My laptop is becoming very slow

[Cornish Steve]

I purchased a new IBM Thinkpad a little over a year ago. As time goes by, it takes longer and longer for the machine to boot. Right now, what used to take about 20 seconds takes about 12 minutes. The long delay caused considerable embarrassment during a recent customer presentation.

I have Norton Anti-virus, run Adsense every few weeks, defrag from time to time, and clear temporary Internet files regularly. Can anyone explain the problem and suggest an inexpensive solution? Thanks.

[Rob Holmes]

I would move away from Norton which is notorious for slowing down machines.

Switch to something like Zonealarm security suite.

Also it maybe that you have alot of background processes running - there maybe some programs that load at startup that just just don't need to load..

Things like realplayer, quicktime, msoffice etc etc

To stop them loading at startup go to your start button, click on run, tryp msconfig and then select the startup tab. If any of those are in the startup menu I suggest you deselect them.

Rob

[easyasit]

I would move away from Norton which is notorious for slowing down machines.

Switch to something like Zonealarm security suite.

Also it maybe that you have alot of background processes running - there maybe some programs that load at startup that just just don't need to load..

Things like realplayer, quicktime, msoffice etc etc

To stop them loading at startup go to your start button, click on run, tryp msconfig and then select the startup tab. If any of those are in the startup menu I suggest you deselect them.

Rob

All that, plus syware'adaware running in the background
As Matrixx says processes as well form other programs installed.

If you have had it a year, it could be a good time to consider a good rebuild, but make sure you have all the drivers backed up first though steve.

Al

[Enigma121]

The page link below contains some tips for improving performance. I wouldn't recommend implementing them all, but many of these will provide benefits.

http://www.activehowto.com/how-to/4/11/414.htm

[fastfences]

Right now, what used to take about 20 seconds takes about 12 minutes.

Hi Steve.
What you have relayed is an oft common problem with 'male' computers.
I can relate to exactly the same symptoms myself :wink: There is a benefit though; the 'female' computers seem to have an enhanced output when docked with one such male.
Cheers, Nigel

[Jayne]

Nigel, you can make the most innocent thing sound rude :lol:

Jayne

[VeryMark]

At the risk of lowering the tone, below is the info I looked up when my daughter had the same problem:

1. If your computer takes a very much longer time to boot after you installed Service Pack 2, one possibility is that one of the startup programs causes this.

To find out which it is, click on Start, Run, type in MSCONFIG, and press return. Click on the Startup tab, disable all programs, and reboot.
If the computer now boots very quickly, re-enable groups of programs and later single programs at a time, reboot and check the boot time. If you could identify the offending program this way, try to obtain a newer version that is compatible with Service Pack 2, leave the program disabled for now, or uninstall it altogether.

If disabling all of these programs does not solve the slow boot problem, the cause could be a service or an integral component of Windows itself. Some services can be disabled for a test, others cannot. A last resort would be a repair installation of Windows XP, followed by applying Service Pack 2 once more.

2. Try going into the BIOS setting and use the option "Set all to default" or something like that. Then save changes and reboot system.

3. One of the start up programs could be causing the problem. If you have not got StartUp Control Panel, download it from http://www.mlin.net/ Install it, go to Control Panel, StartUp and untick half of the programs and reboot. If that does not help then try the other half. By the way, if you have msconfig.sys then you can use it instead of StartUp. If the above does not work, then try reinstalling all the drivers.

I'm assuming btw you've done the obvious things like checked for adware and spyware etc.

[Cornish Steve]

Thanks, everyone, for the advice (and Nigel for your amazing sense of humour). I'm on yet another business trip right now (and using a different laptop), but I plan to follow your advice when I return.

I'm assuming btw you've done the obvious things like checked for adware and spyware etc.
I've run Ad-Aware, and I have Norton AV. Is this sufficient?

[duenna]

Hello Steve

I did send you a PM and thanks for your reply!

Ad-Aware and Norton can both be stiffled by some varients of spyware.

Post a HJT this log as suggested and we will soon have you up and running!

Cheers

David

[VeryMark]

Go into the Control Panel, look at your list of 'Currently Installed Programs' in 'Add or Remove Programs' and see if you've got anything that shouldn't be there - if you're not sure, you can drop a program name into Google and check what it is and what it does.

