HOW TO SPEED UP A SLOW PC OR INFECTED PC. (a mini guide)

awesomesj

I have windows 7... do I ignore the 1st step? I'm reading it like its just for windows xp users... I'm probably wrong!

annabelbrown1990

i daily clean my pc for temrory and unwanted files, it increases the speed a bit

Only_a_ginger

Hoping someone could help me...I'm about to try and speed up my laptop, (compaq precarious CQ60, 2GB RAM, AMD sempron(Tm) si-42 processor..if that means anything to anyone)

And I was wondering if I use the 1st option on this sticky, is there a way to keep Microsoft office, I have no documents or anything for it, but it was purchased legally a while ago!

Thanks!

murphydavid

Only_a_ginger wrote: »

Hoping someone could help me...I'm about to try and speed up my laptop, (compaq precarious CQ60, 2GB RAM, AMD sempron(Tm) si-42 processor..if that means anything to anyone)

And I was wondering if I use the 1st option on this sticky, is there a way to keep Microsoft office, I have no documents or anything for it, but it was purchased legally a while ago!

Thanks!

I'm no expert so you may get a better answer than this but I would not use "option A" if I did not have a copy of all the registration keys for the stuff I wanted to re-install.
If you don't have the keys then one way to get them is by downloading and running the following and printing the result (It also gives a lot of other information you might want to keep handy).
As this program displays information regarded as security codes it would be wise to keep it secret. Also your virus checker and or firewall if you have them may question its activity.
As I say I'm no expert so when I run it I turn off my internet modem so my computer can't communicate with the internet while it runs but maybe I'm a bit paranoid. Obviously the risk is yours to decide.
Ah and its holding dialogue says it will take a short time but if your computer is slow it actually takes a long time and looks as if it is frozen so you need to be patient.

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

My experience of re-installing office is you need the key and you also need to re-register with Microsoft at some point.

dick_turpin

So, does anything scream out in this log?

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.4
Scan saved at 23:45:52, on 03/11/2012
Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP3 (6.00.2900.5512)
Boot mode: Normal
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:\WINDOWS\System32\WLTRYSVC.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\bcmwltry.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Belkin\F5D7051\WLService.exe
C:\Program Files\Belkin\F5D7051\WLanCfgG.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\iolo\Common\Lib\ioloServiceManager.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\mbamscheduler.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\WLTRAY.exe
C:\Program Files\Samsung\Kies\KiesAirMessage.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wscntfy.exe
C:\Program Files\HP\Digital Imaging\Smart Web Printing\hpswp_clipbook.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\taskmgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\dave\Desktop\HijackThis.exe
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://dts.search-results.com/sidebar.html?src=ssb&appid=390&systemid=406&sr=0
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.google.co.uk/
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = http://dts.search-results.com/sr?src=ieb&appid=390&systemid=406&sr=0&q={searchTerms}
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page =
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyServer = belkin54g:2
O2 - BHO: HP Print Enhancer - {0347C33E-8762-4905-BF09-768834316C61} - C:\Program Files\HP\Digital Imaging\Smart Web Printing\hpswp_printenhancer.dll
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In SSV Helper - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre7\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: Searchqu Toolbar - {99079a25-328f-4bd4-be04-00955acaa0a7} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: URLRedirectionBHO - {B4F3A835-0E21-4959-BA22-42B3008E02FF} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office14\URLREDIR.DLL
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - {DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre7\bin\jp2ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: HP Smart BHO Class - {FFFFFFFF-CF4E-4F2B-BDC2-0E72E116A856} - C:\Program Files\HP\Digital Imaging\Smart Web Printing\hpswp_BHO.dll
O3 - Toolbar: (no name) - !{99079a25-328f-4bd4-be04-00955acaa0a7} - (no file)
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Broadcom Wireless Manager UI] C:\WINDOWS\system32\WLTRAY.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ROC_ROC_NT] "C:\Program Files\AVG Secure Search\ROC_ROC_NT.exe" / /PROMPT /CMPID=ROC_NT
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [KiesAirMessage] C:\Program Files\Samsung\Kies\KiesAirMessage.exe -startup
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTFMON.EXE (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-20\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTFMON.EXE (User 'NETWORK SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTFMON.EXE (User 'SYSTEM')
O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTFMON.EXE (User 'Default user')
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office14\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O8 - Extra context menu item: Se&nd to OneNote - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office14\ONBttnIE.dll/105
O9 - Extra button: Show or hide HP Smart Web Printing - {DDE87865-83C5-48c4-8357-2F5B1AA84522} - C:\Program Files\HP\Digital Imaging\Smart Web Printing\hpswp_BHO.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://www.update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/wuweb_site.cab?1348438790187
O16 - DPF: {C1F8FC10-E5DB-4112-9DBF-6C3FF728D4E3} (DellSystemLite.Scanner) - http://support.dell.com/systemprofiler/DellSystemLite.CAB
O18 - Filter hijack: text/xml - {807573E5-5146-11D5-A672-00B0D022E945} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\OFFICE14\MSOXMLMF.DLL
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: Browseui preloader - {438755C2-A8BA-11D1-B96B-00A0C90312E1} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\browseui.dll
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: Component Categories cache daemon - {8C7461EF-2B13-11d2-BE35-3078302C2030} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\browseui.dll
O23 - Service: Belkin High-Speed Mode Wireless G USB Driver (Belkin High-Speed Mode Wireless G USB Network Adapter Service) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Belkin\F5D7051\WLService.exe
O23 - Service: iolo System Service (ioloSystemService) - iolo technologies, LLC - C:\Program Files\iolo\Common\Lib\ioloServiceManager.exe
O23 - Service: MBAMScheduler - Malwarebytes Corporation - C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\mbamscheduler.exe
O23 - Service: MBAMService - Malwarebytes Corporation - C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\mbamservice.exe
O23 - Service: Mozilla Maintenance Service (MozillaMaintenance) - Mozilla Foundation - C:\Program Files\Mozilla Maintenance Service\maintenanceservice.exe
O23 - Service: Dell Wireless WLAN Tray Service (wltrysvc) - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\System32\WLTRYSVC.EXE
--
End of file - 5610 bytes

