help me please before i take a big hammer to this pc

[Guest110]

pci s running so slow.. everything is taking so long to open .. like watching in slow motion.. something is slowing it down.. I have emptied temp files and ran cccleaner.. still slow..any advice please..
Task manager is cpu usage 100%

[snurfen]

I find a two pound hammer using a vardon interlocking grip (overhand) works well.

Look at the processes that are running and grabbing your cpu - something naughty going on there, when thats established, you can run onto the normal routine of looking at the HJT log, silent runners etc.

EDIT: C'mon donna, one more post to go "senior" - and me still in nappies :p

[Dan18960]

Have you checked in the msconfig to see what is loading?

Are you connected to a broadband connection that has changed the DNS resolving servers? This happens on a domain when the forwarders are changed on the T-1, cable, or dsl has changed their internet servers. This can also be an issue if a router is in place and needs to be power cycled.

I will think of some more after I post this I know :)

[Guest110]

i have disabled all start up progs apart from zone alarm
I have done virus and spyware checks
Broadband connection with router of which i know nothing about!!!!!

[dbarrow]

Welcome to the forums!

Please state machine specs and OS so we can assist you further.

If you browse through existing posts, you will find considerable information on various "tools" to run on your machine to check for infestations of malware.
I suggest you do that first to check for virus, rootkit, trojan, etc. and run some of the online scanners mentioned there.

Also, list items running in Task Manager to see if we can pinpoint the culprit.
You may want to run AUTORUNS and PROCESS EXPLORER,
search the forums for links to those programs.
They will list what is running and the program it belongs to. One of your first tasks is to identify all running applications and what they belong to. See if you can identify what is causing heavy CPU usage and check your network settings to see if anything (other than intended) is communicating with the web.

Do you have a firewall?
What is accessing the web and does it have permission?
Is there anything talking behind your back without permission?

What "utility" and scanner programs have you run?

[Guest110]

I have scanned in safe mode with ewido.. only monor tracking cookies there
I use Zone Alarm free edition. both settings are on high.. ccleaner as well// spyware blaster fully updated...

Running Xp home with recently installed sp2
Advent 3000
amd athlon xp 2400
Radeon 9000
2.1
1 gb ram

It does this every now and then.. i have been trying to use the internet since 6pm.... ie was using 80% of the cpu at times....

Autoruns ???? sorry i havent heard that one

list of processes

Nothing running i can see out of the ordinary..

As always happens NOW it is running like a dream.. lol.. its as if it waits until i have lost my patience with it and asked for help and then.. it behaves itself... i will check for spyware and viruses now it is working ( couldnt do anyon line scans too slow ) thoroughly and get back to you.. thanks for your help

[snurfen]

ok, that was my first, and prob this is my last post here!
Nice to get trampled on in my first post, especially as my post wasn't read by subsequent posters (witness subsequent re-iteration of my suggestion)!
Tatty-bye folks.

[Guest110]

ok, that was my first, and prob this is my last post here!
Nice to get trampled on in my first post, especially as my post wasn't read by subsequent posters (witness subsequent re-iteration of my suggestion)!
Tatty-bye folks.

i did read it Snurfen and thank you very much for your advice:third:

[dbarrow]

Snurfen ... you may note most of the posts happened within 5 minutes!
Yours was not even showing when I made mine and everyone else made theirs.
Not that many forums where you get that kind of instant support and reply!

BlackMirror
Are you talking about all applications running slow or just the internet? (which could easily be an ISP problem)

The fact that it is behaving now could indicate some process that was busy with web access and maybe failed to exit or disconnect (any kind of auto-update)
I would seriously monitor your transmission status for unauthorized communication and check your ZA log for any alerts.

You may want to try Firefox instead if IE.
Possible you had hit a website that was using an exploit of IE?

[jcampi]

I'd get rid of Zone Alarm first. I tossed all of the firewalls I was using weeks ago and just use the Windows XP Firewall now. What a difference! My pc is soooo much quicker now. Then, determine what is running in the background. If ewido is running all of the time I'd stop it and only run it on demand once a week or so. Lastly, I'd look at what AV you are using. I can't tell you enough about the Free AVG firewall. It is great and isn't bloated to created a drag on the PC. I also only use Firefox. Can Internet Explorer and save it only for certain usage. You might also want to run a good defrag program after the PC speeds up and is corrected.

[kern]

ok, that was my first, and prob this is my last post here!
Nice to get trampled on in my first post, especially as my post wasn't read by subsequent posters (witness subsequent re-iteration of my suggestion)!
Tatty-bye folks.

snurfen,
please reconsider. noone deliberatly stepped on your post. KH is not about competition- our intent is to solve problems. all replies are welcome.

Rob

[Terry Hanushek]

Black Mirror

pci s running so slow.. everything is taking so long to open .. like watching in slow motion.. something is slowing it down.. I have emptied temp files and ran cccleaner.. still slow..any advice please..
Task manager is cpu usage 100%
When I have a slow down caused by max CPU usage, I use a program named Process Explorer from Sysinternals ( www.sysinternals.com (http://www.sysinternals.com) ). This little utility is like a smart Task Manager and shows which processes are using (hogging) your CPU. This program won't solve your problem but it will point you to the culprit.

