Flashing egg-timer and slow pc

[Guest]

For the last 2 months or so (coinciding with when we moved house and
therefore disconnected and re-connected the computer and reset or broadband
connection), the pc has not been "itself"...
It is pretty slow going, more so when it comes to using the internet or read
e-mails on outlook express, and the most annoying thing is the egg-timer
flashing next to the cursor on a constant basis, as if something was running
and slowing everything down...

I have done a disk clean-up which did not make and difference to the way the
pc runs.

Since the internet shortcut i had on the desktop did not work anymore either
I went on the Start menu/Programs/Accessories/windows explorer/Tools/folder
options/File types and made sure that the file asociations for internet files
were correct ie read: "C:\Program Files\Internet
Explorer\iexplore.exe"......The egg timer usually stops and the internet runs
much faster. However I have to keep going back and do it again as it works
only temporarily.... Each time I go back, there is a %1 or even a -no home
added after the "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe". And i just
can't work this one out at all.....

Can anyone help???

Thanks in advance

 

[R. McCarty]

Disk Cleanup wouldn't directly affect the symptoms you describe.
You likely have "Baddies" which include Malware/Spyware and
possibly Viruses &-or Trojans. The standard cocktail of programs
to detect/remove this include AdAware, Spybot, CW Shredder &
the MS AntiSpyware (Beta). By the way, is your XP instance at
Service Pack 2 level ? Also - which Security software do you use
(Anti-Virus & Firewall ) ?
The usual indication of "Baddies" is a noticeable reduction in speed
of the PC or "Quirky" Internet operation. When you moved, did
any of your Internet hardware change ? ( Like a new modem or
router ).

 

[Guest]

Thanks for coming back to me so quickly

Some hardware changed as NTL had to give us a new modem, since broadband was
not installed in the house when we moved in.

We did use to have Spybot and Adware on the pc at some point but that just
during the free trial period. It stopped the annoying pop ups we used to get
by the truck loads but the internet connection was quite slow already and
although it did improve a bit because pop ups stopped it was just noticeable
and no more. We do not have these 2 programs (trial period finished) anymore
but then pop ups have not come back.

We have AntiVir Personal Edition for XP as an anti-virus. This has worked
pretty well for us so far. We update it very often and run scans on a regular
basis. We did have some trojans at some point which were detected and the
files in questions deleted at the time of scanning, but the last few scans
came up all clear.

We have Zone Alarm as a firewall. At the time of the "pop ups problem" there
were btp.exe and mcm.exe which kept on asking for access to internet and we
thought that was what was the problem. But since we used the Spybot and
Adware programs, they have not come up again.

I think that the way i would describe our internet operation at the moment
is actually more "segmented" than just slow going actually....going to the
beat of the egg-timer flashing in a way... Even just a basic search on Google
is hard work...The search result is displayed quickly but there another few
seconds pass before we can click on one of the results as if it's there but
not quite ready yet to operate the links...

We did install the Service Pack 2 some time before we moved house.

 

[R. McCarty]

SpyBot & AdAware have free versions that do not have a Trial period.
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html
At this point, I would be inclined to recommend some web scans to
check your system. It certainly sounds like you've got BHO's (Browser
Helper Objects) and background processes running that you need to
get removed.

I would get the Free versions of AdAware/Spybot - Remove the
existing versions from Add/Remove in Control Panel.

For Virus cross-checking I'd use either Panda ActiveScan or Trend
Micro's offering:
http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp

I would also dump your IE Temporary Internet Cache and reset all
your Security Zone's to the "Default" settings.

This whole operation is similar to Untangling Christmas Tree lights.
You just have to slowly get the "Baddies" off the PC.

Microsoft AntiSpyware (1.0.614) would probably help you, as it
provides "Real-Time" protection and keeps these things off your PC.
It woks like a Firewall in that it posts notifications of actions that are
possibly hazardous to your computer.

 

[Guest]

I will definitely give what you recommend a go this afternoon...

In the meantime I have just run an anti-virus update and I am scanning the
pc "as we speak" since I have not done it this week yet. It has come up with
something this time,:

msm3[1].exe is the trojan horse TR/Proxy.Agent.FH

I was prompted to delete the file, and so I did.

