http://forums.whatthetech.com/Issues_my_laptop_t101157.html

Hi,

Thank you for the opportunity to fix my computer problems. This is such a great service and I'm grateful for it's existance.

So my problem is that my computer is painfully slow. It takes forever for any webpage to load, whatever the content. And often times, a page freezes for great lengths of time (relatively speaking of course). It's tremendously frustrating and I was hoping that someone would help me get to the root of the problem.

A couple of things that may (or may not) be of help).

*The problems seemed to start when I downloaded the new version of McAfee. My contract with them had expired and when I renewed, they made me download a new version. I don't know if it was just a coincidence, but that seemed to be the start of my computer's crawl.

*Within the last several months, I've noticed a pop up bubble that indicates that my Virtual Memory is low and that the computer will automatically shift things to fix this (or something to that affect). This used to pop up infrequently (once every 6-8 weeks), but recently has popped up with greater frequenct (1-2 times a week).

*And this I'm pretty certain has no relevance, but might as well mention it, my dash and underscore buttom has ceased working. I now have to cut and paste to use those items.

Anyway, if someone can offer some help, that would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Hi Euge. Read through your post in the malware forum. Bit of work but it looks like your system is in good shape as far as malware is concerned.

Is you computer slow over all or just slow loading web pages?

Please Run the PCPitstop Full Tests, here: PCPitstop Full Tests

Note: Vista users with UAC must first Right-click IE - Select "Run as Administrator"

If you haven't already registered, Click - Sign up now! (left hand column in User Login)

Register and create a password
Accept the ActiveX component to allow your machine to run the Full Tests
Registering and accepting the ActiveX are both SAFE and FREE.

The Full Tests take less than 5 minutes for most machines.

Once you have your Results, please post the TechExpress Link back here into this thread for review.
TechExpress is the last item on the list in the yellow box in upper right area of any Results page.
Post the entire URL link information back here into this Forum thread.

Note: Vista users, please close your instance of IE "Running as Administrator" after you are finished reviewing your Results.

Caution: During the testing of Video Adapter, a variety of patterns, shapes, colors and text are “flashed” onto the users monitor screen. In the many thousands of daily uses of the PCPitstop Full Tests over several years, two individuals who suffer epilepsy experienced discomfort and temporary dizziness when viewing the flashing patterns.

If you know that you are susceptible to photo driven seizure, please look away from your screen during the Video Adapter testing sequence.

Note: The PCPitstop Full Tests Results is a free service, but is supported by various paid product advertisements for utilities that "could" remedy the OP's problem.

Since WTT is a "free-help" forum, we do not recommend or endorse purchase of automated utilities, and will assist you in manually correcting any problems and settings necessary to optimize your machine's performance. Ask your questions here. We'll help you walk through any necessary steps.[/color]

Hi,

Believe it or not, I never saw this post. My email doesn't show record of it. I was just referred to it when I posted another plea to help my fix my computer. Thank you for taking the time to try and help me fix my laptop. I hope you're still around to walk me through this. I did everything you asked in this post. But for the life of me, I can't find the TechExpress Link. I got the results (the page with the fixes I need to make), but I don't see any mention of the TechExpress Link or a yellow box in the upper right area (other than the one which lists my email). Perhaps in the last couple of months, the look of the page has changed. Please advise to how I can get this link. Thank you again for all your help. I look forward to hearing further instructions. Thank you.

Hello Euge

I believe I can help you with the Tech Express Link,... PCPitstop are no longer using the Tech Express Link method anymore, as far as I understand it.
So what we ask now is after the scan is complete and the final result is displayed, copy/paste the URL into your next reply,
it should look something like this~ http://www.pcpitstop.com/betapit/sec.asp?conid=22109668

Regards,
Jkc73

Thanks Jkc73.

I didn't get notice of your post either Euge. This must be a cursed thread! I'll keep an eye on it from now on, waiting for your link.

Thanks very much for this.

Here is the link to the results of the scan

http://www.pcpitstop.com/betapit/sec.asp?c...;report=Summary

Also, I think I forgot to answer one of your questions, regarding the extent of the computers slowdown. It's pretty slow through and through. Loading up the computer takes forever. Websites take a long time to load up. Clicking on links take even longer. loading up programs takes time. closing programs or websites is slow. And then the computer freezes sometimes for several minutes. And of course, some times are much slower than others. But not everything is slow. I can watch video or tv on the computer without a problem. I can save pictures relatively quickly. It's odd, but it's consistant. Things that are slow, are always slow (with varying degrees). Things that are quick, are you usually quick. And it all started with my resubscription to McAfees. Go figure.

