Windows 7 desktop computer extremely slow

Hi Gwen_Illinois,

Please use the malware checks in the troubleshooter I posted and then re-do the

cleanup methods and even the Repair Installation. All of that needed to be done to

rule them out. If nothing helps then the only options are a clean install of Windows

(which may not help) as there might be hardware issues.

It is possible a slow startup is cause by a device driver or service that was not

stopped during the clean-boot. Remove all external devices you can.

Hope this helps.

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Rob Brown - Microsoft MVP <- profile - Windows Expert - Consumer : Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.

I tried restore about a week ago and it didn't help the problem.  It also takes a long time. 

The computer is slow from after the BIOS screen on start up.  Then it takes hours to start up in safe mode and even more time in regular mode.  During start up, when loading files, it hangs for a long time on CLASSPNP.SYS.  It eventually does start up. 

One strange thing that happened yesterday is that while trying a reboot normally, during the long time of starting up, screen saver sometimes comes up.  I go back to check on it and at one point, the screen wouldn't come out of screen saver mode.  So, I restarted in safe mode and that's where I am now, running Malwarebytes,  Once booted up, it takes a long time to do anything (even clicking the Start button and typing "Device Manager" took it about 45 seconds to respond...the Malware scan is still running)

I checked Device manager and did the show hidden devices and opened every + to see the drivers and found one yellow triangle on one of them.  It is Security Processor Loader Driver. 

I had uninstalled AVG early on thinking it was a problem with one of their files because the hang first started to hang while loading files that started with AVG.  After uninstall, it now stalls on the CLASSPNP.SYS file.  Maybe it's just a large file to process?

Thanks for your help.

Do you have a system restore point dating before the original problem first arose?

The numbers of objected scanned is not a reliable way to guage the progress of a scan. The can can take a long time to scan a few object and then scan thousands in the same time. It can help to run Disk CleanUp or preferably cCleaner before running scanss. You have less objects to scan.

AVG should not cause problems. At least that has been my experience.

It would help to know what is slow. Is it booting the computer, running programmes without using the internet or browsing the internet online?

Slow booting is normally the result of a system error or errors leading to time outs, faulty device drivers  or something scanning or updating during the boot process. You have looked for system errors.

Type Device Manager in the Search box above the Start button and press ENTER. Are there any yellow question marks in Device Manager? If yes what is the Device Error code.

To see Hidden Devices (Non Plug and Play Drivers) you need to select View, Show Hidden Devices. It is necessary to do this every time you open Device Manager if you need to see them.

A further complication can be Ghosted Devices –installed but not connected!

http://www.lockergnome.com/windows/2005/04/29/display-hidden-devices-in-device-manager-xp/

AVG will scan at the beginning of every boot. What programmes update when you boot will depend on what is installed but printers, security software and Microsoft all update products at this time.

Hi,

Since the Clean Boot did not help I suspect the issue is either malware and/or hardware

related. You are running MalwareBytes now however also run TDSSKiller.exe and the

rest below here to thoroughly check if malware has a role. Also then re-use the cleanup

and/or a Repair Installation.

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If you need to check for malware here are my recommendations - these will allow you to do

a thorough check and removal without ending up with a load of spyware programs running

resident which can cause as many issues as the malware and maybe harder to detect as

the cause.

No one program can be relied upon to detect and remove all malware. Added that often easy

to detect malware is often accompanied by a much harder to detect and remove payload. So

its better to be overly thorough now than to pay the high price later. **Check with these to anextreme overkill point and then run the cleanup only when you are very sure the |system is clean.**These can be done in Safe Mode - repeatedly tap F8 as you boot however you should also run 

them in regular Windows when you can.

TDSSKiller.exe. - Download to the Desktop - then go to it and Right Click on it - RUN AS ADMIN

it will show any infections in the report after running - if it will not run change the name from

tdsskiller.exe to tdsskiller.com. Whether it finds anything or not does not mean you should not

check with the other methods below.

http://support.kaspersky.com/viruses/solutions?qid=208280684

Download malwarebytes and scan with it, run MRT, and add Prevx to be sure it is gone.

