Want to make computer run like new Did a variety of things

[Wiktor222]

It went into hibernation mode than shutdown it has been a long day and the computer hasn't did that in a long while will just have to change hibernation time.

[Mister2]

Hi Wiktor 222,

That follow-up is appreciated - we have done nothing to affect your system in that way so I was rather taken aback when I read your post!  Let's try something else as I still feel it is likely that Avast and Windows Defender are conflicting.

Go to Start, Run, type msconfig and click OK.  On the Startup tab uncheck Windows Defender and reboot when asked.  See if your system runs better.  If not, I would appreciate another Process Explorer log but I think you will see some improvement.

When you have finished testing, run msconfig as above, check the WD entry and reboot to keep it running for now.  We can then look at maintaining your security setup with an alternative to WD.

[Wiktor222]

May be my words were a poor choice, I did not mean to insult or say you did anything to slow performance. So if it was taken that way I'm Sorry. Well I tried to do the 2 things asked at the startup up in msconfig but was unable to find the windows defender or WD tab in the start up. Here is the procexp file:

Process   PID   CPU   Description   Company Name
System Idle Process   0   80.39      
 Interrupts   n/a   4.90   Hardware Interrupts   
 DPCs   n/a      Deferred Procedure Calls   
 System   4         
  smss.exe   668      Windows NT Session Manager   Microsoft Corporation
   csrss.exe   744      Client Server Runtime Process   Microsoft Corporation
   winlogon.exe   772      Windows NT Logon Application   Microsoft Corporation
    services.exe   816   1.96   Services and Controller app   Microsoft Corporation
     svchost.exe   996      Generic Host Process for Win32 Services   Microsoft Corporation
     svchost.exe   1064      Generic Host Process for Win32 Services   Microsoft Corporation
     MsMpEng.exe   1160      Service Executable   Microsoft Corporation
     svchost.exe   1200      Generic Host Process for Win32 Services   Microsoft Corporation
     svchost.exe   1232      Generic Host Process for Win32 Services   Microsoft Corporation
     EvtEng.exe   1364      EvtEng Module   Intel Corporation
     S24EvMon.exe   1516      Event Monitor - Supports driver extensions to  NIC Driver for wireless adapters.   Intel Corporation
     svchost.exe   1596      Generic Host Process for Win32 Services   Microsoft Corporation
     svchost.exe   1776      Generic Host Process for Win32 Services   Microsoft Corporation
     aswUpdSv.exe   1852      avast! Antivirus updating service   ALWIL Software
     ashServ.exe   1900   5.88   avast! antivirus service   ALWIL Software
     spoolsv.exe   1128      Spooler SubSystem App   Microsoft Corporation
     svchost.exe   2300      Generic Host Process for Win32 Services   Microsoft Corporation
     CFSvcs.exe   2404      Service of ConfigFree.   TOSHIBA CORPORATION
     DVDRAMSV.exe   2544      DVD-RAM Utility Helper Service   Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
     NMSAccessU.exe   2636         
     OProtSvc.exe   2700      Ownership protocol service   Intel Corporation
     RegSrvc.exe   2768      RegSrvc Module   Intel Corporation
     SMAgent.exe   2796      SoundMAX service agent component   Analog Devices, Inc.
     svchost.exe   2872      Generic Host Process for Win32 Services   Microsoft Corporation
     swupdtmr.exe   2884         
     TAPPSRV.exe   2912      TOSHIBA TAPPSRV   TOSHIBA Corp.
     ashMaiSv.exe   3096      avast! e-Mail Scanner Service   ALWIL Software
     ashWebSv.exe   3344      avast! Web Scanner   ALWIL Software
     alg.exe   3668      Application Layer Gateway Service   Microsoft Corporation
    lsass.exe   828      LSA Shell (Export Version)   Microsoft Corporation
    ZCfgSvc.exe   1412      ZeroCfgSvc MFC Application   Intel Corporation
explorer.exe   1544      Windows Explorer   Microsoft Corporation
 ashDisp.exe   248      avast! service GUI component   ALWIL Software
 TvsTray.exe   272      TOSHIBA Virtual Sound Taskbar Module   TOSHIBA Corporation
 TPSMain.exe   276         TOSHIBA Corporation
  TPSBattM.exe   500         TOSHIBA Corporation
 TFNF5.exe   356      TFnF5   Toshiba Corp.
 TFncKy.exe   384      TFncKy   TOSHIBA Corporation
 SynTPLpr.exe   396      TouchPad Driver Helper Application   Synaptics, Inc.
 SynTPEnh.exe   472      Synaptics TouchPad Enhancements   Synaptics, Inc.
 SMax4PNP.exe   484      SMax4PNP MFC Application   Analog Devices, Inc.
 SmoothView.exe   536      SmoothView   TOSHIBA Corporation
 pinger.exe   552      TOSHIBA Pinger   TOSHIBA Corporation
 PadExe.exe   568   0.98   PadTouch Main   TOSHIBA
 MotiveSB.exe   696      Motive SmartBridge   Motive, Inc.
 hkcmd.exe   1320      hkcmd Module   Intel Corporation
 agrsmmsg.exe   1388      SoftModem Messaging Applet   Agere Systems
 jusched.exe   1436      Java(TM) Platform SE binary   Sun Microsystems, Inc.
 TOSCDSPD.exe   2112      CD/DVD Drive Acoustic Silencer   TOSHIBA
 GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe   2196      GoogleToolbarNotifier   Google Inc.
 AWC.exe   2320      Advanced SystemCare 3   IObit
 RAMASST.exe   2484      CD Burning of Windows XP disabling tool for DVD MULTI Drive   Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
 firefox.exe   184   5.88   Firefox   Mozilla Corporation
 procexp.exe   2592      Sysinternals Process Explorer   Sysinternals - www.sysinternals.com
GoogleUpdater.exe   3432      Google Updater   Google

