RAM Upgrade - Closed

grizzly1911

PREVIOUS THREAD
I have a 5 year old PC with a Pentium 4 3.0G and it 526 RAM XPHomeSP3 32bit

I tried all the cleaning tips I could find (Closed thread) on these threads which made some improvement but I have just added 2.0G (£20) of RAM and it now runs like a dream 12 - 20% utilisation rather than 50 -90%/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image005.gif[/IMG]

Just wish I had done it sooner. Took longer to vacumn up around the PC than fit it....

CLOSED SAID

it could probably run even quicker if you post a hijackthis log in a new thread

HIJACK LOG ATTACHED

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.4
Scan saved at 22:28:50, on 01/06/2011
Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v8.00 (8.00.6001.18702)
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\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\AvastSvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7DEBUG\MDM.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\SoftwareUpdate\YahooAUService.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static\MOM.exe
C:\Program Files\Google\Quick Search Box\GoogleQuickSearchBox.exe
C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Search Protection\SearchProtection.exe
C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\avastUI.exe
C:\Program Files\CleanMem\Mini_Monitor.exe
C:\Program Files\Logitech\SetPoint\SetPoint.exe
C:\Program Files\NETGEAR\WG111v3\WG111v3.exe
C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static\ccc.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Logishrd\KHAL2\KHALMNPR.EXE
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\plugin-container.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\msiexec.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HiJackThis\HiJackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.yahoo.com/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.yahoo.com
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page =
O2 - BHO: &Yahoo! Toolbar Helper - {02478D38-C3F9-4efb-9B51-7695ECA05670} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn1\yt.dll
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHelperStub - {18DF081C-E8AD-4283-A596-FA578C2EBDC3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelperShim.dll
O2 - BHO: avast! WebRep - {8E5E2654-AD2D-48bf-AC2D-D17F00898D06} - C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\aswWebRepIE.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - C:\Program Files\Google\Google Toolbar\GoogleToolbar_32.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {AF69DE43-7D58-4638-B6FA-CE66B5AD205D} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {D3D233D5-9F6D-436C-B6C7-E63F77503B30} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - {DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jp2ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: SingleInstance Class - {FDAD4DA1-61A2-4FD8-9C17-86F7AC245081} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn1\YTSingleInstance.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Easy-WebPrint - {327C2873-E90D-4c37-AA9D-10AC9BABA46C} - C:\Program Files\Canon\Easy-WebPrint\Toolband.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Yahoo! Toolbar - {EF99BD32-C1FB-11D2-892F-0090271D4F88} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn1\yt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Google Toolbar - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - C:\Program Files\Google\Google Toolbar\GoogleToolbar_32.dll
O3 - Toolbar: (no name) - {D7E97865-918F-41E4-9CD0-25AB1C574CE8} - (no file)
O3 - Toolbar: avast! WebRep - {8E5E2654-AD2D-48bf-AC2D-D17F00898D06} - C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\aswWebRepIE.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [StartCCC] "C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static\CLIStart.exe" MSRun
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Google Quick Search Box] "C:\Program Files\Google\Quick Search Box\GoogleQuickSearchBox.exe" /autorun
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Easy-PrintToolBox] C:\Program Files\Canon\Easy-PrintToolBox\BJPSMAIN.EXE /logon
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [YSearchProtection] "C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Search Protection\SearchProtection.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe Reader Speed Launcher] "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe ARM] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\ARM\1.0\AdobeARM.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [avast] "C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\avastUI.exe" /nogui
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CleanMem Mini Monitor] C:\Program Files\CleanMem\Mini_Monitor.exe /startup
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Search Protection] C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Search Protection\SearchProtection.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [YSearchProtection] C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Search Protection\SearchProtection.exe
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')
O4 - Global Startup: Logitech SetPoint.lnk = C:\Program Files\Logitech\SetPoint\SetPoint.exe
O4 - Global Startup: NETGEAR WG111v3 Smart Wizard.lnk = C:\Program Files\NETGEAR\WG111v3\WG111v3.exe
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.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
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
O16 - DPF: {1C11B948-582A-433F-A98D-A8C4D5CC64F2} (20-20 3D Viewer) - http://bq.kp.2020.net/planner/Core/Player/2020PlayerAX_Win32.cab
O16 - DPF: {30528230-99F7-4BB4-88D8-FA1D4F56A2AB} (Installation Support) - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common\Yinsthelper.dll
O16 - DPF: {44C1E3A2-B594-401C-B27A-D1B4476E4797} - https://homeaccess.xxxxxschool.sch.uk/XTSAC.cab
O16 - DPF: {79D6214F-CFCE-480F-9901-27950E78F1E6} - https://homeaccess.xxxxxxschool.sch.uk/MLWebCacheCleaner.cab
O16 - DPF: {8100D56A-5661-482C-BEE8-AFECE305D968} - http://upload.facebook.com/controls/2009.07.28_v5.5.8.1/FacebookPhotoUploader55.cab
O16 - DPF: {E2883E8F-472F-4FB0-9522-AC9BF37916A7} - http://platformdl.adobe.com/NOS/getPlusPlus/1.6/gp.cab
O18 - Protocol: inbox - {37540F19-DD4C-478B-B2DF-C19281BCAF27} - (no file)
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: Ati HotKey Poller - ATI Technologies Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
O23 - Service: ATI Smart - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ati2sgag.exe
O23 - Service: avast! Antivirus - AVAST Software - C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\AvastSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Firebird Server - MAGIX Instance (FirebirdServerMAGIXInstance) - MAGIX® - C:\Program Files\ALDI\Common\Database\bin\fbserver.exe
O23 - Service: Google Update Service (gupdatem) (gupdatem) - Google Inc. - C:\Program Files\Google\Update\GoogleUpdate.exe
O23 - Service: Google Software Updater (gusvc) - Google - C:\Program Files\Google\Common\Google Updater\GoogleUpdaterService.exe
O23 - Service: Logitech Bluetooth Service (LBTServ) - Logitech, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Logishrd\Bluetooth\LBTServ.exe
O23 - Service: Yahoo! Updater (YahooAUService) - Yahoo! Inc. - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\SoftwareUpdate\YahooAUService.exe