[webit]

Also check the number of Services (under Adminstration tools) that you have running.

The Thinkpad is a great machine (and still my old Thinkpad PIII 600x is my main machine (I guess 5 years old now!), titanium case, ultra light, WinXP and faster than my other laptops)

[Cornish Steve]

I would move away from Norton which is notorious for slowing down machines.

Switch to something like Zonealarm security suite.

Also it maybe that you have alot of background processes running - there maybe some programs that load at startup that just just don't need to load..

Things like realplayer, quicktime, msoffice etc etc

To stop them loading at startup go to your start button, click on run, tryp msconfig and then select the startup tab. If any of those are in the startup menu I suggest you deselect them.

Rob
When I type msconfig, I see a whole bunch of programs; unfortunately, I have no idea now necessary they are. For example, some are in IBM or Thinkpad directories, others are in a synaptics directory, some appear to be related to Norton, others are in a system directory, and so on. They mostly have weird names: S3Tray2, SynTPLpr, hkcmd, TPKmapAp, TpShocks, ucStartup, pwrmonit, and so on. A few have no name at all.

It seems that my next step would be to disable all these programs, but I'm concerned about disabling something that's needed. For example, I don't want to undermine my anti-virus software.

Any suggestions?

[Cornish Steve]

Hello Steve

I did send you a PM and thanks for your reply!

Ad-Aware and Norton can both be stiffled by some varients of spyware.

Post a HJT this log as suggested and we will soon have you up and running!

Cheers

David
David, thanks for the advice and for your willingness to help. I downloaded the HJT program and ran it, as you suggested. Sorry for the length of the post, but here's the output file. (By displaying this information, the phrase "opening the kimono" comes to mind. I hope this exercise proves useful for others as well as for me.)

