Cleaning up startup files ?

This maybe the wrong group, if so my opoligies, but I am running out of
ideas of how to solve the problem that it takes about 10 minutes from
turning on my daughter Toshiba Laptop to finally get to the desktop. The
last programme to execute is MSN Messenger that she uses a lot. I have
run numerous scans including Multi AV and has found nothing. It also is
upto date with AVG Free, Spybot and AdAware. When I look at what startup
files she has I can only identify 3, but I suspect there are many hidden
that leaves the computer slowly trawling through at a very slow pace. I
also installed Process Explorer but nothing I see looks suspect. The
processor isn't that fast, but originally it ran a lot quicker, I also
removed some of the programmes that have not be used for some time.

Could anyone perhaps point me to what perhaps my next course of action
may be?

Many thanks in advance.
--
Keith (Southend)
http://www.southendweather.net
e-mail: kreh at southendweather dot net

Keith (Southend)

On Sat, 26 Aug 2006 21:12:50 +0100, Keith (Southend) wrote:

> This maybe the wrong group, if so my opoligies, but I am running out of
> ideas of how to solve the problem that it takes about 10 minutes from
> turning on my daughter Toshiba Laptop to finally get to the desktop. The
> last programme to execute is MSN Messenger that she uses a lot. I have
> run numerous scans including Multi AV and has found nothing. It also is
> upto date with AVG Free, Spybot and AdAware. When I look at what startup
> files she has I can only identify 3, but I suspect there are many hidden
> that leaves the computer slowly trawling through at a very slow pace. I
> also installed Process Explorer but nothing I see looks suspect. The
> processor isn't that fast, but originally it ran a lot quicker, I also
> removed some of the programmes that have not be used for some time.
>
> Could anyone perhaps point me to what perhaps my next course of action
> may be?
>
> Many thanks in advance.

Try this it's free.

www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/

traveler 66

traveler 66 wrote:
> On Sat, 26 Aug 2006 21:12:50 +0100, Keith (Southend) wrote:
>
>> This maybe the wrong group, if so my opoligies, but I am running out of
>> ideas of how to solve the problem that it takes about 10 minutes from
>> turning on my daughter Toshiba Laptop to finally get to the desktop. The
>> last programme to execute is MSN Messenger that she uses a lot. I have
>> run numerous scans including Multi AV and has found nothing. It also is
>> upto date with AVG Free, Spybot and AdAware. When I look at what startup
>> files she has I can only identify 3, but I suspect there are many hidden
>> that leaves the computer slowly trawling through at a very slow pace. I
>> also installed Process Explorer but nothing I see looks suspect. The
>> processor isn't that fast, but originally it ran a lot quicker, I also
>> removed some of the programmes that have not be used for some time.
>>
>> Could anyone perhaps point me to what perhaps my next course of action
>> may be?
>>
>> Many thanks in advance.
>
> Try this it's free.
>
> www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/

<snip from original post>
AdAware
<snip>

--
Keith (Southend)
http://www.southendweather.net
e-mail: kreh at southendweather dot net

Keith (Southend)

Keith (Southend) wrote:

> The last programme to execute is MSN Messenger that she uses a lot.

So you can safely consider the system compromised.

> I also installed Process Explorer but nothing I see looks suspect.

Well, I've seen many funny things that weren't related to malware at all.
Disabled hard disk caching, disabled process cache, overclocked RAM, ...

> Could anyone perhaps point me to what perhaps my next course of action
> may be?

Autoruns from Sysinternals? Flattening and rebuilding?

Sebastian Gottschalk

Sebastian Gottschalk wrote:
> Keith (Southend) wrote:
>
>> The last programme to execute is MSN Messenger that she uses a lot.
>
> So you can safely consider the system compromised.
>
>> I also installed Process Explorer but nothing I see looks suspect.
>
> Well, I've seen many funny things that weren't related to malware at all.
> Disabled hard disk caching, disabled process cache, overclocked RAM, ...
>
>> Could anyone perhaps point me to what perhaps my next course of action
>> may be?
>
> Autoruns from Sysinternals? Flattening and rebuilding?

