New laptop is very slow

[ragnarok297]

I just bought a new laptop for college (Acer Travelmate 8100), and it seems very slow. It is my first laptop but I don't think it should be acting this slow. The main problem is that it takes a long time to start up. It has a 2 GHz pentium M and 1 GB of DDR RAM...so I am not sure why it takes so long to boot. I checked for spyware and viruses but nothing came up. I have a feeling that it is all the stuff my school made me install (microsoft anti spyware, symantec antivirus etc..) but I turned almost everything off in msconfig and that did not help the load time for windows. I was wondering if anyone had any input...thanks in advance.

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 3:52:47 PM, on 8/28/2005
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)

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\Ati2evxx.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\SPBBC\SPBBCSvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Acer\eManager\anbmServ.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Symantec AntiVirus\DefWatch.exe
c:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7Debug\mdm.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL$MICROSOFTSMLBIZ\Binn\sqlservr.exe
C:\Program Files\Symantec AntiVirus\Rtvscan.exe
C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPLpr.exe
C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
C:\Program Files\Launch Manager\QtZgAcer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\fxssvc.exe
C:\Program Files\D-Tools\daemon.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\rundll32.exe
C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel\atiptaxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\AGRSMMSG.exe
C:\WINDOWS\SOUNDMAN.EXE
C:\acer\epm\epm-dm.exe
C:\Program Files\Logitech\SetPoint\KEM.exe
C:\Program Files\Logitech\SetPoint\KHALMNPR.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
C:\Program Files\acer\eRecovery\Monitor.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Surry Shome\Desktop\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://global.acer.com
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SynTPLpr] C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPLpr.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SynTPEnh] C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Logitech Hardware Abstraction Layer] KHALMNPR.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LManager] C:\Program Files\Launch Manager\QtZgAcer.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LaunchApp] Alaunch
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [High Definition Audio Property Page Shortcut] HDAudPropShortcut.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [eRecoveryService] C:\Windows\System32\Check.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DAEMON Tools-1033] "C:\Program Files\D-Tools\daemon.exe" -lang 1033
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [BluetoothAuthenticationAgent] rundll32.exe bthprops.cpl,,BluetoothAuthenticationAgent
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATIPTA] C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel\atiptaxx.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AlcWzrd] ALCWZRD.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AGRSMMSG] AGRSMMSG.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SoundMan] SOUNDMAN.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ePowerManagement] C:\Acer\ePM\ePM.exe boot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [epm-dm] c:\acer\epm\epm-dm.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Logitech SetPoint.lnk = C:\Program Files\Logitech\SetPoint\KEM.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~3\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~3\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://learn.vt.edu
O16 - DPF: {17492023-C23A-453E-A040-C7C580BBF700} (Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool) - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=39204
O16 - DPF: {1F2F4C9E-6F09-47BC-970D-3C54734667FE} (LSSupCtl Class) - https://www-secure.symantec.com/techsupp/asa/ctrl/LSSupCtl.cab
O16 - DPF: {CE28D5D2-60CF-4C7D-9FE8-0F47A3308078} (ActiveDataInfo Class) - https://www-secure.symantec.com/techsupp/asa/ctrl/SymAData.cab
O16 - DPF: {D1E7CBDA-E60E-4970-A01C-37301EF7BF98} (Measurement Services Client v.3.7) - http://gameadvisor.futuremark.com/global/msc37.cab
O18 - Protocol: ms-help - {314111C7-A502-11D2-BBCA-00C04F8EC294} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Help\hxds.dll
O20 - Winlogon Notify: NavLogon - C:\WINDOWS\system32\NavLogon.dll
O23 - Service: Notebook Manager Service (anbmService) - OSA Technologies Inc. - C:\Acer\eManager\anbmServ.exe
O23 - Service: Ati HotKey Poller - ATI Technologies Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.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: Symantec AntiVirus Definition Watcher (DefWatch) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Symantec AntiVirus\DefWatch.exe
O23 - Service: MSSQL$MICROSOFTSMLBIZ - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL$MICROSOFTSMLBIZ\Binn\sqlservr.exe" -sMICROSOFTSMLBIZ (file missing)
O23 - Service: SAVRoam (SavRoam) - symantec - C:\Program Files\Symantec AntiVirus\SavRoam.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: SQLAgent$MICROSOFTSMLBIZ - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL$MICROSOFTSMLBIZ\Binn\sqlagent.EXE" -i MICROSOFTSMLBIZ (file missing)
O23 - Service: Symantec AntiVirus - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Symantec AntiVirus\Rtvscan.exe

 

[amdskip]

It looks like everything is fine in the hijackthis but is all that stuff necessary?

