Hello! I'm coming over from the malware section (http://forums.whatthetech.com/index.php?showtopic=124305) , and we didn't find anything there, so thought I'd come here and see if there is something I should replace, if not the entire laptop.
Hi Alyaz,
Sorry to hear of the problems you are experiencing…. I took a quick look at your logs where Tomk got your computer clean and it's good to hear that he no longer sees malware as being present.
The infections you had, mainly trojan horses (applications that are undesirable/malicious masquerading as a something else) have been dealt with, but it's important to keep your computer up to date, with all older versions of Java, Adobe Rreader, Flash etc uninstalled and the later more secure versions installed in their place. Likewise all Windows important updates and of course your anti virus product should be checked regularly (despite any auto update settings) to make sure your computer id fully up to date and runs as efficiently as possible.
The use of peer to peer file sharing applications (P2P) is a well known vector for the distribution of malicious and undesirable code.
For P2P applications to work efficiently they need to have access through your defences (firewall etc) and this can lead to all sorts of problems…. It must be your call, of course, but if you uninstalled all P2P applications (Vuze is visible in your logs for example) and deleted all files downloaded via P2P where the provenance of the files was not 100%, then your would be doing yourself a favour.
The symptoms you describe for your laptop are often fairly common with laptops that have a compromised cooling system, The cooling system sometimes is unable to dissipate the heat from internal electronic components (especially CPU and Video chip) to ensure correct running. This build up of heat often reaches a critical level after some time when the computer has been working hard…. This is particularly so if it has not had the air vents cleaned recently (using low pressure compressed air) and there is a build up of fluff/detritus around the cooling passages proximate to the CPU, video chip and heat sinks. The heat build up is made worse if the computer has ever been used on a bed or sofa/settee or other soft furnishings where microscopic particulates from the furnishings may be drawn in by the cooling fan(s) ducts and then settle, and coat the electronics with a heat insulating blanket…..
You can carry out some temperature checks to see if overheating is a problem, and if it is… clearing the vents by low pressure air is a good start, but make sure you blow in the right direction!…… other cleaning will require dismantling the computer and if you are not experienced in the correct way of doing this, including the personal safelty and ESD (anti static) precautions needed then you might consider that a competent computer technician should be engaged to do this work for you.
Post back if you need more information or cannot find a suitable temperature testing utility
Regards
paws
I looked for a temp program, but I couldn't tell what was trustworthy and what wasn't. Sounds like some dismantling might need to be done, then? That's a better option than a new computer, I guess.
Hi, Alyaz
I would try and check the temps as a first step…. something like: http://openhardwaremonitor.org/
Here is another link to an authorative article by our own Digerati (who has great expertise and experience in these areas) There are also subsequent posts by Doug and myself that are worth reading! http://forums.whatthetech.com/index.php?showtopic=103649
Let us know how you get on.
Regards
paws
