NationStates Jolt Archive

I'm trying to help a friend with his Vaio laptop. 1 month ago it began booting super slow. If I system restore to a point before the problems it works, then it will slow down again. WTF?

I can't figure out what's auto updating. Any ideas?

Edit: my first thought was to go into msconfig and stop any background
programs that weren't needed. No luck.

When my laptop stops working I set it on fire. That sorts everything.

When my laptop stops working I set it on fire. That sorts everything.

I am just about to that point.

I'm trying to help a friend with his Vaio laptop. 1 month ago it began booting super slow. If I system restore to a point before the problems it works, then it will slow down again. WTF?

I can't figure out what's auto updating. Any ideas?

Edit: my first thought was to go into msconfig and stop any background
programs that weren't needed. No luck.
This calls for some serious virus/adware/malware scanning.

In other words, download a top-notch antivirus program and Spybot Search and Destroy and go to town searching that harddrive for some trace of the bug.

This calls for some serious virus/adware/malware scanning.

In other words, download a top-notch antivirus program and Spybot Search and Destroy and go to town searching that harddrive for some trace of the bug.

He's been regularly using sbybot and ad-aware. He has AVG for anti-virus. I think I'm going to take it off and install avast.

Just did another restore and it's working again...

Any ideas?

If the anti-spyware sweep* doesn't yield anything - perform a fresh installation of the OS ? Preferably with pre-patched (and if we are talking about XP pre-slipstreamed with SP2) installation files.

* I recommend using a live cd for this purpose, instead of merely scanning from safe mode. Linux live cds are easily found in many flavours; a windows live cd is easily created with BartPe (http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/) (NOT for systems containing older versions of NT, since it will automatically update the NTFS filesystem!).
At http://www.ubcd4win.com you can find one which already has several useful programs on board. Do note that you need a second windows license if you plan to keep using the cd to not violate the microsoft EULA.

just rebuild the machine....sans all the bloatware....

just rebuild the machine....sans all the bloatware....
I'm thinking that's what I'm going to need to do. It's just frustrating because it's fixable. Or at least it's fixed when I do a system restore. Right now I'm removing damn near everything that's not essential.

I think it has something to do with J2SE or AVG. I shut down both update processes last restore and so far so good.

It still makes no sense....

If the anti-spyware sweep* doesn't yield anything - perform a fresh installation of the OS ? Preferably with pre-patched (and if we are talking about XP pre-slipstreamed with SP2) installation files.

* I recommend using a live cd for this purpose, instead of merely scanning from safe mode. Linux live cds are easily found in many flavours; a windows live cd is easily created with BartPe (http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/) (NOT for systems containing older versions of NT, since it will automatically update the NTFS filesystem!).
At http://www.ubcd4win.com you can find one which already has several useful programs on board. Do note that you need a second windows license if you plan to keep using the cd to not violate the microsoft EULA.

It is SP2. That's not a bad idea. My main concern with doing a fresh install is reconfiguring the network. It's a little wonky.

I'm thinking that's what I'm going to need to do. It's just frustrating because it's fixable. Or at least it's fixed when I do a system restore. Right now I'm removing damn near everything that's not essential.

I think it has something to do with J2SE or AVG. I shut down both update processes last restore and so far so good.

It still makes no sense....

well thats the problem with bloatware....you really don't know how it affects the system...

Update: I'm 90% certain it was either J2SE update 9 or AVG. I reinstalled update 6 and am trying to remove AVG right now. It wants me to update before I can remove. I love those system restore points. Finally widows did something right.

well thats the problem with bloatware....you really don't know how it affects the system...

It was the J2SE update 9. It has some kind auto update function. So far it's been working fine. I need to go through and figure out what Vaio programs I can remove. Unfortunately it's not as easy as just googling the items. Ah well. Main problem solved.

Thanks everyone!!!

Do a virus and malware scan.
Clear any unwanted process's thats using up memory.
Defragment your drive

It was the J2SE update 9. It has some kind auto update function. So far it's been working fine. I need to go through and figure out what Vaio programs I can remove. Unfortunately it's not as easy as just googling the items. Ah well. Main problem solved.

Thanks everyone!!!

java...yeah....why am I not surprised! LOL

CTRL-ALT-DEL to start the Task Manager. Go to the tab that says processes, sort by CPU to take a look at what process is gobbling up the CPU time. Since you are there you may want to look for suspicious items, although that's not always easy to figure out.

Or it could be that the hard drive is having problems reading stuff. Or is too fragmented. Or the antivirus itself is scanning it at boot up time.

There is obviously something getting on the laptop after the rewind. Probably something from the internet.