slow

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sanford Aranoff
  • Start date Start date
S

Sanford Aranoff

During the past several weeks my XP SP3 has slowed down.
Other people have the same issue. We think this is due to
automatic updates that slow the machines down. Done
deliberately, we believe. How can we restore the system to
its previous state, say, 2 months ago without losing recent
stuff?
 
Sanford said:
During the past several weeks my XP SP3 has slowed down.
Other people have the same issue. We think this is due to
automatic updates that slow the machines down. Done
deliberately, we believe.
Click to expand...

You're wrong. I have an install of XP sp3 and it has all the updates and
runs like silk. It boots up in 39 seconds from the time I push the
off/on until the desktop loads. Programs open very quickly and I have no
performance issues.
How can we restore the system to
its previous state, say, 2 months ago without losing recent
stuff?
Click to expand...

I trust you have all your data backed up, right?

I would be inclined to say you are probably infected by malware. Run
anti malware scans and your anti virus scan. What anti virus/anti
malware programs do you have?

Another possibility is that your hard drive is set to PIO due to a power
outage.

C
 
-------- Original-Nachricht --------
How can we restore the system to
its previous state, say, 2 months ago without losing recent
stuff?
Click to expand...

That's a classical "contradictio in adiecto" ;-)

Bernd
 
Done diliberately? By whom?
Could it be your tinfoil hat?
: During the past several weeks my XP SP3 has slowed down.
: Other people have the same issue. We think this is due to
: automatic updates that slow the machines down. Done
: deliberately, we believe. How can we restore the system to
: its previous state, say, 2 months ago without losing recent
: stuff?
 
C said:
You're wrong. I have an install of XP sp3 and it has all the updates and
runs like silk. It boots up in 39 seconds from the time I push the
off/on until the desktop loads. Programs open very quickly and I have no
performance issues.


I trust you have all your data backed up, right?

I would be inclined to say you are probably infected by malware. Run
anti malware scans and your anti virus scan. What anti virus/anti
malware programs do you have?

Another possibility is that your hard drive is set to PIO due to a power
outage.

C
Click to expand...

Webroot anti-spyware and BitDefender antivirus.
 
Sanford Aranoff said:
During the past several weeks my XP SP3 has slowed down.
Other people have the same issue. We think this is due to
automatic updates that slow the machines down. Done
deliberately, we believe. How can we restore the system to
its previous state, say, 2 months ago without losing recent
stuff?
.
Click to expand...

Use the following two KB articles to diagnose the slow running:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316434

You probably have a software conflict.
 
Sanford said:
During the past several weeks my XP SP3 has slowed down.
Other people have the same issue. We think this is due to
automatic updates that slow the machines down. Done
deliberately, we believe. How can we restore the system to
its previous state, say, 2 months ago without losing recent
stuff?
Click to expand...

Your slowness is unlikely to have much to do with regular security updates.
Not saying there has never been an issue with updates from Microsoft - but
this would be a much more broadly discussed topic if it were true (not to
mention the many many machines I manage/help manage still running Windows
XP - fully patched - are having no issues.)

Let's get some information from you and then I will give you some basic
things you can do to cleanup your machine...

Start button --> RUN
(no "RUN"? Press the "Windows Key" + R on your keyboard)
--> type in:
winver
--> Click OK.

The picture at the top of the window that opens will give you the general
(Operating System name) while the line starting with the word "version" will
give you the rest of the story. Post _both_ in response to this message
verbatim. No paraphrasing - instead - ensure character-for-character
copying.
;-)

- What versionof Internet Explorer do you have installed?

- Do you have any alternative web browsers (Firefox, Opera, etc) installed?
If so - which ones and what version?

- What AntiVirus software do you use? (Version and Name)

- What AntiSpyware/AntiMalware software do you use? (Version and Name)

- What is your backup regime? (How often? To what? Using what
software/method?)

- What are the basic hardware specifications of your computer? (Processor
speed/type, amount of memory/RAM, total and free disk space?)

If you need help answering any of the above - please don't be shy - ask and
someone will surely assist you get that information. Most can probably be
gleamed from a free download/installation/run of "Belarc Advisor":
http://www.belarc.com/

Now that some information has been gathered, here are some simple (albeit
somewhat time consuming) steps you can follow to cleanup your machine a bit.
After you are done doing these steps - come back and report that you did
them and any issues you had while doing them. If you get error messages -
report those messages here *word-for-word*.

Do this in the order shown, finishing each item before continuing to the
next.

Ignore the title and follow the sub-section under "Advanced Troubleshooting"
titled, "Method 1: Reset the registry and the file permissions"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949377
*will take time
** Ignore the final step (6) of the method. You say you have SP3.

Reboot.

Download/install this:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301

After installing, do the following:

Start button --> RUN --> type in:
"%ProgramFiles%\Windows Installer Clean Up\msizap.exe" g!
--> Click OK.
(The quotation marks and percentage signs and spacing should be exact.)

