Windows Limits in Vista

[safyrejet]

I have had a recurring problem in Vista and I haven't been able to detect a
pattern of any sort to determine when it would happen and what causes it. I
often run several programs (office word, powerpoint, IE 7.0, Adobe Acrobat,
Photoshop...) and multitask fine but at seemingly random points my computer
will refuse to open any more windows. This includes being able to open
another document, bring up a simple 'save' or 'print' window, or even bring
up a right click menu. In order to do anything else I have to close windows,
sometimes all of them. Restarting my computer and bringing every window back
does not give a repeat problem. Also there is no set number as to the limit
of windows it will allow. I've had up to 20 some windows running and this
problem occurs. Today I only had 3 windows running, 2 IE and window media
player, and I couldn't right click in media player, desktop, anywhere until I
closed both of the IE windows. The problem most often occurs when I have
several tabs and windows of IE running (like 5-7 windows) but that's probably
because I use that the most.

The most frustrating part is my CPU tachometer gauge never shows it's maxed
out, it usu hovers around 50-70% even when I have 20 some windows open. My
system is running Vista Home Premium, Intel core 2 with 2 GB ram. My old
computer ran XP with a lot less ram and I never had trouble running all my
needed programs. What is the problem with Vista?!

 

[AlexB]

I want to volunteer a conjecture that it could be malware. I am posting a
sort of a composition I made for myself while I was delousing my systems. If
you are interested, you can try a few things.

My policy is not to use any 3-rd party anti-malware except Spybot S&D.
Windows Vista offers sufficient protection against malicious software
writers some of them I am sure watch this forum very carefully.

Download Microsoft Windows Baseline Security Analyzer. It is Beta 2.1 for
Vista and I think it is safe to download. Run it.

<http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...AF-9DBE-4DCE-889E-ECF997EB18E9&displaylang=en>

It will give you all your vulnerabilities, especially in your firewall
settings. You should read the report and if it suggests any changes, you
should consider them.
Your Windows firewall setting will be analyzed.

Download Microsoft® Windows® Malicious Software Removal Tool (KB890830). It
will want to run upon install. Choose the FULL scan although it may give you
a threatening message that it might take a few hours. It will scan your
entire computer in about half an hour or less if you do not have a lot of
stuff in it.

<http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...e0-e72d-4f54-9ab3-75b8eb148356&displaylang=en>

Some reassuring information: Malicious Software Removal Tool
<http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx>
The Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool helps remove specific,
prevalent malicious software from computers that are running Windows Vista,
Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, or Windows 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=890830

You can also go to Protection Center (Microsoft)
<http://onecare.live.com/site/en-US/center/howsafe.htm?s_cid=mscom_msrt>
and click "Protection Scan." There will be a dropdown menu and a button:
"Launch Full Scan or Vista." You can do it if you wish.

Download and install Spybot Search & Destroy, a great piece of software
which is free for individuals but corporations pay fees. You may be asked
for donations but it is up to you. It is very up to date and every week you
will have to download new updates, sometimes even more often. You should
check for updates every time you run it. It will give you all su*kers
leached into your registry and ask you if you wanted to remove them. Many of
them have masqueraded themselves under MS Windows names like
Windows.something. Do not hesitate to kill them all. You can trust SB S&D.

http://www.spybot.info/en/index.html

It also allows you to IMMUNIZE your system. It means that when you go to a
website and they try to download some kind of a Trojan to you SB S&D will
either kill it silently, or ask you if you want to do it or will kill it and
give you a notice. It is better to let it kill them all in silence.

Listen to Mark Russinovich's (MS) webcast: Advanced Malware Cleaning

<http://www.microsoft.com/emea/spotlight/sessionh.aspx?videoid=359>

Downloading any 3-rd party "free" anti-spyware program (with teh exception
SB S&D) is an invitation for a disaster.

The AV (antivirus industry) is on the way to the cemetery:
The slow death of AV technology:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/06/08/death_of_av/
Vista did it in.
Last note: it has been suggested around here by some unscrupulous trolls
that the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT) and SB S&D do not
clean the registry. MSRT and SB S&D work on different principles. MSRT in
full mode reads RAM memory and detects patterns in the files that match
known viruses and other malware configuraions. This is why it takes so long
to run. If malicious code is detected it is also quite likely that it has a
representation in the registry. The only way to remove a particular piece of
malware is to CLEAN the registry off of this key.
SB S&D works by going thru the registry and locating known names that match
its database of malicious software. After all culprits are found the user is
asked if he/she want to remove the malicious software. If you say OK, then
the registry IS CLEANED of this set of malicious execs. The execs themselves
are killed in the respective folders.
In this sense both tools do CLEAN the registry. They do not do any
"housekeeping" which is absolutely superfluous and unnecessary. It is NOT
recommended by MS and most of the experienced users as well.

