XP slowdown

After disinfecting for spyware/malware, and restoring to even the earliest
restore point, my dell still boots and runs very slow. I may have
quarantined or otherwise erased important xp files during the disinfection
process. Knowledgable friends say format & reinstall. I can but would
rather not. Does a method exist for repair without reformatting?

Dandroid wrote:

After disinfecting for spyware/malware, and restoring to even the earliest
restore point, my dell still boots and runs very slow. I may have
quarantined or otherwise erased important xp files during the disinfection
process. Knowledgable friends say format & reinstall. I can but would
rather not. Does a method exist for repair without reformatting?

Yes, see:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...ps/doug92.mspx

--
Falcon:
fide, sed cui vide. (L)

Dandroid wrote:

After disinfecting for spyware/malware, and restoring to even the earliest
restore point, my dell still boots and runs very slow. I may have
quarantined or otherwise erased important xp files during the disinfection
process. Knowledgable friends say format & reinstall. I can but would
rather not. Does a method exist for repair without reformatting?

Yes, see:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...ps/doug92.mspx

--
Falcon:
fide, sed cui vide. (L)

"Dandroid" wrote:

After disinfecting for spyware/malware, and restoring to even the earliest
restore point, my dell still boots and runs very slow. I may have
quarantined or otherwise erased important xp files during the disinfection
process. Knowledgable friends say format & reinstall. I can but would
rather not. Does a method exist for repair without reformatting?

Your machine still infected and you need to clean up!
If the infection sever then a clean install of the operating system is a must.
Go through these Cleaning steps:
1... Click start Control Panel Double Click Network and Internet
Connections Double click Internet Options, on the IE Properties window
you will see these Options:
General | Security | Privacy | Content | Connections | Programs
| Advanced .

Click on General Tab (1st Tab on the left) and you will see a Button called
[ Clear History ..] click on it to clear your History caches, then click on
[Delete Files..] to delete Internet Files created over the time, click on [
Delete Cookies...] to delete your cookies left by visiting websites.

Then click on Advanced tab and scroll down to under the Browsing Option:
[&] Browsing
[ ] Enable Third-Party browser extensions (Req Rest) uncheck this box.
= Then try to Disable the Add-Ons on your Browser somehow installed on your
browser, On how to disable the Add-ons follow this:
Click on Programs Tab and then click the Manage Add-Ons Button there Disable
the None/Not Verified Plug-ins/Add-ons ( you need to Renable them one-by-one
later and see which is the culprit .
How to manage Add-Ons:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/883256
Scan for malware from he
SuperAntispyware - Free
http://www.superantispyware.com/supe...freevspro.html

Run a scan from here on-line:
http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/d...d=ie&venid=sym
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/scan.aspx
Download Avast Cleaner (off-line scanner) from he
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast-virus-cleaner.html
Download the Hijackthis and send the report to one of
many
forums for analysis and troubleshooting or you can send it to me on my email
provided at the bottom:
When all else fails, HijackThis v2.0.2
(http://www.trendsecure.com/portal/en...hijackthis.php)

Can you please send me a copy at ,
remove
the obvious to email me.

Perform a Repair Installation:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...ps/doug92.mspx

Let us know your progress.

nass
----
http://www.nasstec.co.uk

"Dandroid" wrote:

After disinfecting for spyware/malware, and restoring to even the earliest
restore point, my dell still boots and runs very slow. I may have
quarantined or otherwise erased important xp files during the disinfection
process. Knowledgable friends say format & reinstall. I can but would
rather not. Does a method exist for repair without reformatting?

Your machine still infected and you need to clean up!
If the infection sever then a clean install of the operating system is a must.
Go through these Cleaning steps:
1... Click start Control Panel Double Click Network and Internet
Connections Double click Internet Options, on the IE Properties window
you will see these Options:
General | Security | Privacy | Content | Connections | Programs
| Advanced .

