trouble it was likely already in if it did not have
those/was not offered/automatically got those LONG ago.) I say this knowing
it is not exactly a hogh-end system or even a world-wide common type (makes
troubleshooting and getting support easier if you don't have some
off-brand.) I say this knowing that even the concept/thought of doing such
a thing might make you uncomfortable.

It is the best way I can see to start with a system that is a known thing
with the latest version of the OS, no malware/viruses/trojans/root kits,
latest drivers for your hardware, latest versions of your currently
installed software - stable. If at - that time - things don't work well,
unfortunately it would be sub-par hardware/hardware support to blame -
truthfully.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

"J.Jack.J." <> wrote in message
news:a7735883-e598-46ea-8b22-...
On Aug 13, 11:13 pm, "Paul H" <NoSpamphobergNoS...@att.net> wrote:
> My W7 laptop became very slow. I ran Ad Aware full scan - it took many
> hours. It found and removed 2 Trojans. My slow problem was corrected.
>
> "J.Jack.J." <jack.j.jep...@googlemail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:566728ce-607e-4448-abc1-...
>
> > My Vista laptop is very slow -- takes 20 mins after bootup before it
> > can so anything; slow to open folders; slow to download web pages;
> > slow to launch apps etc.
> > Is this likely to be due to the large amount of data I have on my
> > desktop?
> > Have done a defrag fairly recently.
> > SP1 and SP2 installed.
> > Malware and virus scan reveal nothing.
> > With thanks in advance.

I must say I have just run a Spybot scan and it has picked up a lot of
things that MAlwarebytes didn't, one being that Sysguard false AV
programme. Another being Hobar. Am surprised Malwarebytes didn't find
them.
Does Adaware still have a softward conflict with Spybot?
If so, I take it that if I uninstall Spybot, it won't undo my immunise
if I don't ask it to?
With thanks.

Trying to improve a friend's slow computer--Installed both Malwarebytes and
SuperAntiSpyware. Ran Malwarebytes first and then SuperAntiSpyware.
SuperAntiSpyware found Tracking Cookies and a couple of Trojans that got by
Malwarebytes. That's why the experts recommend using both both
Applications...what one misses the other may catch.
MLD

On Sat, 14 Aug 2010 18:29:36 -0700 (PDT), J.Jack.J. wrote:

[...]

>> If you are *still* finding malware (other than cookies) on your system when
>> you run more than a couple of antimalware applications - it's time to format
>> and start over.
>
>
> Are you saying that the fact that there is malware being missed by one
> app and picked up by another, indicates some kind of software flaw
> traceable to the file system?

No single antimalware program finds everything. The problem is that you
have so many problems (assuming you're being warned of real malware and not
just cookies).

[...]

> I did it enough times (many dozen over the course of about 7 years --
> no joke) on my various desktops with Win 2000 and subsequently XP that
> I am not so intimidated at the thought as you might think.
> There is something about me and computers that generates a mysterious
> set of anomalies. I became a known figure at the town's computer
> repair shop for having the record (by a long way) for the number of
> times my computer went wrong. They, like everyone else, couldn't work
> out what was wrong. It passed all the tests and worked fine when it
> was at the shop, but the instant it was back at my place it would fail
> on some file-system-related issue. Weird!!

Have a medium come in and scan for poltergeists or gremlins :-)

[...]

--
Gene E. Bloch (Stumbling Bloch)