 

[NoStop]

I want to volunteer a conjecture that it could be malware. I am posting a
sort of a composition I made for myself while I was delousing my systems.
If you are interested, you can try a few things.

So now the greatest and most secure operating system Microsoft ever sold to
PC users needs "delousing"? Have you been smoking pot or what? Or is this
just another example of your technispeak?

My policy is not to use any 3-rd party anti-malware except Spybot S&D.

Yeh, yeh, we all know how paranoid you are. Do you also hunt down commies
under your bed while downloading the latest anti-virus defs?

Windows Vista offers sufficient protection against malicious software
writers some of them I am sure watch this forum very carefully.

Yeh, more paranoia. I guess this "sufficient protection" explains why a
Vista system needs "delousing". Gawd, you're something else!

Download Microsoft Windows Baseline Security Analyzer. It is Beta 2.1 for
Vista and I think it is safe to download. Run it.

Are you REALLY sure it's safe to download and "Run it"!?! Now, be honest -
are you REALLY sure about that?

It will give you all your vulnerabilities, especially in your firewall
settings. You should read the report and if it suggests any changes, you
should consider them.
Your Windows firewall setting will be analyzed.

Which has NOTHING to do with malicious software, but ok, analyze your
firewall. It makes about as much sense as watching a Sea Drive be
defragged.

Download Microsoft® Windows® Malicious Software Removal Tool (KB890830).
It will want to run upon install. Choose the FULL scan although it may
give you a threatening message that it might take a few hours.

Oh, no, not a "threatening message" on top of all this other paranoid mumble
jumble! The Russians are Coming, the Russians are Coming.

It will
scan your entire computer in about half an hour or less if you do not have
a lot of stuff in it.

Don't most Vista user have "a lot of stuff in it"? You know, that
technical "stuff" that sort of accumulates on a Vista computer?

Some reassuring information: Malicious Software Removal Tool
<http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx>
The Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool helps remove
specific, prevalent malicious software from computers that are running
Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, or Windows 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=890830

Is this like "delousing"?

You can also go to Protection Center (Microsoft)
<http://onecare.live.com/site/en-US/center/howsafe.htm?s_cid=mscom_msrt>
and click "Protection Scan." There will be a dropdown menu and a button:
"Launch Full Scan or Vista." You can do it if you wish.

Really. We have your permission on that. BUT, is it really SAFE????

Download and install Spybot Search & Destroy, a great piece of software
which is free for individuals but corporations pay fees. You may be asked
for donations but it is up to you.

Did you donate? You seem to push this in many posts you make around here.
How much did you donate?

It is very up to date and every week
you will have to download new updates, sometimes even more often.

Too bad that Windoze attackers put out 10 new malwares per hour. Sure glad
that your beloved protection comes up with updates every week. Nothing like
feeling really protected.

You
should check for updates every time you run it. It will give you all
su*kers leached into your registry and ask you if you wanted to remove
them. Many of them have masqueraded themselves under MS Windows names like
Windows.something. Do not hesitate to kill them all. You can trust SB S&D.

Oh, finally, we can trust in something. I thought it was "In God We Trust"
or should that be, "In G W Bush We Trust"?

http://www.spybot.info/en/index.html

It also allows you to IMMUNIZE your system. It means that when you go to a
website and they try to download some kind of a Trojan to you SB S&D will
either kill it silently, or ask you if you want to do it or will kill it
and give you a notice. It is better to let it kill them all in silence.

I'm with you on that one. Killing in silence, like the CIA's black ops is
much cleaner than doing it publicly.

Listen to Mark Russinovich's (MS) webcast: Advanced Malware Cleaning

<http://www.microsoft.com/emea/spotlight/sessionh.aspx?videoid=359>

Downloading any 3-rd party "free" anti-spyware program (with teh exception
SB S&D) is an invitation for a disaster.

Hehehe, yeh sure AlexB. Whatever you say. All others are probably put out
by 'dem commies.

The AV (antivirus industry) is on the way to the cemetery:
The slow death of AV technology:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/06/08/death_of_av/
Vista did it in.

Did it in? So I guess we can ignore all your bullshit above and don't worry
about "delousing" anymore? Are you on crack?

Last note: it has been suggested around here by some unscrupulous trolls
that the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT) and SB S&D do
not clean the registry. MSRT and SB S&D work on different principles. MSRT
in full mode reads RAM memory and detects patterns in the files that match
known viruses and other malware configuraions. This is why it takes so
long to run. If malicious code is detected it is also quite likely that it
has a representation in the registry. The only way to remove a particular
piece of malware is to CLEAN the registry off of this key.
SB S&D works by going thru the registry and locating known names that
match its database of malicious software.