Click on General Tab (1st Tab on the left) and you will see a Button called
[ Clear History ..] click on it to clear your History caches, then click on
[Delete Files..] to delete Internet Files created over the time, click on [
Delete Cookies...] to delete your cookies left by visiting websites.

Then click on Advanced tab and scroll down to under the Browsing Option:
[&] Browsing
[ ] Enable Third-Party browser extensions (Req Rest) uncheck this box.
= Then try to Disable the Add-Ons on your Browser somehow installed on your
browser, On how to disable the Add-ons follow this:
Click on Programs Tab and then click the Manage Add-Ons Button there Disable
the None/Not Verified Plug-ins/Add-ons ( you need to Renable them one-by-one
later and see which is the culprit .
How to manage Add-Ons:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/883256
Scan for malware from he
SuperAntispyware - Free
http://www.superantispyware.com/supe...freevspro.html

Run a scan from here on-line:
http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/d...d=ie&venid=sym
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/scan.aspx
Download Avast Cleaner (off-line scanner) from he
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast-virus-cleaner.html
Download the Hijackthis and send the report to one of
many
forums for analysis and troubleshooting or you can send it to me on my email
provided at the bottom:
When all else fails, HijackThis v2.0.2
(http://www.trendsecure.com/portal/en...hijackthis.php)

Can you please send me a copy at ,
remove
the obvious to email me.

Perform a Repair Installation:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...ps/doug92.mspx

Let us know your progress.

nass
----
http://www.nasstec.co.uk

One (or both) of two things is happening:

1- The malware is not completely removed; and/or

2- Even when all malware /is/ completely removed, the removal can leave
your computer in an unstable state. That happens because malware is
frequently tightly integrated with the operating system.

When this happens you will probably have to erase your hard disk and
reinstall your software. That's even likelier in your case because you
restored an old restore point, so now your system consists of a quaint
mixture of old and new system files.

Reinstalling Windows over itself may help, by replacing damaged versions
of Windows system files, but you'll have to update your computer at
Windows Update. Reinstalling Windows won't remove the remnants of malware.

All told, it's another argument in favor of backing up regularly.

---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

Dandroid wrote:
After disinfecting for spyware/malware, and restoring to even the earliest
restore point, my dell still boots and runs very slow. I may have
quarantined or otherwise erased important xp files during the disinfection
process. Knowledgable friends say format & reinstall. I can but would
rather not. Does a method exist for repair without reformatting?

One (or both) of two things is happening:

1- The malware is not completely removed; and/or

2- Even when all malware /is/ completely removed, the removal can leave
your computer in an unstable state. That happens because malware is
frequently tightly integrated with the operating system.

When this happens you will probably have to erase your hard disk and
reinstall your software. That's even likelier in your case because you
restored an old restore point, so now your system consists of a quaint
mixture of old and new system files.

Reinstalling Windows over itself may help, by replacing damaged versions
of Windows system files, but you'll have to update your computer at
Windows Update. Reinstalling Windows won't remove the remnants of malware.

All told, it's another argument in favor of backing up regularly.

---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

Dandroid wrote:
After disinfecting for spyware/malware, and restoring to even the earliest
restore point, my dell still boots and runs very slow. I may have
quarantined or otherwise erased important xp files during the disinfection
process. Knowledgable friends say format & reinstall. I can but would
rather not. Does a method exist for repair without reformatting?

Dandroid

Part of the removal process is to remove System Restore points because they
will usually to some extent contain infected files. The chances are
therefore that by restoring to an earlier point you reintroduced the
malware. You need to turn System Restore on and off to remove any malware
infestation there.

How did you remove the malware infestation? What programmes did you use?
Once an infestation gets a foothold you can get certain malware which is
very difficult to detect and even harder to remove. Sometimes you think you
have removed items but because there is further concealed malware the items
you think you have removed return again and again.

Malware removal often damages the system. Is SP2 or SP3 installed? Is your
Windows XP CD SP2 or SP3?