That should be fairly quick and should not require a reboot.

Download, install, run, update and perform a full scan (separately) with the
following two applications (freeware versions are the ones to use for this):

SuperAntiSpyware
http://www.superantispyware.com/

MalwareBytes
http://www.malwarebytes.com/

After performing a full scan with one and then the other and removing
whatever they both find completely, you may uninstall these products,
if you wish.

Download and run the MSRT manually:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx

Reboot.

Download/Install the latest Windows Installer (for your OS):
( Windows XP 32-bit : WindowsXP-KB942288-v3-x86.exe )
http://www.microsoft.com/downloadS/...6F-60B6-4412-95B9-54D056D6F9F4&displaylang=en

Reboot.

and...

Download the latest version of the Windows Update agent from here (x86):
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=91237
.... and save it to the root of your C:\ drive. After saving it to the root
of the C:\ drive, do the following:

Close all Internet Explorer windows and other applications.

Start button --> RUN and type in:
%SystemDrive%\windowsupdateagent30-x86.exe /WUFORCE
--> Click OK.

(If asked, select "Run.) --> Click on NEXT --> Select "I agree" and click on
NEXT --> When it finishes installing, click on "Finish"...

Reboot.

Then follow the instructions here:

How do I reset Windows Update components?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058

Reboot.

CHKDSK
How to scan your disks for errors
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315265
* will take time and a reboot

Defragment
How to Defragment your hard drives
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314848
* will take time

Ensure your hardware drivers are up to date (from the hardware
manufacturer's respective web pages.) Never get hardware drivers
for hardware that was not created/sold by Microsoft from Microsoft.

Reboot.

Log on as an user with administrative rights and open Internet Explorer
and visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and select to do a
CUSTOM scan...

Every time you are about to click on something while at these web pages -
first press and hold down the CTRL key while you click on it. You can
release the CTRL key after clicking each time.

Once the scan is done, select just _ONE_ of the high priority updates
(deselect any others) and install it.

Reboot again.

If it did work - try the web page again - selecting no more than 3-5 at a
time. Rebooting as needed.

The Optional Software updates are generally safe - although I recommend
against the "Windows Search" one and any of the "Office Live" ones or
"Windows Live" ones for now. I would completely avoid the
Optional Hardware updates. Also - I do not see any urgent need to install
Internet Explorer 8 at this time.

Come back - report what you find. Many times the machines are slow because
of poor maintenance routines (not your fault - no one tells you to your face
in a one-on-one fashion that you need to do some of these things - sadly.)

Sometimes - it is a collection of crud that slows you down. Sometimes it is
overprotection (all-in-one Antivirus suites that include firewalls and other
software that give mediocre results at a high resource price - often also
causing conflicts and slow downs in other ways - beyond resource use.)
 
Shenan said:
Your slowness is unlikely to have much to do with regular security updates.
Not saying there has never been an issue with updates from Microsoft - but
this would be a much more broadly discussed topic if it were true (not to
mention the many many machines I manage/help manage still running Windows
XP - fully patched - are having no issues.)

Let's get some information from you and then I will give you some basic
things you can do to cleanup your machine...

Start button --> RUN
(no "RUN"? Press the "Windows Key" + R on your keyboard)
--> type in:
winver
--> Click OK.

The picture at the top of the window that opens will give you the general
(Operating System name) while the line starting with the word "version" will
give you the rest of the story. Post _both_ in response to this message
verbatim. No paraphrasing - instead - ensure character-for-character
copying.
Click to expand...
Windows Professional
Version 5.1 Build 2600.xpsp_s3_gdr.090804-1435:Service Pack
3
;-)

- What version of Internet Explorer do you have installed?
Click to expand...
6.0.2900.5512.xpsp_s3_gdr.090804-1435

I do not use IE.
Opera 9.64. I use this most of the time.
Firefox version 3.5.5.
- Do you have any alternative web browsers (Firefox, Opera, etc) installed?
If so - which ones and what version?

- What AntiVirus software do you use? (Version and Name) BitDefender Antivirus 2009

- What AntiSpyware/AntiMalware software do you use? (Version and Name)
Click to expand...

Webroot Spy Sweeper
- What is your backup regime? (How often? To what? Using what
software/method?)
Click to expand...
Backup daily to my webpage. Software: Timing.exe, available
on www.analysis-knowledge.com
Monthly: Create image of hard disk on external drive, using
Acronis True Image.
- What are the basic hardware specifications of your computer? (Processor
speed/type, amount of memory/RAM, total and free disk space?)
Click to expand...
Pentium 4 CPU, 3.00GHz, 2.99 GB of RAM
Disk: Total size 74.4 GB, Free Space 35.1 GB.

