Solved windows 7 - programs not launching fully after launched, virus?

johny3

New member
Local time
11:33 AM
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26
Hi all
Recently got a fresh installation of windows and HD from HP after my HD went bad about 2 weeks ago. They replaced a few other things. PC was fine but over the last 2 days things have seemed to have gone downhill. I noticed that occasionally I would click on a program icon to launch, the mouse pointer would change into a circle and spin and then nothing would happen. Opening task manager shows the invisible program but that is all. First program I noticed it with was the game hearthstone, then internet explorer. Now today it is chrome. I ended up getting a bsod today but seem to have fixed that. Right now a lot of programs just won't open.
Hearthstone works for some reason today.
chrome will not
IE will not

Other programs seem to be working.

Some possible sources are
- downloaded a live show (legal) with a new torrent client for that purpose recently
- use syncbackfree to sync documents/pictures with an external drive - that may be infected?

I was using windows security essentials, spywareblaster, and comodo along with scans from supernantispyware, malawarebytes when needed.
Nothing has detected anything.
Is this an infection or something else?
Deep down I think this PC is headed towards a hardware issue but that is just my gut. Unfortunately it is out of warranty now (10 days ago).

Any help would be appreciated. I am typing on firefox right now using this laptop.

thanks

ps
forgot to mention that of course I tried un and reinstalling to no avail.
 

My Computer My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
hp pavilion
OS
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-2630QM CPU @ 2.00GHz
Motherboard
Hewlett-Packard 165A
Memory
8.00 GB
Graphics Card(s)
(1) Mobile Intel(R) HD Graphics (2) Radeon (TM) HD 6770M
Sound Card
(1) IDT High Definition Audio CODEC (2) Intel(R) Display A
Screen Resolution
1600 x 900 x 32 bits (4294967296 colors) @ 60 Hz
Hard Drives
Hitachi HTS727575A9E364
Antivirus
comodo, superantispyware,malawarebytes, essentials
Browser
chrome, IE, firefox
When you say you did a virus scan; did you let the anti virus do a complete and thorough scan which can take a few hours? Because running a quick scan may not catch some things. Also; i would never download anything from any torrents because they can potentially contain viruses, malware, and other nasty things that can infect and mess up your system.
 
Last edited:

My Computer My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
custom built
OS
Windows 7 ultimate 64-bit
CPU
Intel I7 2600K 3.4ghz
Motherboard
Asus Evo P8P67
Memory
Corsair 16gb ddr3 1600mhz
Graphics Card(s)
Nvidia Geforce gt 430
Sound Card
Sound Blaster Titanium x-fi pci express
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell E198WFP
Hard Drives
1 western digital 2TB drive.
PSU
Antec 1200 watt
Case
Inwin Dragon Rider
Cooling
6 case supplied cooling fans
Keyboard
logitech mk700
Mouse
logitech m705
Internet Speed
25-50mbps download; 10mbps upload(i think)
Antivirus
avg free 2014
Browser
mozilla firefox
Other Info
Also have a pretty bad speaker setup which is a klipsch promedia 5.1 surround speaker setup with huge subwoofer and lg blu ray player/writer. Also a hp officejet pro 8600 plus wireless all in one and a logitech s7500 webcam.
When you say you did a virus scan; did you let the anti virus do a complete and thorough scan which can take a few hours? Because running a quick scan may not catch some things. Also; i would never download anything from any torrents because they can potentially contain viruses, malware, and other nasty things that can infect and mess up your system.

yes, the torrent was from etree which is virus free but I do not do others.

