Windows 7 and PC slowdown needs maintanance

[loninappleton]

Not sure if this is the right spot for this.

System-- Hardware and Software has been slow showing a lot of long throbber
indicated loads.

Spybot Search and Destroy is finding a lot of add stuff like Ad dot Fraud dot Win32.Fraud dot

Are these just cookies or how can I find them all?

I've considered just doing a reinstall to clean house.

After Spybot scan which is going slowly as well I'll run Malwarebytes free version.

On other days I tried restores and such but not solving the slowdown.

The motherboard is purchased new but not real recent AM3+ MSI. Processor is a used Phenom II x4.
Memory should be adequate and I ran MS memtest on that.

Any other tips aside from reinstalling to a freshly low levelled drive?

 

[Megahertz07]

You have Win 7 ultimate 64 installed with only 2G of memory.
With 4G of memory or less you should install Win 7 32.
Only use Win 7 64 with more than 4G of memory.

- Run disk cleanup (%windir%\system32\cleanmgr.exe)
- Clean it up using CCleaner - https://download.ccleaner.com/ccsetup545.exe

On options - Monitoring - unmark everything.
Analyze - Run cleaner

Windows collect a lot of trash over the years so I do a fresh install every two years. There is always a performance gain.

 

[loninappleton]

Thanks for answering. I've made some progress.

As you said, Ran Disk Cleanup in System tools
Ran Defrag from System tools
Ran Malwarebytes but more on that below.
Ran Hijack this and deleted all the file not found items
Ran Spybot Search and Destroy.

These are the usual things I think of right away.

However I did find a new suite of recommended tools here:

Remove the WhiteClick or the White Click Toolbar

That link has more than just White Click and contains their guide of current cleaner tools. It contains technique have not used in Malwarebytes previously.

I see some improvement with just the tools mentioned above.

Will report back on my progress.

 

[Snick]

Agree with Megahertz07 regarding RAM.
More thorough disk cleanup, Disk Cleanup : Extended
Your MoBo supports 16gb unbuffered ram. More ram 4gb minimum will definitely improve performance.
You can use Crucial tool to determine installed ram and compatible ram. You don't have to use Crucial products, however, it will provide you with the appropriate RAM specs for your machine.
Crucial System Scanner
Nic

 

[Vineet Garg]

Hi All,
Greets,
Sir(s),
1. Very well said by Sir Megahertz & Snick. I really appreciate it. (Thanks, it helped me learn new tricks)
2. It would always be good to make a system image and keep it safely before going for any troubleshooting steps.
3. Don't go for registry cleaners, editors & so called system/performance optimizers. They are more of a disaster than help! I think one should also not go for windows components trimmers or use them very carefully. You should have system image to back.
4. We hope to come with more troubleshooting steps soon!

Thanks & Regards. ...

 

[loninappleton]

The disk cleanup extended is interesting, but this warning appeared in related links:


FYI: Extended Disc Cleanup has started killing recent Windows Updates - Windows 7 Help Forums


For now rather than making batch files and whatnot which I've forgotten long ago I'll just
continue with the guide mentioned above. It won't be immediate but I'll report back.

 

[Snick]

Read loninappleton's link posted. I have not run into any issues with Disk Cleanup or the Extended version. Thanks for the heads up regarding the issue.
Nic

 

[loninappleton]

No chance to work on it today but the few steps I started with made improvements.

Just to add something for (I think it was Hitman Pro) which was recommended by

Bleeping computer (BC is a trusted source for me with no association with them.) I seem
to recall in HitmanPro that since it displays the problem areas you as the user can go in and fix
before such thing as a purchase. I will try to clarify that.

Major Geeks, another trusted source, has a guide that also steers the user off of
such things as Cleaners. They can be used to scan only but this is not expert advice.
The problem with activating cleaners is that they may identify newer upgrades as
not belonging in the program.

I've gotten a lot of help from Seven and Ten forums. Will keep the discussion going as I progress or fail.

 

[loninappleton]

I'm making notes as I go based on past experience.
The Bleeping guide is for a a specific malware. I am using it to find out what new program
technique and software is available since the last need to do a cleaning of a working PC.