Nothing else has happened so far. I am just waiting for the scan to finish
and then I'll look into the spyware, etc, etc mentioned in your post.

Thanks a lot for your help

 

[Guest]

My virus scan is still going at the moment. Whilst scanning C:/System Volume
Information/_restore its come up with the same trojan but this time for the
following file: A0060199.exe whatever this is....

Also I wondered if the Broadjump Client Foundation program is necessary. I
have noticed it in the list of programs in Add/Remove. My cable provider is
NTL.

I will definitely give what you recommend a go this afternoon...

In the meantime I have just run an anti-virus update and I am scanning the
pc "as we speak" since I have not done it this week yet. It has come up with
something this time,:

msm3[1].exe is the trojan horse TR/Proxy.Agent.FH

I was prompted to delete the file, and so I did.

Nothing else has happened so far. I am just waiting for the scan to finish
and then I'll look into the spyware, etc, etc mentioned in your post.

Thanks a lot for your help

SpyBot & AdAware have free versions that do not have a Trial period.
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html
At this point, I would be inclined to recommend some web scans to
check your system. It certainly sounds like you've got BHO's (Browser
Helper Objects) and background processes running that you need to
get removed.

I would get the Free versions of AdAware/Spybot - Remove the
existing versions from Add/Remove in Control Panel.

For Virus cross-checking I'd use either Panda ActiveScan or Trend
Micro's offering:
http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp

I would also dump your IE Temporary Internet Cache and reset all
your Security Zone's to the "Default" settings.

This whole operation is similar to Untangling Christmas Tree lights.
You just have to slowly get the "Baddies" off the PC.

Microsoft AntiSpyware (1.0.614) would probably help you, as it
provides "Real-Time" protection and keeps these things off your PC.
It woks like a Firewall in that it posts notifications of actions that are
possibly hazardous to your computer.

 

[R. McCarty]

Viruses/Trojans hide/remain in the System Restore (Data points). You'll
need to purge them by turning off System Restore, reboot and re-enable.
I'm unfamiliar with the Client Foundation program. You didn't mention
your PC manufacturer or model. If it's a Dell, .... then I definitely would
go through Add/Remove and clean things up. Most all vendors load up
a PC with programs & services to create the "Value Added" impression.
Most, if not all include AOL, Media Players, Support tools and the like
that just bog down a machine by increasing the number of Startup and
Watchdog applications. On infected PC's, you'll normally find things that
are named "...Search" that are usually Malware and should be removed.

My virus scan is still going at the moment. Whilst scanning C:/System
Volume
Information/_restore its come up with the same trojan but this time for
the
following file: A0060199.exe whatever this is....

Also I wondered if the Broadjump Client Foundation program is necessary. I
have noticed it in the list of programs in Add/Remove. My cable provider
is
NTL.

I will definitely give what you recommend a go this afternoon...

In the meantime I have just run an anti-virus update and I am scanning
the
pc "as we speak" since I have not done it this week yet. It has come up
with
something this time,:

msm3[1].exe is the trojan horse TR/Proxy.Agent.FH

I was prompted to delete the file, and so I did.

Nothing else has happened so far. I am just waiting for the scan to
finish
and then I'll look into the spyware, etc, etc mentioned in your post.

Thanks a lot for your help

SpyBot & AdAware have free versions that do not have a Trial period.
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html
At this point, I would be inclined to recommend some web scans to
check your system. It certainly sounds like you've got BHO's (Browser
Helper Objects) and background processes running that you need to
get removed.

I would get the Free versions of AdAware/Spybot - Remove the
existing versions from Add/Remove in Control Panel.

For Virus cross-checking I'd use either Panda ActiveScan or Trend
Micro's offering:
http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp

I would also dump your IE Temporary Internet Cache and reset all
your Security Zone's to the "Default" settings.

This whole operation is similar to Untangling Christmas Tree lights.
You just have to slowly get the "Baddies" off the PC.