I will run a full scan now and let it be exhaustive. thanks
 

My Computer My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
hp pavilion
OS
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-2630QM CPU @ 2.00GHz
Motherboard
Hewlett-Packard 165A
Memory
8.00 GB
Graphics Card(s)
(1) Mobile Intel(R) HD Graphics (2) Radeon (TM) HD 6770M
Sound Card
(1) IDT High Definition Audio CODEC (2) Intel(R) Display A
Screen Resolution
1600 x 900 x 32 bits (4294967296 colors) @ 60 Hz
Hard Drives
Hitachi HTS727575A9E364
Antivirus
comodo, superantispyware,malawarebytes, essentials
Browser
chrome, IE, firefox
ran full scans of:
superantispyware
security essentials

neither detected anything.
Is there a different scanner I should be using, maybe eset?
 

My Computer My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
hp pavilion
OS
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-2630QM CPU @ 2.00GHz
Motherboard
Hewlett-Packard 165A
Memory
8.00 GB
Graphics Card(s)
(1) Mobile Intel(R) HD Graphics (2) Radeon (TM) HD 6770M
Sound Card
(1) IDT High Definition Audio CODEC (2) Intel(R) Display A
Screen Resolution
1600 x 900 x 32 bits (4294967296 colors) @ 60 Hz
Hard Drives
Hitachi HTS727575A9E364
Antivirus
comodo, superantispyware,malawarebytes, essentials
Browser
chrome, IE, firefox
ran a full eset online scan, nothing found.
 

My Computer My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
hp pavilion
OS
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-2630QM CPU @ 2.00GHz
Motherboard
Hewlett-Packard 165A
Memory
8.00 GB
Graphics Card(s)
(1) Mobile Intel(R) HD Graphics (2) Radeon (TM) HD 6770M
Sound Card
(1) IDT High Definition Audio CODEC (2) Intel(R) Display A
Screen Resolution
1600 x 900 x 32 bits (4294967296 colors) @ 60 Hz
Hard Drives
Hitachi HTS727575A9E364
Antivirus
comodo, superantispyware,malawarebytes, essentials
Browser
chrome, IE, firefox
1.) Download herdprotect: (choose the portable version)

Download herdProtect - Free Anti-Malware Platform

2.) Run the scan.

3.) When the scan finishes, save the results per the screenshot below. Then upload the log here.

DO NOT REMOVE ANYTHING YET. I will advise if anything needs removed when I receive the log.

Attached Images
313957d1397626709-degrading-windows-performance-save-results.png
 

My Computer My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom Built
OS
Windows 10 Pro
CPU
AMD Ryzen 5 2400G Processor with Radeon RX Vega 11 Graphics
Motherboard
ASRock X470 Master SLI/AC AM4 AMD Promontory X470 SATA 6Gb/s
Memory
G.SKILL Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM D
Graphics Card(s)
2047MB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB (EVGA)
Sound Card
Motherboard Built in
Monitor(s) Displays
Acer R240HY bidx 23.8-Inch IPS HDMI DVI VGA (1920 x 1080) Wi
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080
Hard Drives
1TB Sandisk SSD PLUS (Main drive)
500 GB Seagate 7200 RPM (Games)
500 GB Western Digital 7200 RPM (Virtual Machines)
PSU
CORSAIR TX Series TX650M 650W 80+ Gold Modular Power Supply
Case
CORSAIR CARBIDE SPEC-02 Mid-Tower Gaming Case, Red LED Fan
Cooling
220mm, two 120mm, and four 60mm fans
Keyboard
Wired Dell keyboard
Mouse
Wireless Logitech mouse
Internet Speed
250mb down, 30mb up
Antivirus
Panda Cloud Antivirus
Browser
Chrome-ish x64
Other Info
Your awesome for reading this.
1.) Download herdprotect: (choose the portable version)

Download herdProtect - Free Anti-Malware Platform

2.) Run the scan.

3.) When the scan finishes, save the results per the screenshot below. Then upload the log here.

DO NOT REMOVE ANYTHING YET. I will advise if anything needs removed when I receive the log.

