Messages

101

General Computer Support / Re: Desktop pc suddenly slow

« on: March 02, 2016, 06:40:08 am »

I don't have a System and Security in Control Panel, only System and System Management, but I found it anyway.

I performed Windows problem solution. Found nothing. 

It only changed my settings on closing the monitor and sleep mode for the pc which I changed back immediately. 

102

General Computer Support / Re: Desktop pc suddenly slow

« on: March 02, 2016, 05:07:28 am »

I talked to my friend on the phone. She has a Vaio laptop, Intel i3, Windows10. Memory in TM is 2.4/3.9 Gb (62%) with everything open and 1.7/3.9 (44%) with everything closed. She has 14 items in startup menu (checked via her Norton) and she always has only 4 tabs continuously open in Chrome. So her memory usage is much higher than mine on a slower pc. She only experiences slowness when opening some websites but she has no ad or tracker blocker. I'll install uBlock for her and do some cleaning etc. next time. Her hubbie has no idea of pcs either, so I'm the one-eyed queen there! Hahaha

103

General Computer Support / Re: Desktop pc suddenly slow

« on: March 02, 2016, 04:22:36 am »

Yes, it's a good thing that you remind me to regularly make a system image backup. BUT I just thought of this: I cannot use an old or new SIB because of the dynamic discs!! We have to start from scratch. And even apart from the DDs I'd prefer it that way to really make this pc well. The good thing is is that I now have my laptop so I can really quickly set all the programs and settings by looking at the laptop.

BTW - How much does your friend have under the Startup tab in msconfig and is that usage in a quiescent state without multiple tabs open ?

I cannot tell you, I won't be seeing her again soon. I can try asking her on the phone but she's doesn't know anything about pcs.

Yes, I checked IE this morning. It's still fine.
Yes, we already did the temperatures. And I checked them again today as well.
Is opening the case and cleaning it easy to do? Can you tell me?

104

General Computer Support / Re: Desktop pc suddenly slow

« on: March 02, 2016, 03:06:56 am »

I have the paid version of MBAM, it's active on malware and on malicious websites. I really want it to stay active. I just now updated my YouTubeDownloaderHD and MBAM always picks out and deletes their OpenCandyPUP.

I've been rereading some of my older posts and as far as I can recall Shane and I never discussed WR in connection to the dynamic discs. When I did a WR in Nov. 2014 on my desktop pc I didn't know yet about the DDs. 

Maybe I'm all wrong but I can stop all kinds of features from running but that won't erase the cause of the memory leak. Yesterday I looked at the TM of a friend's laptop. She has 4 Gb RAM and a high memory usage, I believe it was 2.9 or 3.4 or something, and no problems with slowness.

I made a full system image backup on 15-09-2015 after I learned how to do that on my laptop, remember? After removing all the Lenovo bloatware crap. If I make a system image backup now, won't I be backing up the memory leak monster as well?

I don't think my desktop is an OEM. I had it custom-made in a pc shop and I asked for a W7 cd-rom.

Very nice recommendation, your precaution. Remind me please if we get to that point.

I read the site page by Leo which you recommended. https://askleo.com/how_do_i_fix_this_high_cpu_usage_svchost_virus_or_whatever_it_is/
But I see it's about WindowsXP in 2007 and there has been a Microsoft fix for that. It did give me the info that svchosts are often the place for viruses to hide.

First I'll go to the Dutch IT website which specializes in malware etc. Maybe they can find our monster. 

105

General Computer Support / Re: Desktop pc suddenly slow

« on: March 01, 2016, 03:26:07 pm »

Bad news: I've been checking the pc a few times this evening and it has become superslow again. I just now made a pic of Process Explorer to check its values with tomorrow morning after a fresh start.

Is it a memory leak, Boggin? How can it be that the pc can be really fast with the same amount of tabs in Firefox, MBAM and BG running in real-time etc. and become so slow, when I'm not doing anything different?

Is it time for a WR? I mean, it's obvious something has corrupted parts of the system, hasn't it?

Can you ask Shane whether a WR can be done with dynamic discs? And will a restore point work?

