I've found my computer has slowed down at startup. I've run all the reccomended anti spyware programs. I was also wondering about adaware and spybot. I notice that these are not still recommended in your article on removing spyware. Do I still need them or does Superantispyware and avg spyware take care of everything. Thanks for your help.
Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 12:16:43 PM, on 4/17/2008
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)
To start with, I'm not a HJT expert, we Help2Go and other similar computer help sites are experiencing a shortage of such experts . I can tell you however that you appear to have quite a few programs running in the background ( the 04 entries ). The important ones that need to run are anti virus and Spyware programs, firewall, if this is a laptop the mouse pad software and very little more. Suggest you do a google search on the different programs and determine if you feel they[re needed to be running all the time. For example, if you look up the first 04 entry igfxtray.exe on google you'll find this http://www.liutilities.com/products/wintaskspro/process library/igfxtray/ and basically saying that it's not a critical component and therefore can be stopped.
Again as I mentioned, I'm not trained with HJT, however there is a different way to stop these programs from running.
Go to Start > Run > type in msconfig > OK > Startup tab > in the 'Startup Item' column you'll see boxes with check marks in them, these programs are running in the background and using up your RAM and slowing you down. Start at the top, do a search in google of that item and look up the process information on each item. It should tell you if the program is needed or not, however it goes a little deeper than that. For example, it will probably say that a graphic card (ATI etc) is needed, but in fact, unless you're a heavy game player and need to adjust your monitor settings all the time, it's not needed at all .. you'd uncheck the box. As I say, go through the list and figure out what you really need. Remember, when stopping these processes running, you are not uninstalling these programs, they can easily be activated by going through Start > All Programs or through a shortcut on your desktop. Also. at any time you can go back into msconfig and check the program again if you feel it needs to be running.
After unchecking the boxes, >OK and then reboot your PC. When rebooted, a configuration window will open, check the box 'do not show this message again' or words to this effect > OK and your done. From this point, you should see an improvement in boot up time as well as a general increase in PC speed.
If you have any questions in regards to some of the running background programs, give us the Startup Item (in list form) and we'll give you our advice.
Thanks for your help. Here's the list of my startup items if you have any advice. My computer is a Toshiba Satellite laptop.
One of the lines was blank, but its location is HKLM\Software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\run
SynTPEnh touchpad features such as scrolling and tap zones if not used uncheck
Thotkey Associated with the Fn+ keys on Toshiba laptops if you've set function keys keep ..if not uncheck
NDSTray if you're not on network .. uncheck
AGRSMMSG IBM AMR modem driver .. if you don't use modem .. uncheck
SmoothView TOSHIBA Zooming Utility - allows "automatic" zoom feature in some appications. if you don't use ..uncheck
TvsTray Allows you to change sound settings on the fly - default setting is "build-in speaker .. not needed
SMax4PNP SoundMax integrated sound. not needed
Smax4 System Tray icon for SoundMax not needed
TFncKy Deals with the - key combinations on a Toshiba laptop .. probably not needed
TPSMain Provides access to Power Saver settings on a Toshiba laptop. You've probably set this manually .. not needed
PadExe Toshiba Touch and Launch - offers easy movement and freedom of programs navigation with TouchPad ..probably not needed
pinger Toshiba updates not needed .. check manually once or twice a year
ifrmewrk Associated with the Intel PRO/Set Wireless software .. if you go wireless you probably need this.
EOUWiz Ease of Use Wizard Application for Intel wireless cards .. not needed
maximizer_startup Toshiba Notebook Maximizer software - adjust settings to save battery power and increase efficiency .. not needed .. again you probably set this manually
tfswctrl If you use Nero for writing CDs this is not needed
NeroCheck Keep if using Nero for writing cds
avgcc Keep virus scanner
MSASCui Microsoft's Windows Defender Antispyware program keep
QTTask Not needed, but to really stop this from loading it requires a Registry edit
iTunesHelper same as above .. a real pain
zlclient Firewall program from Zonelabs .. keep
ctfmon language/alternative input services in Office XP .. not needed, but you can't get rid of it
toscdspd Used to provide an acoustic silencer for the CD drive Not needed
TeaTimer TeaTimer is a new tool of Spybot S&D but if using SUPERAntiSpyware it really isn't needed
SUPERAntiSpyware Keep
Adobe Reader Speed Launch not needed
iTunesHelper entered twice, uncheck and see if you can lose one of the entries
MtdAcq Creative_MediaSource "Sound Sniffer" Not needed
The blank line uncheck box.
If you have any questions about any particular program, check it out at http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/startups/tfswctrl.exe-5 724.html . Again I stress, this is what I would choose to do, also remember you can also re-check box if you feel you need a particular program running.
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