Attached Images
313957d1397626709-degrading-windows-performance-save-results.png


thanks!
See file attached, it did suggest I scan again in a little over an hour. will do that as well. nothing removed per your instructions
 

Attachments

My Computer My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
hp pavilion
OS
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-2630QM CPU @ 2.00GHz
Motherboard
Hewlett-Packard 165A
Memory
8.00 GB
Graphics Card(s)
(1) Mobile Intel(R) HD Graphics (2) Radeon (TM) HD 6770M
Sound Card
(1) IDT High Definition Audio CODEC (2) Intel(R) Display A
Screen Resolution
1600 x 900 x 32 bits (4294967296 colors) @ 60 Hz
Hard Drives
Hitachi HTS727575A9E364
Antivirus
comodo, superantispyware,malawarebytes, essentials
Browser
chrome, IE, firefox
I do not see anything to bad there....


* Download the Farbar Service Scanner.

* Once download, right click the fss.exe file, and choose run as administrator.

*Checkmark the following boxes:

-Internet services
-Windows firewall
-System Restore
-Security center/action center
-Windows Update
-Windows defender

*Click Scan. A notepad window will appear with your log file. Save it to the desktop. Then upload the log here in your next reply using the paperclip on the reply box.



_________________________________________________________________________________


1.) Download AdwCleaner by Xplode and save to your Desktop.

  • Double click on AdwCleaner.exe to run the tool

  • Vista/Windows 7/8 users right-click and select Run As Administrator.
  • Click on the Scan button.
  • AdwCleaner will begin...be patient as the scan may take some time to complete.
  • After the scan has finished, click on the Report button...a logfile (AdwCleaner[R#].txt) will open in Notepad for review (where the largest value of # represents the most recent report).
  • The contents of the log file may be confusing. Unless you see a program name that you know should not be removed, don't worry about it. If you see an entry you want to keep, let me know about it.
  • Upload the contents of that logfile in your next reply using the paper clip on the reply box.
  • A copy of all logfiles are saved in the C:\AdwCleaner folder which was created when running the tool.

2.) Using AdwCleaner v3: Scan & Clean:

Double click on AdwCleaner.exe to run the tool again.
Click on the Scan button.
AdwCleaner will begin to scan your computer like it did before.
After the scan has finished...

This time click on the Clean button.
Press OK when asked to close all programs and follow the onscreen prompts.
Press OK again to allow AdwCleaner to restart the computer and complete the removal process.
After rebooting, a logfile report (AdwCleaner[S#].txt) will open automatically (where the largest value of # represents the most recent report).
Upload the contents of that logfile in your next reply using the paper clip on the reply box.

Junkware Removal tool:


3.) Please download Junkware Removal Tool to your desktop.



  • Shutdown your antivirus to avoid any conflicts.
  • Right click over JRT.exe and select Run as administrator on Windows Vista or Windows 7, double-click on XP.
  • The tool will open and start scanning your system.
  • Please be patient as this can take a while to complete.
  • On completion, a log (JRT.txt) is saved to your desktop and will automatically open.
  • Upload the contents of that logfile in your next reply using the paper clip on the reply box.
  • When completed make sure to re-enable your antivirus
 

My Computer My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom Built
OS
Windows 10 Pro
CPU
AMD Ryzen 5 2400G Processor with Radeon RX Vega 11 Graphics
Motherboard
ASRock X470 Master SLI/AC AM4 AMD Promontory X470 SATA 6Gb/s
Memory
G.SKILL Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM D
Graphics Card(s)
2047MB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB (EVGA)
Sound Card
Motherboard Built in
Monitor(s) Displays
Acer R240HY bidx 23.8-Inch IPS HDMI DVI VGA (1920 x 1080) Wi
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080
Hard Drives
1TB Sandisk SSD PLUS (Main drive)
500 GB Seagate 7200 RPM (Games)
500 GB Western Digital 7200 RPM (Virtual Machines)
PSU
CORSAIR TX Series TX650M 650W 80+ Gold Modular Power Supply
Case
CORSAIR CARBIDE SPEC-02 Mid-Tower Gaming Case, Red LED Fan
Cooling
220mm, two 120mm, and four 60mm fans
Keyboard
Wired Dell keyboard
Mouse
Wireless Logitech mouse
Internet Speed
250mb down, 30mb up
Antivirus
Panda Cloud Antivirus
Browser
Chrome-ish x64
Other Info
Your awesome for reading this.
hi!
Ran as outlined, thank you.
See below. I did delete everything in the second adw scan.
Did it all in the exact order.

thank you very much for taking the time to help me with this problem.
 

