Topic: So slow

[Argee]

My XP Pro (SP2 + all updates) has started to get really slow. I've got a SATA 160Gb into four partitions (C = Windows, browser, anti-virus; D = Data and e-mail; E = programmes and F = photographs). I suspect that a trojan in a file I was recently sent (from a trusted source) may be the culprit. I think it was called something like "TrojanHorseDropper.Generic.msp" and was found by AVG and virus-vaulted. I deleted the file. Later it was found again in a backup - also deleted. I've searched this forum and found a recommendation to the TDS site, but that's currently down for maintenance. 

Before I re-format (oh, deep joy!), is there anything else I could try or could someone please suggest any other strategy to try first? I've de-fragged, cleaned up, turned off System Restore, etc. and have done a Spybot S&D, a Stinger and a Lavasoft Adaware as well as a full AVG scan, but the machine's getting slower by the day. A full AVG scan used to take about 40 minutes, but it had only scanned three-quarters in over an hour and a half.

TIA.

Ray.

[Simon]

It's very difficult to get rid of these things sometimes, Ray.  Just a wild stab in the dark, but have you looked in C:\Windows\Temp to see if there's anything iffy lurking in there?  Also, is there anything suspicious running in Task Manager, or in your start up programs (Start > Run > msconfig)?  There are many spyware removal tools, as you will know, and some are more effective than others.  You have already tried the free ones I would have recommended, but one other which might be worth a shot is SuperAntiSpyware, which has a free edition, and it will remove anything found, without demanding any money from you.

[Argee]

Thanks for the link to SuperAntiSpyware - brilliant! It found oreans32 (which nothing else had found) and dealt with it, but that, in itself, made no difference.

The weird thing (to me, at least), is that everything is running almost exactly 2.5 times slower - from copying or transferring files to virus scanning, starting up and shutting down. I don't understand how a trojan does that - if, indeed, that's what is doing it.

Ray.

[Simon]

It could be a faulty program... maybe?  Try disabling everything that starts with Windows (Start > Run > msconfig) and see what happens, then re-enable each item one by one until it starts playing up, then you may have found your culprit.

[Clive]

What's going on in the Performance tag in Task Manager Argee?  If something is hogging resources when the machine is idle then you will get a reading of over 90% whereas it should be almost zero.  OK it's not going to solve the problem but it will confirm you have one.

[Argee]

What's going on in the Performance tag in Task Manager Argee?  If something is hogging resources when the machine is idle then you will get a reading of over 90% whereas it should be almost zero.  OK it's not going to solve the problem but it will confirm you have one.

I'm getting a reading of between 0% and 4% in CPU Usage and 216Mb in PF Usage when idle.

I'm about to try the MSConfig disabling idea, thanks for the suggestion.

Ray.

[Clive]

If it's as low as that then I doubt if it is anything malicious.  Could it be a faulty RAM problem?  I think Sandra knows of a program to test RAM so perhaps she may have a suggestion.

[Sandra]

Memtest 86 does it.
It used to be free but last time I looked for a link it seemed to have been taken over by someone and is being charged for.

I think there are some sites that still have the earlier free version, just Google for it 

[Argee]

Clive and Sandra - I found a free site here, but the test showed no errors.

Simon - With ALL the startup programmes disabled in MSConfig it made no difference whatsoever!

Wits end approaching!

Ray.

[Sandra]

If it is that suspected trojan then turn off system restore, restart in safe mode and run your AVG scan again.

It could be hiding in the drivers or in system restore and reloading each time you reboot.

[Simon]

As there's nothing unusual in Task Manager, and turning off your start up programs makes no difference, this almost eliminates a software issue, unless it's Windows itself.

I've de-fragged, cleaned up, turned off System Restore, etc. and have done a Spybot S&D, a Stinger and a Lavasoft Adaware as well as a full AVG scan

You did all those scans with System Restore turned off, yes?  It's starting to look more like a hardware issue to me, which is Sandra's territory.  Have you added any new hardware, or updated any hardware drivers recently?  Was there a significant event that you can recall, just before things started running slow? 

Sorry if we all seem to be shooting in the dark, Ray.  We know it's frustrating.  It's more or less a question of elimination at this stage, to find out where the problem lies.  Oh, do you have any USB devices connected?  Try disconnecting any external devices to see if anything makes any difference.

[Argee]

As there's nothing unusual in Task Manager, and turning off your start up programs makes no difference, this almost eliminates a software issue, unless it's Windows itself.

You did all those scans with System Restore turned off, yes?  It's starting to look more like a hardware issue to me, which is Sandra's territory.  Have you added any new hardware, or updated any hardware drivers recently?  Was there a significant event that you can recall, just before things started running slow? 

Sorry if we all seem to be shooting in the dark, Ray.  We know it's frustrating.  It's more or less a question of elimination at this stage, to find out where the problem lies.  Oh, do you have any USB devices connected?  Try disconnecting any external devices to see if anything makes any difference.

The scans were done with System restore turned off. Sandra, I've since started in Safe Mode, repeated the scans using both AVG and SuperAntiSpyware - nowt.

I do have a number of USB devices, including mouse, 2 printers, screen calibrator, scanner, webcam and a card reader. Some of these are connected by a powered hub, but with both printers and the scanner switched off and the powered hub disconnected, the only thing detected on POST is the mouse. The webcam is detected during the XP startup, so I disconnected it, but that made no difference either.

I'm very grateful for all contributions, BTW!

Ray.

[Sandra]

Theres something about indexing or some setting for the hard drive that is buzzing round my head for some reason but I cant think just how it relates to your problem at the moment

[davy51]

Theres something about indexing or some setting for the hard drive that is buzzing round my head for some reason but I cant think just how it relates to your problem at the moment

your right Sandra indexing the hard drive will slow a computer down
i turned it off in mine and it seemed to speed it up


go to my computer
right click on the drive

click properties

uncheck allow indexing service to index this disc to allow for fast file searching

[Argee]

Theres something about indexing or some setting for the hard drive that is buzzing round my head for some reason but I cant think just how it relates to your problem at the moment

Sandra and davy51, I've had that "service" turned off from the start. I really appreciate all the suggestions, but I feel that the problem must now lie with XP itself and although I've been trying to avoid it, it looks like I'm going to have to re-format and do a clean install. I'll try a Repair Console first, but I'm not hopeful.

One last question - with the Memtest86, how many passes do you recommend before you can be confident the RAM's OK? Is it one or two, or an overnight task?

Thanks again.

Ray.