HELP: Computer is SO DAMN SLOW

[TheCyrus]

Well first of all, i'm a retard when it comes to computers. So please excuse my ignorance.

Well, basically, my Comp Runs really slow. When i boot it, it takes at least 10 minutes to get to the login screen. I don't think it's a hardware problem (P4 2.4 Ghz 768 MB RAM 40 GB HD Windows XP SP2)

Its not a spyware or virus problem, because i scanned for this minutes before. To get a feel for how slow my comp is running, it took about 2 full days to scan 30 GB of Data. I'm wondering what i can do to resolve this problem, it gets progressively slower and slower every singled day/minute.

Thanks!

ALSO: I can only run a couple of programs at a time. And they're not programs that would use up a lot of memory. (i.e. Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Hears, and notepad)
Programs always go to 'not responding' and i get a 'rundll32.exe' needs to close...or some error report that talks about rundll32.exe. I'm so confused

 

[MisterChief]

That sounds like a virus problem to me...probably a boot sector virus. rundll32.exe is a base process in Windows. If it gets corrupted, you may be in for a problem.

 

[mechBgon]

What precise antivirus brand and version do you have? For example, "Norton Antivirus 2002" and not just "Norton." What anti-spyware program did you try so far?

I'm going to cut to the chase on the malware angle and ask if you could download and run HijackThis 1.99 from here and post the text from the results, so I can check it out.

Another thing you can do is look in Device Manager, expand the IDE/ATA Controllers item, double-click the Primary and Seconary controllers, go to the Advanced tab, and confirm they're not stuck on PIO mode anywhere. You want some flavor of UltraDMA going on there.

 

[TheCyrus]