Also, a re-install is becoming an option for me more and more. If you assist me.  I've had major problems with this pc since I bought it in Dec. 2013. It's crazy and it's driving me crazy. I think we should delete everything and make it a brand new one.

106

General Computer Support / Re: Desktop pc suddenly slow

« on: March 01, 2016, 10:33:57 am »

I did CCleaner registry and JRT. CCleaner gave a LOT of entries, almost all for Silverlight. JRT logfile is attached. If I'm correct in reading the file the pc is so squeaky clean now that JRT couldn't find anything interesting anymore.  Doesn't CCleaner give a log somewhere? Might be interesting for you.

Can we wait with disabling MBAM real-time and first see if the slow returns? I feel so very nicely protected now. 

I can very easily disable real-time in MBAM settings. They have 2: against malware and malicious websites.

107

General Computer Support / Re: Desktop pc suddenly slow

« on: March 01, 2016, 06:41:02 am »

The other AdwC files in C: are from my attempts to find your "Report" in AdwC.    I only let it scan a few times and apparently that already gives a logfile in C:. I just performed the whole process again with AdwC, scan and clean, nothing else, didn't click on logfile. After reboot it gave a logfile and the program itself was still there. This IMHO means that AdwC cleaned something which really corrupted a lot, even with AdwC itself that first time around. What else has been corrupted??

Another thing: normally when you perform an update to a newer version of a program the program deletes the old version, right? This didn't happen with Tweaking.com. I don't suppose Tweaking.com doesn't delete the older version, so that means another corruption. I uninstalled one with IObit and then both were gone. I have the free version of WR.

I made a pic of Task Manager after I started the pc without opening any program. And then pics of Process Explorer in Virtual Memory order and then in Working Set order. See attachments. I hope that will help.

Well, IObit thinks my pc is really one big mess. Look at the message I got after uninstalling Surfing Protection. See attachment. It says: remnants of the files have been successfully removed and it gives the number of privacy problems, registry errors and waste files and that I should install their Advanced System Care. I assume this is a scare-tactics pitch?

I have to go. Will perform JRT later. Thanks, Boggin! Don't know what to do without you! 

Oh, no slowness yet................ Although I saw last night in TM that free memory dropped more and more.

108

General Computer Support / Re: Desktop pc suddenly slow

« on: February 29, 2016, 10:38:19 am »

Yaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy!!!!! IE opens!!!!! What was it about then, do you know now? Closed it again quickly. I find IE scary.

Ok, I'll continue with IObit but I want to uninstall IObit Surfing Protection because I assume it's another real-time protection thing, and I don't want everything to get conflicted. Re HitmanPro: I agree, what I have with those superprograms MBAM and BullGuard (and Eset) must be enough. Thanks for sharing your experience with it. I know about Trusteer Rapport, had it for a while and got rid of it. Didn't trust it. No pun intended. Hahahaha.

AdwCleaner: with Report I thought you meant Results (because of my Dutch version). Ran AdwC again in English but I don't see any Report for the life of me. See attachment. Didn't see a restore point being made either.

If you need help in accessing System Protection to Restore then say so or if the restore reports as unsuccessful, you will need to do it again in Safe Mode as it will be Bullguard interfering in that.

I'm sorry, I have no idea what you mean by this. What restore?

The Task Manager shows a better result. I attached the pic of the TM when it was slow, so you can see the difference. I don't see much difference other than much more free physical memory. I must say the pc has definitely increased in speed since AdwC, it's REALLY fast now. No slowness yet, but the pc is only on for 1.5 hours. Do you think we found the culprit? And if we did, what was it exactly? And do I still have to run JRT?

Alas, more new problems:

As I looked at IObit Surfing Protection I saw I have 2 Tweaking.com WRs and I wanted to uninstall the older version 3.0.0. I couldn't, it said the tray icon was in use. So I opened the latest WR to see if I can get the tray icon out or stopped or whatever, but then I saw the latest version was already corrupted. See attachment. I only recently installed WR 3.8.3 (on Feb. 23) as I thought we would do that. How can that happen? And how do I uninstall the old WR with this tray icon running?

It's a lot of issues/questions, Boggin. Can you respond to them all, please? Thanks!

