SLOW PC

[Rhodell]

Hello to all.
I came to realize that over time a PC becomes slow just simply by installing/uninstalling software.
I have read the Q&A section in regards to that matter on this website but a definite solution does not seem to be in hand.
Is there any way to get my PC to run faster WITHOUT the use of those third party softwares?
How can I get rid of those old registry files of softwares I uninstalled?
I have 3rd party registry cleaners but its all a hoax since if I go to re-download an old software (trials are a great example) the software seems to IDENTIFY my computer and it acts like it was always installed even though I uninstalled it AND I cleaned up the registry after that with MORE than one software.
I think if I am able to get the registry cleaned up my computer (any computer) will become faster again.

Am I right?
How can I do that?
Thanks in advance for your answers.

[drmsucks]

More info, please: http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/topic,33586.0.html.

There is probably more to it than "get the registry cleaned up my computer (any computer) will become faster again."

[Broni]

...and DO NOT fall for any 3rd party "miracle tools". They DO NOT work.

[Rhodell]

OK
More info:
Win XP Home SP2
AMD Athlon 64X2 Dual 4200+
RAM 1024MB
HD 250G 75% Full
Startup is almost empty with only AVG Free on load
and yet still takes LOOOONG time to get those windows up.

[Broni]

Define "LOOOOONG".
When Windows is up, does computer operates normally?

[Rhodell]

I would assume 2-3 (sometimes 4) minutes  for boot time is awfully long.
PC operated normally but slow.
Even after loading windows and everything looks ok if I right click on the empty desktop or any file I get the busy pointer for about another minute (actuall 60 seconds time) just on a right click on an empty desktop.
Now I wouldn's know maybe what LOOOONG is but I happen to have two more PC's an Old Laptop and an OLD desktop all loading in times between 20-30 seconds.
So 3 minutes is long considering this machine is by far better in specs than anything else I have here.

[Broni]

Yeah. That's not normal.

Download HijackThis:
http://www.trendsecure.com/portal/en-US/tools/security_tools/hijackthis/download
Click on Download HijackThis Installer
Post HijackTHis log.

[Rhodell]

Do i need to restart fresh and Hijack or just right now which I am playing a game and have browser and email prg's on?

Thanks for your interest btw.

[Broni]

You can post it right away.

[Rhodell]

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 6:40:07 PM, on 8/10/2008
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.16674)
Boot mode: Normal