Microsoft AntiSpyware (1.0.614) would probably help you, as it
provides "Real-Time" protection and keeps these things off your PC.
It woks like a Firewall in that it posts notifications of actions that
are
possibly hazardous to your computer.


Thanks for coming back to me so quickly

Some hardware changed as NTL had to give us a new modem, since
broadband
was
not installed in the house when we moved in.

We did use to have Spybot and Adware on the pc at some point but that
just
during the free trial period. It stopped the annoying pop ups we used
to
get
by the truck loads but the internet connection was quite slow already
and
although it did improve a bit because pop ups stopped it was just
noticeable
and no more. We do not have these 2 programs (trial period finished)
anymore
but then pop ups have not come back.

We have AntiVir Personal Edition for XP as an anti-virus. This has
worked
pretty well for us so far. We update it very often and run scans on a
regular
basis. We did have some trojans at some point which were detected and
the
files in questions deleted at the time of scanning, but the last few
scans
came up all clear.

We have Zone Alarm as a firewall. At the time of the "pop ups
problem"
there
were btp.exe and mcm.exe which kept on asking for access to internet
and
we
thought that was what was the problem. But since we used the Spybot
and
Adware programs, they have not come up again.

I think that the way i would describe our internet operation at the
moment
is actually more "segmented" than just slow going actually....going
to the
beat of the egg-timer flashing in a way... Even just a basic search
on
Google
is hard work...The search result is displayed quickly but there
another
few
seconds pass before we can click on one of the results as if it's
there
but
not quite ready yet to operate the links...

We did install the Service Pack 2 some time before we moved house.

:

Disk Cleanup wouldn't directly affect the symptoms you describe.
You likely have "Baddies" which include Malware/Spyware and
possibly Viruses &-or Trojans. The standard cocktail of programs
to detect/remove this include AdAware, Spybot, CW Shredder &
the MS AntiSpyware (Beta). By the way, is your XP instance at
Service Pack 2 level ? Also - which Security software do you use
(Anti-Virus & Firewall ) ?
The usual indication of "Baddies" is a noticeable reduction in
speed
of the PC or "Quirky" Internet operation. When you moved, did
any of your Internet hardware change ? ( Like a new modem or
router ).

message
For the last 2 months or so (coinciding with when we moved house
and
therefore disconnected and re-connected the computer and reset or
broadband
connection), the pc has not been "itself"...
It is pretty slow going, more so when it comes to using the
internet or
read
e-mails on outlook express, and the most annoying thing is the
egg-timer
flashing next to the cursor on a constant basis, as if something
was
running
and slowing everything down...

I have done a disk clean-up which did not make and difference to
the
way
the
pc runs.

Since the internet shortcut i had on the desktop did not work
anymore
either
I went on the Start menu/Programs/Accessories/windows
explorer/Tools/folder
options/File types and made sure that the file asociations for
internet
files
were correct ie read: "C:\Program Files\Internet
Explorer\iexplore.exe"......The egg timer usually stops and the
internet
runs
much faster. However I have to keep going back and do it again as
it
works
only temporarily.... Each time I go back, there is a %1 or even
a -no
home
added after the "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe".
And
i
just
can't work this one out at all.....

Can anyone help???

Thanks in advance

 

[Guest]

Yes my pc is a Dell which I have had for some 4 years or so...But i have only
noticed this broadjump client foundation recently...in actual fact only since
we moved house and had the modem changed.

I actually went through the Add Remove list a little while ago to get rid of
anything unneccessary so I think I am down to basics and essentials now apart
from this client foundation program and maybe one or two others which I am
not sure whether to get rid off.

The virus scan is now finished. I have just uninstalled the spybot which was
still there in the background, but I need to do a re-start to be completly
rid. Then I'll go through the list of things you mentioned below,...and see
what happens...hopefully that'll be problem solved!!