PerfectDisk 10 defragger.
If you need help answering any of the above - please don't be shy - ask and
someone will surely assist you get that information. Most can probably be
gleamed from a free download/installation/run of "Belarc Advisor":
http://www.belarc.com/

Now that some information has been gathered, here are some simple (albeit
somewhat time consuming) steps you can follow to cleanup your machine a bit.
After you are done doing these steps - come back and report that you did
them and any issues you had while doing them. If you get error messages -
report those messages here *word-for-word*.

Do this in the order shown, finishing each item before continuing to the
next.

Ignore the title and follow the sub-section under "Advanced Troubleshooting"
titled, "Method 1: Reset the registry and the file permissions"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949377
*will take time
** Ignore the final step (6) of the method. You say you have SP3.

Reboot.

Download/install this:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301
Click to expand...
I am concerned about using Windows Installer CleanUp
Utility, as it may corrupt existing programs.
 
Is your hard drive set to PIO? How do I answer this?

Have you scanned your computer for malware? Yes.
 
Sanford Aranoff wrote:.
DMA if available.
Shall I change it to PIO?
Click to expand...

NO! That will slow it down even more. You have two choices:

1. Scan for malware until it runs well again.

2. Reinstall XP which will probably take less time and you'll know that
all malware is gone.

C
 
C said:
Sanford Aranoff wrote:.

NO! That will slow it down even more. You have two choices:

1. Scan for malware until it runs well again.

2. Reinstall XP which will probably take less time and you'll know that
all malware is gone.

C
Click to expand...

Reinstall XP is impossible, as I have to reinstall all my
software. It is sad that Microsoft does not give the option
of reinstalling the OS and keeping desired software.
 
Sanford said:
Reinstall XP is impossible, as I have to reinstall all my
software. It is sad that Microsoft does not give the option
of reinstalling the OS and keeping desired software.
Click to expand...

Trust me, reinstalling will be quicker. You can scan and scan for days
and still have the problem, especially if the malware has dorked your
registry. It's time to bite the bullet. Once you have XP up and running
to your liking, either clone it (Casper 5 has incremental clones) or
make an image so if this happens again, restoring isn't a problem. The
time spent since you first posted and now was more than enough to have
already reinstalled XP and all your programs :-)

C
 
Reinstall XP is impossible, as I have to reinstall all my
software.
Click to expand...


I am not necessarily recommending that you reinstall Windows, but if
you are in a situation where reinstalling is "impossible," you are in
a very dangerous situation. It is *always* possible that something
occurs that makes reinstallation your only choice. Difficult as it may
be for you, you should always be sure that you have whatever you need
to do this.
 
Sanford said:
Reinstall XP is impossible, as I have to reinstall all my
software.
Click to expand...

That doesn't make it impossible; just more time-consuming.

If you had an up-to-date image of your hard drive (prior to your
problem), all you would need to do is restore it. So, in the future,
consider this option.
It is sad that Microsoft does not give the option
of reinstalling the OS and keeping desired software.
Click to expand...

Microsoft does give you this option; it is called a Repair Install.
However, Repair Installs should only be done in certain situations where
malware is not involved. If you have malware, you need to remove it. If
the removal is *more* time-consuming than a Clean Install (followed by
the installation of harware drivers, service packs and subsequent
security patches, and programs, etc.), then a Clean Install -- as
painful as it might seem -- is the logical option.

Then again, if the malware removal is not very time-consuming, that is
what you should do! I believe many have given you suggestions, including
MBAM. I will look more carefully at this thread and make other
suggestions if appropriate.
 
Sanford said:
DMA if available.
Shall I change it to PIO?
Click to expand...

Since PIO is *much* slower, the answer is no. :-)

Actually, you are looking at the wrong thing.

When you are in Device Manager, looking at Primary IDE Channel (assuming
that is what your hard drive is on), consider there might be more than
one of these Primary IDE Channel entries. Furthermore, for each one,
there will be two devices (0 and 1). If you're not sure what you're
looking for, look at *every single one* of them!

It will probably be Device 0. Also, don't confuse "Transfer Mode" with
"Current Transfer Mode."

"DMA if available" is to be expected for "Transfer Mode." What you need
to tell us is what do you see *below* that (in "Current Transfer Mode")?
Hopefully, it will say "Ultra DMA Mode 5." If it says PIO, then we know
your hard drive's transfer mode has slipped. If your *hard drive's*
transfer mode is PIO, let us know, so we can help you get it back to
DMA. If you're not sure, post back *everything* you see.
 
Sanford said:
Shenan Stanley wrote:
Click to expand...
Backup daily to my webpage. Software: Timing.exe, available
on www.analysis-knowledge.com
Monthly: Create image of hard disk on external drive, using
Acronis True Image.
Click to expand...

Ah, so you do this already!

I am not familiar with your first backup method, but if you are unable
to find a speedy solution to your performace issue, all you need to do
is copy all your newer data since you made your last image (then again,
*all* your data would be better -- to cover all bases). Make sure you
get all your e-mails, address book, Web browser favorites, etc. Then
restore your most recent image and add back the newer data.
 
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