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\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\avgwdsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
C:\Program Files\M-Audio\M-Audio Series II MIDI\MA_CMIDI_Inst.exe
C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\nTune\nTuneService.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\avgrsx.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\avgtray.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\avgemc.exe
C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Rhodell\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Update\GoogleUpdate.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\wbem\wmiapsrv.exe
C:\AeriaGames\LastChaosUSA\bin\nksp.exe
C:\Program Files\POP Peeper\POPPeeper.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.daemonsearch.com/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
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://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page =
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Connection Wizard,ShellNext = http://www.yahoo.com/
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = *.local
R3 - URLSearchHook: Yahoo! ¤u¨ăŚC - {EF99BD32-C1FB-11D2-892F-0090271D4F88} - C:\PROGRA~1\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn1\yt.dll
O1 - Hosts: 209.216.253.186 www.winmx.com err.winmx.com
O1 - Hosts: 205.238.40.2 test3201.winmx.com test3205.winmx.com
O1 - Hosts: 205.238.40.2 test3202.winmx.com test3206.winmx.com
O1 - Hosts: 205.238.40.1 test3203.winmx.com test3207.winmx.com
O1 - Hosts: 205.238.40.1 test3204.winmx.com test3208.winmx.com
O1 - Hosts: 205.238.40.2 c3310.z1301.winmx.com c3310.z1302.winmx.com c3310.z1303.winmx.com c3310.z1304.winmx.com c3310.z1305.winmx.com c3310.z1306.winmx.com
O1 - Hosts: 205.238.40.2 c3313.z1301.winmx.com c3313.z1302.winmx.com c3313.z1303.winmx.com c3313.z1304.winmx.com c3313.z1305.winmx.com c3313.z1306.winmx.com
O1 - Hosts: 205.238.40.2 c3316.z1301.winmx.com c3316.z1302.winmx.com c3316.z1303.winmx.com c3316.z1304.winmx.com c3316.z1305.winmx.com c3316.z1306.winmx.com
O1 - Hosts: 205.238.40.2 c3311.z1301.winmx.com c3311.z1302.winmx.com c3311.z1303.winmx.com c3311.z1304.winmx.com c3311.z1305.winmx.com c3311.z1306.winmx.com
O1 - Hosts: 205.238.40.2 c3314.z1301.winmx.com c3314.z1302.winmx.com c3314.z1303.winmx.com c3314.z1304.winmx.com c3314.z1305.winmx.com c3314.z1306.winmx.com
O1 - Hosts: 205.238.40.1 c3317.z1301.winmx.com c3317.z1302.winmx.com c3317.z1303.winmx.com c3317.z1304.winmx.com c3317.z1305.winmx.com c3317.z1306.winmx.com
O1 - Hosts: 205.238.40.1 c3312.z1301.winmx.com c3312.z1302.winmx.com c3312.z1303.winmx.com c3312.z1304.winmx.com c3312.z1305.winmx.com c3312.z1306.winmx.com
O1 - Hosts: 205.238.40.1 c3315.z1301.winmx.com c3315.z1302.winmx.com c3315.z1303.winmx.com c3315.z1304.winmx.com c3315.z1305.winmx.com c3315.z1306.winmx.com
O1 - Hosts: 205.238.40.1 c3318.z1301.winmx.com c3318.z1302.winmx.com c3318.z1303.winmx.com c3318.z1304.winmx.com c3318.z1305.winmx.com c3318.z1306.winmx.com
O1 - Hosts: 205.238.40.2 c3319.z1301.winmx.com c3319.z1302.winmx.com c3319.z1303.winmx.com c3319.z1304.winmx.com c3319.z1305.winmx.com c3319.z1306.winmx.com
O1 - Hosts: 205.238.40.2 c3520.z1301.winmx.com c3520.z1302.winmx.com c3520.z1303.winmx.com c3520.z1304.winmx.com c3520.z1305.winmx.com c3520.z1306.winmx.com
O1 - Hosts: 205.238.40.2 c3523.z1301.winmx.com c3523.z1302.winmx.com c3523.z1303.winmx.com c3523.z1304.winmx.com c3523.z1305.winmx.com c3523.z1306.winmx.com
O1 - Hosts: 205.238.40.2 c3526.z1301.winmx.com c3526.z1302.winmx.com c3526.z1303.winmx.com c3526.z1304.winmx.com c3526.z1305.winmx.com c3526.z1306.winmx.com
O1 - Hosts: 205.238.40.2 c3521.z1301.winmx.com c3521.z1302.winmx.com c3521.z1303.winmx.com c3521.z1304.winmx.com c3521.z1305.winmx.com c3521.z1306.winmx.com
O1 - Hosts: 205.238.40.2 c3524.z1301.winmx.com c3524.z1302.winmx.com c3524.z1303.winmx.com c3524.z1304.winmx.com c3524.z1305.winmx.com c3524.z1306.winmx.com
O1 - Hosts: 205.238.40.1 c3527.z1301.winmx.com c3527.z1302.winmx.com c3527.z1303.winmx.com c3527.z1304.winmx.com c3527.z1305.winmx.com c3527.z1306.winmx.com
O1 - Hosts: 205.238.40.1 c3522.z1301.winmx.com c3522.z1302.winmx.com c3522.z1303.winmx.com c3522.z1304.winmx.com c3522.z1305.winmx.com c3522.z1306.winmx.com
O1 - Hosts: 205.238.40.1 c3525.z1301.winmx.com c3525.z1302.winmx.com c3525.z1303.winmx.com c3525.z1304.winmx.com c3525.z1305.winmx.com c3525.z1306.winmx.com
O1 - Hosts: 205.238.40.1 c3528.z1301.winmx.com c3528.z1302.winmx.com c3528.z1303.winmx.com c3528.z1304.winmx.com c3528.z1305.winmx.com c3528.z1306.winmx.com
O1 - Hosts: 205.238.40.1 c3529.z1301.winmx.com c3529.z1302.winmx.com c3529.z1303.winmx.com c3529.z1304.winmx.com c3529.z1305.winmx.com c3529.z1306.winmx.com
O2 - BHO: &Yahoo! Toolbar Helper - {02478D38-C3F9-4EFB-9B51-7695ECA05670} - C:\PROGRA~1\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn1\yt.dll
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: WormRadar.com IESiteBlocker.NavFilter - {3CA2F312-6F6E-4B53-A66E-4E65E497C8C0} - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG8\avgssie.dll
O2 - BHO: Yahoo! IE Services Button - {5BAB4B5B-68BC-4B02-94D6-2FC0DE4A7897} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common\yiesrvc.dll
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_09\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Conversion Toolbar Helper - {AE7CD045-E861-484f-8273-0445EE161910} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Notifier BHO - {AF69DE43-7D58-4638-B6FA-CE66B5AD205D} - C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\2.0.301.7164\swg.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Yahoo! ¤u¨ăŚC - {EF99BD32-C1FB-11D2-892F-0090271D4F88} - C:\PROGRA~1\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn1\yt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Adobe PDF - {47833539-D0C5-4125-9FA8-0819E2EAAC93} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVG8_TRAY] C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\avgtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe"  -osboot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Google Update] "C:\Documents and Settings\Rhodell\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Update\GoogleUpdate.exe" /c
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [NVIDIA nTune] "C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\nTune\nTuneCmd.exe" clear
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Yahoo! Search - file:///C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common/ycsrch.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: Append to existing PDF - res://C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIEAppend.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert link target to Adobe PDF - res://C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIECapture.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert link target to existing PDF - res://C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIEAppend.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert selected links to Adobe PDF - res://C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIECaptureSelLinks.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert selected links to existing PDF - res://C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIEAppendSelLinks.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert selection to Adobe PDF - res://C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIECapture.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert selection to existing PDF - res://C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIEAppend.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert to Adobe PDF - res://C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIECapture.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office10\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O8 - Extra context menu item: Yahoo! &Dictionary - file:///C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common/ycdict.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: Yahoo! &Maps - file:///C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common/ycmap.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: Yahoo! &SMS - file:///C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common/ycsms.htm
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_09\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_09\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: Yahoo! Services - {5BAB4B5B-68BC-4B02-94D6-2FC0DE4A7897} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common\yiesrvc.dll
O16 - DPF: {30528230-99f7-4bb4-88d8-fa1d4f56a2ab} (Installation Support) - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common\Yinsthelper.dll
O16 - DPF: {6E32070A-766D-4EE6-879C-DC1FA91D2FC3} (MUWebControl Class) - http://www.update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/muweb_site.cab?1214266015281
O18 - Protocol: linkscanner - {F274614C-63F8-47D5-A4D1-FBDDE494F8D1} - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG8\avgpp.dll
O20 - AppInit_DLLs: avgrsstx.dll
O23 - Service: Adobe LM Service - Adobe Systems - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe Systems Shared\Service\Adobelmsvc.exe
O23 - Service: AVG8 E-mail Scanner (avg8emc) - AVG Technologies CZ, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\avgemc.exe
O23 - Service: AVG8 WatchDog (avg8wd) - AVG Technologies CZ, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\avgwdsvc.exe
O23 - Service: Bonjour Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
O23 - Service: FLEXnet Licensing Service - Macrovision Europe Ltd. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Macrovision Shared\FLEXnet Publisher\FNPLicensingService.exe
O23 - Service: Google Updater Service (gusvc) - Google - C:\Program Files\Google\Common\Google Updater\GoogleUpdaterService.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\1050\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: M-Audio Series II MIDI Installer (MA_CMIDI_InstallerService) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\M-Audio\M-Audio Series II MIDI\MA_CMIDI_Inst.exe
O23 - Service: nTune Service (nTuneService) - NVIDIA - C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\nTune\nTuneService.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (NVSvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe