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 8:23:48 PM, on 3/1/2005
Platform: Windows XP SP1 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP1 (6.00.2800.1106)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSetMgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SNDSrvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SPBBC\SPBBCSvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\AOL\ACS\AOLacsd.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\EPSON\EBAPI\SAgent2.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7Debug\mdm.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\IWP\NPFMntor.exe
C:\Program Files\Softex\OmniPass\Omniserv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\CCPD-LC\symlcsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Softex\OmniPass\OPXPApp.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\windows\system\hpsysdrv.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe
C:\Program Files\ScanSoft\OmniPageSE\opware32.exe
C:\Program Files\Viewpoint\Viewpoint Manager\ViewMgr.exe
C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe
C:\Program Files\BroadJump\Client Foundation\CFD.exe
C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\LVCOMSX.EXE
C:\Program Files\Logitech\Video\LogiTray.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft AntiSpyware\gcasDtServ.exe
C:\Program Files\Logitech\Video\FxSvr2.exe
C:\Program Files\Support.com\bin\tgcmd.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Dad\Desktop\hijackthis\HijackThis.exe
C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://hometab.bellsouth.net
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.rolltide.com
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = localhost
O2 - BHO: Yahoo! Companion BHO - {02478D38-C3F9-4efb-9B51-7695ECA05670} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common\ycomp5,1,1,0.dll
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 5.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.ocx
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {243B17DE-77C7-46BF-B94B-0B5F309A0E64} - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Money\System\mnyside.dll
O2 - BHO: Viewpoint Toolbar BHO - {A7327C09-B521-4EDB-8509-7D2660C9EC98} - C:\Program Files\Viewpoint\Viewpoint Toolbar\ViewBarBHO.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O2 - BHO: NAV Helper - {BDF3E430-B101-42AD-A544-FADC6B084872} - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Yahoo! Companion - {EF99BD32-C1FB-11D2-892F-0090271D4F88} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common\ycomp5,1,1,0.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Radio - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\msdxm.ocx
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Norton AntiVirus - {42CDD1BF-3FFB-4238-8AD1-7859DF00B1D6} - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Viewpoint Toolbar - {F8AD5AA5-D966-4667-9DAF-2561D68B2012} - C:\Program Files\Viewpoint\Viewpoint Toolbar\ViewBar.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [hpsysdrv] c:\windows\system\hpsysdrv.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HotKeysCmds] C:\WINDOWS\System32\hkcmd.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [KBD] C:\HP\KBD\KBD.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [StorageGuard] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Sonic\Update Manager\sgtray.exe" /r
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe" -osboot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Recguard] C:\WINDOWS\SMINST\RECGUARD.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HPDJ Taskbar Utility] C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\drivers\w32x86\3\hpztsb07.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Omnipage] C:\Program Files\ScanSoft\OmniPageSE\opware32.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Microsoft Works Update Detection] C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Works Shared\WkUFind.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ViewMgr] C:\Program Files\Viewpoint\Viewpoint Manager\ViewMgr.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Pure Networks Port Magic] "C:\PROGRA~1\PURENE~1\PORTMA~1\PortAOL.exe" -Run
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [BJCFD] C:\Program Files\BroadJump\Client Foundation\CFD.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LVCOMSX] C:\WINDOWS\System32\LVCOMSX.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LogitechVideoRepair] C:\Program Files\Logitech\Video\ISStart.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LogitechVideoTray] C:\Program Files\Logitech\Video\LogiTray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AlcxMonitor] ALCXMNTR.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [gcasServ] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft AntiSpyware\gcasServ.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Symantec NetDriver Monitor] C:\PROGRA~1\SYMNET~1\SNDMon.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [tgcmd] "C:\Program Files\Support.com\BellSouth\hcenter.exe" /starthidden /tgcmdwrapper
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\System32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Yahoo! Pager] C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Messenger\ypager.exe -quiet
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [LogitechSoftwareUpdate] "C:\Program Files\Logitech\Video\ManifestEngine.exe" boot
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Viewpoint Search - res://C:\Program Files\Viewpoint\Viewpoint Toolbar\ViewBar.dll/CXTSEARCH.HTML
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office10\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {4528BBE0-4E08-11D5-AD55-00010333D0AD} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Messenger\yhexbmes0411.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Yahoo! Messenger - {4528BBE0-4E08-11D5-AD55-00010333D0AD} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Messenger\yhexbmes0411.dll
O9 - Extra button: AIM - {AC9E2541-2814-11d5-BC6D-00B0D0A1DE45} - C:\Program Files\AIM\aim.exe
O9 - Extra button: MoneySide - {E023F504-0C5A-4750-A1E7-A9046DEA8A21} - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Money\System\mnyside.dll
O12 - Plugin for .spop: C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\Plugins\NPDocBox.dll
O16 - DPF: Yahoo! Chat - http://us.chat1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/chat/applet/c381/chat.cab
O16 - DPF: {05317530-B882-449D-9421-18D94FA3ED34} (OSInfo Control) - http://www.sis.com/support/ocis/OSInfo.cab
O16 - DPF: {16095503-786F-4097-AED6-5D567A26D760} (SiS_OCX Control) - http://www.sis.com/support/ocis/SiSAutodetectNT.cab
O16 - DPF: {1671869C-25B3-4C80-9446-8AE6111F8765} (MaxisHotDateTeleX Control) - http://thesims.ea.com/teleport/hotdate/MaxisHotDateTeleX.cab
O16 - DPF: {17492023-C23A-453E-A040-C7C580BBF700} (Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool) - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=36467&clcid=0x409
O16 - DPF: {2DAE59A1-B355-4653-8D33-33A3A8F8C078} (MaxisVacationTeleX Control) - http://thesims.ea.com/teleport/vacation/MaxisVacationTeleX.cab
O16 - DPF: {3A7FE611-1994-4EF1-A09F-99456752289D} (WildTangent Active Launcher) - http://install.wildtangent.com/ActiveLauncher/ActiveLauncher.cab
O16 - DPF: {4A3CF76B-EC7A-405D-A67D-8DC6B52AB35B} (QDiagAOLCCUpdateObj Class) - http://aolcc.aol.com/computercheckup/qdiagcc.cab
O16 - DPF: {4ED9DDF0-7479-4BBE-9335-5A1EDB1D8A21} (McAfee.com Operating System Class) - http://download.av.aol.com/molbin/shared/mcinsctl/en-us/4,0,0,83/mcinsctl.cab
O16 - DPF: {5D1E3FA5-64FF-4387-9418-F1D67AFB2247} (MaxisSuperstarTeleX Control) - http://thesims.ea.com/teleport/superstar/MaxisSuperstarTeleX.cab
O16 - DPF: {8629CFEB-C31A-4429-9BB0-8765A8A24FDA} (MaxisUnleashedLotTeleX Control) - http://thesims.ea.com/teleport/unleashed/LOT/MaxisUnleashedLotTeleX.cab
O16 - DPF: {90C9629E-CD32-11D3-BBFB-00105A1F0D68} (InstallShield International Setup Player) - http://www.installengine.com/engine/isetup.cab
O16 - DPF: {BCC0FF27-31D9-4614-A68E-C18E1ADA4389} (DwnldGroupMgr Class) - http://download.av.aol.com/molbin/shared/mcgdmgr/en-us/1,0,0,20/mcgdmgr.cab
O20 - Winlogon Notify: igfxcui - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\igfxsrvc.dll
O20 - Winlogon Notify: OPXPGina - C:\Program Files\Softex\OmniPass\opxpgina.dll
O23 - Service: AOL Connectivity Service (AOL ACS) - America Online, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\AOL\ACS\AOLacsd.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Event Manager (ccEvtMgr) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Password Validation (ccPwdSvc) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccPwdSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Settings Manager (ccSetMgr) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSetMgr.exe
O23 - Service: EPSON Printer Status Agent2 (EPSONStatusAgent2) - SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION - C:\Program Files\Common Files\EPSON\EBAPI\SAgent2.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service (iPodService) - Apple Computer, Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: Norton AntiVirus Auto-Protect Service (navapsvc) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
O23 - Service: Norton AntiVirus Firewall Monitor Service (NPFMntor) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\IWP\NPFMntor.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Driver Helper Service (NVSvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe
O23 - Service: Softex OmniPass Service (omniserv) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Softex\OmniPass\Omniserv.exe
O23 - Service: SAVScan - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\SAVScan.exe
O23 - Service: ScriptBlocking Service (SBService) - Symantec Corporation - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\SYMANT~1\SCRIPT~1\SBServ.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Network Drivers Service (SNDSrvc) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SNDSrvc.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec SPBBCSvc (SPBBCSvc) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SPBBC\SPBBCSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Core LC - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\CCPD-LC\symlcsvc.exe

