Butterflymum - Commit Charge Log and Hijackthis Log

butterflymum

Thanks to the great thread by closed (don't know how I missed seeing it last year), have spent today working at improving our ancient desktop comp. We rarely use it now but would like to start using it a bit more often again.

Anyhow, after working through the 'steps', I must admit, things, so far, are looking much better. Boot-up time has improved greatly and system is generally running much faster (well, for one that is ancient that is).

Commit Charge:

Figures pre-steps were
Total 668124
Peak 734236

and now
Total 404900
Peak 456832

Physical Memory:

Total 523760

Anyhow, keen to ensure I have done as much as possible at moment (other than take plunge and remove AOL yet too), thought I would post a Hijackthis log in next message (run after all the changes were made) and ask if some kind sould could have a look at same and offer suggestions for any further removals that might help.

Also, am seriously considering tackling an upgrade to the memory/hard drive. So again, suggestions welcome (complete novice to upgrading hardware but willing to have a bash). My Hard Drive is currently running at C: 4470MB free space (ie 15% free) and 17537MB free space (ie 68% free).

Thanks, in anticipation, for constructive input.

butterflymum

Windows Xp
Intel Pentium 4 CPU 2.66 Ghz
512MB RAM
Radeon 9000

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.4
Scan saved at 17:37:46, on 11/09/2011
Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.17096)
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:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\AvastSvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\AOL\ACS\AOLacsd.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7Debug\mdm.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\Dit.exe
C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel\atiptaxx.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\1184023426\ee\AOLSoftware.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spool\drivers\w32x86\3\hpztsb05.exe
C:\Program Files\Visioneer OneTouch\OneTouchMon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\rundll32.exe
C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe
C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\avastUI.exe
C:\Program Files\AOL 9.0\aoltray.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
C:\Program Files\AOL 9.0\waol.exe
C:\WINDOWS\DitExp.exe
C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
C:\Program Files\IncrediMail\bin\IMApp.exe
c:\program files\common files\aol\1184023426\ee\services\antiSpywareApp\ver2_0_12\AOLSP Scheduler.exe
c:\program files\common files\aol\1184023426\ee\aolsoftware.exe
C:\Program Files\AOL 9.0\shellmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\aoltpspd.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger\msnmsgr.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Myname\Desktop\HijackThis.exe
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar =
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page =
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page =
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL =
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL =
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch =
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = *.local
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHelperStub - {18DF081C-E8AD-4283-A596-FA578C2EBDC3} - C:\Program Files\Common
Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelperShim.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {243B17DE-77C7-46BF-B94B-0B5F309A0E64} - C:\Program Files\Microsoft
Money\System\mnyside.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {5C255C8A-E604-49b4-9D64-90988571CECB} - (no file)
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: (no name) - {FDD3B846-8D59-4ffb-8758-209B6AD74ACC} - (no file)
O3 - Toolbar: avast! WebRep - {8E5E2654-AD2D-48bf-AC2D-D17F00898D06} - C:\Program Files\AVAST
Software\Avast\aswWebRepIE.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Dit] Dit.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATIPTA] C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel\atiptaxx.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AOLDialer] C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\ACS\AOLDial.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HostManager] C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\1184023426\ee\AOLSoftware.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HPDJ Taskbar Utility] C:\WINDOWS\system32\spool\drivers\w32x86\3\hpztsb05.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [OneTouch Monitor] C:\Program Files\Visioneer OneTouch\OneTouchMon.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [BluetoothAuthenticationAgent] rundll32.exe
bthprops.cpl,,BluetoothAuthenticationAgent
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe Reader Speed Launcher] "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader
9.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [avast] "C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\avastUI.exe" /nogui
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MSConfig] C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\MSConfig.exe /auto
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [CS32] C:\WINDOWS
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [IncrediMail] C:\Program Files\IncrediMail\bin\IncMail.exe /c
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [PPWebCap] \PROGRA~1\ScanSoft\PAPERP~1\PPWebCap.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [AOL Dialer] C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\ACS\AOlDial.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [msnmsgr] "C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger\msnmsgr.exe" /background
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: AOL 9.0 Tray Icon.lnk = C:\Program Files\AOL 9.0\aoltray.exe
O4 - Global Startup: AOL Broadband Assistant.lnk = C:\Program Files\AOL\Broadband
Assistant\bin\matcli.exe
O14 - IERESET.INF: START_PAGE_URL=http://www.dixons.co.uk/
O16 - DPF: {05CDEE1D-D109-4992-B72B-6D4F5E2AB731} (PhotoBox uploader) -
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) -
O16 - DPF: {6E32070A-766D-4EE6-879C-DC1FA91D2FC3} (MUWebControl Class) -
6
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: AOL Connectivity Service (AOL ACS) - AOL LLC - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\AOL\ACS\AOLacsd.exe
O23 - Service: Apple Mobile Device - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device
Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
O23 - Service: avast! Antivirus - AVAST Software - C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\AvastSvc.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
--
End of file - 6640 bytes

GunJack

remove ALL AOL bloatware (make sure you get the anti-spyware, it's a pain), run ccleaner (both scans) and do a fresh HJT. In terms of your disk space, I'll bet you've got your documents, pics and music on the C: drive, you could move that to the D drive to help windows run smoother

butterflymum

Thanks for input. Have been undecided on removing AOL stuff even though I've known for past few years that it is a pain. Suppose I don't miss it on my netbook, so could live without it on the PC too. Started moving picture files etc over to D last year (also have backups on external hard drive), but as we don't now use this PC much, lots still to shift. Can any space be partioned off from D and given over to A? Ran Ccleaner earlier, but will do so again.

