Breathing life into an elderly laptop - advice please

debitcardmayhem

kwikbreaks wrote: »

Spot on. I put Linux Mint on an SSD into an EEbox (netbook spec machine) and it really seemed no faster at all than it was with XP.

Ahhh but to do what ? XP / Vista / W7 / W8 will all work pretty well with browsing/email. Now if you are talking running anything useful that does not include Windows UI/X11 then linux is your best mate oh and using something other than the "bloated" browsers nothing seems so fast. I use fedora and loads but on a fair spec i2540 cpu lappy with 8GB of memory , and when I fire up Windows 8.1(64bit) under Virtualbox it loads a lot faster than a quad core 3rd gen desktop using W7-64 native.

spud17

debitcardmayhem wrote: »

I don't think the OP mentioned flight simulator software Spud

Groan. Time for me bed! Leave you lot to it. (2 woo):p

debitcardmayhem

spud17 wrote: »

Groan. Time for me bed! Leave you lot to it. (2 woo):p

No sign of GJ to tuck you in though :cool:

Steve-o

Thanks for the input everyone. I took Closed's advice to clean up the machine. Deciding that if I put Ubuntu on the machine I wouldn't replace most of the software anyway, I stripped off all of the software that I don't use very often, before following the rest of the instructions in the "Speed up a slow PC" thread.

The start-up time has been reduced to few minutes now (by this I mean the hard drive activity stops), which I can live with, and shut-down to under a minute. Firefox and Office (probably the only software I use on my laptop with any degree of regularity) appear to load a little faster, although I don't know how much of a placebo affect this is.

A main culprit for random system slow down on start-up was ehrec.exe taking 100% of the CPU usage (by random, I mean that sometimes it would happen on start-up, and sometimes it wouldn't), so I'm going to see if shutting down a couple of services has fixed that. In those situations where ehrec played up, it was faster to hard reset the machine than spend ten+ minutes getting to the point where I could end the process.

closed

it should boot in under a minute, post a hijackthis log and commit charge if you want further advice.

hard resets can corrupt the file system/registry, backup with macrium reflect free to cut the risk of a dead machine.

Steve-o

Commit charge total: 728000
Commit charge peak: 995700
Physical memory: 2 gig

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.4
Scan saved at 16:29:15, on 25/09/2013
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\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:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
C:\Program Files\iolo\Common\Lib\ioloServiceManager.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live\WLIDSVC.EXE
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live\WLIDSvcM.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllhost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\RALINK\Common\RaUI.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Gordak\Application Data\Dropbox\bin\Dropbox.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Gordak\My Documents\Downloads\HijackThis(1).exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page =
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,ProxyOverride = *.local
O2 - BHO: Groove GFS Browser Helper - {72853161-30C5-4D22-B7F9-0BBC1D38A37E} - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\GrooveShellExtensions.dll
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In SSV Helper - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre7\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: avast! WebRep - {8E5E2654-AD2D-48bf-AC2D-D17F00898D06} - C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\aswWebRepIE.dll
O2 - BHO: Windows Live ID 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\jre7\bin\jp2ssv.dll
O4 - S-1-5-18 Startup: AutorunsDisabled (User 'SYSTEM')
O4 - S-1-5-18 Startup: Dropbox.lnk = C:\Documents and Settings\Gordak\Application Data\Dropbox\bin\Dropbox.exe (User 'SYSTEM')
O4 - .DEFAULT Startup: AutorunsDisabled (User 'Default user')
O4 - .DEFAULT Startup: Dropbox.lnk = C:\Documents and Settings\Gordak\Application Data\Dropbox\bin\Dropbox.exe (User 'Default user')
O4 - Startup: AutorunsDisabled
O4 - Startup: Dropbox.lnk = C:\Documents and Settings\Gordak\Application Data\Dropbox\bin\Dropbox.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Ralink Wireless Utility.lnk = C:\Program Files\RALINK\Common\RaUI.exe
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - AutorunsDisabled - (no file)
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office12\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
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/wuweb_site.cab?1246374942828
O16 - DPF: {6E32070A-766D-4EE6-879C-DC1FA91D2FC3} (MUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/muweb_site.cab?1246386993843
O18 - Protocol: AutorunsDisabled - (no CLSID) - (no file)
O18 - Protocol: grooveLocalGWS - {88FED34C-F0CA-4636-A375-3CB6248B04CD} - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\GrooveSystemServices.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: Adobe Flash Player Update Service (AdobeFlashPlayerUpdateSvc) - Adobe Systems Incorporated - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Macromed\Flash\FlashPlayerUpdateService.exe
O23 - Service: Apple Mobile Device - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
O23 - Service: avast! Antivirus - AVAST Software - C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\AvastSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Bonjour Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\1050\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: iolo System Service (ioloSystemService) - iolo technologies, LLC - C:\Program Files\iolo\Common\Lib\ioloServiceManager.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: Mozilla Maintenance Service (MozillaMaintenance) - Mozilla Foundation - C:\Program Files\Mozilla Maintenance Service\maintenanceservice.exe
O24 - Desktop Component 0: (no name) - (no file)

--
End of file - 5477 bytes

closed

factory restore always works best.. but

have you installed system mechanic? if so, uninstall

tick and fix these unless you need them

O2 - BHO: Groove GFS Browser Helper - {72853161-30C5-4D22-B7F9-0BBC1D38A37E} - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\GrooveShellExtensions.dll

O2 - BHO: Windows Live ID Sign-in Helper - {9030D464-4C02-4ABF-8ECC-5164760863C6} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live\WindowsLiveLogin.dll


O24 - Desktop Component 0: (no name) - (no file)
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/windowsu...?1246374942828
O16 - DPF: {6E32070A-766D-4EE6-879C-DC1FA91D2FC3} (MUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/microsof...?1246386993843
O18 - Protocol: AutorunsDisabled - (no CLSID) - (no file)
O24 - Desktop Component 0: (no name) - (no file)


disable flash and firefox updater service

uninstall any firefox toolbars/plugins, and turn off all the update checking in advanced settings

consider disabling dropbox from startup using msconfig and uninstalling bonjour

windows update may be adding to boot times too, try disabling temporarily to see.

Steve-o

Not System Mechanic. I installed Drive Scrubber trial so I could give away some old hard drives. I can uninstall that too, as the trial is up.

I'll fix the other things you listed, and put a factory restore as a possibility when I've backed up some stuff.

What impact would not having Dropbox run on start-up have? I use the Dropbox folder fairly frequently.

NiftyDigits

Steve-o wrote: »

Not System Mechanic. I installed Drive Scrubber trial so I could give away some old hard drives. I can uninstall that too, as the trial is up.

I'll fix the other things you listed, and put a factory restore as a possibility when I've backed up some stuff.

What impact would not having Dropbox run on start-up have? I use the Dropbox folder fairly frequently.

If you don't use the Media Centre function, run a back up and clean install as I have suggested. Don't be afraid to do so. Once you've done that you can take an image with Macrium.

closed

the reason i mentioned system mechanic was :

ioloServiceManager.exe is running

if dropbox is syncing somewhere at boot, it may have an impact, easy way to test is to disable from startup using msconfig - this can be undone by putting the tick back in, or you could just create an icon for it, and click it manually when required

ccleaner has disk wiper functionality https://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/download/slim