comrades,

3 problems that i know of.

1. suddenly i can't sign in to skype at all, and am worried that some new software i've used is causing an incompatibility problem, or, worse, that i've picked up some malware.

i've tried reinstalling skype over the top of the old skype, to no avail. at first, the problem manifested as my contact list showing, but my not being connected and all my contacts appearing not to be connected either. the problem grew to include a nearly endless connection screen which finally did show not a numeric error message, but just the message that i wasn't able to connect to skype. i did their troubleshooter to no avail. it's not my router, not my firewall.

i am not an experienced user, so i'm not sure whether to reinstall clean- will i lose all my contacts by doing that? or are they stashed online somewhere?

this is not the newest version of skype; it's 2.5.0.130. i do not want the latest skype, which is full of useless and distracting carp**- ads, games, whatever, and which has less functionality/configurability.

i hope someone can cast some light on this before i expire from skype withdrawal

2. also, the browsing is very slow- pages take too long to load on my 1500kbps adsl connection. over 15 mins or so the traffic was 15,000 or so packets in, and 11,000 out.

3. ALSO there is an error message each time i boot up that says

Component returned failure code: 0x800040005 (NS_ERROR FAILURE) [nsIControllers.removeController].

It seems to be happening with seamonkey. on the net it's reported to be a bug with comodo, my new preferred firewall. i do what i can with free stuff. my feeling is that my system is clogged with rubbish and needs a good registry purge, but i am absolutely unqualified to do that and so am thinking of following the 46 best free utilities guy's advice and using his recommended, very conservative regcleaner. i recently had to try several different combinations of antivirusapps and firewalls to find two that would function without conflict. i'd appreciate any advice on all this. i don't know if my probs are interrelated…

thanks

HERE IS THE HJT LOG
Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 3:57:24 AM, on 17/08/2007
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)