 

[ragnarok297]

Just wanted to make sure it wasn't spyware...I can't find out why it takes so long to boot.

 

[Scott66]

it is probably related to your bios. Are you getting any messages upon bootup saying unable to find devices or if it is trying to boot from your network or USB device?

 

[daveybrat]

It's most likely due to the fact that a lot of nicer high end laptops that use Pentium M cpu's and 1GB of ram are skimping and using 4200RPM hard drives instead of the faster 5400RPM drives. You should check your drives model number and look it up on google or post it here.

 

[ragnarok297]

I do not think it is anything related to my bios...I dont get any messages during start up...and I checked the bios to make sure it was booting from the hard drive first. Also, the hard drive is 5400 rpm, but I still don't know why it would take so long to boot up.

 

[doc2345]

Uninstall all the BS the manufacturer installed that you won't use or need! Especially Norton......... The machine will be twice as fast! Norton is a pig that shouldn't be on anything....... Something like AVG Free won't affect performance and if you believe you need a full security suite try CA's eZArmor.

 

[FlyingPenguin]

What's the speed of your hard drive? If it's a 5400 RPM or (gasp) even slower, and you have all that background crap loading, it'll slow down the load process. I won't buy a laptop without a 7200 RPM drive anymore.

Looks like you have Norton Internet Security installed. That big bloated piece of crap takes forever to download and uses well over 150Mb just to run. I can guarantee you that this is what's taking the most time to load. You're better off uninstalling it and either getting the plane jane version of NAV, or my personal favorite AVG's free Anti-Virus. AVG has a nice small memory footprint and it's what I prefer to use on client's laptops to keep boot times short. You don't need the rest of the crap Internet Security supposed does for you. Just enable your Windows Firewall and a good SIMPLE AV app.

You have an aweful of background apps running. Typical of Acer and most OEM vendors. Some suggestions on things you can disable (make a system restore point first). Also don't remove these items from your startup, just disable them. I prefer to use Mike Lin's Startup Control Panel instead of MSCONFIG.EXE. In case you need to temporarily turn on something later (like some Acer remote diagnostic crap if you have to deal with tech support) you can always turn it back on then turn it off as needed:

mdm.exe - Unless you're a programmer you don't need this running.
sqlservr.exe - No reason an SQL server should be running unless you're running a specific application that requires one. Some examples would be if you're a Realtor or Broker and you're running a custom sales or management app that keeps a client database. More than likely some Adware that came with the computer is using it. Big resource and performance hog, not to mention a potential security issue.
anbmServ.exe - Some worthless Acer phone home app you probably don't need.
QtZgAcer.EXE - Acer "Launch Manager". Probably not needed unless it's for special keyboard buttons.
fxssvc.exe - Microsoft fax service. No need to run it if you don't use the laptop for sending receiving faxes. Do a google search for the proper method to disable the feature instead of killing the startup.
daemon.exe - Daemon tools. Emulates a CD or DVD using an ISO image. Probably came installed with your CD/DVD burning software. Not necessary unless you need it for a special reason, and some games (like BF1942 and BF2) won't run with it installed because their copy protection will see it as a threat.
epm-dm.exe - Unknown Acer app. Disable and see if it affects anything. Do a search on google to see what it is. Probably just adware of some kind or a phone-home/updater. Nothing you need probably.
KEM.exe and KHALMNPR.EXE - Logitech Setpoint software/drivers. I assume you have a Logitech mouse? You don't NEED them unless you use some special feature they provide. ANy mouse works with Windows without any special drivers or software and usually works better (again, unles there's some fancy feature you like that the app adds and I think this may also be required if your mouse is Blue Tooth but not sure).
Monitor.exe - Encompass Monitor Adware that many OEM vendors put in computers. Get rid of it.

Hope this helps...

 

[ragnarok297]

Thanks for the responses...but I finally solved the problem by exchanging the laptop for a new one at the university bookstore...I think the hard drive was busted. The new one is the same model and loads much faster.

 

[Slikkster]

The old "baby out with the bathwater" trick...

Glad you're up to speed.