--
End of file - 11888 bytes

[Broni]

Did you create custom "hosts" file with all those winmx entries?
I didn't even know, that people are still using WinMX....

[Rhodell]

I don't remember any more.
WinMX has been here for ever and I don't even use it any more.
Did you see anything else which could be creating sluggishness to my PC?
Also what do I do with Hijack This?
I never used this program and I don't know what to do with the items I see after scanning.
Thanks.

[Broni]

That's why I asked.
If you don't use it, uninstall.
When done...

Download HostsXpert (http://www.majorgeeks.com/Hoster_d4626.html) and then follow the steps below:

    * Unzip HostsXpert.zip
    * It will create a folder named HostsXpert in whatever folder you extract it to.
    * Run HostsXpert.exe by double clicking on it.
    * click the Make Writeable? button.
    * click Restore Microsoft's Hosts File and then click OK.
    * Click the X to exit the program

Post new HJT log.

Also, was the computer slow before you installed AVG 8.0?

[Rhodell]

Well the PC became slower by time.
My suspicion in regards to registry has to do with the fact that the other two PC machines here are quite faster in booting although they load a whole bunch of stuff on startup. I haven't modify any of these.
Still though because I use them only occasionally and I do most of my work with my main desktop and I tend to install/uninstall many prg's thats why I suspect that the sluggishness is due to registry clutter over time.
Since we are on this topic I have this question:
when installing a prg like trials etc when we trying to uninstall they do leave "stuff" behind. That's why I guess we cannot re-install an expired trial.
Is there a way to get completely rid of a prog ?

[Broni]

We'll get there, just be patient. Proceed with my previous instructions.