--
End of file - 7903 bytes

pompeyfaith

526MB RAM is low indeed todays pc running various programs in the background 1GB is a minimum.

I had 2x1 GB in mine and that was slow by my standards so have swooped them for 2x2GB

Glad it is running better for you.

spakkker

Did you run startuplite??
You have a few unnecessary things running.

The_Grandmaster

Do you need google toolbar helpbar and all other things related to google as well as the yahoo toolbar helper and the canon quick printer? Can they be uninstalled from the control panel?

closed

What's your commit charge?

If you have plenty of ram, cutting out further bloat isn't going to make much improvement, on a low ram system it does, but here are some suggestions, some of which you may have already done.

The best way of cleaning up a slow or badly infected machine is to backup all your data to an external drive, and do a factory restore using the factory restore partition (see manual or manufacturers website) or Windows disc. The alternative is to do it manually as follows (the list may look daunting, but should take less than an hour of effort (apart from virus scans)) :-

If you are posting because the machine is slow and haven't done so already, post your physical ram total, commit charge total, commit charge peak by doing CTRL ALT DEL, Task manager, performance - after virus infections this is the principle reason a machine goes slow so this information is important to help you


This is a general guide on cleaning up infections and speeding up pc's https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2436849

If you haven't all ready done it, 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. http://www.filehippo.com/download_malwarebytes_anti_malware/


__________________________________________________


Install and run ccleaner (untick the google toolbar during the install). Untick the "windows log files" box, under the system heading before cleaning. Also Tick the java cache tick box under CCleaner, applications, internet to wipe the java cache which sometimes hides infections. http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/download/slim

Install and run startuplite, accept suggested changes - http://www.malwarebytes.org/StartUpLite.exe

Disable ctfmon - control panel, regional and language options,languages, details, advanced, tick the Turn off advanced text services, ok

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

In the firefox address bar, type about:config then right click, new boolean, create a key called config.trim_on_minimize set to true

Using Hijackthis, tick and fix these entries

O16 - DPF: {1C11B948-582A-433F-A98D-A8C4D5CC64F2} (20-20 3D Viewer) - http://bq.kp.2020.net/planner/Core/P...erAX_Win32.cab
O16 - DPF: {30528230-99F7-4BB4-88D8-FA1D4F56A2AB} (Installation Support) - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common\Yinsthelper.dll
O16 - DPF: {44C1E3A2-B594-401C-B27A-D1B4476E4797} - https://homeaccess.xxxxxschool.sch.uk/XTSAC.cab
O16 - DPF: {79D6214F-CFCE-480F-9901-27950E78F1E6} - https://homeaccess.xxxxxxschool.sch.uk/MLWebCacheCleaner.cab
O16 - DPF: {8100D56A-5661-482C-BEE8-AFECE305D968} - http://upload.facebook.com/controls/...Uploader55.cab
O16 - DPF: {E2883E8F-472F-4FB0-9522-AC9BF37916A7} - http://platformdl.adobe.com/NOS/getPlusPlus/1.6/gp.cab