There you go.

 

[mechBgon]

All rightie, I dropped that into http://hijackthis.de and it found some bad stuff you'll want to get rid of. WildTangent, various pieces of ViewPoint stuff... I see from the output that you have the Microsoft AntiSpyware software installed. Did you have it do an exhaustive scan yet?

Also,

(1) you are at Windows XP Service Pack 1, not Service Pack 2. But you don't want to try installing SP2 with your system in this condition.

(2) I'd like to know what version of Norton you have there, at the very least

(3) do you have a router between your modem and your computer to provide firewall protection, or no router?

(4) do you have other computers sharing the internet connection?

(5) are you open to grabbing a second hard drive, doing a fresh malware-free install of Windows, getting it all set up tight and fast, and then pulling over your data and reinstalling your software? Or do you want to try to salvage the existing Windows installation even if it might take some time and determination?

 

[TheCyrus]

2)Norton 2005 (defs. up to date)
3) No Router, Windows Firewall
4)No
5) Salvage this version of windows.

Thanks again!

 

[mechBgon]

Ok, grab Spybot Search And Destroy as a secondary antispyware tool, and install & update it, but since I know scans take forever, don't run a scan just yet. The benefit here is that Spybot S&D can scan in Safe Mode, which the Microsoft AntiSpyware can't. It will also go after your WildTangent infection.

Another tool to go get: 30-day trial of Kaspersky Antivirus Personal. Uninstall Norton 2005 for now, install Kaspsersky and update it. Set both its real-time and on-demand features to Maximum. Open it, go to the Settings tab, click Configure Updater, and set it to use Extended databases.

Now disable System Restore (how to do that) and reboot the computer into straight Safe Mode by pressing the F8 key when you know it's just about to show the WindowsXP boot screen with the scrollie thing on it.

In Safe Mode, open up Task Manager by right-clicking the Taskbar and choosing Task Manager. Try to terminate each process other than Explorer.exe itself. This may help knock down some of the interference from malware that's got itself running in Safe Mode. Stuff that won't terminate is probably not supposed to.

After trying to end unnecessary processes, still in Safe Mode, now go to My Computer, open the C: drive, right-click the C:\WINDOWS folder, and have Kaspsersky scan that to start with. If it seems to be getting reasonable speed on that, then when it's done, fire off a full scan of the whole system while you have some snacks and watch a show or something

After the Kaspersky scanning, still in Safe Mode here, have Spybot Search & Destroy take a turn. Let it fix what it finds. After that's done, restart the system in normal mode and see if it acts speedier. If it does, follow your first 1-2 punch with a knockout blow... full Microsoft Antispyware scan, the exhaustive one not the Quick Scan. Whatever it comes up with, make it Delete all items, don't let it Ignore any.

I went through about a 6-hour battle with my little sister's computer and she also had up-to-date Norton Antivirus 2005. Kaspersky proved to be much better at detecting the Trojan/Downloader stuff that Norton was not detecting. You can uninstall Kaspersky afterwards if you still prefer Norton, but I'm recommending it as a removal tool at the minimum.

 

[TheCyrus]

Well, none of that helped. . Any other suggestions?

 

[Sp33d]

Do you have anything you REEEELY need on that hard drive? If so, back only the essential files up and buy a new one. They're really cheap.