Im_just_careful

You really want 2 GB of RAM (memory) for XP to run "nicely" without extreme care on what runs at start up.

Even if you don't buy the RAM from them I've found the Crucial memory tool excellent at identification of the sort of RAM you need.

I've generally bought the RAM from them as well as the price tends to be OK and the chance of error reduced.

Fitting it is simple. You may have to remove the existing memory or there may be empty slots. The Crucial tool will tell you which is the case.

You unplug the PC from the power, open the box up (sometimes a few screws or possibly just a lever to move) and there are some long slots on the main board with memory sticks in them like the ones you have bought. Fit the memory, power up the PC again and all being well it will report more memory and run faster.

If there are problems it is usually that you haven't quite got the memory clipped in right at both ends. You have to be a bit "firm" with it.

Best of luck.

butterflymum

Sounds interesting, thanks. Couldn't see my model of Medion on their Memory Advisor Tool, so ran their System Scanner Tool, which reported:

"We were not able to determine the manufacturer and/or model of your PC, but we were able to complete our scan with information from your motherboard."

and declared it a Medion MS-6701 Motherboard

Now, not sure I could afford 2 x 1Gb at moment, but if I go for 2 x 512MB, I'm confused , as 2 prices quoted for 512MB...and differing by quite a bit:

DDR PC2700 • CL=2.5 • Unbuffered • ECC • DDR333 • 2.5V • 64Meg x 72 • • Part #: CT6472Z335

or

DDR PC2700 • CL=2.5 • Unbuffered • NON-ECC • DDR333 • 2.5V • 64Meg x 64 • • Part #: CT6464Z335

I can see that first of above has a number x72 mentioned and second has a number x64, but am unsure what the difference is apart from first being £38.39 incl Vat and second £17.99 including Vat.


Also, still think I would ultimately like to increase Hard Drive size if possible too, so the children can get more use of this PC for homeworks etc, without us having to resort to buying a complete new PC just yet, so suggestions on this welcome.

Im_just_careful

and did it offer you the choice of a single extra memory module ?

I THINK that the memory that Play.com sell would be suitable for your computer (search "Computer Memory 1GB PC2700 DDR 333Mhz 184pin DIMM" at Play) and they do 1GB for a similar price to the 512 MB you listed.

If the Crucial tool suggested a single memory module as one of the options and you can afford a slight gamble with £15 I would try the Play memory.

Otherwise a visit to a small computer shop (the sort that does upgrades) might be a safer bet.

Adding extra hard disk storage isn't that hard but RAM (memory) is the easiest way of speeding up most old computers.

By the way the difference between the two sorts of memory is that one has a way of error checking built in and the cheaper one doesn't. If the memory advisor suggests either then personally I would go with the cheap one.

GunJack

woah, slow down !! ok, an extra half-gig or gig would help, but what did the scanner report on how many slots were in use, 1 or 2 ?? If only one, just need a 1 GB stick, around £15.

closed

22GB of free disk space holds a lot of homework, there is little point upgrading hard disks until they are full.

2GB ram for XP is ott too, especially as your commit charge is below 512, and will go lower with a bit more pruning

Do you need messenger, incredimail, aol stuff running at startup (suggest you uninstall the latter or at least the aol antispyware software)

have you installed cleanmem? if not try it.

did you follow the guide to fix ctfmon and C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7Debug\mdm.exe (step 7b)

if you have software for old printers or scanners installed, uninstall it.

butterflymum

Thanks for continuing input folks, appreciated.

Two slots, both in use, so 256MB in each at present. Each can hold maximum of 1GB.

Still undecided about removing AOL completely, but will remove their anti-spyware. Would be fine without Messenger and Incredimail running at start up, so will sort those too.

Yes, cleanmem installed and run etc yesterday.

Yes, ctfmon fixed yesterday.

Have just had two printers die a death in short space of time of each other, so those will be removed in anticipation of a new one (once I can find a cheapish to buy one that doesn't use ink cartridges that cost a fortune). Quick look in PC World at weekend suggested many nowadays have inbuilt scanner, so assuming I get one such, old scanner will also be removed (local library charged a pound a weekend to print two colour sheets of A4 for one of the children's homeworks!).

Im_just_careful

I agree with Gunjack to a degree. It is possible to get XP to work in 512 MB of RAM.

However, personally I would spend the money on some more memory (probably one module and replace one of the 2 in the machine) as it has considerably improved PCs owned by relatives when I've done it.

Moving some files from your C: drive to the (relatively empty) drive would also help prior to buying another drive.

As for hard disk space, USB drives are easy to fit (just plug in) but internal drives while not being too difficult as a DIY job are a step up on adding additional memory (RAM).

By my calculations both of your existing disks are 30 GB. Probably a single physical drive split into 2 partitions. This is typical of machines about 5 years ago (perhaps a little longer) and it might be possible to get an additional drive second hand from someone you know or a small independent shop.