Yep too bad it only knows about what matches its database, as that database
HAS to be way behind the threats that are out there in the wild now.

After all culprits are found the
user is asked if he/she want to remove the malicious software. If you say
OK, then the registry IS CLEANED of this set of malicious execs. The execs
themselves are killed in the respective folders.
In this sense both tools do CLEAN the registry. They do not do any
"housekeeping" which is absolutely superfluous and unnecessary. It is NOT
recommended by MS and most of the experienced users as well.

Obviously you ain't one of those "experienced users".

Thanks for the new addition to my sig. Now I have to remind folks they
should be "delousing" their Vista boxes. Too funny!

Cheers.

--
Frank's Brain Activity Plotted (watch the red line):
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i4/Astronomy2/PreformanceMonitor.jpg

How a Windows Firewall protects your computer:
http://tinyurl.com/2z9qdn

AlexB (another Vista expert): "I ruined at least 5 or 6 installations of
Vista before I realized what was going on."

 

[Mellowed]

Nice summary Alex.

I want to volunteer a conjecture that it could be malware. I am posting a
sort of a composition I made for myself while I was delousing my systems.
If you are interested, you can try a few things.

My policy is not to use any 3-rd party anti-malware except Spybot S&D.
Windows Vista offers sufficient protection against malicious software
writers some of them I am sure watch this forum very carefully.

Download Microsoft Windows Baseline Security Analyzer. It is Beta 2.1 for
Vista and I think it is safe to download. Run it.

<http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...AF-9DBE-4DCE-889E-ECF997EB18E9&displaylang=en>

It will give you all your vulnerabilities, especially in your firewall
settings. You should read the report and if it suggests any changes, you
should consider them.
Your Windows firewall setting will be analyzed.

Download Microsoft® Windows® Malicious Software Removal Tool (KB890830).
It will want to run upon install. Choose the FULL scan although it may
give you a threatening message that it might take a few hours. It will
scan your entire computer in about half an hour or less if you do not have
a lot of stuff in it.

<http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...e0-e72d-4f54-9ab3-75b8eb148356&displaylang=en>

Some reassuring information: Malicious Software Removal Tool
<http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx>
The Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool helps remove
specific, prevalent malicious software from computers that are running
Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, or Windows 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=890830

You can also go to Protection Center (Microsoft)
<http://onecare.live.com/site/en-US/center/howsafe.htm?s_cid=mscom_msrt>
and click "Protection Scan." There will be a dropdown menu and a button:
"Launch Full Scan or Vista." You can do it if you wish.

Download and install Spybot Search & Destroy, a great piece of software
which is free for individuals but corporations pay fees. You may be asked
for donations but it is up to you. It is very up to date and every week
you will have to download new updates, sometimes even more often. You
should check for updates every time you run it. It will give you all
su*kers leached into your registry and ask you if you wanted to remove
them. Many of them have masqueraded themselves under MS Windows names like
Windows.something. Do not hesitate to kill them all. You can trust SB S&D.

http://www.spybot.info/en/index.html

It also allows you to IMMUNIZE your system. It means that when you go to a
website and they try to download some kind of a Trojan to you SB S&D will
either kill it silently, or ask you if you want to do it or will kill it
and give you a notice. It is better to let it kill them all in silence.

Listen to Mark Russinovich's (MS) webcast: Advanced Malware Cleaning

<http://www.microsoft.com/emea/spotlight/sessionh.aspx?videoid=359>

Downloading any 3-rd party "free" anti-spyware program (with teh exception
SB S&D) is an invitation for a disaster.

The AV (antivirus industry) is on the way to the cemetery:
The slow death of AV technology:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/06/08/death_of_av/
Vista did it in.
Last note: it has been suggested around here by some unscrupulous trolls
that the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT) and SB S&D do
not clean the registry. MSRT and SB S&D work on different principles. MSRT
in full mode reads RAM memory and detects patterns in the files that match
known viruses and other malware configuraions. This is why it takes so
long to run. If malicious code is detected it is also quite likely that it
has a representation in the registry. The only way to remove a particular
piece of malware is to CLEAN the registry off of this key.
SB S&D works by going thru the registry and locating known names that
match its database of malicious software. After all culprits are found the
user is asked if he/she want to remove the malicious software. If you say
OK, then the registry IS CLEANED of this set of malicious execs. The execs
themselves are killed in the respective folders.
In this sense both tools do CLEAN the registry. They do not do any
"housekeeping" which is absolutely superfluous and unnecessary. It is NOT
recommended by MS and most of the experienced users as well.

 

[zachd [MSFT]]

Also, in Task Manager, Show All Tasks/Processes in the Process tab and turn
on GDI Objects and Handles in the View:Select Columns options. If there's
something using lots of those, that can cause bad performance issues.

But, as Alex suggested, this might be a side effect of malware. =\