(If Rootkits run UnHackMe)

Download - SAVE - go to where you put it - Right Click on it - RUN AS ADMIN

Malwarebytes - free

http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free

SuperAntiSpyware Portable Scanner - Free

http://www.superantispyware.com/portablescanner.html?tag=SAS_HOMEPAGE

Run the Microsoft Malicious Removal Tool

Start - type in Search box -> MRT  find at top of list - Right Click on it - RUN AS ADMIN.

You should be getting this tool and its updates via Windows Updates - if needed you can

download it here.

Download - SAVE - go to where you put it - Right Click on it - RUN AS ADMIN

(Then run MRT as above.)

Microsoft Malicious Removal Tool - 32 bit

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=AD724AE0-E72D-4F54-9AB3-75B8EB148356&displaylang=en

Microsoft Malicious Removal Tool - 64 bit

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=585D2BDE-367F-495E-94E7-6349F4EFFC74&displaylang=en

also install Prevx to be sure it is all gone.

Download - SAVE - go to where you put it - Right Click on it - RUN AS ADMIN

Prevx - Home - Free - small, fast, exceptional CLOUD protection, works with other

security programs. This is a scanner only, VERY EFFECTIVE, if it finds something come back

here or use Google to see how to remove. 

http://www.prevx.com/   <-- information

http://info.prevx.com/downloadcsi.asp?prevx=Y  <-- download

PCmag - Prevx - Editor's Choice

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2346862,00.asp

Try the trial version of Hitman Pro :

Hitman Pro is a second opinion scanner, designed to rescue your computer from malware

(viruses, trojans, rootkits, etc.) that have infected your computer despite all the security

measures you have taken (such as anti virus software, firewalls, etc.).

http://www.surfright.nl/en/hitmanpro

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If needed here are some online free scanners to help

http://www.eset.com/onlinescan/

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Original version is now replaced by the Microsoft Safety Scanner

http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/default.htm

Microsoft Safety Scanner

http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx

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http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner

Other Free online scans

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=antivirus+free+online+scan&aq=f&oq=&aqi=g1

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After removing any malware :

Also do these to cleanup general corruption and repair/replace damaged/missingsystem files.

Start - type this in Search Box ->  COMMAND   find at top and RIGHT CLICK  -  RUN AS ADMIN

Enter this at the prompt - sfc /scannow

How to Repair Windows 7 System Files with System File Checker

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

How to analyze the log file entries that the Microsoft Windows Resource Checker (SFC.exe) program

generates in Windows Vista cbs.log

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928228

Also run CheckDisk so we can rule out corruption as much as possible.

How to Run Disk Check in Windows 7

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html

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If any Rootkits are found use this thread and other suggestions. (Run UnHackMe)

http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/InternetExplorer/thread/a8f665f0-c793-441a-a5b9-54b7e1e7a5a4/

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If needed AFTER you are sure the machine is clean of all malware. (DO NOT USE IF

MALWARE IS STILL PRESENT.)

How to Do a Repair Install to Fix Windows 7

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

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**For extreme cases :**Norton Power Eraser - Eliminates deeply embedded and difficult to remove crimeware

that traditional virus scanning doesn't always detect. Because the Norton Power Eraser

uses aggressive methods to detect these threats, there is a risk that it can select some

legitimate programs for removal. You should use this tool very carefully, and only after

you have exhausted other options.

http://us.norton.com/support/DIY/index.jsp

================================

If you are in North America, you can call 866-727-2338 for help with virus and spyware

infections. See http://www.microsoft.com/protect/support/default.mspx for details. For

international information, see your local subsidiary Support site.

Microsoft Support - Virus and Security Solution Center

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/cu_sc_virsec_master?ws=support#tab0

Hope this helps.

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Rob Brown - Microsoft MVP <- profile - Windows Expert - Consumer : Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.