O2 - BHO: (no name) - {AF69DE43-7D58-4638-B6FA-CE66B5AD205D} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {D3D233D5-9F6D-436C-B6C7-E63F77503B30} - (no file)
O3 - Toolbar: (no name) - {D7E97865-918F-41E4-9CD0-25AB1C574CE8} - (no file)
O18 - Protocol: inbox - {37540F19-DD4C-478B-B2DF-C19281BCAF27} - (no file)

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')
__________________________________________________

Uninstall any IE toolbars (browser helper objects or BHO's) in Control panel, or Firefox plugins that you don't need. This is a list of the IE BHO's evident in the log

O2 - BHO: &Yahoo! Toolbar Helper - {02478D38-C3F9-4efb-9B51-7695ECA05670} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn1\yt.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - C:\Program Files\Google\Google Toolbar\GoogleToolbar_32.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {AF69DE43-7D58-4638-B6FA-CE66B5AD205D} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {D3D233D5-9F6D-436C-B6C7-E63F77503B30} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: SingleInstance Class - {FDAD4DA1-61A2-4FD8-9C17-86F7AC245081} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn1\YTSingleInsta nce.dll

__________________________________________________

Unless you need them running all the time, use the startup tab in msconfig to disable these items from running at startup (they can always be run manually if needed)

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe Reader Speed Launcher] "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe ARM] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\ARM\1.0\AdobeARM.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [YSearchProtection] "C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Search Protection\SearchProtection.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Search Protection] C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Search Protection\SearchProtection.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [YSearchProtection] C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Search Protection\SearchProtection.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Google Quick Search Box] "C:\Program Files\Google\Quick Search Box\GoogleQuickSearchBox.exe" /autorun
O4 - Global Startup: Logitech SetPoint.lnk = C:\Program Files\Logitech\SetPoint\SetPoint.exe

__________________________________________________

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In internet explorer, click on tools, internet options, advanced, disable script debugging to stop this running

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7DEBUG\MDM.EXE

__________________________________________________

start, run, msconfig, select services tab, disable these services UNLESS you use them. (make a note of any services you disable,if you have any problems related to these services subsequently, simply re-enable them)

SSDP Discovery Service
Remote Registry
WebClient
Distributed Link Tracking Client

Also disable these services if you don't use them by running msconfig, services tab

O23 - Service: Google Update Service (gupdatem) (gupdatem) - Google Inc. - C:\Program Files\Google\Update\GoogleUpdate.exe
O23 - Service: Google Software Updater (gusvc) - Google - C:\Program Files\Google\Common\Google Updater\GoogleUpdaterService.exe

C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\SoftwareUpdate\YahooAUService.exe
O23 - Service: Yahoo! Updater (YahooAUService) - Yahoo! Inc. - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\SoftwareUpdate\YahooAUService.exe

O23 - Service: Firebird Server - MAGIX Instance (FirebirdServerMAGIXInstance) - MAGIX® - C:\Program Files\ALDI\Common\Database\bin\fbserver.exe

(last one may be used by some bundled movie/picture software, aldi pc?)

__________________________________________________

When you've done all that, post a fresh hijackthis log and any logs of infections

grizzly1911

closed wrote: »

What's your commit charge?

If you have plenty of ram, cutting out further bloat isn't going to make much improvement, on a low ram system it does, but here are some suggestions, some of which you may have already done.



When you've done all that, post a fresh hijackthis log and any logs of infections

I did use your generic clean up process before I upgraded the RAM and it did improve performance but I was still getting some spikes (which I think were FF related).

Have run Malwarebytes and it is clean. I did have have one of those scareware SPAMs and it was still clean.

I went for the RAM as I felt like a play.

Thanks for specific items I will work through them.

Clean Mem Data - Usage 326 total 2500 commit 502. Prior to upgrade it was often running at 90+% against 526 with commit going to 600+

Happy with current performance just thought I would take up your challenge.

Once again thank you and I will return.

closed

Firefox can be a bit of a hog, if you don't close it down occasionally or use the boolean tweak above and minimise it. Add ons can also cause problems. IE and opera are better in many ways

XP + avast uses around 120MB commit, which leaves a fair bit of headroom on a 512MB system for applications before it starts to swap. Printer and netgear wireless will add a bit.

Some mentions on the web of processor hogging caused by fbserver.

grizzly1911

closed wrote: »

Firefox can be a bit of a hog, if you don't close it down occasionally or use the boolean tweak above and minimise it. Add ons can also cause problems. IE and opera are better in many ways

XP + avast uses around 120MB commit, which leaves a fair bit of headroom on a 512MB system for applications before it starts to swap. Printer and netgear wireless will add a bit.

Some mentions on the web of processor hogging caused by fbserver.

I swapped from IE a while back when I had an infection causing me problems. It didn't affect FF and I did manage to sort out but just never really went back.

I have tried Opera but when using CC cleaner it always seems to leave a fair bit behind to clean.