[GotActichwicy]

My computer slowed to a crawl about a week ago. I've run my McAfee virus scan, I've cleaned the disk, and defragmented. I think it's spyware related. Do I need something fixed in my registry? Any freeware worth recommending?

[Timoxari]

what operating system are you using?

[scewLacysmazy]

Spybot SD
CCleaner

I no longer use windows, but when I did those were the two I ran regularly and never had a virus.

If those don't speed it up and you think you still have problems than hands down the best way to deal with it is to run Combofix.

Let me know if you need help.

[Uzezqelj]

what operating system are you using?

Windows 7

[Rasklad]

Windows 7

Are you using McAfee as your anti virus? if so that in its self can slow your system down. Down load cc cleaner and run it a few times. dump McAfee and try windows security essentials (free) it works. Plus If not using it, install malware bites and use the full blown trial run to clean out your system.

I have had Mcafee bog my systems down in the past. avoid them like the plague any more.

There are other things you can do but let's start at the basics first

[LsrSRVxR]

Another thing is to check your hard drive , if they get near full that can slow things down.

Do a good defrag on your drive also.


Edit: just read the doc's post above , yes McAfee is a hog and almost a total bitch to get it
off and out of your system.

There are some very good a/v free programs. I like windows security essentials because it is light
and works with my windows 7 pro system very well.

Avast is a great a/v program. To each their own on what works for them.

[Hbkj89D2]

Uninstall McAfee - it's a resource hog.
Install Avast - it's free and much better
Run CCleaner registry scan - let program do all repairs
Run CCleaner cleaner in default settings
In CCleaner Options/Settings check box CCleaner run at startup
Reboot PC
Run Spybot S & D (update first!)

Let us know how it goes. If not better, download a free hard disk utility ( I use Hard Disk Sentinel) and run diagnostics on the hard drive - be careful. Before you retire tonite, schedule WIN 7 to do a ScanDisk run and reboot the PC. My 1 TB hard drive takes 4-5 hours to run ScanDisk with few or no errors found/repaired.

[niemamczasu]

Dog, I've already done a major removal of unused files, and defragmented.

[JohnfAclambrJA]

Are you using McAfee as your anti virus? if so that in its self can slow your system down. Down load cc cleaner and run it a few times. dump McAfee and try windows security essentials (free) it works. Plus If not using it, install malware bites and use the full blown trial run to clean out your system.

I have had Mcafee bog my systems down in the past. avoid them like the plague any more.

There are other things you can do but let's start at the basics first

I've used McAfee for years, and have never experienced a problem. (I did have problems with Norton bogging down my system, which is why I switched.)

Sometimes a go to a web side, and an ad pops up, or one of those "You have just won!" screens. Is CC cleaner only for removing unused files, or will it actually help with spyware? Maybe I should start with Spybot SD.

[haudraufwienix]

I've used McAfee for years, and have never experienced a problem. (I did have problems with Norton bogging down my system, which is why I switched.)

Sometimes a go to a web side, and an ad pops up, or one of those "You have just won!" screens. Is CC cleaner only for removing unused files, or will it actually help with spyware? Maybe I should start with Spybot SD.

cc is not for a/v or spy shit. It is a good system maintenance tool. Just for a grin, uninstall McAfee and trying avast or what ever. You will see a dramitic improvement in your system speed.

Popups are annoying and that sorta depends on your web browser, I use Fire fox and it blocks all popups or at least the very vast majority.

Spybot is good , but I use a wireless router and my router blocks most of the shit that wants to find a home in my system. I run spybot about every blue moon, but that is only me. Others may need to run it more often, just depends on where you go on the inter-web and such.

So good you did the basics on the defrag and cleaning files.

There are some windows tools if what above does not work,
I have some microshit links that I can post later, (long day)
that can check out your basic file and operating system to
make sure that your basic windows system is healthy..

Edit: For the forum if reminded, or such I will post the diagnostic and
repair link's to the tools I mentioned. They cover about all aspects
of the windows ecosystem to keep it healthy.
Tomorrow.

[Chooriwrocaxz]

Well, I am happy to say.....brabbing as usual.......that the only time that may lap top is down is when my feeder (frontier.com) messes up.......but as you kow I keep it at 78% empty...I am afraid to download anything ahahaahahahaha.