What Errors and Warning are appeared in the Event Viewer logs?

Have a look in the System and Application logs in Event Viewer for
Errors and Warnings and post copies here. Don't post any more than 48
hours ago.

You can access Event Viewer by selecting Start, Control Panel,
Administrative Tools, and Event Viewer. When researching the meaning
of the error, information regarding Event ID, Source and Description
are important.

HOW TO: View and Manage Event Logs in Event Viewer in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308427/en-us

A tip for posting copies of Error Reports! Run Event Viewer and double
click on the error you want to copy. In the window, which appears is a
button resembling two pages. Click the button and close Event
Viewer.Now start your message (email) and do a paste into the body of
the message. Make sure this is the first paste after exiting from
Event Viewer.

--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~





"Dandroid" wrote in message
...
After disinfecting for spyware/malware, and restoring to even the earliest
restore point, my dell still boots and runs very slow. I may have
quarantined or otherwise erased important xp files during the disinfection
process. Knowledgable friends say format & reinstall. I can but would
rather not. Does a method exist for repair without reformatting?

Dandroid

Part of the removal process is to remove System Restore points because they
will usually to some extent contain infected files. The chances are
therefore that by restoring to an earlier point you reintroduced the
malware. You need to turn System Restore on and off to remove any malware
infestation there.

How did you remove the malware infestation? What programmes did you use?
Once an infestation gets a foothold you can get certain malware which is
very difficult to detect and even harder to remove. Sometimes you think you
have removed items but because there is further concealed malware the items
you think you have removed return again and again.

Malware removal often damages the system. Is SP2 or SP3 installed? Is your
Windows XP CD SP2 or SP3?

What Errors and Warning are appeared in the Event Viewer logs?

Have a look in the System and Application logs in Event Viewer for
Errors and Warnings and post copies here. Don't post any more than 48
hours ago.

You can access Event Viewer by selecting Start, Control Panel,
Administrative Tools, and Event Viewer. When researching the meaning
of the error, information regarding Event ID, Source and Description
are important.

HOW TO: View and Manage Event Logs in Event Viewer in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308427/en-us

A tip for posting copies of Error Reports! Run Event Viewer and double
click on the error you want to copy. In the window, which appears is a
button resembling two pages. Click the button and close Event
Viewer.Now start your message (email) and do a paste into the body of
the message. Make sure this is the first paste after exiting from
Event Viewer.

--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~





"Dandroid" wrote in message
...
After disinfecting for spyware/malware, and restoring to even the earliest
restore point, my dell still boots and runs very slow. I may have
quarantined or otherwise erased important xp files during the disinfection
process. Knowledgable friends say format & reinstall. I can but would
rather not. Does a method exist for repair without reformatting?

On Mar 3, 9:39*am, "Falcon" wrote:
Dandroid wrote:
After disinfecting for spyware/malware, and restoring to even the earliest
restore point, my dell still boots and runs very slow. *I may have
quarantined or otherwise erased important xp files during the disinfection
process. *Knowledgable friends say format & reinstall. *I can but would
rather not. *Does a method exist for repair without reformatting?

Yes, see:http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u.../learnmore/tip...

--
Falcon:
fide, sed cui vide. (L)

I've the same problem. My computer has become terribly slow. When I
start up, it takes 20 - 25 minutes before I can get on the internet.
I only have 256 meg. memory, but I don't think it should run this slow
because of memory. It's funny, but my major slowdown occurred about 2
years ago, when I wasn't on the internet.
I may upgrade to more memory later on.

On Mar 3, 9:39*am, "Falcon" wrote:
Dandroid wrote:
After disinfecting for spyware/malware, and restoring to even the earliest
restore point, my dell still boots and runs very slow. *I may have
quarantined or otherwise erased important xp files during the disinfection
process. *Knowledgable friends say format & reinstall. *I can but would
rather not. *Does a method exist for repair without reformatting?

Yes, see:http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u.../learnmore/tip...

