Adding RAM....system can take 2GIG but cruicial scanner says just 512MB per slot??!

DEBTMONKEY1A

Closed...sussed out how to change page file. Will install what you suggested & re-boot-then open up all windows & do a search on my booking system as I would if i was working-will then post a new hijack log & commit charges...

Installed cleanmem no issues....

Will post new figs in about 20 mins!!!

Closed....after I;ve done all this would buying RAM make it any quicker at all?

How do i know if memory is system managed?

closed

if your peak commit charge after doing the tidy up is below (or just above) your installed ram, more ram will make little difference, your peak beforehand was not much above installed ram

the system managed setting would have been shown in the virtual memory page, not really important

post a fresh hijackthis log when you have rebooted

DEBTMONKEY1A

So closed....no advantage at all in buying RAM? I can disable tune up utilities & say run it once a week...good plan? Is SOLUTU worth keeping going 9again can disable from start-up).

closed

If you are keen to buy it don't let me stop you. commit charge is how much ram you are using, peak commit is the most you used since last boot - if they are below installed ram, more ram will just be used for cacheing (which may show a small performance improvement, but it may not be noticeable) - why not try and see what it's like for a day or 2 before spending money

As I said, all this bloat is unnecessary, what is being suggested makes soluto and tuneup utilities superfluous.

DEBTMONKEY1A

Only just re-booted but am running about 7 windows, company webmail, huge outlook express & doing a big search on our booking system! Also just burnt a CD (did this before changes anyway-so thats why commit was probably highish). Also changed the page file.

Now have avast installed & (I think...how can i tell if windows firewall is running??!) & have deselected what you've said....no other security running either (there wasn't before anyway)....

Log below...........Anything I should 'untick' & then click 'fix'???

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.4
Scan saved at 16:49:24, on 14/07/2011
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:\Program Files\Emsisoft Anti-Malware\a2service.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\AvastSvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\CDBurnerXP\NMSAccessU.exe
C:\Program Files\BillP Studios\WinPatrol\winpatrol.exe
C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\avastUI.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxtray.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Search Enhancement Pack\SeaPort\SeaPort.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\PANICW~1\POP-UP~2\PSFree.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Outlook Express\msimn.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\mstsc.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE
C:\Documents and Settings\chris adams\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\AHO59TSY\HijackThis[1].exe
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://news.sky.com/skynews/home
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://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyServer = 127.0.0.1:81
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = local
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
O3 - Toolbar: avast! WebRep - {8E5E2654-AD2D-48bf-AC2D-D17F00898D06} - C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\aswWebRepIE.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WinPatrol] C:\Program Files\BillP Studios\WinPatrol\winpatrol.exe -expressboot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [avast] "C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\avastUI.exe" /nogui
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IgfxTray] C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxtray.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ccleaner] "C:\Program Files\CCleaner\ccleaner.exe" /AUTO
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [PopUpStopperFreeEdition] "C:\PROGRA~1\PANICW~1\POP-UP~2\PSFree.exe"
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office10\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\npjpi160_23.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\npjpi160_23.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {85d1f590-48f4-11d9-9669-0800200c9a66} - C:\WINDOWS\bdoscandel.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Uninstall BitDefender Online Scanner - {85d1f590-48f4-11d9-9669-0800200c9a66} - C:\WINDOWS\bdoscandel.exe
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
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://*.broadband.o2.co.uk
O20 - Winlogon Notify: !SASWinLogon - C:\Program Files\SUPERAntiSpyware\SASWINLO.DLL
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: Browseui preloader - {438755C2-A8BA-11D1-B96B-00A0C90312E1} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\browseui.dll:j
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: Component Categories cache daemon - {8C7461EF-2B13-11d2-BE35-3078302C2030} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\browseui.dll
O23 - Service: Emsisoft Anti-Malware 5.0 - Service (a2AntiMalware) - Emsi Software GmbH - C:\Program Files\Emsisoft Anti-Malware\a2service.exe
O23 - Service: avast! Antivirus - AVAST Software - C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\AvastSvc.exe
O23 - Service: NMSAccess - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\CDBurnerXP\NMSAccessU.exe
O24 - Desktop Component 0: (no name) - (no file)
--
End of file - 4456 bytes

closed

windows firewall - control panel, security center.

what are the commit charge figures straight after a reboot, and when you are running your work sessions?