[kmjbbT3U]

Well, I am happy to say.....brabbing as usual.......that the only time that may lap top is down is when my feeder (frontier.com) messes up.......but as you kow I keep it at 78% empty...I am afraid to download anything ahahaahahahaha.

Stay protected my friend..

[Sertvfdnhgjk]

There is a brutal rootkit going around, I've seen 3 people infected with it in the last week. Are you getting popups from "Windows 7 Security 2012" which is asking you to pay $59.95 for a year of protection from viruses? This "countermeasure" itself IS the infection. It will tell you that you are infected, and offer to fix it for you if you provide your credit card number.

Oftentimes these will hijack your entire browser and not allow you to do much else except buy their product.

A few options, use "RKill" to kill any unknown .exe's (google to download it)
use "Hijack This!" to kill any unknown startup entries (you can remove legitimate entries too, so be conservative)

Use system recovery to rollback to preinfection period.

Please report back.

[Acalsenunse]

I already restored to a date prior to the infection period. Didn't help with the slowness, though it did bring operability back to my computer.

I don't get the popup you mentioned.

[Wahwlsnt]

There is a brutal rootkit going around, I've seen 3 people infected with it in the last week. Are you getting popups from "Windows 7 Security 2012" which is asking you to pay $59.95 for a year of protection from viruses? This "countermeasure" itself IS the infection.

Oftentimes these will hijack your entire browser and not allow you to do much else except buy their product.

A few options, use "RKill" to kill any unknown .exe's
use "Hijack This!" to kill any unknown startup entries (you can remove legitimate entries too, so be conservative)

Use system recovery to rollback to preinfection period.

Please report back.

Dark camel driver Just kidding you playing with the name..

Sparky not knowing how much you know about the windows 7 ecosystem I am posting this.

Some things are not for the nub.... Because you know as most that it is so easy to totally f.u.b.a.r up your system if you run or do anything you do not under stand completely the consequences.

Restore is great,

but right now we are taking baby steps and going forward at the same pace. It is easy to screw up what is not broke, by making assumptions.

Why nuke, when maybe a firecracker will work?

Just thinking and winding down for the night soon.

Edit: last for the night almost can not keep awake, sparky , run the programs listed in the posts above. I have to crash very soon and I have to dig for the links mentioned in my other posts. It may take a day or so posting , that direct contact or real time working together would speed things up. but stick with it here and you will or should be up and running again at full speed.

Don't panic and thanks for all of the fish!

[liontutuxx]

I already restored to a date prior to the infection period. Didn't help with the slowness, though it did bring operability back to my computer.

I don't get the popup you mentioned.

If you think your comp has a virus, run Combofix. Trust me.

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/comb...o-use-combofix

[MAKEMONEY]

Last post for the night, Question? Have you installed or downloaded anything just beforeyou noticed your problem?


Edit: Dam LS that is a hydrogen bomb, and sparky if you do not know what your are doing with that program be very careful with it.

Recommend maybe to use as a last resort....

[vaalmerruutel]

Perhaps you have a task manager than shows cpu activity? And can kill things.

I'm speaking Mac here, but I love my activity monitor

Die Nulls! Die strange thing I don't recognize! Die webpage that I can see is sending and/or receiving much B/s over the internet! Die one of the things there are two of.

Then after each hunt, all through the CPU, only a few percent was stirring, when I moved the mouse

[yasalaioqe]

Run combo fix, malwarebytes, and super anti spyware.

Make sure your fragmentation level is below 10%. Sometimes if you're like 70% fragmented running the windows defrag won't do anything. In that case you'd want a 3rd party defragmentation tool which could take up to 24 hours or more to defragment your hard drive. You'd need to run it several times.

[constanyiskancho]

there's probably about a billion things running in the background that don't need to be as well. run | msconfig | start tab | uncheck everything that isn't microsoft, intel, or a hardware related drive. there's probably adobe pdf helper, google updater, 20 others running in there + using up tons of system resources. if you want to tae a screenshot of what's in there and pm it to me, i'll tell you which ones to turn off. just make sure you stretch the name column so that i can see what it's called before you take the screenshot.