Thanks again, you have been most helpful

Viruses/Trojans hide/remain in the System Restore (Data points). You'll
need to purge them by turning off System Restore, reboot and re-enable.
I'm unfamiliar with the Client Foundation program. You didn't mention
your PC manufacturer or model. If it's a Dell, .... then I definitely would
go through Add/Remove and clean things up. Most all vendors load up
a PC with programs & services to create the "Value Added" impression.
Most, if not all include AOL, Media Players, Support tools and the like
that just bog down a machine by increasing the number of Startup and
Watchdog applications. On infected PC's, you'll normally find things that
are named "...Search" that are usually Malware and should be removed.

My virus scan is still going at the moment. Whilst scanning C:/System
Volume
Information/_restore its come up with the same trojan but this time for
the
following file: A0060199.exe whatever this is....

Also I wondered if the Broadjump Client Foundation program is necessary. I
have noticed it in the list of programs in Add/Remove. My cable provider
is
NTL.

I will definitely give what you recommend a go this afternoon...

In the meantime I have just run an anti-virus update and I am scanning
the
pc "as we speak" since I have not done it this week yet. It has come up
with
something this time,:

msm3[1].exe is the trojan horse TR/Proxy.Agent.FH

I was prompted to delete the file, and so I did.

Nothing else has happened so far. I am just waiting for the scan to
finish
and then I'll look into the spyware, etc, etc mentioned in your post.

Thanks a lot for your help
:

SpyBot & AdAware have free versions that do not have a Trial period.
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html
At this point, I would be inclined to recommend some web scans to
check your system. It certainly sounds like you've got BHO's (Browser
Helper Objects) and background processes running that you need to
get removed.

I would get the Free versions of AdAware/Spybot - Remove the
existing versions from Add/Remove in Control Panel.

For Virus cross-checking I'd use either Panda ActiveScan or Trend
Micro's offering:
http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp

I would also dump your IE Temporary Internet Cache and reset all
your Security Zone's to the "Default" settings.

This whole operation is similar to Untangling Christmas Tree lights.
You just have to slowly get the "Baddies" off the PC.

Microsoft AntiSpyware (1.0.614) would probably help you, as it
provides "Real-Time" protection and keeps these things off your PC.
It woks like a Firewall in that it posts notifications of actions that
are
possibly hazardous to your computer.


Thanks for coming back to me so quickly

Some hardware changed as NTL had to give us a new modem, since
broadband
was
not installed in the house when we moved in.

We did use to have Spybot and Adware on the pc at some point but that
just
during the free trial period. It stopped the annoying pop ups we used
to
get
by the truck loads but the internet connection was quite slow already
and
although it did improve a bit because pop ups stopped it was just
noticeable
and no more. We do not have these 2 programs (trial period finished)
anymore
but then pop ups have not come back.

We have AntiVir Personal Edition for XP as an anti-virus. This has
worked
pretty well for us so far. We update it very often and run scans on a
regular
basis. We did have some trojans at some point which were detected and
the
files in questions deleted at the time of scanning, but the last few
scans
came up all clear.

We have Zone Alarm as a firewall. At the time of the "pop ups
problem"
there
were btp.exe and mcm.exe which kept on asking for access to internet
and
we
thought that was what was the problem. But since we used the Spybot
and
Adware programs, they have not come up again.

I think that the way i would describe our internet operation at the
moment
is actually more "segmented" than just slow going actually....going
to the
beat of the egg-timer flashing in a way... Even just a basic search
on
Google
is hard work...The search result is displayed quickly but there
another
few
seconds pass before we can click on one of the results as if it's
there
but
not quite ready yet to operate the links...

We did install the Service Pack 2 some time before we moved house.

:

Disk Cleanup wouldn't directly affect the symptoms you describe.
You likely have "Baddies" which include Malware/Spyware and
possibly Viruses &-or Trojans. The standard cocktail of programs
to detect/remove this include AdAware, Spybot, CW Shredder &
the MS AntiSpyware (Beta). By the way, is your XP instance at
Service Pack 2 level ? Also - which Security software do you use
(Anti-Virus & Firewall ) ?
The usual indication of "Baddies" is a noticeable reduction in
speed
of the PC or "Quirky" Internet operation. When you moved, did
any of your Internet hardware change ? ( Like a new modem or
router ).

message
For the last 2 months or so (coinciding with when we moved house
and
therefore disconnected and re-connected the computer and reset or
broadband
connection), the pc has not been "itself"...
It is pretty slow going, more so when it comes to using the
internet or
read
e-mails on outlook express, and the most annoying thing is the
egg-timer
flashing next to the cursor on a constant basis, as if something
was
running
and slowing everything down...