*******************

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 10:33:11 AM, on 2/3/2006
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\ibmpmsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\S24EvMon.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSetMgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccProxy.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SNDSrvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SPBBC\SPBBCSvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\CCPD-LC\symlcsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\IBM\IBM Rapid Restore Ultra\rrpcsb.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\QCONSVC.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\RegSrvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\TpKmpSVC.exe
C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPLpr.exe
C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxtray.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\hkcmd.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\TpShocks.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\ThinkPad\PkgMgr\HOTKEY\TPHKMGR.exe
C:\Program Files\ThinkPad\PkgMgr\HOTKEY\TPONSCR.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\ThinkPad\UTILIT~1\EzEjMnAp.Exe
C:\Program Files\ThinkPad\PkgMgr\HOTKEY_1\TpScrex.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\dla\tfswctrl.exe
C:\Program Files\IBM\Messages By IBM\ibmmessages.exe
C:\IBMTOOLS\UTILS\ibmprc.exe
C:\Program Files\ThinkPad\ConnectUtilities\QCWLICON.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\RunDll32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\rundll32.exe
C:\Program Files\Viewpoint\Viewpoint Manager\ViewMgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\jusched.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spool\drivers\w32x86\3\hpztsb0 5.exe
C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe
C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe
C:\Program Files\Viewpoint\Viewpoint Toolbar V35\FotomatDeviceConnect.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe
C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\1124505000\ee\AOLHostManager.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft AntiSpyware\gcasDtServ.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\1124505000\ee\AOLServiceHost.exe
C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\Norton AntiVirus\SAVScan.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\Security Console\NSCSRVCE.EXE
C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\1124505000\ee\AOLServiceHost.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Program Files\Outlook Express\msimn.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\WINZIP\winzip32.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Steve\Local Settings\Temp\wzb5df\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://channels.aimtoday.com/search/aimtoolbar.jsp
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.foxnews.com/
R3 - URLSearchHook: AOLTBSearch Class - {EA756889-2338-43DB-8F07-D1CA6FB9C90D} - C:\Program Files\AOL\AOL Toolbar 2.0\aoltb.dll
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 5.0\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.ocx
O2 - BHO: DriveLetterAccess - {5CA3D70E-1895-11CF-8E15-001234567890} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\dla\tfswshx.dll
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: AOL Toolbar Launcher - {7C554162-8CB7-45A4-B8F4-8EA1C75885F9} - C:\Program Files\AOL\AOL Toolbar 2.0\aoltb.dll
O2 - BHO: Norton Internet Security 2006 - {9ECB9560-04F9-4bbc-943D-298DDF1699E1} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\AdBlocking\NISShExt.dll
O2 - BHO: Viewpoint Toolbar BHO - {A7327C09-B521-4EDB-8509-7D2660C9EC98} - C:\Program Files\Viewpoint\Viewpoint Toolbar V35\ViewBarBHO.dll
O2 - BHO: NAV Helper - {A8F38D8D-E480-4D52-B7A2-731BB6995FDD} - C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Viewpoint Toolbar - {F8AD5AA5-D966-4667-9DAF-2561D68B2012} - C:\Program Files\Viewpoint\Viewpoint Toolbar V35\ViewBar.dll
O3 - Toolbar: AOL Toolbar - {DE9C389F-3316-41A7-809B-AA305ED9D922} - C:\Program Files\AOL\AOL Toolbar 2.0\aoltb.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Norton Internet Security 2006 - {0B53EAC3-8D69-4b9e-9B19-A37C9A5676A7} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\AdBlocking\NISShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Norton AntiVirus - {C4069E3A-68F1-403E-B40E-20066696354B} - C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [S3TRAY2] S3Tray2.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SynTPLpr] C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPLpr.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SynTPEnh] C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IgfxTray] C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HotKeysCmds] C:\WINDOWS\system32\hkcmd.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TPKMAPHELPER] C:\Program Files\ThinkPad\Utilities\TpKmapAp.exe -helper
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TpShocks] TpShocks.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TPHOTKEY] C:\PROGRA~1\ThinkPad\PkgMgr\HOTKEY\TPHKMGR.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TP4EX] tp4ex.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [EZEJMNAP] C:\PROGRA~1\ThinkPad\UTILIT~1\EzEjMnAp.Exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [UC_Start] C:\Program Files\IBM\Updater\\ucstartup.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [UpdateManager] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Sonic\Update Manager\sgtray.exe" /r
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [dla] C:\WINDOWS\system32\dla\tfswctrl.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ibmmessages] C:\Program Files\IBM\Messages By IBM\ibmmessages.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IBMPRC] C:\IBMTOOLS\UTILS\ibmprc.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QCWLICON] C:\Program Files\ThinkPad\ConnectUtilities\QCWLICON.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [BMMGAG] RunDll32 C:\PROGRA~1\ThinkPad\UTILIT~1\pwrmonit.dll,StartPw rMonitor