[Mister2]

No worries, and certainly no apology necessary :)
Sometimes we do things that have an unexpected effect that may point to a problem and I was wondering if that was the case here.

I would still like to disable Windows Defender.  I'm puzzled why there is no entry for it through msconfig, but we can try another route.
Go to Start, Control Panel and you should see an entry for Windows Defender in there - it looks like a castle wall.  Double click on that to open it, then go to Tools, Options and at the bottom of that screen you should see the option to 'Use Windows Defender'.  Uncheck that item, close the window, close Control Panel and reboot.

You should see a performance improvement after you reboot.

Of rather more concern is the Iobit Advanced System Care program.  Some people love this program, others hate it for making unwanted changes to their systems.  More importantly, it is highly likely ASC is interfering with Avast and could well be the main cause of your slowdown problems.  If you are interested there is a review of ASC by Donna Buenaventura (a highly respected figure in the anti-malware world) here.  As you can see from the comments to that article, opinion is divided over the efficacy of this program but the fact remains that running two real-time scanners usually causes problems and conflicts.  (Credit to Kevin27 here at SH for pointing that one out to me :) ).

Please let me know how your system is running without Windows Defender.  Don't do anything about ASC yet - we will need to do some groundwork first.

[Wiktor222]

I cannot find it in the control panel either I just have the typical options appearance and Themes all the way to security. Is there an alternative to Advanced System care?

[Mister2]

Most curious.

Download these two programs:

StartupCPL (Choose the 'Download Startup Control Panel 2.8' link)
Revo Uninstaller

Unzip the file StartupCPL.zip and then run the file StartupCPL.  Now go to Start, Control Panel and open Startup (that is a new item you just installed).  Check through each tab and uncheck any occurrences of Defender (you should find it on the HKLM/Run tab).

Don't do anything with the Revo Uninstaller yet - that's for ASC if we need it.

There are several alternatives to using Advanced System Care.  Avast performs some of the same functions (hence the conflicts and slow performance).  We can also install CCleaner to clean things up and SpywareBlaster to, er, blast any spyware.  Registry cleaning is not recommended anyway so we won't miss that.  Anything needed in the registry or optimisation areas is best done manually as required.  If anything like that is needed then we can look at the individual case and advise you on the best way to proceed.