--
Falcon:
fide, sed cui vide. (L)

I've the same problem. My computer has become terribly slow. When I
start up, it takes 20 - 25 minutes before I can get on the internet.
I only have 256 meg. memory, but I don't think it should run this slow
because of memory. It's funny, but my major slowdown occurred about 2
years ago, when I wasn't on the internet.
I may upgrade to more memory later on.

On Mar 3, 3:53*pm, "Bent Attorney Esq."
wrote:
On Mar 3, 9:39*am, "Falcon" wrote:

Dandroid wrote:
After disinfecting for spyware/malware, and restoring to even the earliest
restore point, my dell still boots and runs very slow. *I may have
quarantined or otherwise erased important xp files during the disinfection
process. *Knowledgable friends say format & reinstall. *I can but would
rather not. *Does a method exist for repair without reformatting?

Yes, see:http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u.../learnmore/tip...

--
Falcon:
fide, sed cui vide. (L)

I've the same problem. *My computer has become terribly slow. *When I
start up, it takes 20 - 25 minutes before I can get on the internet.
I only have 256 meg. memory, but I don't think it should run this slow
because of memory. *It's funny, but my major slowdown occurred about 2
years ago, when I wasn't on the internet.
I may upgrade to more memory later on.

Another comment from me: What's the big deal about reformatting? I
don't want to do it either; but it's a simple matter of backing up
stuff, then reformatting and re-installing isn't it? If I bugger it
up, I can always take it in. I guess the tricky part is installing
drivers?

On Mar 3, 3:53*pm, "Bent Attorney Esq."
wrote:
On Mar 3, 9:39*am, "Falcon" wrote:

Dandroid wrote:
After disinfecting for spyware/malware, and restoring to even the earliest
restore point, my dell still boots and runs very slow. *I may have
quarantined or otherwise erased important xp files during the disinfection
process. *Knowledgable friends say format & reinstall. *I can but would
rather not. *Does a method exist for repair without reformatting?

Yes, see:http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u.../learnmore/tip...

--
Falcon:
fide, sed cui vide. (L)

I've the same problem. *My computer has become terribly slow. *When I
start up, it takes 20 - 25 minutes before I can get on the internet.
I only have 256 meg. memory, but I don't think it should run this slow
because of memory. *It's funny, but my major slowdown occurred about 2
years ago, when I wasn't on the internet.
I may upgrade to more memory later on.

Another comment from me: What's the big deal about reformatting? I
don't want to do it either; but it's a simple matter of backing up
stuff, then reformatting and re-installing isn't it? If I bugger it
up, I can always take it in. I guess the tricky part is installing
drivers?

On Tue, 3 Mar 2009 12:53:19 -0800 (PST), "Bent Attorney Esq."
wrote:

I've the same problem.

You only have the same problem if you cleaned up a virus infestation
and now it's slow. Either way, you are hijacking someone else's
thread.

My computer has become terribly slow. When I
start up, it takes 20 - 25 minutes before I can get on the internet.
I only have 256 meg. memory, but I don't think it should run this slow
because of memory. It's funny, but my major slowdown occurred about 2
years ago, when I wasn't on the internet.

I think you should STAY off the Internet for two years and see if it
goes away.

I may upgrade to more memory later on.

Like, two years from now, right?

On Tue, 3 Mar 2009 12:53:19 -0800 (PST), "Bent Attorney Esq."
wrote:

I've the same problem.

You only have the same problem if you cleaned up a virus infestation
and now it's slow. Either way, you are hijacking someone else's
thread.

My computer has become terribly slow. When I
start up, it takes 20 - 25 minutes before I can get on the internet.
I only have 256 meg. memory, but I don't think it should run this slow
because of memory. It's funny, but my major slowdown occurred about 2
years ago, when I wasn't on the internet.

I think you should STAY off the Internet for two years and see if it
goes away.

I may upgrade to more memory later on.

Like, two years from now, right?