Slow computer, And startup error.

Hi Firefly

I'm not surprised the system is slow, but that's fairly easy to sort.
I can see why you are getting that error, we need to do a few things first and then we'll deal with the error and the rest of the entries that need attention.

Step 1
It is not recommend that you have more than one anti virus product installed and running on your computer at a time. The reason for this is that if both products have their automatic (Real-Time) protection switched on, then those products which do not encrypt the virus strings within them can cause other anti virus products to cause "false alarms".
It can also lead to a clash as both products fight for access to files which are opened again this is the resident/automatic protection. In general terms, the two programs may conflict and cause:
1) False Alarms: When the anti virus software tells you that your PC has a virus when it actually doesn't.
2) System Performance Problems: Your system may lock up due to both products attempting to access the same file at the same time.
Therefore please go to add/remove in the control panel and remove either AVG or Avast.


Step 2
Please remove the following programs:
jZip
RegCure Pro

Let me know if you receive any error when trying to remove them.

Step 3
I see you already have AdwCleaner in your download folder.
I don't know which version you have or where it came from so I'll give you fresh instructions.

Please download AdwCleaner by Xplode onto your desktop.

• Close all open programs and internet browsers.
• Double click on adwcleaner.exe to run the tool.
  Vista/Windows 7/8/10 users right-click and select Run As Administrator.
• Click I agree to the Terms of Use.
• Click on the Scan button.
• AdwCleaner will begin to scan your computer.
• After the scan has finished...
• Click on the Cleaning button.
• Press OK when asked to close all programs and follow the onscreen prompts.
• Press OK again to allow AdwCleaner to restart the computer and complete the removal process.
• After rebooting, a logfile report (AdwCleaner[C0].txt) will open automatically.
• Copy and paste the contents of that logfile in your next reply.
• A copy of that logfile will also be saved in the C:\ folder.

Step 4
Please re-run FRST.

• Make sure that Addition.txt is selected at the bottom
• Press Scan button.
  
  
  
• It will make a log (FRST.txt) in the same directory the tool is run. Please copy and paste it to your reply.
• It will also make another log (Addition.txt). Please copy and paste it to your reply also.

In your next reply, please submit:
AdwCleaner report
2 fresh FRST reports



Thanks.

 

Hi Firefly,

Most of AVG has been removed, but obviously their uninstaller is a load of rubbish.
I missed the fact that the AVG entry in the uninstall list was actually hidden! ... that's why you can't see it.

Well there's still loads of AVG entries in the report..... but we'll take care of those when we run the fix.

Unfortunately I can't finish the fix at the moment as you inadvertently posted the main FRST report twice.
The report under your Addition heading is the same main FRST report.

Can you have a look in the Download folder for the new Addition.txt and post it for me.
Then I can complete the fix.

Again, rubbish uninstallers..... but AdwCleaner has taken care of most of those entries:

So as soon as you let me have the Addition.txt we can continue.

Thanks

 

Hi Firefly

Don't worry, you're not the first to do that and I doubt you'll be the last

Please download the attached fixlist.txt file (bottom of this post) and save it to C:\Users\Tom\Downloads.
NOTE.
It's important that both files, FRST and fixlist.txt are in the same location or the fix will not work.

NOTICE: This script was written specifically for this user, for use on that particular machine.
Running this on another machine may cause damage to your operating system

Re-run FRST/FRST64 (which ever is installed ) and press the Fix button just once and wait.



The tool will make a log in the Download folder (Fixlog.txt).
Please post this in your next reply.

Also give me an update on how the system is running now.

Thanks.

 

Hi Firefly,

Ok, a couple of things we can do to try and determine the cause.
But before we do that we need to get your Java sorted out.