Running processes:
F:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
F:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
F:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
F:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
F:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
F:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
F:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
F:\Program Files\Grisoft\AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5\guard.exe
F:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgupsvc.exe
F:\WINDOWS\System32\cisvc.exe
F:\Program Files\Comodo\Firewall\cmdagent.exe
F:\WINDOWS\system32\CTsvcCDA.EXE
F:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
F:\WINDOWS\System32\inetsrv\inetinfo.exe
F:\Program Files\Ahead\InCD\InCDsrv.exe
F:\Program Files\Maxtor\Maxtor Backup\MaxBackServiceInt.exe
F:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7DEBUG\MDM.EXE
F:\Program Files\Maxtor\OneTouch\Utils\SyncServices.exe
F:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
F:\Program Files\Dantz\Retrospect\retrorun.exe
F:\WINDOWS\System32\snmp.exe
F:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
F:\WINDOWS\System32\MsPMSPSv.exe
F:\WINDOWS\System32\mqsvc.exe
F:\WINDOWS\System32\mqtgsvc.exe
F:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgamsvr.exe
F:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgemc.exe
F:\WINDOWS\LTMSG.exe
F:\Program Files\Startup Mechanic\StartupMonitor.exe
F:\WINDOWS\MXOALDR.EXE
F:\Program Files\Motherboard Monitor 5\MBM5.EXE
F:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
F:\WINDOWS\CTHELPER.EXE
F:\Program Files\D-Link\DSL-200\dslagent.exe
F:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_01\bin\jusched.exe
F:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgcc.exe
F:\Program Files\Comodo\Firewall\CPF.exe
F:\Program Files\Grisoft\AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5\avgas.exe
F:\Program Files\MWSnap\MWSnap.exe
F:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\SmartClock.exe
F:\Program Files\Creative\MediaSource\RemoteControl\RcMan.exe
F:\Program Files\Creative\MediaSource\Detector\CTDetect.exe
F:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe
F:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
F:\PROGRA~1\mozilla.org\SEAMON~1\SEAMON~1.EXE
F:\Program Files\Outlook Express\msimn.exe
F:\WINDOWS\system32\cidaemon.exe
F:\WINDOWS\system32\cidaemon.exe
F:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
F:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\My Documents\My Received Files\security\hijack this\HijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.hf.uio.no/ilos/studier/studentt…lls/drills.html
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - F:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - F:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - F:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_01\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - f:\program files\google\googletoolbar3.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Notifier BHO - {AF69DE43-7D58-4638-B6FA-CE66B5AD205D} - F:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\2.0.301.7164\swg.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - f:\program files\google\googletoolbar3.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PHIME2002ASync] F:\WINDOWS\System32\IME\TINTLGNT\TINTSETP.EXE /SYNC
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PHIME2002A] F:\WINDOWS\System32\IME\TINTLGNT\TINTSETP.EXE /IMEName
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IMJPMIG8.1] "F:\WINDOWS\IME\imjp8_1\IMJPMIG.EXE" /Spoil /RemAdvDef /Migration32
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LTMSG] LTMSG.exe 7
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Startup Manager Scanner] F:\Program Files\Startup Mechanic\StartupMonitor.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MXO Auto Loader] F:\WINDOWS\MXOALDR.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SBDrvDet] F:\Program Files\Creative\SB Drive Det\SBDrvDet.exe /r
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MBM 5] "F:\Program Files\Motherboard Monitor 5\MBM5.EXE"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Zone Labs Client] F:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CTHelper] CTHELPER.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE F:\WINDOWS\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DSLAGENTEXE] F:\Program Files\D-Link\DSL-200\dslagent.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvMediaCenter] RUNDLL32.EXE F:\WINDOWS\system32\NvMcTray.dll,NvTaskbarInit
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HydraVisionDesktopManager] F:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI HydraVision\HydraDM.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "F:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_01\bin\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [OutpostFeedBack] F:\PROGRA~1\Agnitum\OUTPOS~1.0\feedback.exe /dump:os_startup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVG7_CC] F:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgcc.exe /STARTUP
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [COMODO Firewall Pro] "F:\Program Files\Comodo\Firewall\CPF.exe" /background
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [!AVG Anti-Spyware] "F:\Program Files\Grisoft\AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5\avgas.exe" /minimized
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MWSnap] "F:\Program Files\MWSnap\MWSnap.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SmartClock] F:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\SmartClock.exe /boot
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [RemoteCenter] F:\Program Files\Creative\MediaSource\RemoteControl\RcMan.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Creative Detector] "F:\Program Files\Creative\MediaSource\Detector\CTDetect.exe" /R
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [swg] F:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] F:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SeaMonkey Quick Launch] "F:\Program Files\mozilla.org\SeaMonkey\SeaMonkey.exe" -turbo
O4 - Startup: Adobe Gamma.lnk = F:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Calibration\Adobe Gamma Loader.exe
O4 - Startup: PowerReg Scheduler.exe
O4 - Startup: YPOPs.lnk = ?
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Gamma Loader.exe.lnk = F:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Calibration\Adobe Gamma Loader.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Gamma Loader.lnk = F:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Calibration\Adobe Gamma Loader.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Reader Speed Launch.lnk = F:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\reader_sl.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Reader Speed Launch.lnk.disabled
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://F:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - F:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_01\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - F:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_01\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: Outpost Firewall Pro Quick Tune - {44627E97-789B-40d4-B5C2-58BD171129A1} - F:\PROGRA~1\Agnitum\OUTPOS~1.0\Plugins\BrowserBar\ie_bar.dll (file missing)
O9 - Extra button: I?aaaae - {60237576-b24c-4ba9-9740-c9f3ec9db557} - F:\PROGRA~1\SkyCode\WEBTRA~1\wt2ie.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {85d1f590-48f4-11d9-9669-0800200c9a66} - %windir%\bdoscandel.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Uninstall BitDefender Online Scanner v8 - {85d1f590-48f4-11d9-9669-0800200c9a66} - %windir%\bdoscandel.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - F:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: ICQ Lite - {B863453A-26C3-4e1f-A54D-A2CD196348E9} - F:\Program Files\ICQLite\ICQLite.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: ICQ Lite - {B863453A-26C3-4e1f-A54D-A2CD196348E9} - F:\Program Files\ICQLite\ICQLite.exe
O9 - Extra button: Yahoo! Messenger - {E5D12C4E-7B4F-11D3-B5C9-0050045C3C96} - F:\PROGRA~1\Yahoo!\MESSEN~1\YPager.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Yahoo! Messenger - {E5D12C4E-7B4F-11D3-B5C9-0050045C3C96} - F:\PROGRA~1\Yahoo!\MESSEN~1\YPager.exe
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - F:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - F:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://download.windowsupdate.com
O16 - DPF: {5D86DDB5-BDF9-441B-9E9E-D4730F4EE499} (BDSCANONLINE Control) - http://download.bitdefender.com/resources/scan8/oscan8.cab
O16 - DPF: {A7E092C3-692A-11D0-A7E5-08002B322F3B} - https://webresponse.one.microsoft.com/oas/A…eX/FileXfer.cab
O16 - DPF: {E77C0D62-882A-456F-AD8F-7C6C9569B8C7} (ActiveDataObj Class) - https://www-secure.symantec.com/techsupp/ac…/ActiveData.cab
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{27562D2E-17C7-4F17-BE12-22120DA810AF}: NameServer = 203.12.160.35,203.12.160.36
O18 - Protocol: msnim - {828030A1-22C1-4009-854F-8E305202313F} - "F:\PROGRA~1\MSNMES~1\msgrapp.dll" (file missing)
O23 - Service: AVG Anti-Spyware Guard - GRISOFT s.r.o. - F:\Program Files\Grisoft\AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5\guard.exe
O23 - Service: AVG7 Alert Manager Server (Avg7Alrt) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - F:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgamsvr.exe
O23 - Service: AVG7 Update Service (Avg7UpdSvc) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - F:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgupsvc.exe
O23 - Service: AVG E-mail Scanner (AVGEMS) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - F:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgemc.exe
O23 - Service: Comodo Application Agent (CmdAgent) - COMODO - F:\Program Files\Comodo\Firewall\cmdagent.exe
O23 - Service: Creative Service for CDROM Access - Creative Technology Ltd - F:\WINDOWS\system32\CTsvcCDA.EXE
O23 - Service: Google Updater Service (gusvc) - Google - F:\Program Files\Google\Common\Google Updater\GoogleUpdaterService.exe
O23 - Service: InCD File System Service (InCDsrv) - AHEAD Software - F:\Program Files\Ahead\InCD\InCDsrv.exe
O23 - Service: MaxBackServiceInt - Unknown owner - F:\Program Files\Maxtor\Maxtor Backup\MaxBackServiceInt.exe
O23 - Service: MaxSyncService (NTService1) - - F:\Program Files\Maxtor\OneTouch\Utils\SyncServices.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (NVSvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - F:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
O23 - Service: Retrospect Launcher (RetroLauncher) - Dantz Development Corporation - F:\Program Files\Dantz\Retrospect\retrorun.exe
O23 - Service: Sandra Data Service (SandraDataSrv) - SiSoftware - F:\Program Files\SiSoftware\SiSoftware Sandra Professional 2005\RpcDataSrv.exe
O23 - Service: Sandra Service (SandraTheSrv) - SiSoftware - F:\Program Files\SiSoftware\SiSoftware Sandra Professional 2005\RpcSandraSrv.exe