Cpu Usage Always At 100% And Everything Sloooow

Just went thru the other part of the forum concerning HJT logs and was refered to this forum. Only when I go to safe mode am I showing normal usage (using task manager). I am running XP PRO with SP2 and all of the latest updates from Microsoft. Been going on for a week or more and am not nuts yet (but getting their). Any help would be appreciated and please let me know what info you need. Thank You xrxmac

Please Run the Full Tests at http://www.pcpitstop.com
Post the "TechExpress" link so we can get a look at what is going on with your machine.

Best Regards

Results

http://www.pcpitstop.com/techexpress.asp?id=MNSNFWBW3KWSJ0RJ

there are several fairly strong issues that need to be addressed with your machine. Including: configuration of Nero Ahead Use of McAfee Fragmentation of Drives Other unnecessary Background processes Virtual Memory SwapFile And a possible conflict involving your nVidia Graphics and your AMD CPU. But first, please "confirm" that you've completed your Malware Removal work. Best Regards

Malware Removal work Completed. Just a little info. System was working fine up till a week or so ago.

xrxmac,

I just re-read your correspondence with Ken over in Malware Removal, and realize that process has gone as far as it can for the time being.
We'll get you referred back to Ken for a final check-up and or additional work after you complete some of the important work here.

First, some basic information that you may already know.
512mb of RAM is not really much these days.
Windows XP calls for a minimum of 384mb RAM, leaving you with only 128 for applications.
Therefore you will be "time-sharing" your RAM resources, with applications waiting for Windows to release RAM for use in the applications.

You'd be doing your machine a big favor to get at least another 512mb RAM. You'd be happier with it too.

Next:
Nero Ahead software….
Nero is a competent CD/DVD burning tool, but is a huge resource hog to have running automatically from StartUp.
Particularly, the "Ahead Nero" component is a major show-stopper when it comes to resources.
Ironically, while many people allow Ahead Nero to install with Defaults to activate at StartUp, very very few folks actually ever use the Ahead component.
What is it?
Ahead Nero indexing, supposedly keeps up-to-date lists of potential files for burning. Not necessary
Ahead Nero accommodates "re-writeable" CD recording and reading.
Re-writeable CD's are not terribly reliable, and with today's alternatives, including larger Hard Drives, USB Flash Drives, and the cheap availability of regular writeable CD's, few people use "re-writeable".
Do you?
If not consider Uninstalling Ahead completely.
If you think you might occasionally use re-writeable CD's, just "disable" Ahead in your MSCONFIG.

Next:
Ulead
Looks like you have the DVD writing software from Ulead.
Not necessary to be running in the background.

Next:
McAfee…..
McAfee is a competent AntiVirus, but has gone into the Suite business like most other anti-Malware products.
Notice that you currently have (7) seven processes running Active in StartUp, and that doesn't even consider the various Services for McAfee that are also running.
Unless you are considering adding in excess of 1gb RAM, you would probably be better off with an AntiVirus and AntiSpyware solution with a smaller "footprint".

Consider the free versions of AVG AntiVirus and AVG AntiSpyware.

Next:
Office Speech - ctfmon.exe
Unless you require "disability accessibility functions" in the operation of your machine, this utility installed by Windows XP by default is absolutely worthless and is known to cause resource conflicts and consumes large amounts of resources just in the background.
Disable ctfmon.exe, as follows:
Control Panel - Regional and Language Options - Languages - Details - Advanced - checkmark/tick the box that says "Turn off advanced text services"

Next:
Consider "disabling" any/all items in your System Configuration Utility (MSCONFIG) except your AntiVirus and Firewall.

Next:
Once you've accomplished the above……..
Defrag "all" of your drives.
Defrag each drive 3 times in succession for complete defragging of the disk.

Next:
Run and Post a fress PCPitstop Full Tests so we can have a look at your TechExpress Results prior to addressing the remaining issues.

Best Regards

More resource hogs……. Adobe Reader. Consider the lighter footprint "Foxit". Does just as good as Adobe and only a couple hundred mb footprint. Uninstall Adobe. ————- You mention "a week or so ago" for your problem onset. That's about when you installed the Kodak software and the AVG AntiSpyware 7.5. AVG AntiSpyware comes with a "free trial period" during which time it allows the new user to have AVG AntiSpyware running actively in the background for "real-time-protection". While this is a nice feature…… it is a resource hog. Consider turning off "real-time-protection" using the AVG AntiSpyware Control Panel - Status Page. Low resourse machines don't usually do well with real-time-protection AntiSpyware running. You will still be able to use AVG AntiSpyware as a routine "manual scan". That's the way most folks do it anyway. Best Regards

Edited - "Somehow caused a double-post". Sorry

Got rid of Ahead-Ulead and office speach. Started by defragging C but it would not do it so I dug into my software and ran Spinrite and lo and behold my C drive is crappy so time to by (or install) a new one. Just to let you know it took me 1 and a half hours to post you