Attachments

My Computer My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
hp pavilion
OS
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-2630QM CPU @ 2.00GHz
Motherboard
Hewlett-Packard 165A
Memory
8.00 GB
Graphics Card(s)
(1) Mobile Intel(R) HD Graphics (2) Radeon (TM) HD 6770M
Sound Card
(1) IDT High Definition Audio CODEC (2) Intel(R) Display A
Screen Resolution
1600 x 900 x 32 bits (4294967296 colors) @ 60 Hz
Hard Drives
Hitachi HTS727575A9E364
Antivirus
comodo, superantispyware,malawarebytes, essentials
Browser
chrome, IE, firefox
You are welcome :)

Ok, lets do this and then we will move onto something else to do a double check.

Make sure your data is backed up either on an external hard drive or somewhere else before proceeding: (Just a precaution)

1.) Please download and save the file TFC by Old Timer. Again, save the file to your downloads folder or your desktop. Do not run it.

Downloading TFC


2.) Close your programs before running this tool. TFC will close ALL open programs.

3.) Browse to where you saved tfc. Right click on tfc.exe and choose Run As Administrator.

4.) Click the Start button to begin the cleaning process and let it run uninterrupted to completion. When it finishes it will say total files cleaned, and the start button will be grayed out. Click exit.
Important! If TFC prompts you to reboot, please do so immediately. If not prompted, manually reboot the machine anyway to ensure a complete clean.

_______________________________________________________________________________

I would like you to scan with Hitman Pro.

1.) Download hitman pro here for your windows version and install it.

2.) Open hitman pro. Click next.

picture.php


Read and Accept the license agreement, then checkmark the box and click next.

picture.php


Choose to only run a one time with this computer and click next

picture.php


The scan will start, wait until it completes, then click the save log button.

picture.php


Choose a place to save it for upload later

picture.php


Close out of hitman pro.

Find the log file wherever you saved it and upload it using the paperclip

picture.php
 

My Computer My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom Built
OS
Windows 10 Pro
CPU
AMD Ryzen 5 2400G Processor with Radeon RX Vega 11 Graphics
Motherboard
ASRock X470 Master SLI/AC AM4 AMD Promontory X470 SATA 6Gb/s
Memory
G.SKILL Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM D
Graphics Card(s)
2047MB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB (EVGA)
Sound Card
Motherboard Built in
Monitor(s) Displays
Acer R240HY bidx 23.8-Inch IPS HDMI DVI VGA (1920 x 1080) Wi
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080
Hard Drives
1TB Sandisk SSD PLUS (Main drive)
500 GB Seagate 7200 RPM (Games)
500 GB Western Digital 7200 RPM (Virtual Machines)
PSU
CORSAIR TX Series TX650M 650W 80+ Gold Modular Power Supply
Case
CORSAIR CARBIDE SPEC-02 Mid-Tower Gaming Case, Red LED Fan
Cooling
220mm, two 120mm, and four 60mm fans
Keyboard
Wired Dell keyboard
Mouse
Wireless Logitech mouse
Internet Speed
250mb down, 30mb up
Antivirus
Panda Cloud Antivirus
Browser
Chrome-ish x64
Other Info
Your awesome for reading this.
hi
the first scan did find things and reboot. no log

hitman
detected herdprotect and its mpengine dll as trojans which of course is a false positive. others below
 

