Slow computer, freezes frequently [Solved]

Hello BobDylan,

my name is Jo and I will help you with your computer problems.

Please follow these guidelines:

• Logs can take a while to research, so please be patient.
• Read and follow the instructions in the sequence they are posted.
• print or copy & save instructions.
• back up all your private data / important files on another (external) drive before using our tools.
• Do not install / uninstall any applications, unless otherwise instructed.
• Use only that tools you have been instructed to use.
• Copy and Paste the log files inside your post, unless otherwise instructed.
• Ask for clarification, if you have any questions.
• Stay with this topic til you get the all clean post.
• My first language is not english. So please do not use slang or idioms. It could be hard for me to read. Thanks for your understanding.

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1. Download Security Check by screen317 from here or here.

• Save it to your Desktop.
• Double click SecurityCheck.exe and follow the onscreen instructions inside of the black box.
  Vista / Windows 7/8 users right-click and select Run As Administrator.

• A Notepad document should open automatically called checkup.txt; please post the contents of that document.

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2. Please download Farbar Recovery Scan Tool and save it to your Desktop.

Note: You need to run the version compatible with your system. If you are not sure which version applies to your system, download both of them and try to run them. Only one of them will run on your system, that will be the right version.

• Right-click FRST / FSRT64 then click "Run as administrator" (XP users: click run after receipt of Windows Security Warning - Open File).
• When the tool opens, click Yes to disclaimer.
• Press the Scan button.
• When finished, it will produce a log called FRST.txt in the same directory the tool was run from.
• Please copy and paste the log in your next reply.

Note 2: The first time the tool is run it generates another log (Addition.txt - also located in the same directory the tool was run from). Please also paste that, along with the FRST.txt into your next reply.

Hello BobDylan,

Please download Malwarebytes Anti-Rootkit and save it to your desktop.

• Be sure to print out and follow the instructions provided on that same page.
• Caution: This is a beta version so please be sure to read the disclaimer and back up all your data before using.
• Scan your system for malware

With some infections, you may see two messages boxes.

• 'Could not load protection driver'. Click 'OK'.
• 'Could not load DDA driver'. Click 'Yes' to this message, to allow the driver to load after a restart. Allow the computer to restart. Continue with the rest of these instructions.

• If malware is found - do not press the Clean up button, please go to the MBAR folder and then copy/paste the contents of the MBAR-log-***.txt file to your next reply.
• If there is no malware found, please let me know as well.

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Please download AdwCleaner by Xplode and save to your Desktop.
Double-click AdwCleaner.exe
Vista / Windows 7/8 users right-click and select Run As Administrator.

• Click on the Scan button.
• AdwCleaner will begin…be patient as the scan may take some time to complete.
  The actual line should say "Pending. Please uncheck elements you do not want to remove" => scan is complete.
• After the scan has finished, click on the Report button…a logfile (AdwCleaner[R0].txt) will open in Notepad for review.
• The contents of the log file may be confusing. Unless you see a program name that you know should not be removed, don't worry about it.
  If you see an entry you want to keep, let me know about it.
• Copy and paste the contents of that logfile in your next reply.
• A copy of all logfiles are saved in the C:\AdwCleaner folder which was created when running the tool.

Hello BobDylan,

we found Adware, browser addons and bad browser settings.
The only tools you could keep are AdwCleaner and Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware.


1. Java
Find here instructions how to clear the java cache.
Go into the Control Panel and double-click the Java Icon. (looks like a coffee cup)
Under Temporary Internet Files, click the Delete Files button.
There are options in the window to clear the cache - Leave ALL Checked

• Applications and Applets
• Trace and log files

Click OK on Delete Temporary Files Window
Note: This deletes ALL the Downloaded Applications and Applets from the CACHE. Click OK to leave the Java Control Panel.

 

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2. Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
If this program is already installed: Skip the installation and run only the scan!
Download the free version of Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and save it to your desktop.
Double-click mbam-setup****.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
Note to Vista | Windows 7/8 users, please right-click and select Run as Administrator.

• Make sure a checkmark is placed next to Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware.
• Then click Finish.
• If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.
• Once the program has loaded, select Perform full scan, then click Scan.
• When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.
• Be sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected.
• When completed, a log will open in Notepad. Please copy and paste the log back into your next reply.

Note 1: The log can also be found via the Logs tab when Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware is started.
Note 2: If you receive a notice that some of the items couldn't be removed and they have been added to the delete on reboot list, please reboot.

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3. ESET Online Scanner

Connect any existing external hard drives and / or other removable media.

*Note
It is recommended to disable onboard antivirus program and antispyware programs while performing scans so there are no conflicts and it will speed up scan time.
Please don't go surfing while your resident protection is disabled!
Once the scan is finished remember to re-enable your antivirus along with your antispyware programs.


