Computer lags and looses internet connection daily

[NJV]

I have a pretty good computer, — as computers go — but every day between 5-30 minutes after start-up, it begins to experience lag spikes, sharp sounds loops, and looses the internet connection regardless of how much RAM I am using. I can postpone dealing with it by restarting my computer, but it is annoying to do so everyday. If it starts this when, for example, I'm playing Terraria, it breaks the save file; so I have to keep frequent backups when I play.
I am running Microsoft Security Essentials and have scanned my computer for viruses, but the issue remains.
Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Some specs: (appologies, 'not computer savvy)
Running 64-bit Windows 7 Pro
AMD FX(tm)-4170 Quad-Core Processor — 4.20 GHz
8GB of RAM
Nvidia GeForce GTX 550 Ti Graphics Card

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi and welcome to SevenForums,
Use Clean boot,
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/179159-troubleshoot-application-conflicts-performing-clean-startup.html
Click Start and type in the search box,
msconfig
Click on the suggestion on top or hit the Enter key,
Go to the Startup section and take some screen shots for a complete list,
Go to the Services section and on the bottom left Check the box to Hide All Microsoft services,
Repeat the screen shots,
See the links above my signature on how to take and upload screen shots here,
Cheers.

 

[NJV]

I followed the tutorial and disabled all startup items and non-Microsoft services, and tried running my computer like that for a day. It didn't immediately start lagging after startup and functioned smoothly for a few hours, but when I launched Skyrim, it began lagging again. I know my computer can handle Skyrim, because I am able to run it with very few issues normally after a reboot.

I really appreciate the help by the way. Thanks. Here's the list of services and startup items:

 

[GokAy]

Did you try launching Skyrim without any add-ons? Try open a Resource Monitor and see which component actually slows the system, CPU, Memory or Disk.

 

[NJV]

My computer has been experiencing these lag sessions before I had Skyrim installed.
How would I identify what is causing the issue with the resource monitor? I opened it, but nothing stood out as abnormal.

 

[GokAy]

You need to check Resource Monitor when you are experiencing the problem.

Sort by relevant columns in each of the tabs mentioned.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi and thanks,
First I would do is turn Windows security back on pronto that is never supposed to be unchecked,
Second is to get rid of Bonjour check it and uninstall it and what the heck is todo ?

 

[NJV]

Todo is EaseUS Todo Backup software. I haven't used it extensively (I have an external harddrive I've been trying to use for backups in case of less-than-desirable days), but I have it set so that it will only back up manually, so it shouldn't be doing anything in the background without my causing it to.

 

[ThrashZone]

Thanks with the weird listing seemed more like a virus or malware entry
How does it correspond with your issues ?
Where did you download it from ?
Where are you likely to download other third party programs ?

 

[NJV]

How does Todo correspond with my issues? I don't think it's the problem, but I am a bit un-eased by the Asian characters in the name and description — if only because nothing else stood out. I downloaded it from their website. I am willing to uninstall it, but I haven't been able to find a good free back-up software.
Generally, I don't download anything from websites that aren't the official websites for the software/file or from torrents, which are usually just audio files and images (I — other than in large groups of folders and files that would take to long to do so, which I rarely download — check through the files and make sure there aren't any .exe's or launchers that weren't desired).

 

[GokAy]

Macrium free is a good imaging/backup software many here use without any issues. For data files, sync software like FreeFileSync works very good.

 

[NJV]

I ran a malware scan with Malwarebytes and removed any and all suspicious items (I think 37 in total), but my computer still lags after startup.

 

[Layback Bear]

Malwarebytes find 37 problems is something to worry about.
That is a lot.

I agree with GokAy post # 11. Those are very good programs.

I'm think you should do some more scans for security problems.
Malwarebytes is a great program but no program find everything.

This is another program I use that also does a great job.

Eset on line scan.

Free Virus Scan | Online Virus Scanner from ESET

I'm not sure I understand this from post #1.

I can postpone dealing with it by restarting my computer, but it is annoying to do so everyday.

Is restarting your computer once a day some sort of a hardship.

Never go online without a active anti virus and firewall program.
It only takes m/s for trouble to jump in your computer without security programs active.

 

[NJV]

It isn't really that bad restarting my computer everyday, but it can be irritating when I'm in the middle of something and it stops working. I am more upset that the problem is there, though, even if it only takes a minute or two to "resolve." I just want the problem to be fixed.
Do you know of any good anti-virus software? I almost always use Opera if that helps anything.
I've only had a windows computer for about a year now, so I'm still a "greenie" to threat prevention and such.

 

[Layback Bear]

What anti virus program are you using now?

 

[NJV]

I have Microsoft Security Essentials, but that's it I think.
Also, I ran the Eset scanner and it removed one item, but my computer still lags after startup.

Is it possible that this is being caused by a bad driver or something. I was talking to my friend (who built the computer, and from whom I bought it from) a bit ago, and he said that the wifi card had shotty internet connectivity and that it caused the computer to act up. I don't know how accurate that sounds; my brother (who's quite computer savvy) said that the wifi card wouldn't be the issue for a slow computer. And since I've had the card, it connects to the internet very well for me (other than during the lag sessions), and did so for a few months after I bought it from him.

 

[GokAy]

It can cause issues if it is somehow damaged, is it an add-on wifi card? Can you remove it?

 

[NJV]

Yes, it can be removed. I doubt it's damaged. If so, not too severely, because it's only ever been in two computers and it's only ~2-3 years old.