This is a note about Bleeping saying early on to use Windows Uninstall program.
I've used RevoUninstaller since I've known about it. it is free and has many features for this task.
It is already in my toolkit so I'm adding the info here.


Download Revo Uninstaller Freeware - Free and Full Download - Uninstall software, remove programs, solve uninstall problems




With Revo or any other uninstaller routine, if you see things that aren't familiar in the
file list look at them very carefully but they are for likely deletion in the Revo routine as well.

 

[loninappleton]

Reading through I'm on the instructions for Malwarebytes and looking for Rootkits.


TDS Killer is another program I've found which runs quickly and checks for things:


Utilities
.

 

[loninappleton]

Continuing.


I am reading down to the Zemana Malware program. This trialware from the look of the

website and then a premium version is offered. I'll see if that trial version will execute.
But just looking at the sample screen, that tip I heard about Hitman Pro may be doable
in this since it displays the registry keys it has found to remove. More on that as I go.

 

[loninappleton]

AdwCleaner Adware cleaner- from Malwarebytes follows in the software list.


Malwarebytes had made JRT Junk Removal Tool which I use when I need a quick Restore Point.
It is still available for free. AdwCleaner may be an updated version.


For now I'm just making notes and collecting all these software pieces.

 

[loninappleton]

Another thing while I am reading through. I ran Malwarebytes when I noticed the slowdown.
It put things in my tray. I used RevoUninstaller to get rid of Malwarebytes until and if
needed again.


Coming up to Hitman Pro, I think there was a similar irritant, but will do the guide as
given.

 

[loninappleton]

After Hitman Pro the last item is called Secunia Personal Inspector.
That is discontinued which means this specific guide has not been updated recently (April.)


Secunia PSI looks for outdated programs residing on the computer. There may be

a way to search 'programs like Secunia.'


After all these notes I'll appreciate any additions or technique help. I may review the

Major Geeks guide as well and incorporate everything in the new tool folder.

 

[loninappleton]

Here is a quick find on the personal software inspection programs. I was not aware PSI as
an acronym even existed.


3 Free Personal Software Inspector (PSI) Alternatives To Update And Secure System


Does anyone know if running all these programs is better done with the Ethernet/internet unplugged?

 

[Vineet Garg]

Hi loninappleton,
Sir,
I think you are going very aggressively with your system and you may end badly! I have done it all in the past. Its the weekend here & i assure you of help as i have no other engagements. Collect information no problem but please wait till tomorrow.

Thanks & Regards. ...

 

[loninappleton]

@vineet

Thanks for the warning. I'll only end badly on a sacrifice HD I will have cloned by
then. I'll not be starting today.

cheers

 

[Vineet Garg]

Hi,
Sir,
I am really surprised whether it's a problem or a tutorial! I really appreciate it. But there are things to be mentioned. Please give me one more day. I am sure if all of us contribute to it, it will be a sticky thread.

Thanks & Regards. ...

 

[loninappleton]

Hi,
Sir,
I am really surprised whether it's a problem or a tutorial! I really appreciate it. But there are things to be mentioned. Please give me one more day. I am sure if all of us contribute to it, it will be a sticky thread.

Thanks & Regards. ...

Of course.



Calling it a tutorial is only because I try to document what I'm doing for others rather than
grab and go. And I do not make quick progress.



But since this is a discussion of getting rid of bottlenecks and such, places like Lifehacker show some
technique for getting performance of browsers and internet. I've even seen _but do not recommend_

tweaks of the (in my case) phone line to DSL.



Yesterday I printed out the guide from Major Geeks, current edition. But I'll save that for last since
I not only do not know what's in the current recommendations, but seem to recall that

one of their routines may have had some glitches.


For the forum here is the Major Geeks routine:


Read Run Me First Malware Removal Guide (incl. Spyware, Virus, Trojan, Hijacker) | MajorGeeks.Com Support Forums





Cheers

 

[loninappleton]

Haven't started yet and haven't heard back from 10Forums this Tuesday.

I may just 'sandbox' the operation on a rig that is not doing much when I have some quiet time.

A note here is that when I went to Bleeping to look up a specific expoit problem (or whatever
one of those warning blasts that comes on audio is), the guide given further up is the same
so far as I can tell.