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

pogofish

grai wrote: »

I'm completely confused as I usually am on this very badly designed website - was there an article somewhere?

There is nothing wrong with this website -and you did actually confirm clearly that you understood its basic layout and navigation as part of your signup, so its a bit rich to complain some two hundred posts down the line!

The article has been deleted by its OP, that's all. There could be several reasons - like updating it to include current software/systems, or because somebody has ripped it off wholesale without credit or some other kind of dispute,...? Only Closed can enlighten us

toniq

Hi, the initial post has been deleted? is there a more recent thread?

muddyl

Perhaps this should be removed from the sticky list as its now a redundant thread.

Garetha

I copied the original brilliant post earlier this year - May 2014
I have used it to help people many times to great effect. I agree with 'closed' the OP that you should reinstall Windows as the best option.
However I repost it below because of the many good suggestions, but I take no responsibility to keep it updated.
.............................................................................................
how to speed up a slow pc in less than 60 minutes 10/5/2014
'On it's last legs', ie slowness, slow multitasking, blue screens of death, or slow booting in any pc under 10 yrs old can always be cured, usually without spending any money on upgrades. Follow these 12 steps carefully, completely, and in the order suggested and it should end up as fast or faster than the day it came out of the box. Any machine should be able to boot and be on the web in 60 seconds or under.
Most Speedup guides suggest defragging, deleting temp files, installing registry cleaners, tuneup utilities, speedup utilities, deleting data, moving your data to usb drives (bad idea!) - None of these will make any difference, and could make it worse. https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?compl...vingexpert.com
If your machine won't boot into windows properly, ie a blue screen or hang during windows startup, and you have exhausted all the boot holding F8 options, including system restore and running chkdsk C: /f from the command prompt, the easiest solution is to copy all your data off (see end of guide), and factory restore it.
There are 2 solutions that do work.
A - backup all your data to an external drive and a second copy of the most important data to dvd, check the data is readable before continuing, then reinstall windows from recovery partition if you have one (google it for your pc, recovery partition re-installs takes 10-15 minutes and are initiated by pressing a key at boot, or from a recovery program installed on the machine). If your machine didn't come with a recovery partition, you will need the windows disc and windows serial number instead. Once complete, copy all your data back, install a lightweight antivirus (eg avast free), reinstall any missing applications, and run windows update. If you have a newish machine, from the vista/W7/W8 era, a factory reinstall will save a lot of time and will always make the machine run like new again - the actual effort to initiate a factory restore takes about 60 seconds - See factory restore section at the end of this post for instructions for popular brands.
or
B - Tidy up the machine leaving all your data/settings intact - as follows:

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Before you start - making any changes to a PC setup always comes with a slight risk of something going wrong. To mitigate against that possibility it would be prudent to backup (ie copy or burn, not move) your data to DVD/usb hard disk and/or do a disk image backup before making any changes.
1. If you have an XP machine with 1GB or less ram, slowness is nearly always a commit charge problem (when the startup bloat uses all the machines ram), which is easily cured - if you have already posted a thread asking for help, please do (Press CTRL ALT DEL, task manager, performance), note and post the commit charge total , commit charge peak, and physical memory total figures, along with a hijackthis log

save this to your desktop
http://www.trendmicro.com/ftp/produc...HijackThis.exe

scan and save log, then copy and paste into a new thread,then follow the rest of the guide, and when you have finished reboot and post an updated hijackthis log and (if it's XP, the before and after commit charge, and physical memory total)

ie : scan, click save log, save to a file, which will open in notepad
control A - to select all control C - to copy to clipboard control V to paste into thread.
(if you have a problem running hijackthis (For some reason your system denied write access to the Hosts file error etc) on vista/W7, right click on hijackthis.exe and run as admin, if that doesn't work, try again holding down the shift key and run as admin). If you are unable to post the log on mse, due to this site's posting bug, upload it here http://freetexthost.com and post a link to the text file instead.
2. Tidy your desktop up, remove (or move to another directory) clutter/icons/links/files/downloads/movies on the desktop that don't need to be there. Unpin (right click, unpin) any quicklink icons on the taskbar that you don't run often. The tidier your desktop looks, the faster the machine will boot. Install and run ccleaner (untick the google toolbar during the install). Untick the "windows log files" box, under the system heading before cleaning.
http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/download/slim
3. If you are fairly sure you have no infections, and want quick results, skip this step and do it later. Install Malwarebytes and do a FULL (not quick) scan (after updating it), fix anything found before closing, otherwise you'll have to do it all over again. If anything was found reboot the machine before continuing. (You may get prompted asking if you want to run the free 14 day trial during install, I suggest you decline this offer, as it will slow things down)
http://www.filehippo.com/download_ma..._anti_malware/