Thanks Sebastian, yes MSN Messenger does compromise things among other
things she runs I'm sure, but it will be interesting to see what other
startups are going on besides the ones I know about. I imagine this
doesn't run as the computer starts up, as it would be interesting to see
exactly what running during those long waits.

--
Keith (Southend)
http://www.southendweather.net
e-mail: kreh at southendweather dot net

Keith (Southend)

Keith (Southend) wrote:
> This maybe the wrong group, if so my opoligies, but I am running out of
> ideas of how to solve the problem that it takes about 10 minutes from
> turning on my daughter Toshiba Laptop to finally get to the desktop. The
> last programme to execute is MSN Messenger that she uses a lot. I have
> run numerous scans including Multi AV and has found nothing. It also is
> upto date with AVG Free, Spybot and AdAware. When I look at what startup
> files she has I can only identify 3, but I suspect there are many hidden
> that leaves the computer slowly trawling through at a very slow pace. I
> also installed Process Explorer but nothing I see looks suspect. The
> processor isn't that fast, but originally it ran a lot quicker, I also
> removed some of the programmes that have not be used for some time.
>
> Could anyone perhaps point me to what perhaps my next course of action
> may be?
>
> Many thanks in advance.

Hello Keith.

When is the last time that you did a defrag of the hard drive on the
laptop? A highly fragmented hard drive can increase the boot time of a
computer a lot.

If you want to clean up your startup files in Windows Xp , and also
control what gets added to your startup, you might consider the free
programs, StartupMonitor and Startup Control Panel, written by Mike Lin.
Here is the URL: http://www.mlin.net/

From the website
------------------------------------
StartupMonitor is a small utility that runs transparently (it doesn't
even use a tray icon) and notifies you when any program registers itself
to run at system startup. It prevents annoying programs from registering
themselves behind your back.

StartupMonitor does not require Startup Control Panel, but it
complements it nicely. When you choose not to allow a program to
register itself, the program's entry becomes disabled in Startup Control
Panel, so you can go back and enable it later if necessary.
StartupMonitor watches the Start Menu's Startup folders and the Run
entries in the registry.

StartupMonitor works on any version of Windows from the last ten years.

Startup Control Panel is a nifty control panel applet that allows you to
easily configure which programs run when your computer starts. It's
simple to use and, like all my programs, is very small and won't burden
your system. A valuable tool for system administrators!

Startup Control Panel is compatible with all modern versions of Windows.
--------------------------

I have used these programs for many years without any problems.

Regards,
Canadian Cowboy.