While it is nice to think a 'one click cures all' approach will work, it seldom does so successfully as each system and each user's requirements are different.  ASC has also been known to try to remove Windows services which should really be left alone.

Let me know if you still cannot locate Defender and we will hammer it out by force, then tackle ASC.

[Wiktor222]

I tried to go to Start, Control Panel and open Startup but did not know how to get to startup that way so I typed msconfig in run and got startup and seen on the very bottom already unchecked was MSASCut which is Windows Defender did not know that so it was unchecked already.
I already have CCleaner and downloaded SpywareBlaster so if I have these 2 programs is it fine for me to delete Advanced System Care?

You say "Anything needed in the registry or optimisation areas is best done manually as required." How do I do this safely and know what I can and can't remove?

[Mister2]

Hi,

Just a quick post to say I will be offline most of today, hopefully back again later.
I blew the motherboard on my main system and am posting from my spare.

Your log shows parts of Defender still operating but we can address that later.

For now, open up the Advanced System Care window and see if there is an option to reverse any changes made, particularly with respect to any registry changes.  if so then reverse the changes.  Reboot into Safe Mode (keep tapping the F8 key as soon as your system starts booting, select Safe mode from the menu that eventually appears and press Enter.  Wait for booting to complete.

Now go to Control Panel, Add or Remove Programs.  Highlight ASC and uninstall it.  Many people find this will not work, hence the Revo download.

If it doesn't uninstall then install Revo Uninstall in Safe Mode and run it.  At the moment I can't run through the screens as I don't have it installed on this system, but I believe you will see a screen similar to the Add/Remove programs screen.  Select ASC and try to remove it from there.

If you are unsure at any point then just back out and I will look through it on my main system - at the moment I feel I'm typing with a blindfold on ;)

I will catch you later, assuming the local computer shop is open on Sundays.

[Wiktor222]

The restore options was just to restore back to Sept. 30th and no further and just a general restore point without a registry restore option. So I restarted into safe mode and removed the ASC successfully.

[Mister2]

Sounds good!
Just out of interest did you need to use Revo to remove ASC?

What I suggest you do now is to run CCleaner to remove any files left over from the uninstall.  Then download SpywareBlaster (Free Edition) and install it.  Finally, post another log from Process Explorer and one from WhatInStartup - we still need to address the Windows Defender issue.

How's your system running now?

[Wiktor222]

I did not need Revo to uninstall ASC.
I ran CCleaner right after the reboot
I installed the Spywareblaster right after CCleaner was done oe before not sure
Here are the to logs

Procexp:

Process   PID   CPU   Description   Company Name
System Idle Process   0   98.02      
 Interrupts   n/a      Hardware Interrupts   
 DPCs   n/a      Deferred Procedure Calls   
 System   4         
  smss.exe   668      Windows NT Session Manager   Microsoft Corporation
   csrss.exe   744      Client Server Runtime Process   Microsoft Corporation
   winlogon.exe   768      Windows NT Logon Application   Microsoft Corporation
    services.exe   820   0.99   Services and Controller app   Microsoft Corporation
     svchost.exe   996      Generic Host Process for Win32 Services   Microsoft Corporation
     svchost.exe   1064      Generic Host Process for Win32 Services   Microsoft Corporation
     MsMpEng.exe   1160      Service Executable   Microsoft Corporation
     svchost.exe   1200      Generic Host Process for Win32 Services   Microsoft Corporation
     svchost.exe   1236      Generic Host Process for Win32 Services   Microsoft Corporation
     EvtEng.exe   1368      EvtEng Module   Intel Corporation
     S24EvMon.exe   1536      Event Monitor - Supports driver extensions to  NIC Driver for wireless adapters.   Intel Corporation
     svchost.exe   1612      Generic Host Process for Win32 Services   Microsoft Corporation
     svchost.exe   1764      Generic Host Process for Win32 Services   Microsoft Corporation
     aswUpdSv.exe   1856      avast! Antivirus updating service   ALWIL Software
     ashServ.exe   1904      avast! antivirus service   ALWIL Software
     spoolsv.exe   1592      Spooler SubSystem App   Microsoft Corporation
     svchost.exe   2344      Generic Host Process for Win32 Services   Microsoft Corporation
     CFSvcs.exe   2380      Service of ConfigFree.   TOSHIBA CORPORATION
     DVDRAMSV.exe   2508      DVD-RAM Utility Helper Service   Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
     NMSAccessU.exe   2580         
     OProtSvc.exe   2628      Ownership protocol service   Intel Corporation
     RegSrvc.exe   2680      RegSrvc Module   Intel Corporation
     SMAgent.exe   2708      SoundMAX service agent component   Analog Devices, Inc.
     svchost.exe   2780      Generic Host Process for Win32 Services   Microsoft Corporation
     swupdtmr.exe   2792         
     TAPPSRV.exe   2828      TOSHIBA TAPPSRV   TOSHIBA Corp.
     ashMaiSv.exe   3104      avast! e-Mail Scanner Service   ALWIL Software
     ashWebSv.exe   3128      avast! Web Scanner   ALWIL Software
     alg.exe   3744      Application Layer Gateway Service   Microsoft Corporation
    lsass.exe   832      LSA Shell (Export Version)   Microsoft Corporation
    ZCfgSvc.exe   1412      ZeroCfgSvc MFC Application   Intel Corporation
explorer.exe   1520      Windows Explorer   Microsoft Corporation
 ashDisp.exe   240      avast! service GUI component   ALWIL Software
 TvsTray.exe   248      TOSHIBA Virtual Sound Taskbar Module   TOSHIBA Corporation
 TPSMain.exe   272         TOSHIBA Corporation
  TPSBattM.exe   412         TOSHIBA Corporation
 TFNF5.exe   356      TFnF5   Toshiba Corp.
 TFncKy.exe   376      TFncKy   TOSHIBA Corporation
 SynTPLpr.exe   384      TouchPad Driver Helper Application   Synaptics, Inc.
 SynTPEnh.exe   392      Synaptics TouchPad Enhancements   Synaptics, Inc.
 SMax4PNP.exe   404      SMax4PNP MFC Application   Analog Devices, Inc.
 SmoothView.exe   484      SmoothView   TOSHIBA Corporation
 pinger.exe   504      TOSHIBA Pinger   TOSHIBA Corporation
 PadExe.exe   520      PadTouch Main   TOSHIBA
 NDSTray.exe   540      ConfigFree(TM) Tray   TOSHIBA CORPORATION
 MotiveSB.exe   556      Motive SmartBridge   Motive, Inc.
 hkcmd.exe   572      hkcmd Module   Intel Corporation
 agrsmmsg.exe   592      SoftModem Messaging Applet   Agere Systems
 jusched.exe   636      Java(TM) Platform SE binary   Sun Microsystems, Inc.
 TOSCDSPD.exe   688      CD/DVD Drive Acoustic Silencer   TOSHIBA
 GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe   696      GoogleToolbarNotifier   Google Inc.
 RAMASST.exe   716      CD Burning of Windows XP disabling tool for DVD MULTI Drive   Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
 firefox.exe   3664      Firefox   Mozilla Corporation
 procexp.exe   864   0.99   Sysinternals Process Explorer   Sysinternals - www.sysinternals.com
 WhatInStartup.exe   3720      WhatInStartup   NirSoft




WhatInStartup:

Startup Items List Created by using WhatInStartup Name Type Command Line Disabled Product Name File Version Product Description Company Location Process Path File Created Time File Modified Time File Attributes AGRSMMSG Registry -> Machine Run AGRSMMSG.exe No Agere SoftModem Messaging Applet 2.1.47.6 2.1.47.6 10/28/2004 13:37:38 SoftModem Messaging Applet Agere Systems HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run C:\WINDOWS\AGRSMMSG.exe 12/7/2004 11:16:50 PM 10/28/2004 6:37:40 PM A avast! Registry -> Machine Run C:\PROGRA~1\ALWILS~1\Avast4\ashDisp.exe No avast! Antivirus 4, 8, 1351, 0 avast! service GUI component ALWIL Software HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run C:\PROGRA~1\ALWILS~1\Avast4\ashDisp.exe 2/19/2008 6:42:39 PM 8/17/2009 12:07:23 PM A HotKeysCmds Registry -> Machine Run C:\WINDOWS\system32\hkcmd.exe No Intel(R) Common User Interface 3.0.0.3929 hkcmd Module Intel Corporation HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run C:\WINDOWS\system32\hkcmd.exe 10/8/2004 12:27:22 PM 10/8/2004 12:27:22 PM A IgfxTray Registry -> Machine Run C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxtray.exe No Intel(R) Common User Interface 3.0.0.3929 igfxTray Module Intel Corporation HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxtray.exe 10/8/2004 12:31:26 PM 10/8/2004 12:31:26 PM A Motive SmartBridge Registry -> Machine Run C:\PROGRA~1\SBCSEL~1\SMARTB~1\MotiveSB.exe No Motive System 5.8.18.asst_classic.smartbridge.20050824_144000 Motive SmartBridge Motive, Inc. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run C:\PROGRA~1\SBCSEL~1\SMARTB~1\MotiveSB.exe 6/27/2008 6:10:20 PM 8/24/2005 7:51:18 AM A NDSTray.exe Registry -> Machine Run NDSTray.exe No HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run NDSTray.exe PadTouch Registry -> Machine Run C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\Touch and Launch\PadExe.exe No PadTouch 1, 2, 7, 0 PadTouch Main TOSHIBA HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\Touch and Launch\PadExe.exe 11/16/2004 12:18:21 AM 9/7/2004 6:03:20 PM A Pinger Registry -> Machine Run C:\TOSHIBA\IVP\ISM\pinger.exe /run No Software Upgrades 3.7.0.0 TOSHIBA Pinger TOSHIBA Corporation HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run C:\TOSHIBA\IVP\ISM\pinger.exe 11/16/2004 12:16:30 AM 3/17/2005 8:37:26 PM A RAMASST Startup Folder -> Common "C:\WINDOWS\system32\RAMASST.exe" No 1, 1, 0, 0 CD Burning of Windows XP disabling tool for DVD MULTI Drive Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup C:\WINDOWS\system32\RAMASST.exe 12/7/2004 11:02:24 PM 8/27/2004 3:37:18 PM A SmoothView Registry -> Machine Run C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\TOSHIBA Zooming Utility\SmoothView.exe No TOSHIBA Zooming Utility 2, 0, 0, 18 SmoothView TOSHIBA Corporation HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\TOSHIBA Zooming Utility\SmoothView.exe 12/8/2004 12:19:57 AM 9/15/2004 7:03:08 PM A SoundMAX Registry -> Machine Run C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\SoundMAX\Smax4.exe /tray No SoundMAX Control Panel 5, 0, 2, 4 SoundMAX Control Center Analog Devices, Inc. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\SoundMAX\Smax4.exe 12/11/2004 3:51:08 PM 8/6/2004 12:27:56 PM A SoundMAXPnP Registry -> Machine Run C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\SoundMAX\SMax4PNP.exe No SMax4PNP Application 5, 0, 2, 1 SMax4PNP MFC Application Analog Devices, Inc. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\SoundMAX\SMax4PNP.exe 12/11/2004 3:51:09 PM 7/27/2004 5:48:04 PM A SunJavaUpdateSched Registry -> Machine Run "C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jusched.exe" No Java(TM) Platform SE 6 U15 6.0.150.3 Java(TM) Platform SE binary Sun Microsystems, Inc. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jusched.exe 3/12/2009 9:43:46 PM 7/25/2009 5:23:12 AM A swg Registry -> User Run "C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe" No GoogleToolbarNotifier 2, 0, 301, 1654 GoogleToolbarNotifier Google Inc. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe 2/19/2008 7:19:56 PM 2/19/2008 7:19:56 PM A SynTPEnh Registry -> Machine Run C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe No Synaptics Pointing Device Driver 7.12.4 14Oct04 Synaptics TouchPad Enhancements Synaptics, Inc. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe 4/4/2001 5:25:14 AM 10/14/2004 6:26:40 PM A SynTPLpr Registry -> Machine Run C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPLpr.exe No Synaptics Pointing Device Driver 7.12.4 14Oct04 TouchPad Driver Helper Application Synaptics, Inc. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPLpr.exe 4/4/2001 5:25:14 AM 10/14/2004 6:28:02 PM A TFncKy Registry -> Machine Run TFncKy.exe No HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run TFncKy.exe TFNF5 Registry -> Machine Run TFNF5.exe No Toshiba Hotkey Utility for Display Devices 1. 0. 1. 0 TFnF5 Toshiba Corp. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run C:\WINDOWS\system32\TFNF5.exe 8/3/2001 6:08:28 PM 8/3/2001 6:08:28 PM A THotkey Registry -> Machine Run C:\Program Files\Toshiba\Toshiba Applet\thotkey.exe No THotkey 1.00.0010 Hotkey Utility TOSHIBA HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run C:\Program Files\Toshiba\Toshiba Applet\thotkey.exe 11/16/2004 12:11:16 AM 12/14/2004 11:12:36 PM A TOSCDSPD Registry -> User Run C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\TOSCDSPD\toscdspd.exe No CD/DVD Drive Acoustic Silencer 1, 0, 5, 0 CD/DVD Drive Acoustic Silencer TOSHIBA HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\TOSCDSPD\toscdspd.exe 11/15/2004 11:54:02 PM 9/5/2003 7:24:46 AM A TPSMain Registry -> Machine Run TPSMain.exe No TOSHIBA Power Saver 1, 0, 14, 1 TOSHIBA Corporation HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run C:\WINDOWS\system32\TPSMain.exe 11/16/2004 12:15:56 AM 8/27/2004 1:34:20 PM A Tvs Registry -> Machine Run C:\Program Files\Toshiba\Tvs\TvsTray.exe No TOSHIBA Virtual Sound 1, 0, 0, 2 TOSHIBA Virtual Sound Taskbar Module TOSHIBA Corporation HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run C:\Program Files\Toshiba\Tvs\TvsTray.exe 12/8/2004 5:43:25 PM 11/12/2004 9:57:12 PM A

