Please comment on HiJackThis log

granretire

I can't answer the commit question at present. The slow screen painting doesn't appear to be linked with anything in particular. It can happen when I am only actively do 1 thing. Boot speed has improved since I have removed your uninstall suggestions, but I haven't timed it. And I still get the impression that we are talking minutes, not seconds to get the pc ready and running. I would hazard a guess at 4mins. I'll time it tomorrow when I switch on.

Internet connection - broadband via phone line (TalkTAlk - 1/2 mile from exchange)

Microsoft updates are done within a day or 2 of showing they are available. I don't like them done automatically without seeing what they are.

Before running malwarebytes, I always check for updates - as I do for any such utility, eg ccleaner. I do a full malwarebytes scan about monthly.

Data is periodically backed up - approx every month - tho' I did a backup before embarking on your suggestions.

PC is Advent T9000, purchased 7 yrs ago (gosh - I hadn't realised it was quite that old!). The only disk supplied was a system recovery - which presumably isn't much use now after the XP sp releases. I have been unable to do a system restore for ages - even if I set a restore point. It always tries and then comes back with the info it can't.

Maybe I should abandon hope and get a new one!

granretire

Should add that it is a wired internet connection. No other calls on the internet when I am on the pc.

closed

4 minutes is long, should be less than one.

commit charge should be in the 100MB to 200MB range after a reboot before loading anything else.

system recovery should work if you want to go down that route, but make sure your backups are good first. You can service pack it afterwards

Alternatively post a current hijackthis log, and commit charge when the problem occurs.

another thing to try is

start, run
cmd

chkdsk c: /F

answer Y to check on reboot

reboot

and also look in eventvwr for any problems at slowdown time, and look for any process hogging the cpu in task manager

you can set ccleaner to run at boot time, don't really need to check for updates every time

maybe uninstall microsoft search enhancement pack too

do you use microsoft sql server?

granretire

Many thanks, closed, for all your time and help. It still takes 4mins for my pc to be up and running - but that is a great improvement. When the painting of a new screen freezes, I can't look at commit charge because the poor old thing has got its knickers in a twist and has problems showing anything!
Current figures are 438940, 1277960, 455944. Also adding hijackthis log in case you notice anything that I haven't done. (O17 ... 192.168.1.1 is related to router)
Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.4
Scan saved at 08:30:02, on 23/06/2011
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:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\AvastSvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\avastUI.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\LSI SoftModem\agrsmsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\CSHelper.exe
c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Binn\sqlservr.exe
c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Shared\sqlbrowser.exe
c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Shared\sqlwriter.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Contacts\wlcomm.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~3\Office\OUTLOOK.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\MDM.EXE
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\C Law\Desktop\HijackThis.exe
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = google.co.uk/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant =
F2 - REG:system.ini: UserInit=C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe
O2 - BHO: avast! WebRep - {8E5E2654-AD2D-48bf-AC2D-D17F00898D06} - C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\aswWebRepIE.dll
O2 - BHO: Windows Live Sign-in Helper - {9030D464-4C02-4ABF-8ECC-5164760863C6} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live\WindowsLiveLogin.dll
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - {DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jp2ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: Windows Live Toolbar Helper - {E15A8DC0-8516-42A1-81EA-DC94EC1ACF10} - C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Toolbar\wltcore.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar4.dll (file missing)
O3 - Toolbar: &Windows Live Toolbar - {21FA44EF-376D-4D53-9B0F-8A89D3229068} - C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Toolbar\wltcore.dll
O3 - Toolbar: avast! WebRep - {8E5E2654-AD2D-48bf-AC2D-D17F00898D06} - C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\aswWebRepIE.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [avast] "C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\avastUI.exe" /nogui
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MsnMsgr] "C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe" /background
O4 - Global Startup: AutorunsDisabled
O8 - Extra context menu item: Add to Google Photos Screensa&ver - res://C:\WINDOWS\system32\GPhotos.scr/200
O9 - Extra button: Blog This - {219C3416-8CB2-491a-A3C7-D9FCDDC9D600} - C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Writer\WriterBrowserExtension.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: &Blog This in Windows Live Writer - {219C3416-8CB2-491a-A3C7-D9FCDDC9D600} - C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Writer\WriterBrowserExtension.dll
O9 - Extra button: Real.com - {CD67F990-D8E9-11d2-98FE-00C0F0318AFE} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\Shdocvw.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
O14 - IERESET.INF: START_PAGE_URL=tiscali.co.uk/
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{CDA321A0-54E6-4220-BC8E-D040EDEC2C3E}: NameServer = 192.168.1.1
O20 - AppInit_DLLs: C:\WINDOWS\system32\wmfhotfix.dll,C:\PROGRA~1\Google\GOOGLE~3\GOEC62~1.DLL,C:\PROGRA~1\Google\GOOGLE~3\GOEC62~1.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: Agere Modem Call Progress Audio (AgereModemAudio) - Agere Systems - C:\Program Files\LSI SoftModem\agrsmsvc.exe
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: CopySafe Helper Service (CSHelper) - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\CSHelper.exe
O23 - Service: Google Desktop Manager 5.7.806.10245 (GoogleDesktopManager-061008-081103) - Google - C:\Program Files\Google\Google Desktop Search\GoogleDesktop.exe
O23 - Service: KService - Kontiki Inc. - C:\Program Files\Kontiki\KService.exe
O24 - Desktop Component AutorunsDisabled: (no name) - (no file)
--
End of file - 5623 bytes

closed

I suggest backing up all your data, and reinstalling windows, as something is still amiss.

granretire

Problems in re-installing windows as my pc came with it pre-installed. I could try writing to PC World, but I have my doubts at their helpfullness. And I am not sure I have the confidence to do the job either - after having had a look at Microsoft support on the subject!

Bogtrotter

Just one thing you could try to see if it helps.

I have come across a couple of machines in the past that, after they have been updated to SP3, the windows update takes up an inordinate amount of resources slowing the machine to a crawl (especially during startup).

Try switching automatic updates off completely and see if that helps. If it does I'm afraid the only solutions I have found is to either keep automatic updates switched off and do a manual update each month or upgrading the RAM of the system to 1GB minimum.

Toxteth_OGrady

Since it's XP, might be worth trying BootVis to see if you can pin down where the delay is.

http://www.techrepublic.com/article/step-by-step-use-bootvis-to-improve-xp-boot-performance/5034622

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/System-Tweak/BootVis.shtml

If you can't interpret the results, post on here for help.

granretire

Results - what results?!
Number of Physical drives in the trace file is 0
Trace file has invalid system configuration information

What have I done now?

Toxteth_OGrady

OK, worth a punt but didn't work. Just uninstall BootVis.