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Thread ID: 31600 2003-03-26 13:05:00 @!#$ - computer slowing down! agent (30) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
131410 2003-03-26 13:05:00 Since I got home today, I've noticed that my computer doesn't like multi-tasking anymore. All I did was leave it downloading over Kazaa. Don't know if I've got a virus, though I seriously doubt it. It doesn't do it in Safe Mode (I'm writing this under Safe Mode in notepad), so I assume it's a program that loads. Haven't done anything particularly large, save installing the latest version of ZoneAlarm, which is the most recent thing I installed. Which excludes the XviD codec and DivX, which did not cause the problem as they suffered from it already.

I've had to reset my computer numerous times this evening due to it going so slow it might as well be stopped. Even bringing up the Ctrl+Alt+Del options is slow, and selecting an option from there takes extremely long. I'm rather pissed off at my computer for doing this, as there is no apparent reason why.

I booted in Safe Mode just to see if it did it in this mode, but it doesn't. I disabled indexing of my C:, and cleared my Temp Internet Files, Cookies, and History too. Have yet to see if this makes any effect.

So far, so good. No slow downs. Yet...
agent (30)
131411 2003-03-26 17:39:00 How long since you did a "scandisk & defrag" ?

By the way, how fast is your computer and what operating system?, windows does get slower as the months roll on.
E.ric (351)
131412 2003-03-26 20:00:00 Try running spybot as well as window washer and reg cleaner kiwibeat (304)
131413 2003-03-27 00:42:00 also try & run Ad-Aware as welll :) stu140103 (137)
131414 2003-03-27 01:02:00 Run msconfig and check everything that's running at startup.

It may be a good time to do a format, coz as windows progresses, installing a program may make it load a dll file or whatever at startup so you can use it.. but when you un-install it, it'll possibly leave it there.

Machine specs, OS, info like that would be good.


Applied any SP's lately for windows?
Chilling_Silence (9)
131415 2003-03-27 01:31:00 yeah, format is always the certain way!!!!, also check your .tmp (temp files) they will build up over a period of time, and can clutter up ur system! Jams (1051)
131416 2003-03-27 09:02:00 I've run Ad-Aware (removed 14 objects), currently running Spy Sweeper (found two objects so far), and deleted Kazaa (uninstall stopped at 0%). Going to run Reg Cleaner, and also done Window Washer.

I'm hoping it was just the spyware Kazaa installed, though I have actually disabled many services and startup programs on my computer, and added to the list of services every time an application says it needs something else. Changed every application in ZoneAlarm so they now need to ask to use the internet.
agent (30)
131417 2003-03-27 10:04:00 does ur CPU keep processing something mysterious at 100%
that happened to me a while ago

didn't found any cure
formate made things simple and quick
got my machine running again just in a day
heni72847 (1166)
131418 2003-03-27 10:10:00 Disable all progs thru msconfig, then enable one at a time, then you should find the cause.
If that doesn't fix it, you might have to look at the vxD section of msconfig
roofus (483)
131419 2003-03-27 12:39:00 Well, as I said, I removed 14 objects. Removed a few more with other programs. Cleared my registry and used Window Washer.

Rebooted, and after a 30 minute scan by Spy Sweeper, was informed I had three more objects, in four occurences. They were all in the System Volume Information folder (Sytem Restore), so I deleted them and disabled System Restore on all drives.

I was also informed that one of the nasty spyware objects was - shock horror - a key logging program. So, come tomorrow [evening], all my passwords will never be the same again (this'll really test my memory recollection skills :D), of course, they'll be changed from a completely different computer.

I've now been running my computer with all services and startup applications running... so I think all that spyware must've been the problem. I investigated applications using the most resources via Task Manager, and all were Microsoft or other trusted company programs.

And the lesson I learnt over the past day?
NEVER INSTALL KAZAA. NEVER. NOT EVER. YOU'LL SERIOUSLY REGRET IT.

No prizes for guessing what I'd like to do to Sharman Networks.
agent (30)
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