If this program is already installed: Skip the installation and run only the scan!

• Hold down Control and click on the following link to open ESET OnlineScan in a new window.
  ESET OnlineScan
• Click the [external image: esetOnline.png] button.

• For alternate browsers only: (Microsoft Internet Explorer users can skip these steps)
• Click on [external image: esetSmartInstall.png] to download the ESET Smart Installer. Save it to your desktop.
• Double click on the [external image: esetSmartInstallDesktopIcon.png] icon on your desktop.

• Check [external image: esetAcceptTerms.png]
• Click the [external image: esetStart.png] button.
• Accept any security warnings from your browser.
• Check [external image: esetScanArchives.png]
• Make sure that the option "Remove found threats" is Unchecked
• Push the Start button.
• ESET will then download updates for itself, install itself, and begin
  scanning your computer. Please be patient as this can take some time.
• When the scan completes, push [external image: esetListThreats.png]
• Push [external image: esetExport.png], and save the file to your desktop using a unique name, such as MyEsetScan. Alternatively, look for report in C:\Program Files\ESET\ESET Online Scanner\log.txt. Include the contents of this report in your next reply.
• Push the Back button.
• Select Uninstall application on close check box and push [external image: esetFinish.png]

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How the computer is running now?

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Hi Jo:

 

   The computer is running better - it hasn't frozen up today, and is definitely faster, and I haven't seen that blue "oh snap" screen today I don't think.

   I've emptied the Java cache and the ESET Online scan did not find any threats (no log produced).

 

   Here's the mbam log from a Full Scan, with 3 items being deleted:

 

Hello BobDylan,

well done.

It Appears That Your Pc Is Now Clean!
 

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Clean up:

Open notepad. Please copy the contents of the code box below. To do this highlight the contents of the box and right click on it. Paste this into the open notepad.
Save it in the same location as / FSRT / FSRT64 (usually your desktop) as fixlist.txt

start
DeleteQuarantine:
end

Run FRST/FRST64 and press the Fix button just once and wait.
no needed to post the log this time.

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Right-click AdwCleaner.exe and select Run As Administrator.

• Click on the Uninstall button.
• A window will open, press the Confirm button.
• AdwCleaner will uninstall now.

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Clean up with delfix:

• please download delfix to your desktop.
• Close all other programms and start delfix.
• Please check all the boxes and run the tool.
• delfix will now delete all found traces of our removal process

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Delete the log files our tools created; they are located at your desktop or at the
"c:\users\{…….}\Downloads" folder.
Highlight them, and press the del or delete key on the keyboard.
You can browse to the location of the file or folder using either My Computer or Windows Explorer.

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Here are some Preventive tips to reduce the potential for spyware infection in the future:

1. Browse more secure

• WOT - Know which websites to trust
  Web of Trust - this free browser add on warns you about risky websites that try to scam visitors, deliver malware or send spam.

2. Enable Protected Mode in Internet Explorer. This helps Windows Vista, 7 / 8 users stay more protected from attack by running Internet Explorer with restricted privileges as well as reducing the ability to write, alter or destroy data on your system or install malicious code. To make sure this is running follow these steps:

• Open Internet Explorer
• Click on Tools > Internet Options
• Press Security tab
• Select Internet zone then place check next to Enable Protected Mode if not already done
• Do the same for Local Intranet, Trusted Sites and Restricted Sites and then press Apply
• Restart Internet Explorer and in the bottom right corner of your screen you will see Protected Mode: On showing you it is enabled.

3. Make sure you keep your Windows OS current.

• Windows XP users can visit Windows update regularly to download and install any critical updates and service packs.
• Windows Vista / 7 users can update via
  Start menu > All Programs > Windows Update > Check for Updates (in left hand task pane).

4. Avoid P2P

• If you think you're using a "safe" P2P program, only the program is safe, not the data.
• You will share files from unsafe sources, and these may be infected.
• Some bad guys use P2P filesharing as an important chanel to spread their wares.

5. Use only one anti-virus software and keep it up-to-date.

6. Firewall
Without a firewall your computer is succeptible to being hacked and taken over. I am very serious about this and see it happen almost every day with my clients. Simply using a Firewall in its default configuration can lower your risk greatly.

7. Backup regularly
You never know when your PC will become unstable or become so infected that you can't recover it.

8. Use Strong passwords!

9. Email attachments
Do not open any unknown email attachments, which you received without asking for it!


Extra note:
Keep your Browser, Java, pdf Reader and Adobe Flash Up to Date.
Make sure your programs are up to date - because older versions may contain Security Leaks.
To find out what programs need to be updated, please run the Secunia Software Inspector Scan. http://secunia.com/software_inspector/

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Since this issue appears to be resolved … this Topic has been closed. Glad we could be of assistance.

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