Anyway, please let me know if there is anything I need to do. Thank you again.

Thanks Euge, that definitely helps.

You have over 5GB of accumulated junk on your hard drives which can definitely slow your computer down, so lets start by clearing that up.

Follow the directions in the Tech Tip: http://forums.whatthetech.com/How_clean_up...ce_t100889.html

Once that's done, download and run TFC - Temp File Cleanup by OldTimer. It will get rid of stuff the others miss. Read the instructions and be aware that it will close down running programs and your desktop so make sure you are not doing anything else when you run it. There is no installation, just unzip it and run TFC.exe.

Run a new PCPItStop and post the link when done.

Thank you for your reply, as always.

I did everything that was asked in the link you sent. After I was finished and rebooted, I did notice that my computer was somewhat quicker. It still lagged a bit, but definitely quicker. But at night, I had a situation that I've had a number of times before and that I previously documented here. Basically, for some inexplicable reason, my browser (Internet Explorer) went nuts and started calling up new browser pages. Dozens of them. And there was no stopping them. I don't remember the exact number that came up, but a rough guess would be about 20 or 25. After that, the computer was pretty much at it's normal slow self. I closed it up before going to sleep and this morning, it was working well again (not quick, but much quicker than before) and for the most part, it continues to work quicker, with varying degrees. So thank you very much, as your advice helped. It's still not where it was before it started having problems, but certainly so much better than it has been for a while. Anyway, here is the link to the PCPitStop.

http://www.pcpitstop.com/betapit/sec.asp?conid=22251768

If there is anything else I can do to further it's recovery, please let me know. Thank you again.

IE opening multiple, unsolicited pages is often the sign of a malware infection. I know you've been cleared but this sure sounds like some kind of malware.

Might be a good idea to return to your malware thread and ask LDTate to take another look. I'll PM him as well to let him know I referred you back and why.

Also, did you ever get rid of McAfee or are you still using it? If you've paid for it you may feel the need to stay with it, but it's a resource hog that definitely slows a computer down. If you're willing to give it a try, uninstall McAfee and install one of the free AV programs. I'd recommend trying Comodo Internete Security which is a Suite like McAfee but doesn't have nearly the impact on your computer.

You could also install just the FIrewall part of Comodo then use other free AV software like:

Avira Antivir
Avast Antivirus
Clamwin Antivirus (Open Source Software - free and very good)
AVG Free good but also puts a load on the computer. Not as bad as McAfee though.

If you decide to try this, download the one you're going to use first, then uninstall McAfee. Get the McAfee removal tool and use that as McAfee is notoriously difficult to get rid of some times. See here: http://forums.whatthetech.com/McAfee_remov...ol_t104245.html

This post has been edited by Ztruker: Jun 22 2009, 12:01 PM

We worked on it in the malware forum back in April.

Euge,
Please start a new Topic in the Malware Forum and post the link back here in this topic

Hi,

Thank you, as always, for your replies. Unfortunately, I am still using McAfees. I know it's stupid, but like you said, I paid for it, so I'm kind of attached. I don't know for certain that it is McAfees that has caused all the problems on my computer, but they did start around the time of my renewal. Anyway, I think you're right. I will research these links you sent me and I will download a new version. I will do this probably by the weekend. Thank you again.

Also, thank you LDTate, for your coming in to help here. But I'm embarrassed to say, I'm unclear about what you would like me to do. As per Ztruker's instructions, I was going to revisit our earlier exchange and start the malware check again, using the previous instructions. Should I go about it differently. If so, please clarify. You want me to ask for help with a potential malware problem in the Malware Forumn? Is this correct? And if so, what link are you referring to, when you say to post it here. I'm sorry again for my thickness. Thanks for your patients.

What LDTate wants if for you to post a new HijackThis log in a new thread in the malware forum here:

http://forums.whatthetech.com/HijackThis_L...emoval_f27.html

That's the same forum you posted in before.

Hi, I did that on the 26th of June. But now I'm looking at it and it doesn't appear as if it posted. I'm going to try again now.

Hi,

I just posted a new one and it seemed to take this time. Thank you.