very slow, can somebody check my HJT log

my computer (Dell 2350 with XP 2002 and SP2, pentium 4, 1.8 Ghtz, and 256 megs of RAM) has been running increasingly slower. It takes forever for programs to load and to close, especially if IE is left on and idle. I am a casual user, mostly just e-mail and some games, some research, browsing and home banking.

I have had Lime Wire and KaZaa lite installed in the past but uninstalled and deleted them. I also uninstalled AOL recently. None of this sped up my system.

I use AdAware, AOL anti spy, CA and the latest version of AVG. I have Zone Alarm Firewall.

Could somebody please look at this HJT log and see if they see anything suspect?

Is my system just outdated? I know more RAM would help but I want to be sure there isn't something else.
THANK YOU

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 1:31:39 PM, on 3/15/2007
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.16414)

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\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgamsvr.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgupsvc.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgemc.exe
C:\Program Files\CA\CA Internet Security Suite\CA Anti-Virus\ISafe.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\cisvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_11\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\HP\HP Software Update\HPWuSchd2.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\HPZipm12.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgcc.exe
C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\CA\CA Internet Security Suite\CA Anti-Virus\VetMsg.exe
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\reader_sl.exe
C:\Program Files\HP\Digital Imaging\bin\hpqtra08.exe
C:\Program Files\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe
C:\Program Files\HP\Digital Imaging\bin\hpqSTE08.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://us.rd.yahoo.com/customize/yco.../www.yahoo.com
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.yahoo.com/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://www.yahoo.com
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.yahoo.com
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchURL,(Default) = http://us.rd.yahoo.com/customize/yco.../www.yahoo.com
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Window Title = Windows Internet Explorer provided by Yahoo!
R3 - URLSearchHook: Yahoo! Toolbar - {EF99BD32-C1FB-11D2-892F-0090271D4F88} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn0\yt.dll
O2 - BHO: Yahoo! Toolbar Helper - {02478D38-C3F9-4EFB-9B51-7695ECA05670} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn0\yt.dll
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_11\bin\ssv.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Yahoo! Toolbar - {EF99BD32-C1FB-11D2-892F-0090271D4F88} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn0\yt.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Zone Labs Client] "C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_11\bin\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HP Software Update] C:\Program Files\HP\HP Software Update\HPWuSchd2.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe" -osboot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVG7_CC] C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgcc.exe /STARTUP
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Microsoft Works Update Detection] C:\Program Files\Microsoft Works\WkDetect.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Reader Speed Launch.lnk = C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\reader_sl.exe
O4 - Global Startup: HP Digital Imaging Monitor.lnk = C:\Program Files\HP\Digital Imaging\bin\hpqtra08.exe
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_11\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_11\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - %windir%\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - %windir%\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe (file missing)
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: [INTERNATIONAL] International*
O16 - DPF: Yahoo! Chat - http://us.chat1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com.../c381/chat.cab
O16 - DPF: Yahoo! Cribbage - http://download.games.yahoo.com/game...ts/y/it1_x.cab
O16 - DPF: Yahoo! Graffiti - http://download.games.yahoo.com/game...s/y/grt5_x.cab
O16 - DPF: Yahoo! Literati - http://download.games.yahoo.com/game...ts/y/tt4_x.cab
O16 - DPF: {200B3EE9-7242-4EFD-B1E4-D97EE825BA53} (VerifyGMN Class) - http://h20270.www2.hp.com/ediags/gmn...taller_gmn.cab
O16 - DPF: {30528230-99F7-4BB4-88D8-FA1D4F56A2AB} (YInstStarter Class) - http://us.dl1.yimg.com/download.yaho...st20040510.cab
O16 - DPF: {6E32070A-766D-4EE6-879C-DC1FA91D2FC3} (MUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/microsof...?1170498461718
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://fpdownload2.macromedia.com/ge...sh/swflash.cab
O16 - DPF: {DF780F87-FF2B-4DF8-92D0-73DB16A1543A} - http://download.games.yahoo.com/game...ploader_v6.cab
O16 - DPF: {F58E1CEF-A068-4C15-BA5E-587CAF3EE8C6} (MSN Chat Control 4.5) - http://chat.msn.com/bin/msnchat45.cab
O20 - Winlogon Notify: igfxcui - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\igfxsrvc.dll
O20 - Winlogon Notify: WgaLogon - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WgaLogon.dll
O23 - Service: AVG7 Alert Manager Server (Avg7Alrt) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgamsvr.exe
O23 - Service: AVG7 Update Service (Avg7UpdSvc) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgupsvc.exe
O23 - Service: AVG E-mail Scanner (AVGEMS) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgemc.exe
O23 - Service: CAISafe - Computer Associates International, Inc. - C:\Program Files\CA\CA Internet Security Suite\CA Anti-Virus\ISafe.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Computer, Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: Pml Driver HPZ12 - HP - C:\WINDOWS\system32\HPZipm12.exe
O23 - Service: VET Message Service (VETMSGNT) - CA, Inc. - C:\Program Files\CA\CA Internet Security Suite\CA Anti-Virus\VetMsg.exe
O23 - Service: TrueVector Internet Monitor (vsmon) - Zone Labs, LLC - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe

I don't have the time to dig into your hjack this log yet... at first glance it looks ok. However, you are running a LOT for only having 256mb of ram. If you have an integrated video card, that often also reduces your ram available to the system.

