Computer Slow And Freezing Several Times

Hello. I appreciate all the help you can offer. My computer is becoming slow and is freezing the screen many times during the day. I would like to know if there is something I can do to stop this from happening. Thank you very much in advance, Regards

Hi Rui,

Looks like you posted to Malware Removal 20th July 2007 and did not receive a reply.
That could possibly be because you did not post a HJT Log.

Slow and freezing can be caused (amongst many other reasons) by Malware.
What have you done so far to remedy the situation.
What have you tried so far that "worked", "didn't work"?

For us to help you, we will need additional information.
A good way to gather an overview of your machine's functioning is to Run the Full Tests at PCPitstop.

Please Run the PCPitstop Full Tests, here:
http://www.pcpitstop.com
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.
Full Tests is the first item in the left hand column of that page.

The Full Tests take about 2-3 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.

Hi.
i´ve been running my program scans…AD-aware, zonelabs, spybot.. not working much.

Here´s the link of the pcpitstop scan
http://www.pcpitstop.com/techexpress.asp?id=MEHJHWS8EEWSUNXV

Thank you,
Rui

Your machine at 951mHz CPU and only 256mb RAM is a relatively low resource machine to be running XP Pro.
XP Pro consumes 386mb RAM all by itself just to boot into Windows.
Since your machine has only 256mb Physcial RAM, XP "creates" a reserved space on your Hard Drive called Virtual Memory/Paging File which it then uses to "emulate" the additional RAM that it needs. Since Hard Drives are inherently slower than Physical RAM, this heavy reliance on Virtual Memory will definitely slow down machine operation and possibly lead to "lag", and unexpected "shutdown".

You should seriously consider buying more RAM if you intend to continue using this machine for the various tasks that you now use it for. 512mb total would be minimum for ordinary operation, and 768mb or 1024mb would be much better if you are doing much graphic, media, and audio work.

Are you building Flash Presentation with CDK?
Are you interacting with mobile devices like cell phones, using Flash Presentations?
Do you require the use of Java Media Framework 2.1.1e in any of your applications?
Do you use QuickTime?
Do you use VoipCheapCom Finarea S.A. Switzerland.
Do you use Weather Services?
Do you use Advanced WindowsCare V2 Beta 3.7
Do you use Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable?
Do you use Microsoft Office XP Professional com FrontPage?
Do you use MSN Messenger 7.5?
Do you use Opera 9.0 browser?
Do you use Macromedia Dreamweaver MX, and its extensions listed below?
-Macromedia FreeHand 10 Macromedia
-Macromedia Fireworks MX Macromedia
-Macromedia Extension Manager
Do you use iTunes and Apple audio software?
Do you use e-Sword?
Do you use Google Earth?
Do you use SKYPE 3.2?
Do your use Adobe Reader and all of its add-in/extensions/download managers?
Do you use Parental Controls?

There is nothing wrong with the above applications, but having them "all" installed on your machine is "choking" your resources.
If there are items listed above that you don't use, and don't want anymore, consider Uninstalling them via Add/Remove.

Move any SAVED Files and Folders that you may be storing on C:\ to folders on D:\ for storage.
This would include your My Documents Folder!

Your Goal should be to clear approximately 50% of Drive C:\ and keep it clear as Free Space.
You XP operating system and Applications will need at least that 50% Free Space to comfortably Run their Processes.
__________

Run your Disk CleanUp to remove Temporary and Temporary Internet Files.
If you prefer, there are a few good CleanUp type programs available for free download, including:
CleanUp! 4.52
ATF-Cleaner
Ccleaner
Download and use "only one" of those listed utilities.
_________

Reduce System Restore on Drive D:\ to (1) 1%
____________

Clear your JAVA Cache
Clear your JAVA Cache which may have corrupted ActiveX files.
Afterwards, when you visit back to online sites that require ActiveX components, they will ask you to accept a fresh copy of their ActiveX. (not all sites, nor all activeX components are SAFE.) Be sure you make good decisions about where you browse and what you click/allow.