closed

better place would be your existing thread, ram and commit charge?

BigRonW

I've been "fiixng computers" since long before Microsoft got into the Windows business, and while I'd agree with much of what the OP suggests.... it's kind of focussed on one (somewhat passed!) era, and one possible cause of slowdowns.

When Microsoft released its first popular version of Windows ( v3.0 or 3.1) it would ONLY work on "386" PC's (ones with third generation or newer Central Processors) and it required quite a lot of RAM "memory"- at a time when memory chips cost a small fortune: Back then, the required minimum of 4 Megabytes of RAM cost around £120! Microsoft was in danger of pricing itself out of the market, by requiring Windows users to spend a fortune upgrading their PC's to meet the required minimum specification. Microsoft's solution was... "virtual RAM."

The way I explained this to clients back in the 1980's was:....."Your PC is like a fitted kitchen. It has worktops for preparing food and it has cupboards for storing things. Curiously both worktop AND cupboard space are measured in the same units: - megabytes. "Worktop" is RAM, (which is very expensive) cupboards are Hard Drives (Significantly cheaper than worktop) If you remove the door from a spare cupboard and reserve the space in it as an "overflow area" for when you're running out of space on your worktop... then it makes your "worktop" go much further., without havng to buy more "real" worktop. This "spare cupboard space" is known as "Virtiual RAM"."

I'm pretty sure that there are still a LOT of ex-customers in the Bristol area who still think of "Virtual Ram" as "a cupboard with no door"... The point is... not much has changed. PC Manufacturers STILL exploit the ignorance of consumers (most of whom know a little about computers, but problematically, much of what they THINK they know is WRONG!) Punters are ALWAYS impressed by CPU speeds, and seldom bother to check how much RAM is fitted in the machine... because they have no idea that the amount of RAM fitted can make a HUGE difference in their PC's speed. They don't know... so they don't care. And for most of the last 20 years, RAM has been VERY expensive, so manufacturers have been quite happy to keep their prices down by... skimping on RAM. The problem with "virtual RAM" is that hard drives are much, MUCH slower than "real" RAM. Switching data back and forth between "worktop" and "cupboard" may allow the computer to work rather than grind to a halt... but it also SLOWS THE SYSTEM DOWN. A dead giveaway to "slowness caused by insufficient real RAM" is that the "hard drive activity" light on the front of your system hardly ever stops shining. These days, RAM is comparatively cheap - certainly WELL under the £120 for 4 Megabyte level. It's probably worth checking (a) how much RAM is fitted in your machine, (b) how much RAM your operating system can actually read , and seriously consider increasing the amount fitted.

I used to puzzle my customers by playing Solitaire on their systems. In days gone by, when you won a game, then one by one, the cards would fall to the bottom of the Window, and bounce. HOW FAST they fell and bounced was actually an excellent visual indicator of the machine's power. If you added more memory, and that speeded up the system by (say) 25%, then that 25% increase would be clearly - and instantly - visible. Alas, they've re-coded the game, and as a result the "Solitaire test" no longer works.

espresso

BigRonW wrote: »

I've been "fiixng computers" since long before Microsoft got into the Windows business.................

Your post in this thread here demonstrates just how little you actually know!

Enough said.

waddler_8

To be fair to closed, RAM is mentioned in his OP.

The guide is meant as a money saving tip to getting a slow machine running as well as it can do with the hardware it has. If a RAM upgrade is ultimately required, then it is suggested.

betterbargains4u

SUCH an unfriendly thread !!!
I have just been reading some of the coments..by so called "experts" and it is quite clear..that they really don't want to help at all !
I have been having problems with my PC...but don't feel that this thread is the place to help.
Have tried to follow the instructions..but all most people need is a simple and fast solution (if it exists) NOT berating comments such as murphydavid's reply to ampersand's problems.
I have been a member of this site for many years now...and it never ceases to amaze me, how people talk to each other !
Patience and manners cost nothing. Rant over !