Canadian Cowboy

Canadian Cowboy wrote:
> Keith (Southend) wrote:
>> This maybe the wrong group, if so my opoligies, but I am running out
>> of ideas of how to solve the problem that it takes about 10 minutes
>> from turning on my daughter Toshiba Laptop to finally get to the
>> desktop. The last programme to execute is MSN Messenger that she uses
>> a lot. I have run numerous scans including Multi AV and has found
>> nothing. It also is upto date with AVG Free, Spybot and AdAware. When
>> I look at what startup files she has I can only identify 3, but I
>> suspect there are many hidden that leaves the computer slowly trawling
>> through at a very slow pace. I also installed Process Explorer but
>> nothing I see looks suspect. The processor isn't that fast, but
>> originally it ran a lot quicker, I also removed some of the programmes
>> that have not be used for some time.
>>
>> Could anyone perhaps point me to what perhaps my next course of action
>> may be?
>>
>> Many thanks in advance.
>
> Hello Keith.
>
> When is the last time that you did a defrag of the hard drive on the
> laptop? A highly fragmented hard drive can increase the boot time of a
> computer a lot.
>
> If you want to clean up your startup files in Windows Xp , and also
> control what gets added to your startup, you might consider the free
> programs, StartupMonitor and Startup Control Panel, written by Mike Lin.
> Here is the URL: http://www.mlin.net/
>
> From the website
> ------------------------------------
> StartupMonitor is a small utility that runs transparently (it doesn't
> even use a tray icon) and notifies you when any program registers itself
> to run at system startup. It prevents annoying programs from registering
> themselves behind your back.
>
> StartupMonitor does not require Startup Control Panel, but it
> complements it nicely. When you choose not to allow a program to
> register itself, the program's entry becomes disabled in Startup Control
> Panel, so you can go back and enable it later if necessary.
> StartupMonitor watches the Start Menu's Startup folders and the Run
> entries in the registry.
>
> StartupMonitor works on any version of Windows from the last ten years.
>
> Startup Control Panel is a nifty control panel applet that allows you to
> easily configure which programs run when your computer starts. It's
> simple to use and, like all my programs, is very small and won't burden
> your system. A valuable tool for system administrators!
>
> Startup Control Panel is compatible with all modern versions of Windows.
> --------------------------
>
> I have used these programs for many years without any problems.
>
> Regards,
> Canadian Cowboy.
>

Thankyou Canadian Cowbow for your reply I will download these and give
them a try, although it will be later this week as I am away.

I have run, cleandisk, defrag, scandisk, Search & Destroy, AdAware, AVG,
Multi AV.exe (Sophos, Trend etc), cleaned out all temp files. Also her
disk is only about 30% full. I did load 'removestartupprogrammesbuddy'
but from what I can everything is legitimate, so I wouldn't know what to
delete/disable.

Again many thanks
--
Keith (Southend)
http://www.southendweather.net
e-mail: kreh at southendweather dot net

Keith (Southend)

traveler 66 wrote:

> On Sat, 26 Aug 2006 21:12:50 +0100, Keith (Southend) wrote:
>
> > This maybe the wrong group, if so my opoligies, but I am running out of
> > ideas of how to solve the problem that it takes about 10 minutes from
> > turning on my daughter Toshiba Laptop to finally get to the desktop. The
> > last programme to execute is MSN Messenger that she uses a lot. I have
> > run numerous scans including Multi AV and has found nothing. It also is
> > upto date with AVG Free, Spybot and AdAware. When I look at what startup
> > files she has I can only identify 3, but I suspect there are many hidden
> > that leaves the computer slowly trawling through at a very slow pace. I
> > also installed Process Explorer but nothing I see looks suspect. The
> > processor isn't that fast, but originally it ran a lot quicker, I also
> > removed some of the programmes that have not be used for some time.
> >
> > Could anyone perhaps point me to what perhaps my next course of action
> > may be?
> >
> > Many thanks in advance.
>
> Try this it's free.
>
> www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/

"It is also up to date with ... AdAware."

Idiot.

Borked Pseudo Mailed

On Sat, 26 Aug 2006 22:44:22 +0100, "Keith (Southend)"
<> wrote:

> it would be interesting to see
>exactly what running during those long waits.

process explorer from sysinternals is very
useful better get it quick as they have been
bought by microsoft.

Indeed now is probably a good time to download
all their free software.
--
Jim Watt
http://www.gibnet.com

Jim Watt

Jim Watt wrote:
> On Sat, 26 Aug 2006 22:44:22 +0100, "Keith (Southend)"
> <> wrote:
>
>> it would be interesting to see
>> exactly what running during those long waits.
>
> process explorer from sysinternals is very
> useful better get it quick as they have been
> bought by microsoft.
>
> Indeed now is probably a good time to download
> all their free software.
> --
> Jim Watt
> http://www.gibnet.com

Mmm, glad I downloaded it.

--
Keith (Southend)
http://www.southendweather.net
e-mail: kreh at southendweather dot net

Keith (Southend)