To Clear JAVA Cache:
Control Panel - (double-click)JAVA <– This brings up the JAVA Control Panel
On the General(tab) - Click on - Settings (at the bottom, in the Temporary Internet Files section)
Then click on - Delete Files - the OK, OK to exit the panel and exit JAVA Control Panel

______________

After you have completed as much of the above as you can manage:
Run Error Checking, Disk Defragmentor, and System File Checker

Right-click on C:\ - Select - Properties - Select the Tools(tab) - Press the Error Checking- Check Now(button)

Follow that procedure with Defragging:

Right-click on C:\ - Select - Properties - Select the Tools(tab) - Press the Defragmentation Defragment Now (button)

Follow that procedure with:

Start - Run - (type)sfc /scannow - Enter <– notice the required space before the "/"

Follow that procedure with a Pit Test (for information and Tips only)
http://www.pcpitstop.com

Post a the TechExpress to your fresh Full Tests into your next reply, along with answers to the above questions, and any new questions of your own.

Best Regards

Try to add some more RAM, and find the difference.

Run your Disk CleanUp to remove Temporary and Temporary Internet Files.
If you prefer, there are a few good CleanUp type programs available for free download, including:
CleanUp! 4.52
ATF-Cleaner
Ccleaner
Download and use "only one" of those listed utilities.

Doug,

I enjoyed learning while reading your answer to Rui.

Could I ask re tha above quote please? I have all three installed, not running in startup or services and use different ones randomly. Is this okay?

kind regards,

All three are competent utilities. Folks get into trouble when using more than one such utility "in sequence", believing that "more is better". There is a small parallel here with regard to the risks people run when using automated Registry Cleaners. Me…. I'd pick one and stick with it. Doug

Hi.
Thank you for your answer.

Sometimes I still use the Advanced WindowsCare V2 Beta 3. Is it something worth use it or remove it? It finds problems and remove them.

I saved files and documents on C: and put them on D:

I downloaded one of those cleanup programs and it removed quite a lot of stuff. It was good.

I reduced the System Restore on D:

I don´t know how to clear the Java Cache. Can you tell me how to do it?

I run the error checking and defragged. The scan is still on the process as the computer still freezes up in the middle of some of the scans and I have to restart them everytime this happens.

This is the pcpitstop link:
http://www.pcpitstop.com/techexpress.asp?id=MEHJHWS8EEWSG8XV

Regards,
Rui

Hi Rui,

You made some progress, but that 36% Fragmentation of C:\ would cripple any machine.
More work on this is a definite requirement!
________

Responding to your questions/comments in order:

Your Version of Advanced WindowsCare V2 Beta 3 – is OLD.
"Beta" is a designation that the version was still under development and testing, and may have been buggy.
It was buggy, and many folks suffered the consequences, even while others liked it.

The Current Version - Advanced WindowsCare Personal 2.51.805 is available here:
http://www.download.com/Advanced-WindowsCa…&tag=button
or, here:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/Advanced_WindowsCare_d4991.html

IObit.COM, The authors of Advanced WindowsCare are competent and safe.
However, this is another example of a small program trying to do too much without telling the owner/operator what it is doing with just one click.
Other than that, I can't argue against Advanced WindowsCare.
However, if you are going to use Advanced WindowsCare — get rid of your old buggy version via Add/Remove, and use the Current version available via the links above.

Additional Note: Since you mention that you did download and run one of the CleanUp programs suggested above, that means that even though you had Advanced WindowsCare — you weren't using it!
If you had been, then all those Temps would have already been gone.
The best utilities and plans with never work — if you don't put them into action!

Uninstall Advanced WindowsCare via Add/Remove
Install the current version if that's what you want.
Read as much as you can to learn the correct ways to use it.
Then use it regularly.
_____________

You made some progress moving items to D:\ — Good
But you still have less than 4 GB of free space on C:\ and need significantly more for decent function
The Hard Drive uncached speeds of 11 MB/s (48%) – is still a primary problem.

Please Seriously consider Uninstalling:
Adobe Reader 7.08
Macromedia DreamWeaver
Microsoft Frontpage

All three are big/cumbersome/resource hogs.
You'll be surprised how much Free Space on C:\ you will gain by uninstalling them.

For Reading .pdf files (adobe format) you can install the much less resource demanding Foxit Reader which does just as good a job as Adobe
_________________-

Clear your JAVA Cache which may have corrupted ActiveX files.
Afterwards, when you visit back to online sites that require ActiveX components, they will ask you to accept a fresh copy of their ActiveX. (not all sites, nor all activeX components are SAFE.) Be sure you make good decisions about where you browse and what you click/allow.

