Computer slow or stops

[pegasis]

I have (2) windows 8.1 machines; 1 desktop and 1 laptop

both have windows 8.1 loaded and patched
both have some of the same software loaded

laptop works fine with the same browser (opera 22)


my desktop experiences slowness, or seems to hung up

this is particularly an issues while browsing (using opera 22)
but safari locks up also

the main websites that cause this seems to be; yahoo. ebay, amazon;
list intensive sites

can take many minutes for the computer to slow down or lock up before it responds

I have run virus scans on my desktop several times using;
exterminate-it, spyware bot, malewarebytes, avira, avast, comodo virus scan.

Computer seems to be clean

when the computer slows down or locks up, task manager shows (2) main programs using resources.

ntoskinl.exe, and svchost.exe

I also see WUDFhost.exe in the list

can anyone help me isolate the issue, and fix this

 

[Ketchup]

The files you listed are all part of Windows, so by themselves they shouldn't be causing a problem.

What model is, or parts are in, the problem computer?

Do you ever see a blue screen?

 

[pegasis]

It is home built with asus 787-K, quad core i5.

I get a temporary blue screen while it recovers, byt i always get my desktop back
never gotten a BSOD

has worked great up until the last month

is there any event view or system log files I should be looking at?

 

[Ketchup]

Here are a couple ways:

Whocrashed on this page:
http://www.resplendence.com/downloads

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/6292/how-to-troubleshoot-the-blue-screen-of-death/

 

[pegasis]

antifreezesetup can not be installed; error is create process failed code 70, request operation needs elevation?


system mechanic can not be installed; run time error 216 at 004039FA
(this error is indicative of subsevin virus, but I have ran 20 scans and checked the registry and found no evidence)??

 

[Ketchup]

Yeah, if a lot of programs won't install, definitely sounds like a virus or rootkit. You may need to try something like:

http://usa.kaspersky.com/downloads/TDSSKiller

You might also see if you can get into msconfig and find any startup programs that do no belong there.

 

[pegasis]

this is really strange

The computer sometimes seem to go idle with no HD activity?

other times the CPU slows 4% use but the HD is at 100% active time??

a HD should not run 100% active for very long

what is going on here

 

[Ketchup]

What did the Kaspersky scan find?

 

[pegasis]

found nothing

 

[Ketchup]

You could try a fresh install and see if the problems are reproducable.

 

[pegasis]

A fresh install on windows?? OMG

what a pain that is

 

[frozentundra123456]

How old is the computer? What model i5 is the CPU? Are you using a video card or the igp?

The symptoms sound like malware, especially the high hdd activity and inability to install Kapersky. You also mentioned trying a lot of other AV programs. Be sure that you are running only one at a time.
It could also be something as simple as overheating. Have you checked the CPU and gpu (if you have one) temperatures, and cleaned out the interior of the case and made sure all the fans are working? Otherwise, it could be the psu, hard drive, motherboard, gpu or ram. Unfortunately, you may be forced to do a reformat if you have a stubborn piece of malware.

Edit: sorry, you said kapersky did install but found nothing, right? In any case the inability to install other programs sounds like malware. Do other browsers work OK without slowdowns? I use opera without problems, but I thought safari was no longer being well optimized for windows.

 

[pegasis]

computer was rebuilt in may 2014;
I5 quad core on Asus 787-K board, integrated graphics, no separate graphics card.

Only software that is having issues installing is system mechanic 2014 update.. it corrupted the prior installation

sometimes the computer goes idle and locks up for minutes, or take heavy HD activity for 5-6 minutes before loading a webpage

opera normally works fine

antifreeze software seemed to lock the computer up and make things worse

what should I look for in event log, system log files?

 

[Ketchup]

If it isn't malware, it is something causing similar symptoms. System mechanic, for example, I haven't used that since 98, and see no use for it. Remove it if it is not uninstalled already.

Start going through your programs and remove all utility software, security software, and really anything that isn't what I would consider necessary for your normal activity (you can add back antivirus one the problem goes away). I know 'normal activity' is subjective, but there is obviously something on your computer that is bogging things down. If there is a program that you aren't sure about in add/remove programs, just ask.

 

[pegasis]

I was looking at event viewer, and I see error events related to:

Event time out; service control manager, distributed com

and I am getting access denied for trying to read my security event viewer?

 

[Ketchup]

and I am getting access denied for trying to read my security event viewer?

OK, that is also a sign of Malware.

computer was rebuilt in may 2014

Did this include a re-install of the OS? If not, what type of steps did you go through to get everything running with the new hardware.

I am still leaning towards a re-install if you are still having the original issues.

 

[pegasis]

I don't want to re-install too much work

I want to isolate what the problem is, root cause before jumping ship on the current install of the windows 8.1 OS

OS was installed on May 014 when I upgraded/rebuilt the computer

no new hardware has been added since the rebuild


I want to try and find the cause of this issue, malware, corrupt files, etc

it is just standard IT quote to say re-install or replace the piece of XYZ hardware

The problem can re-occur later and nothing was done to find out why?

Please help me try and trouble shoot this if you are able

where should I look, what for?

Thanks

 

[JasonBourne]

From what I've heard "Windows Search" process might be responsible for that 100% HDD usage in Win8/8.1 but from my experience I found out that its just Taskmanager that gives it a 100% value. Upon monitoring by several softwares I found out that the R/W rates were some MB/s only.

About System Mechanic® 14, I don't think it offers full compatibility with Win8.1 . Might give CCleaner a try cuz its popular and ofcourse free.

 

[inachu]

computer was rebuilt in may 2014;
I5 quad core on Asus 787-K board, integrated graphics, no separate graphics card.

Only software that is having issues installing is system mechanic 2014 update.. it corrupted the prior installation

sometimes the computer goes idle and locks up for minutes, or take heavy HD activity for 5-6 minutes before loading a webpage

opera normally works fine

antifreeze software seemed to lock the computer up and make things worse

what should I look for in event log, system log files?

Antifreeze software will always make things worse.
That is why NORTON CRASH GUARD got out of the freezing business as norton crash guard would also crash.

It is the amount of things called "WINDOW HOOKS" that run on your system.

Preemptive software based utilities will often do that.

I mean seriously. If you have more than 3 programs to check things for you automatically then there's your problem! 3 programs latching onto a executable each checking it out at the same time .... they fight for superiority to check that file and when its already grabbed and locked then the other programs can not grab it to inspect it or to execute it because of a key click or virus infection.

I once had to scan a persons hard drive with 7 different antivirus/malware programs so show how his normal 3 scanners were not picking up everything because not every program in the world can find everything.

If it takes you 2 more hours after reading this to continue scanning then I would say just format the c: drive and re-install windows.

Next time buy acronis or norton ghost to back up a perfect newly imaged pc then you can never go wrong.