I suspect it's a virus, so that's why I'm posting here.
At this point I don't know what to try next. My computer used to be extremely fast, but lately it's been unresponsive and slow. I always use the Disk Cleaner tool along with the Disk Defragmentor. I use MS Security Essentials along with Malwarebyte's Anti-Malware, the free version of AVG, TDSS Killer, Spybot S&D, and Norton. All of these programs say that my computer is not infected. I'm not sure what information I would need to provide for help, so please respond with that you would like to know about my PC. Thanks, and any help you can give me is appreciated!
My computer is very new, I bought it maybe 3 months ago. it's a HP pavilion dv6 laptop with 8GB of RAM. The only programs open right now is MS Security Essentials because I'm running a scan. I've also adjusted the visual settings to help my computer run faster, but it didn't help.
You've certainly got plenty of RAM - much more than I have!
One thing to look at - It looks like you are running more than one real time antivirus programme at the same time - if so that is very likely to slow down your computer.
I think it would be wise to address that issue before anything else.
I have all of those installed on my computer, yes. Do you mean having them all will slow down the computer, or running all of them at the same time will? I only run one or two at a time, but there may be background tasks they're preforming without me knowing. Do you know which of those is the most reliable? I want to know which ones aren't necessary.
That is most certainly the reason why your computer is slowing down - the various real time antivirus programmes are conflicting with each other.
A few years ago, my computer started to misbehave until I discovered that somehow I had managed to switch on the Windows Firewall which was now conflicting with my Mcaffee Firewall. I disabled the Windows Firewall and all was well again.
Run only one real time antivirus programme (I have used BullGuard for 4 years). If you already have a paid up full version of Norton; use that or you could stay with MS Security Essentials.
It doesn't hurt to do an occassional scan with something like the free version of Malwarebytes' Anti Malware. The free version does not provide real time protection so is safe to use alongside a real time AV programme.
Windows Updates are an essential; so is keeping your various add ons, plugins, and other programmes up to date.
It is good to hear from someone who is really taking their computer's security seriously!
Alright I disabled Nortons Firewall and kept the Windows one, uninstalled Spybot S&D, Dr Webs CireIt, and maybe AVG free if my computers performance is still sluggish because I know it runs constantly. I also edited what programs start up when the computer turns on (Steam, Skype, etc). I'll edit this post if I start to notice any big chances in the speed of my computer. Thanks for the help! :D
Oh wow, sorry for a double post but this is interesting.
After disabling Nortons firewall, I noticed that I had twelve new important updates available! Now I check for updates every few days, so it's unlikely that Microsoft released that many updates the same day I disabled Nortons firewall. I figure the firewall blacked those updates from comming in, which could have helped slow down my computer.
My computer is still slow, so I'll probably uninstall AVG and see how things go from there.
The free version of AVG is leaving lots of folders behind in my program files, registry, and programdata folder. I haven't been able to completely remove it. if anyone has any tips to completely remove it from my system then please tell me. I've read about PerfectUninstall, but it costs money. I'd only end up using it once, so I'm looking for freeware.
I've never used free AVG so I've had no experience of removing it. I understand it can be quite difficult to remove it completely.
If you Google 'unistall free AVG' there are plenty os sites with information. www.wiki.answers.com is one. The free version of CCleaner might also help.
Is what's left of AVG still slowing your computer?
I don't think AVG is the culprit anymore because inside MSCONFIG I took everything AVG related out of the services tab. I actually did find a tool from their website that removes all the files from your PC. I ran it and restarted, so now I'm going to go look around to see if I can find any files it left behind.
EDIT: I found files it left in Program Files (x86) and ProgramData. I was able to simply take control of them and remove them from the computer. From what i can see, the program from their website also removed all AVG related files from my registry.
Post Edited (tdinwoodie) : 11-08-2011 17:18:49 GMT
I'm seeing an improvement, but I remember it working a lot better. I want to say it's Nortons fault because ever since I installed it, it seems like it's hijacked my computer.
For example, windows firewall was turned off (not by me) and said Norton controls all of these settings. I'm trying to install XNA Game Studio 4.0 and it won't work. I figured it was Nortons doing (like how it blocked all the Windows updates) so I went into MSCONFIG and tried disabling Norton. After restarting my computer I see that Norton was turned right back on! I'm tempted to just remove Norton from my system as well because it seems to just make more problems than it solves.
If I were to get rid of Norton, would MS Security Essentials be enough? I'd also scan every few days with Malwarebytes and TDSSKiller. Do you have any suggestions for free antivirus software if Security Essentials inst enough?
Sorry for the nonstop questions, I just want to fix this issue so I can continue with another project.
Edit: I found out that I can reinstall it since I have the product key I used to install it before. (Just a not to anyone else who wants to uninstall Norton. Before you get rid of it, go search your computer for a text file called some thing like "Norton Security Key". Just search something like Nortron key and see what you can find.)
Anyways, I uninstalled it and removed everything Norton related from my computer and noticed increased speed. The general performance of my computer has been boosted. I also installed Avast just so I have something besides MS Security Essentials.
Thanks for all the help Dickens! I really appreciate it!
Post Edited (tdinwoodie) : 12-08-2011 05:13:13 GMT
There does appear to be an issue with Norton slowing down some computers. It certainly appears to have slowed your computer and running it alongside several other AV products did not help.
I have had no personal experience of MS Security Essentials but it sounds pretty good from what I have read.
If you use that as your one and only real time AV programme and then ocassionally run a scan with another product I don't really think you can go wrong.
Finally; thanks for your kind words I am pleased to have been of some help.
My computer began to misbehave until I discovered that somehow, this is my now I Mcaffee firewall conflict with Windows Firewall switch. I disabled the Windows Firewall, all good.
I am sorry Jimmy Ray Jit, no advertising of paid services or programs please. I have deleted your post.
We all know that all our problems will magically disappear with Technical Support assistance. But our visitors want to take the time and get to know their computer and how to mend it if broken, by themselves.Andreea-Luciana Ostache Senior Support Technician EN support@bullguard.com www.bullguard.com
can anyone tell me what this is:(spuninst winsrv.dll) I am having problems with my computer slowing down and I noticed the other day that a game I had downloaded had a virus alert with it. Whats up?
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