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I have a problem with my Gateway DX4831-01e desktop computer (1 1/2 years old) which is running Windows 7.
Last week, something happened (I don't know if it was an upgrade or a virus) but Windows 7 (64) started running extremely sluggish. I restarted and it was extremely slow on start up. I can get into Safe mode but it takes a couple of hours to load all. I can still access my hard drive and files there and I can plug devices into my USB ports (to allow backups and to load files for running)
On start up it goes from the Gateway screen to the Bios screen and then starts acting slow. Pressing F8 over and over gets me into Safe mode but it is very slow and during driver loading, it seems to hang up on the ClassPNP.sys file, but it eventually loads all(after an hour or so).
I have tried many things including running System restore and repair and running sfc /scannow (took overnight), removing AVG 2011 free (my virus scanner) and all of the folders that the AVG removal tool didn't remove, and deleting Temp files.
One other strange thing I noticed is that in my Start up programs (I use selective start up) there were three checkboxes for starting up a Java update, and Adobe reader and Adobe acrobat.) I removed all checkboxes but the system gets slow before I even get to the start up files, but it was strange and might point to the cause of the big problem.
My questions are, what is happening between the Bios screen and the driver loading screen that would slow it down? Could it be prefetch or start up file loading? I don't think so because I haven't even gotten to the Safe mode choice screen before the slow down happens.
Should I erase Prefetch or remove and reinstall the button cell battery to reset Bios? Will it ask me for a password on restart that I know I don't have?
Thanks in advance!
Gwen
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
HI,
Gateway should have documentation on installing Windows on a new drive. And
they will sell the installation media cheap, if you need it, since you already own
Windows. Once you have the correct disk the installation is very straight forward.
The Repair Disk you made is not an installation disk.
Hope this helps.
Rob Brown - Microsoft MVP <- profile - Windows Expert - Consumer : Bicycle <- Mark Twain said it right.
The MS MRT has been running for 15 hours and is nearly 1/4th complete. After it runs, I will rerun TDSSKiller with the two boxes checked.
How can I rule out memory cards? I have 4 cards installed for a total of 6GB.
Thanks!
Hi,
Yes check those boxes and re-run TDSSKiller.
No reason to reboot after each one unless some malware was found and removed.
Looking more like a hardware issue.
Hope this helps.
Rob Brown - Microsoft MVP <- profile - Windows Expert - Consumer : Bicycle <- Mark Twain said it right.
I have downloaded and run the TDSSKiller with the checkboxes (default) checked for Services and Drivers and Boot Sectors. It came back with 0 errors for 243 objects processed. I noticed that there are two more checkboxes in options for Verify driver digital signature and Detect TDLFS File System. Should I have checked those boxes too? It ran pretty quickly, so I could run again with those boxes checked.
I have also downloaded the latest Malwarebytes and the MS MRT and Prevx to run when this one is done.
Should I reboot into safemode after each one?
I am running the MS MRT right now and it's going slow, but is scanning. No errors yet.
Thanks!
Just an update, I cancelled Malwarebytes as it wasn't responding and then ran Ccleaner and it ran relatively quickly and removed 2,416 items.
I used your link to get TDSSKiller and it is running on the PC.
I'll let you know what it finds out.
Thanks!