I'm really hoping this solved the slowness!! If you want to know what AdwC did, we still have the pictures. 
I checked, but there isn't a log report in C\AdwCleaner of the first scan and removal either, the "S1". Strange.

109

General Computer Support / Re: Desktop pc suddenly slow

« on: February 29, 2016, 07:49:47 am »

Please comment on my post No. 40.

Strange things happening again! I let AdwCleaner remove the files and reboot. Then no log and the whole exe file had disappeared from my desktop! Had to download it again. Has AdwCleaner changed its ways in the meantime? Or is my pc really going crazy now?

110

General Computer Support / Re: Desktop pc suddenly slow

« on: February 29, 2016, 07:04:07 am »

Alright, thanks.

Did you see post No. 40?

111

General Computer Support / Re: Desktop pc suddenly slow

« on: February 29, 2016, 04:21:40 am »

Now I remember why I stopped using AdwCleaner. Because I never knew whether its findings were malware or not.

Please look over them and give me the green light.

I know MyFreeCodec. That's from a Samsung cell phone program I de-installed.

112

General Computer Support / Re: Desktop pc suddenly slow

« on: February 29, 2016, 03:51:21 am »

I cannot install Revo Pro as I've used the 30 days trial period in the past and didn't know your trick (what was the trick again?), so now they ask to activate it with a licence. Maybe I should buy a licence.

I'll run AdwCleaner and JRT today.

Can we leave the IE issue for now? My feeling is that there's nothing wrong with IE itself.

I have uninstalled EMET. Someone told me to install HitmanPro.Alert instead. He said it was necessary especially for banktrojans.

113

General Computer Support / Re: Desktop pc suddenly slow

« on: February 28, 2016, 02:43:05 pm »

When I closed down the pc just now I paid more attention as I thought I saw something happening yesterday. And it did. I was very particular in closing every program before closing down and it took a while (the slowness) but for a very short time a pane appeared which said something about program or programs still needing to be closed. I couldn't even read it, it was gone so fast. But I managed to click on cancel, so I could view it again. It appeared again on closing down, I pressed printscreen but it closed down completely.

So there are still things happening in the background that I cannot see. I think that was important for you to know.

Right now I cannot do all the things you're suggesting. It's too much. Communicating through writing causes misunderstandings so easily, it wears me out. I can download AdwCleaner and everything else when the pc is normal.

114

General Computer Support / Re: Desktop pc suddenly slow

« on: February 28, 2016, 01:57:40 pm »

It's possible that you have tried to open IE and even though it failed to open, Windows could still be trying which could account for the memory leak - but just a guess.

Yes, this could well be. I meant it in a different way: if there's so little free physical memory left then IE wouldn't have enough memory to even open and fails immediately. As already happens with simple programs failing to be installed. So maybe, even when the pc is on normal speed, there's not enough memory for IE to open. Could this be valid somehow?

When you go Start - type iexplore.exe and press enter, does it open ?

I did this, see post 19.

The next thing to check would be Event Viewer for when you try to open IE - look for the Error time stamps, but don't forget to use the MS article to re-register IE or see if a sfc /scannow reports anything.

Please don't forget that I'm trying hard to keep up with you, trying to understand what you're saying, I have to look up pretty much everything you're suggesting, search for things, translate, etc. It's not easy....

I found out what the Event Viewer is, but don't know where to look. It's big. I uploaded the error message again which I received once when I tried to open IE. See attachment.

Maybe it's just all due to the number of tabs I have in Firefox......

The pc is so superslow now that I cannot even write here in a normal fashion. Have to turn the thing off.

And I have to take a break from this now.

115

General Computer Support / Re: Desktop pc suddenly slow

« on: February 28, 2016, 10:45:50 am »

Just a thought: the way I see IE trying to open which is similar to when the pc is slow and I try to install a program made me think: isn't IE a big program like Firefox which would use a LOT of memory space and therefore cannot even open?

116

General Computer Support / Re: Desktop pc suddenly slow

« on: February 28, 2016, 09:54:26 am »

Oh, I hadn't seen your last post.
About IE please read my post No. 19.

I will now run AdwCleaner and JunkwareRemovalTool.