I have done a disk clean-up which did not make and difference to
the
way
the
pc runs.

Since the internet shortcut i had on the desktop did not work
anymore
either
I went on the Start menu/Programs/Accessories/windows
explorer/Tools/folder
options/File types and made sure that the file asociations for
internet
files
were correct ie read: "C:\Program Files\Internet
Explorer\iexplore.exe"......The egg timer usually stops and the
internet
runs
much faster. However I have to keep going back and do it again as
it
works
only temporarily.... Each time I go back, there is a %1 or even
a -no
home
added after the "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe".
And
i
just
can't work this one out at all.....

Can anyone help???

Thanks in advance

 

[Guest]

I have now completed the list off things to do you mentioned above, including
the virus cross check. I have also gone manually through all the files that I
have on the computer to see if I could get rid of more unecessary files. I
have found a few and I got rid of them. My temporary internet file is empty,
got rid of the cookies as well while I was at it... Adware and spybot did
their job too and helped with some problems which were on the system.

This computer used to have a partition up to a good 2 or even 3 years ago.
But because we had a problem with XP, which looked like a virus we had to
start from scratch, uninstall and re-install everything. Luckily we lost only
a very small amount of files and folders. In the meantime we didn't
re-install it with a partition but the part we got rid of stayed on the PC as
a folder. I'd never really looked into it up until today but there were quite
a lot of temporary internet files and cookies still there amongst a whole lot
of useless stuff. I deleted all these apart from a set of folders and
sub-folders. This is because of one file stuck in one of the subfolders which
the system can't find or recognise and therefore won't delete. It's called
Search[1] and is actually empty...

Anyway, after all this and a re-start, the egg-timer is still there and
flashing, and the internet operation is still a bit "quirkie".

The only I haven't done is the re-start with system restore off as mentioned
below. I couldn't remember how to switch it off....

I very much appreciate all the help you have provided me with so far. It has
definitely helped me understand more things about my pc. Thanks!

Viruses/Trojans hide/remain in the System Restore (Data points). You'll
need to purge them by turning off System Restore, reboot and re-enable.
I'm unfamiliar with the Client Foundation program. You didn't mention
your PC manufacturer or model. If it's a Dell, .... then I definitely would
go through Add/Remove and clean things up. Most all vendors load up
a PC with programs & services to create the "Value Added" impression.
Most, if not all include AOL, Media Players, Support tools and the like
that just bog down a machine by increasing the number of Startup and
Watchdog applications. On infected PC's, you'll normally find things that
are named "...Search" that are usually Malware and should be removed.

My virus scan is still going at the moment. Whilst scanning C:/System
Volume
Information/_restore its come up with the same trojan but this time for
the
following file: A0060199.exe whatever this is....

Also I wondered if the Broadjump Client Foundation program is necessary. I
have noticed it in the list of programs in Add/Remove. My cable provider
is
NTL.

I will definitely give what you recommend a go this afternoon...

In the meantime I have just run an anti-virus update and I am scanning
the
pc "as we speak" since I have not done it this week yet. It has come up
with
something this time,:

msm3[1].exe is the trojan horse TR/Proxy.Agent.FH

I was prompted to delete the file, and so I did.

Nothing else has happened so far. I am just waiting for the scan to
finish
and then I'll look into the spyware, etc, etc mentioned in your post.

Thanks a lot for your help
:

SpyBot & AdAware have free versions that do not have a Trial period.
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html
At this point, I would be inclined to recommend some web scans to
check your system. It certainly sounds like you've got BHO's (Browser
Helper Objects) and background processes running that you need to
get removed.

I would get the Free versions of AdAware/Spybot - Remove the
existing versions from Add/Remove in Control Panel.

For Virus cross-checking I'd use either Panda ActiveScan or Trend
Micro's offering:
http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp

I would also dump your IE Temporary Internet Cache and reset all
your Security Zone's to the "Default" settings.