4. Download avast 7 free http://www.filehippo.com/download_avast_antivirus/
On most systems, the next 2 steps will probably make more difference than any other, so follow carefully and completely if you want results.
5. - Uninstall all your security software (apart from avast and malwarebytes if you have them already), and all your 3rd party defraggers or tune up/speedup utilities - examples are :
rapport (before you ask, it's not essential, and not mandatory for internet banking)/avg/trend/norton/mcafee/mse/avira/prevx/comodo/bitdefender/adaware/kasperky/spybot/superantispyware/spyware doctor/spyware blaster/zonealarm/checkpoint/forcefield/secunia/pc tools/outpost/amigo360/mvps hosts/personal firewalls/soluto/O&O defrag - (there is nothing in particlar wrong with any of the examples, but the whole point of this thread is to remove bloat and duplicated or superfluous functionality).
If you have windows defender installed, either uninstall it (XP users), or "disable windows defender - see footnote".
6. Install avast 7 free, (untick google chrome and remote control during installation (do a custom install)). If you have uninstalled a personal firewall, make sure windows firewall is enabled
7. Reset internet explorer to defaults under IE, tools, internet options, advanced. Also, under tools, internet options, advanced, disable script debugging
8. Install and run startuplite, accept suggested changes. http://www.malwarebytes.org/StartUpLite.exe, and scan for unwanted toolbars http://files.avast.com/files/tools/a...er-cleanup.exe
9. If you have less than 1.5GB of ram installed in the machine, download and install cleanmem http://www.pcwintech.com/cleanmem (important:use the "download direct download" link on pcwintech.com, not one from a 3rd party hosting site, the correct filename starts with cleanmem_xxxxx_setup.exe) - if you go to a 3rd party site, you could end up installing a completely different piece of software.
10. Go into control panel, and uninstall any IE toolbars, updaters, survey software that spies on your browsing, googleupdate, aol software, any old printer/phone/camera/satnav/usb modem software which you no longer use, anything else that you don't use or don't need running - pay particular attention to software that appears in your hijackthis log, especially the O4 section. If you have a java icon in control panel, click it, advanced, misc - untick java quick starter, and untick place icon in system tray. Disable error reporting - control panel, system, advanced, error reporting, select disable error reporting and leave notify me when a critical error occurs ticked. If you have a google update task under c:\windows\tasks, delete it.
11. disable ctfmon - control panel, regional and language options,languages, details, advanced, tick the Turn off advanced text services, ok
12. start, run, services.msc, disable these services. (make a note of any services you disable, if you have any problems related to these services subsequently, simply re-enable them)
Google update service - google update may also add a task to c:\windows\tasks that can be deleted.
SSDP Discovery Service
Remote Registry
WebClient
Distributed Link Tracking Client

Reboot,
If it is still slow, post a hijackthis log, installed ram and commit charge in a new thread, I'd recommend doing this anyway as there will undoubtedly be bloat on your PC that isn't covered in this guide (could try to cover every eventuality, but if it's too long it will put people off doing it)
Vista onwards, you can find the commit charge by downloading process explorer and pressing control I - but as Vista onwards tends to be installed on machines with plenty of ram (GB's), commit charge is generally less of an issue for newer machines

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to disable windows defender on vista or windows 7 - from the start menu, windows defender, tools, options, untick use real-time protection, under administrator options, untick use windows defender and untick allow everyone to use windows defender, click save to save settings. XP users can either do this or uninstall it in control panel
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supplementary av tools
if you are unable to run any of the suggested antivirus tools due to the infection, run rkill first
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/down...ti-virus/rkill
if all your data seems to have vanished due to a fake infection, run this to unhide it
http://download.bleepingcomputer.com/grinler/unhide.exe
If you suspect an infection that malwarebytes/avast hasn't detected, here are some other scanners to try:

http://support.kaspersky.com/downloa...tdsskiller.exe
http://www.surfright.nl/en/hitmanpro
http://devbuilds.kaspersky-labs.com/devbuilds/AVPTool/

Factory Restore Buttons
Unfortunately there is no standard method, each manufacturer has their own button to press or software to use.
Reminder - a factory restore does exactly that, your data will be wiped, as will any programs you have installed since purchase, backup to an external drive and/or dvd's first http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx and create a macrium boot cd. If your machine has a program that allows you to create a windows dvd, it would be a good idea to create this first in case the factory restore from recovery partition fails for any reason.