No, cannot install them, the pc is too slow. Tomorrow then. BullGuard blocked the JRT site but I assume that's a false positive?

117

General Computer Support / Re: Desktop pc suddenly slow

« on: February 28, 2016, 09:48:45 am »

I was able to do something with my Sunday for a bit........and here I am again.

If we solve this, I believe I should deserve another karma point. Pfffffffff.

Am looking right now at a possible memory leak in Process Explorer, according to Leo's instructions (Working Set and Virtual Size). I think it's better to do this after a fresh start, but anyway, I'm looking at it.   

Hadn't turned off the pc and now it's starting to get really slow again.

118

General Computer Support / Re: Desktop pc suddenly slow

« on: February 28, 2016, 04:42:49 am »

Prey is a program that can locate your pc/laptop/cell phone.  https://preyproject.com/  You have to sign up and log in, it's not an installed program.

I was just looking at Programs and Features and saw Surfing Protection by IObit. That might be a realtime thing as well. I don't like this IObit one bit   . They keep trying to install all kinds of things. I have Revo but only for 32 bit programs. Didn't know your trick back then. Do you know another freeware uninstaller so I can get rid of this IObit?

Yeah, I got that, that 1 or 2 positives is nothing to worry about.

I made screenshots of my Process Explorer for you.

Now I'm signing off for the rest of the afternoon, Boggin. It's lovely weather here and I REALLY promised myself to do something else today! 

We'll talk later. Oh, but we should not forget that I still cannot open IE.

Have a nice day!

119

General Computer Support / Re: Desktop pc suddenly slow

« on: February 28, 2016, 02:25:11 am »

It took me some time to understand what you meant but I think I do now.

I see three VirusTotals in red. See attachments. 1 is the Tweaking.com Windows Repair Tray Icon! 2 is IOBit Uninstaller. I noticed before that when I wanted to update this program uBlock came with a warning and I didn't update. The third is the Prey program.

What do you say?

Had one instance of slowness. Pc is still fine today, just watched some videos without any problems.

120

General Computer Support / Re: Desktop pc suddenly slow

« on: February 27, 2016, 03:47:49 pm »

Well well well, look at this.

I closed all programs and opened Task Manager. It was still on 36% physical memory. Or is it just me?

BTW, your Dutch is coming along nicely now, isn't it, Boggin?   

I'm off to bed. Tomorrow I'll run all my AV/Malware scans again and some other ones from a Dutch IT helpers' site specialized in malware.

Good night, y'all, sweet dreams. <3

121

General Computer Support / Re: Desktop pc suddenly slow

« on: February 27, 2016, 03:20:24 pm »

If by applications you mean plug-ins, see attachment for my plug-ins.

The pc has become SUPERSLOW now. I have Speccy 1.28, couldn't get it to update to 1.29. After right-clicking on the exe file there was a very short pop-up, something like "please wait while Speccy....loading...." and then it's gone. Tried it several times. So I used 1.28.
The outcome is in the attachment.

I purposely didn't reboot today and it seems that, when it's under a slow attack, the slowness gets worse with time.

Could it be malware? If the scans by BullGuard, MBAM and Eset don't give anything, is there another program that would find something they might overlook?

122

General Computer Support / Re: Desktop pc suddenly slow

« on: February 27, 2016, 10:36:46 am »

Not being able to open IE at all could be a winsock problem but go Start - All Programs - Accessories - System Tools - Internet Explorer (No Add-ons)

Or you could go Start - type iexplore -extoff and press enter.

Both times, as with my own efforts, IE opens but it says "not responding" and the waiting symbol is there for about 20 seconds and then it all disappears.

The slow attack is back since I returned to my pc an hour ago. Today in the afternoon all was fine. I kept the pc running with the monitor off after a minute. I just now checked the bandwith speed: 13.02, so no problem there. My AV/Malware family is doing nothing as far as I can see.

See attachments for the Task Manager at this moment. In 2a it is interesting to see that I have a lot more free memory now. I guess that's because I closed Firefox just now so that BullGuard could delete the Firefox cache for its Optimalisation feature and after that I didn't open a lot of tabs. In 2b you can see a lot lower figure for Firefox right now (before it was 400.000). I haven't closed any more tabs. And still the pc is slow. Not on every mouse click or keyboard touch, but still, very annoying.

