Very slow computer

[PattiChati]

Hi and thanks for answering.
My language is set as English, but it hasn't been doing that the last day - so go figure!!!!
I am using Slimbrower which incorporates IE. I know I checked Active X before and it was all enabled. But right now I cannot figure out how to get to it.
The URL error message is on various sites, one of them being yours over the last weekend.
The Active X shows up whenver I open IE and hit on "mail"
I get mixed opinions on whether to use a Registry cleaner. That if you install and uninstall programs, it can leave a lot of junk behind.
Have any idea why my computer is so slow. Just this morning opening up my mail took 15 seconds. Then things might move around okay and then slow down to a crawl. I am on cable modem and it shows an upload speed of over 10000 sometimes. I have .99 gb of ram.
I just know that I did something or added something that caused this. It used to run beautfiully for quite a while.
Can you also suggest what the best browser is? I tried Firefox, but I didn't like the toolbars. Slimbrowser, which I use now, has very user friendly toolbars with automatic tabbing which is great, since I jump from site to site.
Thanks so much and will await your reply.
I have replied on newsgroups before and they might answer once, but then don't get back to you, so wasn't sure how this site worked.
I really apprecite your help and hope you can help me.
Thanks,
Patti

[jholland1964]

Ok Patti,
Notice in one of your posts above you state that with CCleaner you have removed "stuff to do with active x"....what "stuff" to do with ActiveX?
This makes me suspicious since this is what you seem to be having problems with right now.
You also say this happens when pressing the "mail" button. What mail program do you use or are you using a web based mail or Outlook Express or Outlook?

You also say "I have run Ccleaner and Quick CleanXP...They do it automatically, so I don't pay attention."
I would never recommend not paying attention...yes, the programs are good, BUT any program can make a mistake and remove something that you truly need. ALWAYS set the program to NOT remove automatically but to show you first what can be removed and then YOU decide what to remove, don't let the program do it on it's own.

Stop running all those cleaners daily for one thing. I use AdAwareSE, Spybot S & D weekly, that is all, once a week and I do it manually not automatically. And I look at everything found before removing. The only program I have set to run and update automatically is my anti-virus program. I occasionally run CCleaner, manually, not very often. Generally I clean things up by using the built in DiskCleanup...weekly only and again manually. By running those constantly and automatically, and you must have them set to remove all, you are removing some of the cookies that you NEED. Not all cookies are bad some you need to make it easy to get back into a website. Sounds to me as if you have changed some sort of setting in your browsers, firewall, anti-spy programs or all of the above that have actually disabled your internet viewing and access to some extent.
If you have any of these scanners/cleaners set to either run automatically or run in the background all the time, turn that part off...with the exception of your anti-virus program, leave it running.

Also, what firewall are you running?

Did you update your Java as PP noted being out of date in his first post to you?

ActiveX errors are most usually caused by certain browser settings and misconfigured system files. To fix the problem, please adjust the settings in Internet Explorer by following the steps below:

1. Click the 'Tools' menu at the top of your browser, and select 'Internet Options.'
2. Click the 'Security' tab at the top of the dialogue box, and set 'Medium' as the 'Security level for this zone.'
3. Click 'Custom Level' button and ensure that the following are set to 'Enabled':
   • Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins
   • Script ActiveX controls marked safe for scripting
   • Scripting
4. Click 'OK' after these settings are enabled.
5. Click 'OK' again to save your changes.

Also while in Security click on Restricted Sites and scroll through the list to see what sites are listed there. You may have put one in there by accident. Some are already listed there automatically but you can also Restrict sites yourself.

If your browser was already set correctly, it's likely that you have a misconfigured system file. Here's how to reset the system file to the default settings:

1. Click the 'Start' button in Windows.
2. Select 'Run.'
3. Enter 'regsvr32 msxml3.dll' in the 'Open:' field, and click 'OK.'

As for browsers, I prefer Firefox and use it exclusively except for Program Updates. I used to use Slimbrowser also but had some sort of problem with it though now cannot recall what, it has been too long ago. For the moment, I would advise against trying multiple browsers until we get this security issue settled. Work with it for now via Internet Explorer and see if we can get it corrected, as it is needed anyway for any Windows updates required.

[PhilliePhan]

Hi Patti, Judy;

Sorry I couldn't get back sooner - Site was down over the weekend and have been deluged with work this week.

Looks like some good suggestions, Judy. We should simplify things as much as possible to narrrow down possible culprits.

-- It might be a good idea to revisit the HJT log. There were some items that needed to be fixed (general cleanup) that I ignored because they wouldn't contribute to the problem.

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Int ernet Settings,ProxyServer = :0
Let's fix this entry with HJT.
Do you use a proxy, Patti?

- We may need to look at the registry in more depth. I imagine a number of keys are cattywampus as a result of the reg cleaners...

Will try to check back soon. Best Luck, guys!

PP

[PattiChati]

Thank you for getting back to me.
I do not use a proxy.
When I use Ccleaner and Quick Clean it does do it without asking what you want cleaned. I wouldn't know anyway what to do. I have used these two programs for quite some time and never had a problem with them. Cleaner says before you even run it that it will permanenetly delete - it doesn't give you a choice. QuickClean really doesn't either.
The only thing that runs in the background is my AVG virus program with firewall.
I went to update Java and it said I had the latest version. I went ahead and downloaded it anyway.
Slimbrowser uses IE doesn't it? It just has a different look and has the automatic tabbing that I like. I was using Firefox also.
On my security tabs, everything was already set to what you suggested. The restricted zone had one that was disabled, so I changed that. I also ran the regsvr thing.
I am wondering if when I cleaned out the registry it deleted things and now that is why it isn't working well. No way to get that back, is there. I already ran the backups on the few backups I had, but it made no difference.
I think I have answered all your questions. Right now I am working in Slimbrowser becaue It seems faster than IE, even though Slimbrowser uses IE. I don't even have firefox loaded anymore. Thank you for your help and I await your reply.
Thanks.

[PhilliePhan]

I am wondering if when I cleaned out the registry it deleted things and now that is why it isn't working well. No way to get that back, is there. I already ran the backups on the few backups I had, but it made no difference.

That would be my best guesstimate. Either doing that messed up your compy or it contributed to an existing problem. It is hard to say without being able to sit in front of the actual machine. From what you describe, it sounds like a number of protocol and security keys have been altered.
Some of it sounds like malware - we have seen a number of baddies mess with these settings. However, if this were the case, I would have seen evidence of them in the WinPFind Log.

-- Have you tried a System Restore to a point before the madness started?

-- How does your machine run in Safe Mode? Do you have Safe Mode with Networking? You should be able to access the net in Safe Mode - give that a try and see if you still have problems. That answer will help narrow things down for us.

Will check back as time permits. I imagine Judy will as well.

Best Luck
PP

[jholland1964]

Ok Patti,
Have looked through your logs. There doesn't seem to be and baddies running but there is some clean up you can do. But FIRST, could you go back into msconfig and re-enable the items you have turned off at Start up. Reboot and then run us a new HJT scan and post it here? I would really like to see what you have turned off because there are several items that DO run at Start up and were running when you ran the first scan that are unnecessary. I want to see what you felt should have been turned off.
Give me that new log with everything re-enabled AND with your BROWSERS turned OFF. Also please relocate HiJackThis to a folder of it's own.