How much is being used after you start the workstation? More than likely, a ram upgrade would fix your performance issues. I'd recommend at least 512. I won't run XP without 1gig. I run a lot of stuff though...

These utilties start themselves with the OS to check for updates. You can remove them from starting and just keep on top of it yourself. That will save you some resources.

jusched.exe
hpwuschd2.exe
realsched.exe
qttask.exe
ituneshelper.exe
wkdetect.exe
reader_sl.exe

I would also get rid of the Yahoo! Toolbar just because I despise it.

I wouldn't use the HP Digital Imaging programs either. But, that is just me. I like to access my pictures after they've been mounted and move them manually myself. I don't like the utilities they provide with cameras... or printers for that matter.

a couple of things

You need more memory...256 is min...512 or 1 gig will make a huge difference...

specially if you are running 2 AVs (not recommended) and multiple Antispyware.

Quote:

---

O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - %windir%\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - %windir%\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe (file missing)

---

you can remove these...seeing the files are missing

MLF

In addition to upgrading RAM (which you very strongly need)

Try running MSCONFIG, going into startup, selective startup, and unchecking those programs non-essential to your computer's operation. This'll free up a thunderous amount of system resources.

you have way to much running for that little ram, ram is cheap get at least 512

Actually, if you are a gamer with on board graphics I'd go with a 1 Gig ram minimum.

A run with Spybot S&D couldn't hurt too. Nothing obvious jumps out at me from the logs that hasn't been mentioned already.

i would remove the suggested items, then maybe boot up into safe mode. and turn of system restore, then do a disc defrag. then run your AV and antispy ware programs.

Then reboot the computer then turn system restore back on, and make a fresh restore point.

and also maybe upgrade your ram..

cheers
acidtone..:)

In the first instance, submit your HJT log file here:

http://www.hijackthis.de/

You will get an automatic analysis ;) just check out the stuff they warn about or don't recognise.

Remove things that you do not use all the time from your start up folder, and only call them when you need them.

Get CCleaner and run it http://www.ccleaner.com/

Reboot into safe mode and run all your scans.

Defragment your hard drive.

As already stated, you have a minimal amount of RAM to run Windows XP. Adding more will produce a noticeable improvement. Whilst I would not personally build an XP box with less than 1GB, you will really notice a difference between 256 and 512.

This is a true story that I hope will amuse you............. a few months ago I had a machine in that "wasn't working properly"............. that isn't the joke..........that is how some of us supplement our income:D

It has Windows XP Pro SP2 and 64MB of RAM. It also had onboard graphics!

My first instinctive move was to try another monitor................ it was that slow!............then I saw what the problem was :eek:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Aardpsymon

Actually, if you are a gamer with on board graphics I'd go with a 1 Gig ram minimum.

---

Doubt that a "gamer" would be using an onboard video card? I doubt that any newer games would even run on it? Maybe solitare?

Nihil: According to m$, 128mb of memory is fine... 64mb is supported... but "may may limit performance and some features"... ROFL.

Always take what m$ counts as recommended and quadruple it.

They recommend 512mb or memory for Vista... so, that means at least 2gigs.

When did you last run disc cleanup?

I used on board for a while. I had the money to upgrade the mb but not the gpu. Then I went and got a nice shiny GF7800. What I find funny is when gamers go buy these beasts with 3 ATI1900X chained together with a 2000W PSU then say "hah! I get 1000fps, mine is bigger than yours!" and I just point out "your monitor only updates 80 times a second. 920 of those fps you paid so much for in hardware and power aren't leaving the buffer."
</off topic ramble>

Thanks for all the advice. I run Clean Up! all the time and defrag regularly. By the way, and I know you will laugh, but the games I was referring to were literatti and sudoku.

I had realized my ram was sort of puny but I wanted to be sure there wasn't something running and using a ton of it that I wasn't aware of.

I will get more RAM installed

Thanks All,
John

Most new PCs come with a ton of things running at startup that just aren't necessary. In addition, certain invasive programs like Real Player and Quicktime insist on running at startup when they're not needed. Adopey acrocrap leaves processes running after you close it. AOL also has lots of processes that might not have been deleted when you deleted the program.