If you're online now on Saturday evening  and while I'm under attack, could you suggest anything else I can check? I'll be online for another hour or so.

123

General Computer Support / Re: Desktop pc suddenly slow

« on: February 26, 2016, 08:35:40 am »

We talked about changing the dynamic discs to standard using Minitool Partition Wizard or some other program but I was advised not to mess with them if the pc was doing okay.

I wouldn't think a WR would act differently if the discs were dynamic. What are the possible risks of doing a WR? And does a system restore point work if anything after a WR is totally off?

I cannot open IE at all. That's what got me thinking about a WR again. Maybe some files have become corrupted again and maybe hence the slowness??

I don't want to put a lot more energy into this. Let's drop the slowness issue for now. A re-installation is the No. 1 solution, also regarding the discs, but I really can't have that now.

124

General Computer Support / Re: Desktop pc suddenly slow

« on: February 26, 2016, 07:36:54 am »

BullGuard and MBAM both perform real-time protection, on browsing and e-mail. MBAM daily performs a threat scan. BG has a few daily backup tasks to the external HDs. And I have MBAM Anti-Exploit. With a new slow-attack I can check if they're active. But if these real-time actions are interfering I would have had these slow-attacks all along (some days I spend a LOT of hours on the pc continuously) and I haven't had these serious problems with slowness before. I know the pc to be slow sometimes with opening new programs e.g. and then I often hear the pc case give starting-up sounds as if it were asleep (sleep options are off).

The paging file is set to auto-manage.
I saw DEP being set for all programmes and services (as somebody told me to). Is that correct? I have so much protection already. And the EMET error message on Word said something about DEP mitigation. Is that connected?

I decided to bring the number of tabs down. But for that I need more time which I have not at the moment. :S

Slowness in its worst form is waiting up to a minute with every mouse click. Even in Explorer or MusicBee or Word or wherever. Whatever its degree of slowness, it's with every program or function. I think I also tried shutting Firefox down to "make space", but to no avail. Up till now I have not detected any pattern. But then I have to check it in a more structured way, noting down time and checking all possible causes.

The bandwith is another very good idea of yours! I use a LAN cable (ADSL). Right now without any slowness problems my download speed is 12.99  (I pay for 20 Mb but I understand from my provider that I'm further away from the transmitting station). Upload is 0.83. I can check the speed when under attack.    Years ago I checked the download speed and it was about 13 at the time too. I have had no problems with such a seemingly low download speed. Especially since I blocked the trackers, downloading sites is very fast. At least fast enough for me. With uploading also no problems. I can wait, am a patient person. 

Could you comment on my last two paragraphs of my last post about IE and Windows Repair?

Thank you for putting in some much of your time and your brain energy! Thumbs up again!

125

General Computer Support / Re: Desktop pc suddenly slow

« on: February 26, 2016, 04:54:44 am »

Dear Boggin, I'm late in responding, sorry, I have a lot on my plate at the moment.

The GWX I don't really understand but I can give you two screenshots of (I believe to be) significant pages. It seems to me that it doesn't do a whole lot. I have no idea. Or should I open GWXTriggers?

I'm not sure how EMET works but an AV program can slow things when it starts checking files or the tabs.

Yes, but it doesn't explain why the slowness is so random. I had it again yesterday in a major way, tried to find a possible cause, but had to reboot and everything was fine again.

Have you ever had the slow with say just one or two tabs open ?

It has been a looooooooong time since I had just one or two tabs open. They're my modern form of yellow post-its, you know. 

I would think your Paging File is set to default but when was the last time you defragged the HDD if you are using one and not a SSD ?

I cannot find out what a paging file is. My C: drive where the Windows files are on is an SSD.

Tell me if you want some more info on one of these things.

Another problem: to fill in a form for a certain website I have to use Internet Explorer, but I cannot get it to open. It opens but the waiting symbol (the little blue circle spinning) is there and then it shuts down. In the attachment the files that are involved from the error popup.

Maybe it's time for a Windows Repair All In One. Or would that be a problem with my Dynamic Discs?