PC VERY slow, 100% CPU useage, 90 processes

[paradocs78]

My Dell has suddenly gotten VERY slow and task manager shows 100% CPU useage
and 90 processes. I have run Microsoft malicious software scan with negative
results and I have an up to date McAfee security center. However, I can't do
a full McAfee scan while the quick scan is negative for infection. Can
someone tell me what the likely cause of this situation is?

 

[Leonard Grey]

Malware infection. Show your computer to a professional or erase the
hard disk and start over.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

My Dell has suddenly gotten VERY slow and task manager shows 100% CPU useage
and 90 processes. I have run Microsoft malicious software scan with negative
results and I have an up to date McAfee security center. However, I can't do
a full McAfee scan while the quick scan is negative for infection. Can
someone tell me what the likely cause of this situation is?

You are almost certainly infected with malware.

In my view, McAfee is next to the worst anti-virus software available.
Only Norton is worse. I recommend that you replace McAfee with NOD32,
or, if you want a free product, Avast. Avast isn't quite as good as
NOD32, but it's close.

You also need to run anti-spyware software. The best anti-spyware
program is MalwareBytes Anti-Malware. But no single anti-spyware
program is anywhere near perfect, and good protection is achieved only
by running at least two or three. I would also add SuperAntiSpyware,
and perhaps others, to what you run.

 

[Leonard Grey]

In addition to Ken's good advice, I would like to add that you cannot
rely on software alone to protect your computer from malware. Software
is a second line of defense. You are the first line of defense...by
practicing safe and informed web surfing.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

In addition to Ken's good advice, I would like to add that you cannot
rely on software alone to protect your computer from malware. Software
is a second line of defense. You are the first line of defense...by
practicing safe and informed web surfing.

And in addition to Leonard's good addition to my message <g> I'd like
to add one more point to his. Safe and informed web surfing is only
one part of that "first line of defense." The other important part is
safe and informed E-mail practice, especially regarding the opening of
attachments.

 

[paradocs78]

Before receiving any responses, I noted the posting about .spl and .shd files
and searched and deleted them. My PC now is showing CPU at low useage
(9-15%) but still with 86 processes. What would a typical process number be?

Thanks to everyone for their replies. I have downloaded Avast and am
running it now.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Before receiving any responses, I noted the posting about .spl and .shd files
and searched and deleted them. My PC now is showing CPU at low useage
(9-15%) but still with 86 processes. What would a typical process number be?

The process number varies a lot, but 86 is not a particularly high
number. If you are not having other problems, don't worry about it.

 

[paradocs78]

Thanks for the reply, a little knowledge can be dangerous...which describes
my techie skills

 

[Gerry]

paradocs

I do not totally agree with Ken regarding the number of processes. It is
a bit of the high side.

What is the CPU and how much RAM does your computer have? Right click on
the My Computer icon on your Desktop and select Properties to get this
information.

Try Ctrl+Alt+Delete to select Task Manager and click the Performance
Tab. Under Commit Charge what is the Total, the Limit and the Peak?

You can investigate Processes using Process Explorer, which is a better
tool than Task Manager.

Please provide the Command Line of the Process giving any unexplained
CPU usage and list the services that use that process.

Process Explorer is more commonly used than Process Express in these
newsgroups to diagnose these type of problems. If you cannot provide the
information requested please download and install Process Explorer.

For further information about Process Explorer see here:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/SystemInformation/ProcessExplorer.mspx

It would be helpful if you could post the Command Line of the svchost
process generating the excessive CPU usage. In Process Explorer place
cursor on Process and select Properties, Image.

Many programmes are set to load on StartUp when they this is not
necessary. You should look within the programme to see if you can change
it so that they load on demand when needed. To identify what loads when
you boot use Autoruns (freeware from Microsoft).

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/ProcessesAndThreads/Autoruns.mspx

With Autoruns you can uncheck an item, which disables it from
starting,or you can right click an item and then delete it. If you
uncheck youcan recheck to re-enable the item. It is a much safer
approach than editing the Registry and better than using msconfig..
Another useful feature of the programme is that you can right click an
item and select Search Online to get information about the item
selected.

You should also check whether you have an excess of Internet Explorer
Add-Ons. In Internet Explorer Tools, Manage Add Ons, Enable or Disable
Add Ons.


--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Gerry]

Ken

With reference to "safe and informed E-mail practice" it is not just
attachments that need care. There are now many cunningly placed
invitations included in email as links. These open the doors to malware
infestations. Some very difficult to detect malware gain access in this
manner.

--



Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Ken

With reference to "safe and informed E-mail practice" it is not just
attachments that need care. There are now many cunningly placed
invitations included in email as links. These open the doors to malware
infestations. Some very difficult to detect malware gain access in this
manner.

Yes, true. Also html mail can be dangerous by itself. It's for that
reason that I personally receive all mail as plain text regardless of
whether it's in html.

But note that I said "*especially* regarding the opening of
attachments," not "exclusively regarding the opening of attachments."

Attachments aren't the only risk, but they are the most common source
of E-mail malware.