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [BMMLREF] C:\Program Files\ThinkPad\Utilities\BMMLREF.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [BMMMONWND] rundll32.exe C:\PROGRA~1\ThinkPad\UTILIT~1\BatInfEx.dll,BMMAuto nomicMonitor
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ViewMgr] C:\Program Files\Viewpoint\Viewpoint Manager\ViewMgr.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe" -osboot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\jusched.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HPDJ Taskbar Utility] C:\WINDOWS\system32\spool\drivers\w32x86\3\hpztsb0 5.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [UserFaultCheck] %systemroot%\system32\dumprep 0 -u
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HostManager] C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\1124505000\ee\AOLHostManager.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [gcasServ] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft AntiSpyware\gcasServ.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ViewpointPhotosDeviceConnect] C:\Program Files\Viewpoint\Viewpoint Toolbar V35\FotomatDeviceConnect.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MSMSGS] "C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [AIM] C:\Program Files\AIM\aim.exe -cnetwait.odl
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Yahoo! Pager] C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Messenger\ypager.exe -quiet
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ibmmessages] C:\Program Files\IBM\Messages By IBM\ibmmessages.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MsnMsgr] "C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe" /background
O6 - HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel present
O8 - Extra context menu item: &AIM Search - res://C:\Program Files\AIM Toolbar\AIMBar.dll/aimsearch.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: &AOL Toolbar Search - c:\program files\aol\aol toolbar 2.0\resources\en-US\local\search.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Google Search - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmsearch.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Viewpoint Search - res://C:\Program Files\Viewpoint\Viewpoint Toolbar V35\ViewBar.dll/CXTSEARCH.HTML
O8 - Extra context menu item: Backward Links - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmbacklinks.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Cached Snapshot of Page - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmcache.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Similar Pages - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmsimilar.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Translate into English - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmtrans.html
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: AOL Toolbar - {3369AF0D-62E9-4bda-8103-B4C75499B578} - C:\Program Files\AOL\AOL Toolbar 2.0\aoltb.dll
O9 - Extra button: AIM - {AC9E2541-2814-11d5-BC6D-00B0D0A1DE45} - C:\Program Files\AIM\aim.exe
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O11 - Options group: [JAVA_IBM] Java (IBM)
O12 - Plugin for .spop: C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\Plugins\NPDocBox.dll
O16 - DPF: {17492023-C23A-453E-A040-C7C580BBF700} (Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool) - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=39204
O18 - Protocol: msnim - {828030A1-22C1-4009-854F-8E305202313F} - "C:\PROGRA~1\MSNMES~1\msgrapp.dll" (file missing)
O20 - Winlogon Notify: igfxcui - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\igfxsrvc.dll
O20 - Winlogon Notify: QConGina - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\QConGina.dll
O23 - Service: Symantec Event Manager (ccEvtMgr) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Internet Security Password Validation (ccISPwdSvc) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\ccPwdSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Network Proxy (ccProxy) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccProxy.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Settings Manager (ccSetMgr) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSetMgr.exe
O23 - Service: COM Host (comHost) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\comHost.exe
O23 - Service: IBM Rapid Restore Ultra Service - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\IBM\IBM Rapid Restore Ultra\rrpcsb.exe
O23 - Service: IBM PM Service (IBMPMSVC) - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\System32\ibmpmsvc.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service (iPodService) - Apple Computer, Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: Norton AntiVirus Auto-Protect Service (navapsvc) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
O23 - Service: Norton Protection Center Service (NSCService) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\Security Console\NSCSRVCE.EXE
O23 - Service: IBM PSA Access Driver Control (PsaSrv) - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\PsaSrv.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: QCONSVC - IBM Corp. - C:\WINDOWS\System32\QCONSVC.EXE
O23 - Service: RegSrvc - Intel Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\system32\RegSrvc.exe
O23 - Service: Spectrum24 Event Monitor (S24EventMonitor) - Intel Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\system32\S24EvMon.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec AVScan (SAVScan) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\Norton AntiVirus\SAVScan.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Network Drivers Service (SNDSrvc) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SNDSrvc.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec SPBBCSvc (SPBBCSvc) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SPBBC\SPBBCSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Core LC - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\CCPD-LC\symlcsvc.exe
O23 - Service: SymWMI Service (SymWSC) - Symantec Corporation - c:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\Security Center\SymWSC.exe
O23 - Service: IBM KCU Service (TpKmpSVC) - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\TpKmpSVC.exe

