Expert: Keith Davis - 6/22/2011

Question
QUESTION: Hi Keith,

Amazing how a slow computer can slow down your life!  My computer has gotten SUPER slow, to the point I need to open the Task Manager to end programs sometimes.  At first I thought it was Photobucket (I'm an EBayer), but now I'm not sure.  Two other possiblities are the Ad-Aware Update Manager (which opens, but never does anything...it just hangs there on Zero progress)...or possibly Internet Explorer.  I just updated to Int. Expl. 8.  

I brought the computer into the Geek Squad and they said I had way too much on my desktop, but that I didn't have any viruses.  I deleted all kinds of desktop stuff, but it didn't help.  If I have IE browser open, it's not too bad, but if I try to toggle between 2, I'm screwed.  

Have you had any experience with Ad-Aware causing these kinds of problems?  That's my hunch.  

Thanks for any advice at all!

Rose

ANSWER: You need Malwarebytes. It is free. Sounds like you have some kind of trojan. Malwarebytes will detect and remove the problem/problems. You can get it here: http://www.filehippo.com/download_malwarebytes_anti_malware/
Download, install, update, and scan your computer with it. Let me know if it detects anything. If so and your computer runs better, Geek Squad might owe you some money if you paid them any.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Keith,
I did as you suggested, and it turned up 1 Adware, and 2 Spyware infected files.  I quarantined them.  3 doesn't sound like much, but I suppose that could have been the problem?  

Let me know your thoughts.  Thanks so much again Keith!

Answer
If it is still slow and Malwarebytes only picked up 3 problems, maybe it could be that you just need to do some tweaks and maintenance.
For tweaks go to www.blackviper.com and do the tweaks for your OS.
For maintenance you need to clean up the registry, temp internet files, etc. You can do all this with Ccleaner. Get it here: http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/download
Also defrag your hard drive if you haven't done this already.
Let me know how it goes.