Terry

[mommalina]

Originally Posted by snurfen
ok, that was my first, and prob this is my last post here!
Nice to get trampled on in my first post, especially as my post wasn't read by subsequent posters (witness subsequent re-iteration of my suggestion)!
Tatty-bye folks

Snurfen, no one meant to offend or ignore you.
Please look at this:

Snurfen, your post: 3:47 pm
Dan's post: 3:50 pm
BlackMirror's post: 3:53pm
Dbarrow's post: 3:53 pm

Dan, BlackMirror, and Dbarrow had no way of knowing that you had posted 3 or 6 minutes earlier while they were composing their replies! There is no way they could have realized you had posted in the interim!

Our mission here is to have users helping users, to provide immediate support when possible, and to answer every request for assistance. Therefore, sometimes replies may overlap.

And please realize that a newbie or computer-challenged user may struggle to sort out and follow multiple suggestions, and inadvertently fail to give credit to the poster who offered the first applicable solution

We welcome you as a new member and hope you will continue to participate and help those of us, like BlackMirror and I, struggling not to toss our computers out the window in frustration!

Lina

[Guest110]

Snurfen ... you may note most of the posts happened within 5 minutes!
Yours was not even showing when I made mine and everyone else made theirs.
Not that many forums where you get that kind of instant support and reply!

BlackMirror
Are you talking about all applications running slow or just the internet? (which could easily be an ISP problem)

The fact that it is behaving now could indicate some process that was busy with web access and maybe failed to exit or disconnect (any kind of auto-update)
I would seriously monitor your transmission status for unauthorized communication and check your ZA log for any alerts.

You may want to try Firefox instead if IE.
Possible you had hit a website that was using an exploit of IE?

thanks for your reply.. everything runs slowly.. in slow motion.... cpu usage 100% and then drops .. ie sometimes used 80% svchost sometimes is really high.. its never the same process

[Guest110]

Black Mirror


When I have a slow down caused by max CPU usage, I use a program named Process Explorer from Sysinternals ( www.sysinternals.com (http://www.sysinternals.com) ). This little utility is like a smart Task Manager and shows which processes are using (hogging) your CPU. This program won't solve your problem but it will point you to the culprit.

Terry

i am now downloading it and will see if i can spot anything.. thank you all for your advice so far...

[Guest110]

I dont understand how to use the process explorer.. what am i looking for exactly..

[dbarrow]

Process Explorer lists everything that is running and the dll or exe file associated with it.
You can then locate that file and right click on properties to see what owns it.

Trojans, etc. often hide as something like 1ab4e5.exe or dll or some other off the wall file name, have no information about the author in the properties, and can hide in normal Windows processes like svchost or another legitimate Windows service.

Dig through the Process Explorer menu and look for things that don't belong or can't be identified, especially if you show a process in Task Manager sucking up a lot of resources.

Follow that with Hijackthis and generate a report.
Those logs are a lot more complicated to interpret and identify.

What you are looking for is something consuming resources, over and above normal, in Task Manager and then identifying the associated file that is running and identifying it as legitimate or suspicious.

If you come up with any funny stuff, then progress to Rootkit Revealer or some of the other deep scans that can identify this stuff.

While trojans are generally picked up by your AV scans (with a good AV), rootkits and keyloggers can lurk deep in the system masked by running under legitimate services.

[snurfen]

Folks, you are quite right. I must eat humble pie and apologise to you all. I had a stinker of a day yesterday, recieiving two rotten doses of family news in a short period.
I'm sorry I was so pathetic and hope to continue having fun helping and being helped in future.

Diolch yn fawr (big thanks),
Snurfen.

[Rainbow32]

Welcome back Snurfen! Sorry to hear about your bad news but I'm sure things will sort themselves out.:)
Get your avatar up there mate!

[Dan18960]

Folks, you are quite right. I must eat humble pie and apologise to you all. I had a stinker of a day yesterday, recieiving two rotten doses of family news in a short period.
I'm sorry I was so pathetic and hope to continue having fun helping and being helped in future.

Diolch yn fawr (big thanks),
Snurfen.

Well, as you can see "we" DO value your input.

NOW, Sorry to hear that you had unfortunate family news. Hope everything works out for the better.

[mommalina]

Folks, you are quite right. I must eat humble pie and apologise to you all. I had a stinker of a day yesterday, recieiving two rotten doses of family news in a short period.
I'm sorry I was so pathetic and hope to continue having fun helping and being helped in future.

Diolch yn fawr (big thanks),
Snurfen.

Welcome back, Snurfen! We will remember your family in our prayers and/or send positive thoughts your way.

The KH forum encourages and appreciates suggestions and comments about our relatively new board! Please post them in the Feedback forum. Thanks!

When things settle down, perhaps you can also join us in our KH Computer Help Desk Paltalk chatroom each Wednesday night, from 9 pm EST until whenever. Here are the instructions again on how to find us:

www.paltalk.com *
Chatrooms
Rooms
Computers & Technology
Computer Help & Advice
KH Computer Help Desk

* you need to download Paltalk messenger 8.3 software first if you don't already have Paltalk on your system.

In the chatroom you can find or give one-on-one, hands-on help for computer problems, alert us or learn about new developments in computers and software. Computer subjects get first priority. If there is a lull, then humor, finance, and whatever can be discussed intermittently. We try not to talk about politics or religion .... there's enough disagreement about antivirus scanners. LOL

For more information about the KH Computer Help Desk Paltalk Chatroom, see: http://www.kickenhardware.net/forum/calendar.php?do=getinfo&day=2006-6-14&e=1&c=1

And, snurfen, Diolch yn fawr for your gracious return here. :peace:

Again, :welcome:

Lina

[dale@fcg]

Our prayers for you and the family, Snurfen. Here's hopin things work out.

[Guest110]

Sorry Snurfy. hope everything is okay..