[Ravenfire]

To stop them loading at startup go to your start button, click on run, tryp msconfig and then select the startup tab. If any of those are in the startup menu I suggest you deselect them.
Rob

Thank you I have the same problem and have cleared these before on my old computer but had forgotten how!!

[Cornish Steve]

I bared my soul, i.e., printed a summary of all the junk on my laptop, but no one responded. :( We gave a couple more presentations last week and it was embarrassing how long it took my laptop to boot up. Any advice would be gratefully received.

[Ravenfire]

Not that I know a great deal about it but you would seem to have a lot of programmes starting up.

[Whistle Ink]

I tried that msconfg thing and deselected some of the programs on there bu when i restarted the laptop it said 'm not running normal start-up mode and i think it asked to sort it out (so I selected it all again).

Do I have to confirm eah time that this is correct startup? :?

[Top Hat]

C:\Documents and Settings\Steve\Local Settings\Temp\wzb5df\HijackThis.exe

Might be it


Edit, Googled, not the problem

[coxadmin]

I bared my soul, i.e., printed a summary of all the junk on my laptop, but no one responded. :( We gave a couple more presentations last week and it was embarrassing how long it took my laptop to boot up. Any advice would be gratefully received.

Hi Steve

Tried to AIM you but missed you!

I'm a member of an excellent MSN computer group that has experts in analysing Hijack this logs. Do you mind if I copy your log from here and post it for analysis? Usually takes about 24 hours or so to get a response.

[Jayne]

I would have helped Steve, but I haven't a clue which is junk either :lol:

Jayne

[Cornish Steve]

I'm a member of an excellent MSN computer group that has experts in analysing Hijack this logs. Do you mind if I copy your log from here and post it for analysis? Usually takes about 24 hours or so to get a response.
Lynn,

That's really kind of you - thank you!

[Cornish Steve]

C:\Documents and Settings\Steve\Local Settings\Temp\wzb5df\HijackThis.exe

Might be it


Edit, Googled, not the problem
I know what you're getting at though. When I saw the name of this program, I was very suspicious. I checked it out with Rob (Matrixx), however, and he told me that it's a well-established program.

[confused]

not sure how I missed this one, I'll check out your hijack log tomorrow

CALV

[coxadmin]

Hi Steve

I've emailed this to you, too, here are the comments from 2 people on the computer forum:

Response 1
The log looks clean, so therefore I would suggest that he has too many programmes running on start-up.
He could go to Start, Run and type in msconfig. Go to the startup tab and remove the ticks from items that are really not needed. The following are not necessary when the PC boots up. Let us know if his PC is faster loading after he has done that.

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MsnMsgr] "C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe" /background

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ibmmessages] C:\Program Files\IBM\Messages By IBM\ibmmessages.exe

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Yahoo! Pager] C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Messenger\ypager.exe -quiet

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [AIM] C:\Program Files\AIM\aim.exe -cnetwait.odl

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [UserFaultCheck] %systemroot%\system32\dumprep 0 -u
Used in connection with memory dumps - you can disable these by - right clicking on My Computer, selecting Properties and then the Advanced tab. Click on the Settings button in 'Startup and Recovery'. In the bottom pane - under 'Write debugging information' - click on the down arrow and then select 'None' - OK your way out

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\jusched.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe" -osboot

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ViewMgr] C:\Program Files\Viewpoint\Viewpoint Manager\ViewMgr.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ibmmessages] C:\Program Files\IBM\Messages By IBM\ibmmessages.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [UC_Start] C:\Program Files\IBM\Updater\\ucstartup.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [EZEJMNAP] C:\PROGRA~1\ThinkPad\UTILIT~1\EzEjMnAp.Exe

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HotKeysCmds] C:\WINDOWS\system32\hkcmd.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IgfxTray] C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxtray.exe

Response 2
Three Instant messengers loading at startup is the main problem by the look of it

The viewpoint software installed by AIM (AOL instant messenger) is classed as spyware/adware on some sites

If you must have access to all 3 protocols AIM Yahoo and MSN

Then try using one multi protocol messenger like Trillian instead and uninstall Yahoo and AIM and MSN too if you like, but because it's Microsoft it's embedded deeper into the system and harder to remove. There are several Linux multi protocol messengers that have windows versions if you don't like Trillian. Gaim is just one of them

ibmmessages is just a shop front for IBM, it doesn't add any functionality other than trying to sell you something else IBM flavoured

There are at least 4 updaters that aren't really necessary

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [UpdateManager] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Sonic\Update Manager\sgtray.exe" /r

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe" -osboot

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\jusched.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe"

can all be safely removed along with ibmmessages

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ibmmessages] C:\Program Files\IBM\Messages By IBM\ibmmessages.exe

Let me know how you get on,so I can feedback to the computer forum.

Many thanks.

[Cornish Steve]

I've emailed this to you, too, here are the comments from 2 people on the computer forum:
Lynn, you are an absolute doll. Thank you!

[Cornish Steve]

Lynn,

By cutting out the programs on startup as recommended, the time to boot is now two minutes instead of twelve minutes. Whoohoo!

[coxadmin]

That is fantastic news!

[Dave Hybrid]

Try our forum if you haven't fixed this or have any future problems.

thecomputerforums.co.uk

Thanks, Dave.

[Cornish Steve]

It's back to being ridiculously slow again. I need to delete all those files at startup that have crept back in. Also, if my laptop is inactive for ten minutes or more, it takes an age to respond to the next few commands. I may well visit your forum. Thanks for the suggestion.