Avast & Malware Bytes do not complete scan

[supermonkey]

Hello All,

I wonder if the experts here might be able to help.

Whilst I do not appear to have the symtpoms of a virus, both Malware Bytes & Avast AV cannot complete a scan. Avast gets to the same % through and freezes, while Malware Bytes stops at the exact time each time I try it.

There are no suspicious programs listed, ccleaner has been run recently & Java is fairly up to date.

The only thing I havn't done is tried super anti spyware. Do you think this is worth doing? I also have the option to get Kaspersky AV free with my bank account but I wasn't sure whether this was worth doing in case the same happens. Perhaps it's worth posting a HJ log?

Thanks for your help!

[Karnac]

You can try run the programs in safe mode and see if they complete...try change the name of superantispyware to sniper.exe when you save it....Run the HJT scan as well and a specialist will have a look at it.

[supermonkey]

Thanks for your reply.

Have now tried Super Anti Spyware which did complete. It didn't find anything major, just 119 tracking cookies.

I don't know if this is linked, but on both ebay and yahoo I get a non responsive script message if the page is left idle for a while. This is making me wonder if it could be some java problem / infection.

Have now tried a full Avast scan again and it's got to 42% (this may be more than last time) and seems to have frozen on C:\RECYCLER\S-1-5-21-1659004503-764733703-725345543-1004

Recycle bin is empty though so not sure whats going on there.

I take it you mean boot in safe mode and try a scan as Avast itself doesn't seem to have a safe mode?

Will post a HJ log a little later then

[Karnac]

Follow step 5 to assure your Java is OK

http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/topic,46313.0.html

[supermonkey]

Thanks for your further reply, I've now updated Java and removed all old versions.

Ran a HJ Scan and am attaching to this message.

Have used the computer hope analyser and the results are here.:
My HijackThis report

From what I can see there is nothing major - an unkown PDF printer, no XP SP3 etc...

[attachment deleted by admin]

[Karnac]

Now you can use the self help process tool.....


Edit...sorry only saw your reply afterwards...did you remove the entry...?

[supermonkey]

Hello again,

Sorry, what entry did you mean? I worded the unknown PDF printer badly - I know what it is, but HiJackThis flagged it as a possible problem.

Have now successfully completed an Avast scan in safe mode. I'm confused as to why it did not complete before. Avast scanned 26.5 Gb of data which took 4 and a half hours! The results showed the quaratined tracking cookies that Super Anti Spyware found and this entry - C:\WINDOWS\Internet Logs\tvDebug.zip\tvDebug_2009-07-25-21-37-12.log which based on the name is an Avast log?

Am unsure how to proceed now... the machine is sluggish at times & I was concerned that my scans wouldn't complete, but I guess it is clean!

Thanks

[Karnac]

See if you can run MalwareBytes, post a log and wait for evilfantasy.

[supermonkey]

hi again. well malware bytes was running, definately got further but the window is now just white. i did open a firefox window so perhaps that caused it, but it never used to be a problem.

not really sure what to do now. i think the pc is probably clean, its just that slight bit of doubt and since it can be sluggish, in a way it would be nice if there was a reason why!

i may just disable a few programs - (eg am running mozilla weave which is great for synching bookmarks but it tends to slow firefox down when first started).

Would you guys recommend kaspersky over avast then? i assume its better protection, but i also dont want it to affect performance anymore than avast.

[Karnac]

If you're still sluggish, wait for evilfantasy.....I don't think you're in the clear yet.

[supermonkey]

ok, thanks.... it is an old machine to be honest - inspiron 1200. it's mainly slow on start up. if we can improve it then brilliant, otherwise i will consider a clean xp install...

just another note that i've tried scanning my desktop pc and Avast seems to have got stuck on that too! Not sure if it's an Avast limitation / problem or something more serious. I will shortly download Kaspersky as my bank are offering for free & hopefully that will be better!

[supermonkey]

Hello again, I know we're not supposed to bump, but I can't help but think this has been forgotten?

I am quite confident now that the machine is clean & after a little cleaning up (decided to run a few programs when needed rather than on start up) it is quicker.

I am planning on trying Kaspersky (as bank offer it free) and hope this may run faster and better than Avast. What do you think?

[Karnac]

If your bank is offering Kaspersky for free, by all means take advantage of the offer... how much ram do you have?.....nothing provides  better system performance than a ram upgrade and it's very reasonable these days ..... if you haven't maxed out your ram, go to crucial.com and scan your PC for info on how much you can add......Run disk cleanup, defrag when needed, and avoid registry cleaners.

[supermonkey]

thanks for your quick reply! Ram is 256Mb, have been thinking about an upgrade but not sure if i can justify the cost!

Incidently, i just realised its Kaspersky Security Suite so AV & Firewall. I currently use Avast Free AV & Zone Alarm free firewall, so I presume using the combined suite would have some effect on system performance.

cheers

[Karnac]

You definitely need more ram, and the performance will justify the cost....Someone with more knowledge can comment on those security programs.....but there will be resource issues with that little ram.