Attachments

My Computer My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
hp pavilion
OS
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-2630QM CPU @ 2.00GHz
Motherboard
Hewlett-Packard 165A
Memory
8.00 GB
Graphics Card(s)
(1) Mobile Intel(R) HD Graphics (2) Radeon (TM) HD 6770M
Sound Card
(1) IDT High Definition Audio CODEC (2) Intel(R) Display A
Screen Resolution
1600 x 900 x 32 bits (4294967296 colors) @ 60 Hz
Hard Drives
Hitachi HTS727575A9E364
Antivirus
comodo, superantispyware,malawarebytes, essentials
Browser
chrome, IE, firefox
Tfc is just a cache cleaner. Not a malware cleaner. There is no log :)

random question, how is the pc running? Any faster?


Ok thanks for the hitman log, nothing there but tracking cookies so nothing to worry about.

How is everything running now?


_______________________________________________________________________________

I suggest one last thing here to see if windows is corrupted in any way:



Please Run sfc /scan now using option 2 in this tutorial: SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker

Please post back the results.
Please indicate what message was displayed at the end:

Windows found no integrity violations

OR

Corrupt files were found, and windows was unable to fix them.

OR

Corrupt files were found, and windows successfully repaired them
 

My Computer My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom Built
OS
Windows 10 Pro
CPU
AMD Ryzen 5 2400G Processor with Radeon RX Vega 11 Graphics
Motherboard
ASRock X470 Master SLI/AC AM4 AMD Promontory X470 SATA 6Gb/s
Memory
G.SKILL Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM D
Graphics Card(s)
2047MB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB (EVGA)
Sound Card
Motherboard Built in
Monitor(s) Displays
Acer R240HY bidx 23.8-Inch IPS HDMI DVI VGA (1920 x 1080) Wi
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080
Hard Drives
1TB Sandisk SSD PLUS (Main drive)
500 GB Seagate 7200 RPM (Games)
500 GB Western Digital 7200 RPM (Virtual Machines)
PSU
CORSAIR TX Series TX650M 650W 80+ Gold Modular Power Supply
Case
CORSAIR CARBIDE SPEC-02 Mid-Tower Gaming Case, Red LED Fan
Cooling
220mm, two 120mm, and four 60mm fans
Keyboard
Wired Dell keyboard
Mouse
Wireless Logitech mouse
Internet Speed
250mb down, 30mb up
Antivirus
Panda Cloud Antivirus
Browser
Chrome-ish x64
Other Info
Your awesome for reading this.
hi
windows found no integrity violations.

things seem to be better now. chrome is working no issues now.
no other programs are having issues.
Looks like we cleaned up the issue

thanks so much!
 

My Computer My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
hp pavilion
OS
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-2630QM CPU @ 2.00GHz
Motherboard
Hewlett-Packard 165A
Memory
8.00 GB
Graphics Card(s)
(1) Mobile Intel(R) HD Graphics (2) Radeon (TM) HD 6770M
Sound Card
(1) IDT High Definition Audio CODEC (2) Intel(R) Display A
Screen Resolution
1600 x 900 x 32 bits (4294967296 colors) @ 60 Hz
Hard Drives
Hitachi HTS727575A9E364
Antivirus
comodo, superantispyware,malawarebytes, essentials
Browser
chrome, IE, firefox
I am so glad! :)

Glad it is resolved :)


I know this is a very long wall of text, But following the below will greatly reduce your chances of becoming infected again.

I advise you to install and use the following Free security programs/solutions so you do not get infected again:

-Panda antivirus -You can only have 1 antivirus installed at a time, I recommend using this one and uninstalling what you are using now.

-Malwarebytes

-Superantispyware

-Unchecky

-Should I remove it

-Web of Trust

-Set up open dns

Run the first 3 listed and scan around once every 2 weeks. (Panda updates automatically, others you need to pay for that feature.) Make sure you update them before scanning. Unfortunately no program out there is a silver bullet-there is no one program to protect you entirely. So due to this, it is necessary to have a couple of products to help keep you safe on all fronts.