To Clear JAVA Cache:
Control Panel - (double-click)JAVA <– This brings up the JAVA Control Panel
On the General(tab) - Click on - Settings (at the bottom, in the Temporary Internet Files section)
Then click on - Delete Files - the OK, OK to exit the panel and exit JAVA Control Panel
____________-

Uninstall Ewido.exe
Ewido sold this utility to AVG and now is available free as AVG AntiSpyware 7.5 <– Excellent tool.
Your old Ewido is way too out of date to be of any serious use to you.
____________

Install AVG AntiSpyware 7.5
Disable its Resident Shield
Update AVG AntiSpware malware signature database
Run AVG AntiSpyware and save the scan Log.
Please post this Log into your next reply.

Keep us posted with your progress.

Best Regards

Hi. Your work seems impressive. Lots of knowledge and will to help. Thank you. I didn´t install the new WindowsCare. But I installed the AVG anti-spyware. The report goes in here: ——————————————————— AVG Anti-Spyware - Relatório de verificação ——————————————————— + Criação: 21:02:20 29-08-2007 + Resultado da verificação: C:\Documents and Settings\Jose Pereira\Cookies\jose [removed][2].txt -> TrackingCookie.Paypal : Limpo. ::Fim do relatório Which means that one problem was found and it is clean. I don´t know how to uninstall the Frontpage without uninstalling the rest of the Office. Probably I´ll have to uninstall all and just install some of the programs. I got the Foxit Reader instead of the Adobe. And I still don´t get how to clear the Java. I open to control panel and I don´t find those settings. It still freezes up sometimes…not so much as before though. Thank you, Rui

Hi Rui,

Consult this MS article for assistance removing FrontPage.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q182876/
It is a "dated" (old) article, but so is FrontPage (old).
Follow the steps.
________________-

As for JAVA Cache, let's do it this way….

JAVA JRE Updating

Delete the older versions of Java and download the newest.
Please follow these steps to remove older version Java components.
1. Close any programs you may have running, ESPECIALLY your web browser
2. Click Start > Control Panel.
3. Click Add/Remove Programs.
4. Check any item with Java Runtime Environment (JRE or J2SE) in the name.
5. Click the Remove or Change/Remove button.
6. Repeat as many times as necessary to remove all versions of Java.
7. Reboot your computer once all Java components are removed.
Then download the latest version of Java Runtime Environment (JRE) Download JRE here (4th one down the list), which is JRE6u2, and click Yes at the page warning, then accept the Licence Agreement before downloading the Offline file.
After completing the download, install the new version of JRE.

Glad it's running "a little" better, ( not freezing up as much).

After you've completed the above, please run a fresh Full Tests at PCPitstop. and post the TechExpress.

Is there a possibility that you will add more RAM?

Hi Rui, I forgot to recommend that you turn off Hibernate. Do you know how to do that. I also forgot to recommend you change your preferences from Best Appearance, to Best Performance. Again, post back if you need instructions. Best Regards

Hi. I stil can´t uninstall the Frontpage. The instructions in the website are the same as any other program but this one is included in the Office link and I can´t see a way to know how to just uninstall the Frontpage. The Java thing is done. Hibernatte? Turn off? Best performance? Turn on? you have to tell me more about those questions. Ok, Rui

Hi Rui, Perhaps I can help you uninstall Microsoft Front Page if you are sure that you no longer need it. The Microsoft Instructions in the link are Ok but not so good for versions of Office from 2000 onwards! I suggest you do this:after having backed up anything you do not wish to lose…. 1 Start 2 Control Panel 3 Add and Remove Programs 4 Highlight Microsoft Office 5 Click on CHANGE (not uninstall) 6 Wait as the installer will need to load (only takes a minute or so) 7 A Menu should appear that will allow you to uninstall components of Office like Front Page If you have any problems with this, post back here in this thread with your version number of Office and either Doug or I will help you. Regards paws

Hi. May be I have removed the Frontpage already by crossing out the Frontpage from all the programs that show up in a menu after clicking the Change item. But the fact is that I still see the same 450 Mbs that were before. Well, May be the question is really related to getting more RAM. The computer is still quite slow and freezes up some times. What else could be creating this problem? Thank you for your patience. Rui