Step 1
Your Java is out of date. Older versions have vulnerabilities that malware can use to infect your system. A malicious site could render Java content under older, vulnerable versions of Sun's software if the user has not removed them. Please follow these steps to remove older version Java components and update:

• Download the latest version of Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 8 Update 101 / 102 and save it to your desktop.
• Scroll down to where it says "Java SE 8 Update 101 / 102".
• Click the "Download JRE " button.
  
  
  
  
• Accept the license agreement.
  
  
  
• select 'Windows x64 offline' from the list.
• Save the file to your desktop.
• Close any programs you may have running - especially your web browser.
• Go to Start > Settings > Control Panel, double-click on Add/Remove Programs and remove all older versions of Java.
• Check (highlight) any item with Java Runtime Environment (JRE or J2SE) in the name.
• Click the Remove or Change/Remove button.
• Repeat as many times as necessary to remove each Java versions.
• Reboot your computer once all Java components are removed.
• Then from your desktop double-click on downloaded icon to install the newest version.

Step 2
Let's try and sort out some of the errors in the error log.

Run the Scandisk utility within Windows.

• Click Start >> Computer
• Right click on your main drive (usually 'C')
• Select Properties
• Click on the Tools tab
• Under Error Checking.. Click Check Now
• Tick the options that you require ( Please tick both options )
• Click Start
• On the screen that comes up.. Click Yes then OK
• Now restart your computer.

Note: Be patient. Analyzing the drive can be a lengthy process


When this has finished and your system has booted up again....

Click Start >> All Programs >> Accessories,
Now right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator.
If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Allow.
Type the following command, and then press the ENTER key on the keyboard: (the space is meant to be there between the c and the / )
sfc /scannow

The sfc /scannow command scans all protected system files and replaces incorrect versions with correct Microsoft versions.

Scandisc doesn't always sort everything out on the first pass, so please run this twice.


Step 3
If you are still getting slow loading programs after the previous steps:

Hold down the Windows key on your keyboard and press the R key.
With the Run dialogue window open, type in msconfig and click the OK button.

You should now be looking at the System Configuration window.
Click on the Services tab.

On the Services tab, you'll notice a long list of services available on your PC
First, check the box labeled Hide All Microsoft Services. <<<<<<<<<<< Important
Next, click the Disable All button

By performing these two steps, you have effectively turned off all services from third-party software developers.
All Microsoft services remain intact and will be ready to load when you reboot Windows.

Finally, click the OK button and reboot the system

When you reboot, you may get messages that certain hardware and software are not unavailable. This is normal.

Just be sure to hide all Microsoft services before you use the Disable All button. Otherwise, you may encounter boot up errors when you reboot your PC.

Remember, running Windows like this is just temporary..... but if everything loads faster it'll mean the problem is probably a software conflict.



To restore Windows to a normal start up functionality:

• Start the System Configuration Utility again (MSCONFIG)
• On the "General" tab:
• Click to select "Normal Startup"
• Click "OK"
• Choose the "Exit with Restart" option to restart your computer.

Let me know how things go.

 

When you ran scandisc and scannow,.... did you read on the reports if anything was corrected at all?

 

I tend to stop most programs starting with Windows, if the option is there.
Strange though, because when we ran the 'Clean Boot' there was no difference .... but Skype would have been disabled.
You do have a few Adobe entries running at startup..... if you don't use Adobe regularly, these can be stopped as well. ( same as the Webcam)
All of these can be started manually if and when you need them.

 

Hi Firefly,

If everything is ok now, we can finish the cleaning process and remove the tools we have used.
We'll also set you a fresh restore point.

Step 1
Restart MBAM.
Click on the History tab >> Quarantine
Tick to select all items (if any there ) and then click the Delete button.
Close MBAM.


Step 2
Download Delfix and save it to your desktop.

• Ensure Remove disinfection tools is checked.
• Also place a checkmark next to:
• Create registry backup
• Purge system restore
  
  
  .
• Click the Run button.

When the tool has finished, please reboot your system to finalize the cleanup procedure.
A log will open in notepad.... but i don't actually need this report

Thanks