Panda Cloud Antivirus: Panda cloud AV is a great free program that uses the cloud (the internet) to scan your pc for threats. This antivirus works very well at detecting the newest threats, as well as some unknown ones that have not yet been discovered. For information on how to use it, the manual is located here.


Malwarebytes: This is a great program to use to scan your pc for malware that your antivirus might possibly miss or not look for. A guide on how to use it can be found here.

Superantispyware: This is a great second opinion scanner which will scan for spyware and other types of PUPS. (Potentially unwanted programs.)

Unchecky: is a program that aims to keep unwanted programs from entering your pc when installing a new program. Most programs give you the option of express install or custom install. When you do a regular install of most applications, they add toolbars and other unwanted items to your pc. If you choose the custom option however, you can avoid most of these unwanted programs by unchecking them and then clicking next. This program does this for you automatically. It removes the checkmarks so that when you click next and next your way through the install proccess, you do not get a bunch of junk on your system. Keep in mind though, this is how most people get unwanted spyware etc on there pc. When installing any new program, google it and see if it has good reviews. Then during the install don't just click next and rush through it. Take your time to read what is in front of you, and uncheck anything you do not want.

The best part about unchecky is it's a install and forget. It updates automatically. And works to prevent unnecessary programs from sneaking in during software installs.


Should I remove it: This is not a malware scanner. What it does is it looks at all of the installed programs on your PC and gives you a percentage % of how many people uninstall the software. If the percentage % is high, I would remove it as it is most likely not a good program. It also gives a ton of information about what the program does and how it behaves.

WOT: (web of trust) is a very helpful browser addon that works with all web browsers and helps you to avoid nasty sites that have been known to host malware and the like. It uses a rating system by users as well as there own internal site investigations to place websites into categories and mark whether or not they are safe. It is a good tool to help you avoid clicking on a bad link in the first place.

Open DNS: is a service that helps you block known malware sites before they even reach your PC entirely. It also can be configured to block adult sites, and filter out other web sites based on categories. All for free. Not only does it protect your computers, but other devices as well.

For more information, see here:

https://support.opendns.com/entries/26514730-Web-Content-Filtering-and-Security

If it looks to advanced for you, it actually isn't very hard to set up. See the very first link above (set up open dns) which will take you to the setup page. You do not need to create an account if you wish not to. There is a link in the bottom right hand corner to avoid making an account if you do not want it. They have directions on how to apply it to your computer, or your router so that every device on your network can be protected.


Making windows security better for you and anyone using your PC:

Use the help and support which is found in your start menu for easy answer to questions and common tasks. The browse help (the blue book in the help an support window) will allow you to browse all the help documents Microsoft has available for the versions of windows you are using. Questions like how to uninstall a program, burn a cd can all be found there.

Keep windows up to date by using windows update and checking for updates frequently, or let Microsoft automatically update your pc which is the default setting.

Make sure your software that you use is up to date. This prevents security issues in the first place.

Java and adobe reader are most common for people to have installed, and also the most unnecessary. Many people do not need or use any of these programs. They are a great security risk to have on your machine. Adobe reader is mostly not needed since many web browsers can open pdfs by themselves, (chrome, firefox) never needing adobe reader. Java is also barely used by many sites out there anymore and is best left uninstalled until you need it.


Adobe flash is a common one that most people need and should always be updated. You can download the newest version here. Keep in mind if you use google chrome, you can uninstall adobe flash as it is built into chrome. No need to have it installed separately unless needed for other browsers.


When any software prompts to update, and you recognize the name of the software-Do so. Software updates are important, and should be done regularly. Most programs checks for updates automatically.

Uninstall unwanted/un-needed programs.

Make a habit every now and then and go into control panel-uninstall a program. This lists all the software installed on your PC. If you see any software you do not use or need, uninstall it. If the software has your PC manufacturer mentioned in it, you can leave it alone.


