As per your instructions I submit this information for advise, thankyou. As I am a novice please advise on how I can check PC for optimal performance and essential maintenance techniques. StartupList report, 8/06/2008, 2:15:42 PM StartupList version: 1.52.2 Started from : C:\Documents and Settings\edward\Desktop\HijackThis.EXE Detected: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600) Detected: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.16640) * Using default options ================================================== Running processes: C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware 2007\aawservice.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32\brsvc01a.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32\brss01a.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\Brmfrmps.exe C:\Program Files\Eset\nod32krn.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE C:\WINDOWS\SOUNDMAN.EXE C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvraidservice.exe C:\WINDOWS\essspk.exe C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\NvMixer\NVMixerTray.exe C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe C:\Program Files\ScanSoft\PaperPort\pptd40nt.exe C:\Program Files\Brother\ControlCenter2\brctrcen.exe C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\jusched.exe C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Album Starter Edition\3.0\Apps\apdproxy.exe C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe C:\WINDOWS\tsnp2std.exe C:\WINDOWS\vsnp2std.exe C:\Program Files\SlySoft\AnyDVD\AnyDVD.exe C:\Program Files\Eset\nod32kui.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\RUNDLL32.EXE C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe C:\Program Files\Common Files\Ahead\lib\NMBgMonitor.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32\wbem\unsecapp.exe C:\PROGRA~1\Yahoo!\MESSEN~1\ymsgr_tray.exe C:\Program Files\TADAust Connect\dialer.exe C:\PROGRA~1\MOZILL~1\FIREFOX.EXE C:\Documents and Settings\edward\Desktop\HijackThis.exe ————————————————– Listing of startup folders: Shell folders Common Startup: [C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup] Windows Desktop Search.lnk = C:\Program Files\Windows Desktop Search\WindowsSearch.exe ————————————————– Checking Windows NT UserInit: [HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon] UserInit = C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe, ————————————————– Autorun entries from Registry: HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run SoundMan = SOUNDMAN.EXE NVRaidService = C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvraidservice.exe EssSpkPhone = essspk.exe NVRTCLK = C:\WINDOWS\System32\NVRTCLK\NVRTClk.exe NvCplDaemon = RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\System32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup nwiz = nwiz.exe /install NVMixerTray = "C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\NvMixer\NVMixerTray.exe" iTunesHelper = C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe QuickTime Task = "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime SSBkgdUpdate = "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Scansoft Shared\SSBkgdUpdate\SSBkgdupdate.exe" -Embedding -boot PaperPort PTD = C:\Program Files\ScanSoft\PaperPort\pptd40nt.exe IndexSearch = C:\Program Files\ScanSoft\PaperPort\IndexSearch.exe SetDefPrt = C:\Program Files\Brother\Brmfl04b\BrStDvPt.exe ControlCenter2.0 = C:\Program Files\Brother\ControlCenter2\brctrcen.exe /autorun SunJavaUpdateSched = "C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\jusched.exe" Adobe Photo Downloader = "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Album Starter Edition\3.0\Apps\apdproxy.exe" tsnp2std = C:\WINDOWS\tsnp2std.exe snp2std = C:\WINDOWS\vsnp2std.exe NeroFilterCheck = C:\Program Files\Common Files\Ahead\Lib\NeroCheck.exe Adobe Reader Speed Launcher = "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 8.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe" AnyDVD = C:\Program Files\SlySoft\AnyDVD\AnyDVD.exe nod32kui = "C:\Program Files\Eset\nod32kui.exe" /WAITSERVICE ————————————————– Autorun entries from Registry: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run NvMediaCenter = RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\System32\NVMCTRAY.DLL,NvTaskbarInit MsnMsgr = "C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe" /background swg = C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe BgMonitor_{79662E04-7C6C-4d9f-84C7-88D8A56B10AA} = C:\Program Files\Common Files\Ahead\lib\NMBgMonitor.exe Yahoo! Pager = "C:\PROGRA~1\Yahoo!\MESSEN~1\YAHOOM~1.EXE" -quiet ctfmon.exe = C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe ————————————————– Autorun entries in Registry subkeys of: HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run [OptionalComponents] = ————————————————– Shell & screensaver key from C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.INI: Shell=*INI section not found* SCRNSAVE.EXE=*INI section not found* drivers=*INI section not found* Shell & screensaver key from Registry: Shell=Explorer.exe SCRNSAVE.EXE=C:\PROGRA~1\Picasa2\Picasa2.scr drivers=*Registry value not found* Policies Shell key: HKCU\..\Policies: Shell=*Registry value not found* HKLM\..\Policies: Shell=*Registry value not found* ————————————————– Enumerating Browser Helper Objects: (no name) - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn\yt.dll - {02478D38-C3F9-4EFB-9B51-7695ECA05670} (no name) - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} (no name) - C:\Program Files\Windows Desktop Search\dsWebAllow.dll - {2F85D76C-0569-466F-A488-493E6BD0E955} (no name) - (no file) - {5C8B2A36-3DB1-42A4-A3CB-D426709BBFEB} (no name) - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\ssv.dll - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} (no name) - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar4.dll - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} (no name) - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll - {AE7CD045-E861-484f-8273-0445EE161910} (no name) - C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\3.0.1225.9868\swg.dll - {AF69DE43-7D58-4638-B6FA-CE66B5AD205D} ————————————————– Enumerating Task Scheduler jobs: 20070422_151700_Edward System Back-Up.job ————————————————– Enumerating ShellServiceObjectDelayLoad items: PostBootReminder: C:\WINDOWS\system32\SHELL32.dll CDBurn: C:\WINDOWS\system32\SHELL32.dll WebCheck: C:\WINDOWS\system32\webcheck.dll SysTray: C:\WINDOWS\System32\stobject.dll ————————————————– End of report, 7,183 bytes Report generated in 0.016 seconds Command line options: /verbose - to add additional info on each section /complete - to include empty sections and unsuspicious data /full - to include several rarely-important sections /force9x - to include Win9x-only startups even if running on WinNT /forcent - to include WinNT-only startups even if running on Win9x /forceall - to include all Win9x and WinNT startups, regardless of platform /history - to list version history only