This whole operation is similar to Untangling Christmas Tree lights.
You just have to slowly get the "Baddies" off the PC.

Microsoft AntiSpyware (1.0.614) would probably help you, as it
provides "Real-Time" protection and keeps these things off your PC.
It woks like a Firewall in that it posts notifications of actions that
are
possibly hazardous to your computer.


Thanks for coming back to me so quickly

Some hardware changed as NTL had to give us a new modem, since
broadband
was
not installed in the house when we moved in.

We did use to have Spybot and Adware on the pc at some point but that
just
during the free trial period. It stopped the annoying pop ups we used
to
get
by the truck loads but the internet connection was quite slow already
and
although it did improve a bit because pop ups stopped it was just
noticeable
and no more. We do not have these 2 programs (trial period finished)
anymore
but then pop ups have not come back.

We have AntiVir Personal Edition for XP as an anti-virus. This has
worked
pretty well for us so far. We update it very often and run scans on a
regular
basis. We did have some trojans at some point which were detected and
the
files in questions deleted at the time of scanning, but the last few
scans
came up all clear.

We have Zone Alarm as a firewall. At the time of the "pop ups
problem"
there
were btp.exe and mcm.exe which kept on asking for access to internet
and
we
thought that was what was the problem. But since we used the Spybot
and
Adware programs, they have not come up again.

I think that the way i would describe our internet operation at the
moment
is actually more "segmented" than just slow going actually....going
to the
beat of the egg-timer flashing in a way... Even just a basic search
on
Google
is hard work...The search result is displayed quickly but there
another
few
seconds pass before we can click on one of the results as if it's
there
but
not quite ready yet to operate the links...

We did install the Service Pack 2 some time before we moved house.

:

Disk Cleanup wouldn't directly affect the symptoms you describe.
You likely have "Baddies" which include Malware/Spyware and
possibly Viruses &-or Trojans. The standard cocktail of programs
to detect/remove this include AdAware, Spybot, CW Shredder &
the MS AntiSpyware (Beta). By the way, is your XP instance at
Service Pack 2 level ? Also - which Security software do you use
(Anti-Virus & Firewall ) ?
The usual indication of "Baddies" is a noticeable reduction in
speed
of the PC or "Quirky" Internet operation. When you moved, did
any of your Internet hardware change ? ( Like a new modem or
router ).

message
For the last 2 months or so (coinciding with when we moved house
and
therefore disconnected and re-connected the computer and reset or
broadband
connection), the pc has not been "itself"...
It is pretty slow going, more so when it comes to using the
internet or
read
e-mails on outlook express, and the most annoying thing is the
egg-timer
flashing next to the cursor on a constant basis, as if something
was
running
and slowing everything down...

I have done a disk clean-up which did not make and difference to
the
way
the
pc runs.

Since the internet shortcut i had on the desktop did not work
anymore
either
I went on the Start menu/Programs/Accessories/windows
explorer/Tools/folder
options/File types and made sure that the file asociations for
internet
files
were correct ie read: "C:\Program Files\Internet
Explorer\iexplore.exe"......The egg timer usually stops and the
internet
runs
much faster. However I have to keep going back and do it again as
it
works
only temporarily.... Each time I go back, there is a %1 or even
a -no
home
added after the "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe".
And
i
just
can't work this one out at all.....

Can anyone help???

Thanks in advance

 

[Guest]

I have had the same problem with broadband and PC Guard and after much
searching found to following to be the answer. If you have more than one
virus software installed ( even if not using them all) uninstall any software
you are not using as it will try to connect to the internet when you start up
and is competing with the main one. I uninstalled a defunt AOLprog skype prog
and virus facility which came free as part of the package on my machine.
My machine now connects really quickly. The flashing egg timer on my machine
was due to my firewall which did not allow msn messenger to connect to the
internet and every time anyone used MSN this tried to connect and activated
the flashing timer. I reset my firewall to allow messenger to connect and
presto the flashing egg timer has gone.

Hope this helps.

Wendy