Do you use cdburnerxp - imgburn portable can burn most things and doesn't require a service to be running all the time.

tick and fix this

O24 - Desktop Component 0: (no name) - (no file)

do you need these installed?

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [PopUpStopperFreeEdition] "C:\PROGRA~1\PANICW~1\POP-UP~2\PSFree.exe"

O20 - Winlogon Notify: !SASWinLogon - C:\Program Files\SUPERAntiSpyware\SASWINLO.DLL

O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Uninstall BitDefender Online Scanner - {85d1f590-48f4-11d9-9669-0800200c9a66} - C:\WINDOWS\bdoscandel.exe

which browser are you using, what's this proxy server?

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Int ernet Settings,ProxyServer = 127.0.0.1:81

winpatrol is still running

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WinPatrol] C:\Program Files\BillP Studios\WinPatrol\winpatrol.exe -expressboot

trusted zones aren't usually needed - you may wish to delete them -(IE, tools, internet options, security, trusted sites, sites, highlight and remove)

O15 - Trusted Zone: http://*.broadband.o2.co.uk

uninstall microsoft search enhancement pack and emsisoft antimalware to stop these running

O23 - Service: Emsisoft Anti-Malware 5.0 - Service (a2AntiMalware) - Emsi Software GmbH - C:\Program Files\Emsisoft Anti-Malware\a2service.exe

C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Search Enhancement Pack\SeaPort\SeaPort.exe

does your work require remote desktop - you have this running

C:\WINDOWS\system32\mstsc.exe

if you do all that, and have disabled these services

SSDP Discovery Service
Remote Registry
WebClient
Distributed Link Tracking Client

I'd expect commit to be around 120-150MB straight after a boot.

DEBTMONKEY1A

Hi ...thanks! Will look at this tomorrow....overall do you think it sounds better from what I've said?

closed

much better than it was, but you are in the best position to answer whether it is running/booting any better/faster and at an acceptable speed.

what's the commit charge?

DEBTMONKEY1A

Will post commit charge/settings on bootup & after a few hours tomorrow...........THANK YOU CLOSED-YOU ARE A STAR!

esuhl

DEBTMONKEY1A wrote: »

The booking system i use-top dog-searches HUNDREDS of airlines/hotels at same time.

I would guess that the booking system would not need to process much information on your PC and that the search algorithms are running on the server. In other words, the speed of the booking system is probably dependent on the speed of the servers you're connecting to, so installing more RAM might not make these searches faster. However, for other memory-intensive tasks, or if your PC gets less responsive as more applications (or web pages) are opened, you may well benefit from a memory upgrade.

DEBTMONKEY1A wrote: »

can I leave on AVIRA & zonealarm... i thought AVIRA was not too ram heavy?

closed wrote: »

It's upto you, but avast and windows firewall will result in a speedier, less problematic and simpler system...

The last time I checked (at least a year ago, admittedly), Avira uses significantly less system resources that Avast, so I prefer to use Avira on my Windows PCs. I also prefer the user interface, but each to his own and all that...

As for ZoneAlarm, I stopped using that 5 years ago when it caused a lot of problems on multiple PCs in blocking traffic that it shouldn't have. It may well have improved since then, but I now use the Comodo Free Firewall instead. Unfortunately, when I tested it, I found that I needed to disable the Defense+ feature and enable "custom mode" immediately after installation to prevent it from failing leak tests and setting up rules to automatically permit many applications to access the 'net without my consent. It works fine with those provisos, however.

The Windows Firewall is quite basic. The XP version only blocks unsolicited incoming requests, which your router should do anyway, and (if I remember rightly - I've rarely used it) the Vista/7 firewall is a bit better but doesn't give you much control.

Assuming you have a router or use the Windows firewall, the only purpose of a (different) software firewall would be to prevent applications that are already installed on your machine from connecting to the Internet. For paranoid control freaks (like me!) it's vital to have a good software firewall; for most non-technical/non-paranoid people it's un-necessary - so long as your machine is protected from malware.

Oh well, hope this is vaguely useful and I haven't bored you to tears!