Lately Windows is running like a slug.
When I open task manager to see what's causing the slow down, it shows
msvcmp3.exe running and the processor surging from 0 to 99%.
I used search to determine where this file is and it's in C:\Windows\Config
There are about 4 files in this directory.
Does anybody know what this file is? What it does? And anyway to stop it
from loading?
Steve,
If you want to investigate any mysterious processes on your computer, get
Process Explorer (free) from
<
http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/procexp.shtml>. Provides way more
information than Task Manager.
And Port Explorer (free) from
<
http://www.diamondcs.com.au/portexplorer/index.php?page=home> will show you
what network connections your computer is actually opening, and what processes
are opening them.
Also, a couple online databases:
http://answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist.htm
http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php
http://www.liutilities.com/products/wintaskspro/processlibrary/
http://www.windowsstartup.com/wso/search.php
Finally, if you suspect it's malware, do a virus and spyware diagnosis.
How current is your virus protection? Try one or more of these free online
virus scans, which should complement your current protection:
<
http://www.bitdefender.com/scan/license.php>
<
http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan>
<
http://www.ravantivirus.com/scan/>
<
http://security.symantec.com/ssc/home.asp>
<
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp>
Now check for, and learn to defend against, additional problems - adware,
crapware, spyware.
Start by downloading each of the following additional free tools:
AdAware <
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/>
CWShredder <
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4086.html>
HijackThis <
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=3155>
LSP-Fix <
http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm>
WinsockXPFix <
http://www.spychecker.com/program/winsockxpfix.html>
Spybot S&D <
http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=download>
Stinger <
http://us.mcafee.com/virusInfo/default.asp?id=stinger>
TrendMicro Engine <
http://www.trendmicro.com/download/dcs.asp>
TrendMicro Signatures <
http://www.trendmicro.com/download/pattern.asp>
TrendMicro Instructions <
http://www.trendmicro.com/ftp/products/tsc/readme.txt>
Create a separate folder for HijackThis, such as C:\HijackThis - copy the
downloaded file there. Create a separate folder for the two TrendMicro files,
such as C:\TrendMicro - copy the downloaded files there (unzipped if necessary).
AdAware, CWShredder, and Spybot S&D have install routines - run them. The other
downloaded programs can be copied into, and run from, any convenient folder.
First, run Stinger. Have it remove any problems found.
Next, close all Internet Explorer and Outlook windows, and run CWShredder. Have
it fix all problems found.
Next, disable System Restore.
<
http://vil.nai.com/vil/SystemHelpDocs/DisableSysRestore.htm>
Boot your computer into Safe Mode.
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=315222
Run C:\TrendMicro\Sysclean.com. Delete any infectors found. Reboot your
computer, and re enable System Restore.
Next, run AdAware. First update it ("Check for updates now"), configure for
full scan (<
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/index.php?showtopic=11150>), then
scan. When scanning finishes, remove all Critical Objects found.
Next, run Spybot S&D. First update it ("Search for updates"), then run a scan
("Check for problems"). Trust Spybot, and delete everything ("Fix Problems")
that is displayed in Red.
Then, run HijackThis ("Scan"). Do NOT make any changes immediately. Save the
HJT Log.
<
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/index.php?showtopic=227>
<
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/index.php?showtopic=11150>
Finally, have your HJT log interpreted by experts at one or more of the
following security forums (and please post a link to your forum posts, here):
Aumha: <
http://forum.aumha.org/index.php>
Net-Integration: <
http://forums.net-integration.net/>
Spyware Info: <
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/>
Spyware Warrior: <
http://spywarewarrior.com/index.php>
Tom Coyote: <
http://forums.tomcoyote.org/>
If removal of any spyware affects your ability to access the internet (some
spyware builds itself into the network software, and its removal may damage your
network), run LSP-Fix and / or WinsockXPFIx.
Finally, improve your chances for the future.
Harden your browser. There are various websites which will check for
vulnerabilities, here are three which I use.
http://www.jasons-toolbox.com/BrowserSecurity/
http://bcheck.scanit.be/bcheck/
https://testzone.secunia.com/browser_checker/
Block Internet Explorer ActiveX scripting from hostile websites (Restricted
Zone).
<
https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ehowes/www/main.htm> (IE-SpyAd)
Block known dangerous scripts from installing.
<
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html>
Block known spyware from installing.
<
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareguard.html>
Make sure that the spyware detection / protection products that you use are
reliable:
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm
Harden your operating system. Check at least monthly for security updates.
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
Block possibly dangerous websites with a Hosts file. Three Hosts file sources I
use:
http://www.accs-net.com/hosts/get_hosts.html
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
(The third is included, and updated, with Spybot (see above)).
Maintain your Hosts file (merge / eliminate duplicate entries) with:
eDexter <
http://www.accs-net.com/hosts/get_hosts.html>
Hostess <
http://accs-net.com/hostess/>
Secure your operating system, and applications. Don't use, or leave activated,
any accounts with names or passwords with trivial (guessable) values. Don't use
an account with administrative authority, except when you're intentionally doing
administrative tasks.
Use common sense. Yours. Don't install software based upon advice from unknown
sources. Don't install free software, without researching it carefully. Don't
open email unless you know who it's from, and how and why it was sent.
Educate yourself. Know what the risks are. Stay informed. Read Usenet, and
various web pages that discuss security problems. Check the logs from the
security products that you use regularly, look for things that don't belong, and
take action when necessary.
How did I get infected in the first place?
http://forums.net-integration.net/index.php?showtopic=3051
Essential tips for infection prevention
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/index.php?showtopic=24339