I also suggest using a standard user account in windows, and only using an admin account when you need to install software. If you have family members sharing your pc, create standard user accounts for them. See this link below on how to do so:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/181024-user-account-create.html


Why use a standard user account instead of an administrator account?

When using a standard account and you make a change or install a program that affects the whole system, UAC will prompt you to continue. Make sure the setting or program you are tying to install is listed, then click yes to continue. If you are just browsing the web and the prompt appears with a program you have not heard of, or do not know what it is, it is much safer to click no then yes. No will block the action, and if you were trying to do something, you can always start it again and choose yes.

UAC makes this easy, see here:

What is user account control (UAC)?

I also suggest choosing always notify for UAC:

What are User Account Control settings?


Those are my recommendations to you, and I Highly suggest you follow them. Should you have any questions, post back.

Do not feel like you need to do everything above, if your computer knowledge is limited do what you are able and feel comfortable doing. If you read all the instructions though you should be able to do it yourself.

With the solution provided above, your risk of malware infection drops considerably.
 

My Computer My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom Built
OS
Windows 10 Pro
CPU
AMD Ryzen 5 2400G Processor with Radeon RX Vega 11 Graphics
Motherboard
ASRock X470 Master SLI/AC AM4 AMD Promontory X470 SATA 6Gb/s
Memory
G.SKILL Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM D
Graphics Card(s)
2047MB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB (EVGA)
Sound Card
Motherboard Built in
Monitor(s) Displays
Acer R240HY bidx 23.8-Inch IPS HDMI DVI VGA (1920 x 1080) Wi
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080
Hard Drives
1TB Sandisk SSD PLUS (Main drive)
500 GB Seagate 7200 RPM (Games)
500 GB Western Digital 7200 RPM (Virtual Machines)
PSU
CORSAIR TX Series TX650M 650W 80+ Gold Modular Power Supply
Case
CORSAIR CARBIDE SPEC-02 Mid-Tower Gaming Case, Red LED Fan
Cooling
220mm, two 120mm, and four 60mm fans
Keyboard
Wired Dell keyboard
Mouse
Wireless Logitech mouse
Internet Speed
250mb down, 30mb up
Antivirus
Panda Cloud Antivirus
Browser
Chrome-ish x64
Other Info
Your awesome for reading this.
1.) Download herdprotect: (choose the portable version)

Download herdProtect - Free Anti-Malware Platform

2.) Run the scan.

3.) When the scan finishes, save the results per the screenshot below. Then upload the log here.

DO NOT REMOVE ANYTHING YET. I will advise if anything needs removed when I receive the log.

Attached Images
313957d1397626709-degrading-windows-performance-save-results.png




Andrew; just wondering; Ive never heard of this herdprotect; so how does it differ from other programs such as malwarebytes and the like? Is it that much better or about the same? I only ask because if it really is that much better; i may switch programs from what ive been using for awhile now which is malwarebytes.
 

My Computer My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
custom built
OS
Windows 7 ultimate 64-bit
CPU
Intel I7 2600K 3.4ghz
Motherboard
Asus Evo P8P67
Memory
Corsair 16gb ddr3 1600mhz
Graphics Card(s)
Nvidia Geforce gt 430
Sound Card
Sound Blaster Titanium x-fi pci express
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell E198WFP
Hard Drives
1 western digital 2TB drive.
PSU
Antec 1200 watt
Case
Inwin Dragon Rider
Cooling
6 case supplied cooling fans
Keyboard
logitech mk700
Mouse
logitech m705
Internet Speed
25-50mbps download; 10mbps upload(i think)
Antivirus
avg free 2014
Browser
mozilla firefox
Other Info
Also have a pretty bad speaker setup which is a klipsch promedia 5.1 surround speaker setup with huge subwoofer and lg blu ray player/writer. Also a hp officejet pro 8600 plus wireless all in one and a logitech s7500 webcam.
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