- (if your machine wont boot and you need to rescue data first, this can be done with a cheap usb disk caddy or a boot cd such as paragon rescue kit http://www.paragon-software.com/home...nload_old.html , boot cd iso's need to burned to disk as a disc image otherwise they wont boot, this can be done using imgburn which is free.)
Advent - http://www.adventcomputers.co.uk/res...-your-computer
Acer - use the erecovery program to create windows discs, then boot holding ALT F10 to initiate factory restore from factory restore partition. (The discs shouldn't be needed unless the factory restore fails for any reason)
http://acer--uk.custhelp.com/app/ans...ail/a_id/29925
http://support.acer.com/acerpanam/de...360faq40.shtml
Asus eepc, boot, holding F2, disable boot booster in the bios, reboot, holding F9, initiates factory restore
http://support.asus.com/Troubleshoot...&os=29&no=1718
Dell - On older systems, XP era - hold Control and F11 at boot, newer system vista onwards, F8 at boot, advanced boot options/repair http://support.dell.com/support/topi...&isLegacy=true
Compaq/HP - F11 at boot to launch recovery manager http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...=46565&lang=en
Lenovo/IBM - F11 at boot http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/deta...ID=MIGR-4VFUDU
Samsung - F4 at boot - http://www.samsung.com/us/support/su...&map_seq=39923 or start, programs, samsung, samsung recovery solution, restore
Sony - F10 at boot.
Toshiba - Hold the Zero (0) key at boot http://www.mytoshiba.com.au/support/items/faq/71 http://www.mytoshiba.com.au/support/items/faq/69
If your factory restore partition is corrupt or deleted, factory restore won't work, for that reason it is a good idea to have to hand an alternative reinstallation method, either the windows DVD (which can be created on many systems that don't come with physical discs - see manual), or a disc image backup and boot cd, made with something like macrium reflect free, or maxblast, acronis etc.

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How to recover your data if the machine won't boot or you want to rescue data before carrying out a factory restore.
You can buy an external usb hard disk caddy for around £3 or so, install the hard disk into it, and attach to another machine or the cheap/easy way is via a boot cd:
Download and install paragon rescue http://www.softpedia.com/progDownloa...ad-131428.html

when you install it, you can either write the iso file direct to a cd using the paragon installer, or save the iso to the hard disk, and Download and install imgburn http://www.filehippo.com/download_imgburn/
insert blank CD
use the imgburn burn image file to disc (important) function to burn the paragon rescue iso to cd
boot from cd
attach a usb external hard dis drive to the machine
copy your files from the pc/laptop to the external drive.
Windows won't boot
If you can't get your windows machine to boot into windows properly, try a system (not factory restore) restore to an earlier time - system restore should leave all your data intact, factory restore won't.
Before windows 8, boot holding down F8
Windows 8 - boot holding shift and F8, advanced, system restore, use a restore point recorded on your pc to restore windows to an earlier time
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgQ87b7muWs#t=6m40s

Our collective thanks to 'closed' who originated the above information!
:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T

Kernel_Sanders

Garetha wrote: »

I copied the original brilliant post earlier this year - May 2014
I have used it to help people many times to great effect. I agree with 'closed' the OP that you should reinstall Windows as the best option.
However I repost it below because of the many good suggestions, but I take no responsibility to keep it updated.

Have you sought permission from Closed to reproduce his work, especially away from this site ? I'm guessing he wouldn't have deleted it without good reason.

Garetha

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

Have you sought permission from Closed to reproduce his work, especially away from this site ? I'm guessing he wouldn't have deleted it without good reason.

Sadly Closed has not written anything on MSE since June - his contributions were always very helpful. Looking at some of his last messages I judge that he had a problem with MSE.
It was a shame that the masterpiece on speeding up a PC which he developed over a period of time was no longer available, many potential users of that information were unable to benefit. I took a copy for my own use and have never reproduced it elsewhere.
This is a public forum and I believe that anything we write here is effectively 'public domain' - but it would be wrong not to acknowledge the author - which I have done.
So I hope that by reproducing the information more people will be able to benefit from the work which Closed put in.

debitcardmayhem

Garetha wrote: »

Sadly Closed has not written anything on MSE since June - his contributions were always very helpful. Looking at some of his last messages I judge that he had a problem with MSE.
It was a shame that the masterpiece on speeding up a PC which he developed over a period of time was no longer available, many potential users of that information were unable to benefit. I took a copy for my own use and have never reproduced it elsewhere.
This is a public forum and I believe that anything we write here is effectively 'public domain' - but it would be wrong not to acknowledge the author - which I have done.
So I hope that by reproducing the information more people will be able to benefit from the work which Closed put in.

Fairly well said

babelfish

Thanks Garetha for posting that. I found this information really helpful a while ago and recently my pc has been running really slow again. I came here to have another look at the original post to have another clean up of my pc and was really disappointed that it had gone!