[Wiktor222]

System is running great even with multiple tabs open.

[Mister2]

It would seem ASC was the culprit after all.

It's your choice whether we keep Windows Defender running or not.  On the basis of what I have seen I would recommend we leave it in there - it's not causing any conflicts that I can see and it sounds like your system is running better now.  There is nothing in those logs to indicate anything out of the ordinary, in fact I'm rather jealous that your Firefox is taking up fewer resources than mine does ;)

Coming back to your question about optimisation and registry cleaning.  If you are not experiencing problems then I wouldn't recommend doing either.

Registry cleaning is rarely necessary unless there is an obvious error, such as Excel files trying to open in Word.  It is far better to address something like that through the Windows interface or else apply a targetted fix to the registry.  There may be entires in the registry that are not necessary but they don't cause problems if they are never invoked.  In extreme cases the registry may become so bloated that it adds a few seconds to your boot time.  If things get that bad, however, it may be time to start afresh with a new Windows install - there will usually be more important problems to deal with in this case.

Tha same goes for optimisation tweaks.  If you have a particular problem to address then it is better to concentrate on that matter.  As I said earlier, the one-click tools are rarely successful.  Another advantage of proceeding in this way is that you can easily judge the effect of a tweak.  Applying 20 or 30 adjustments at once may mean you don't find any adverse effects for some time.

If you do find you need to address an issue then you are more than welcome to ask here - there is always somone who is an expert in that subject and who is more than willing to help. :)

[Wiktor222]

OK thanks for all the help.

[Mister2]

You're most welcome - a pleasure doing business with you! :)

EDIT
Typo