Computer slows down when browsing

[zviw]

A client called me with the following problem:

This started about two days ago. He uses both IE and Mozilla 1.6 browsers and the problem occurs in both. The computer slows down dramatically when opening web pages on the internet. The mouse stutters and other process slow down until the browser completes the page. The only other symptom is that when starting up Winfax reports that it cannot connect to the TAPI modem as something else is using it. However, subsequent to this message, I can set Winfax to receive automatically and it works.

Email works as ususal, downloads work, Norton Liveupdate works. Windows Explorer works, transfering files on the network also works. All other computers on the network are working as well.

System is a white box P3 1 GHz; 512 MB ram; 60 GB HD; WIn98se with all updates; Linksys 10/100 NIC
System has Norton AV 2001, Norton Internet security (also 2001 if I remember correctly)

Internet Connection is Earthlink Telespeed ADSL (about 1.5/384) with a Netopia ADSL router. The router is running NAT and DHCP for whole LAN which consists of an additional 5 systems and Linux server running Samba.

I have tried the following:

Virus Scan
Spybot 1.3
Uninstalled and reinstalled TCP
Deleted Dial-up Adapter
Recreated the swap file by setting to none, rebooting to command prompt and ensuring that win386.swp does not exist in c:\ and c:\windows and the resetting to 1028
Deleted All temporary files
Deleted all Internet caches, Histories, Objects
Tried various NIC settings (Automatic, Manual 100/half, !00/full etc.)
Reinstalled IE 6
Upgraded Mozilla 1.6 to Mozilla 1.7 RC2

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Zvi

 

[cdogg]

Even though you ran Spybot 1.3, it still seems like it's a spyware/adware infection. Go to this link for more suggestions:

http://www.geocities.com/cc210026/spywareinfo.html

Does the same thing occur if you use msconfig, disable everything in the startup tab and reboot?



~cdogg
[tab]"All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind";
[tab][tab]- Aristotle
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[zviw]

I am working on a client's system and there will come a point in time where it will be more cost effective to replace the whole system than troubleshoot the problem. This client's business runs on the Internet, so web access is crucial to him.

At first, I also thought it would be spyware/adware. I was surprised that it affected both IE and Mozilla. Are there spyware/adware/hijacks that affect both browsers?

I forgot to disable everything in msconfig. I will try it later.

Any other ideas? I want to be able to go through as many things as possible as efficiently as I can.

Thanks.

 

[cdogg]

I thought it was spyware since it affects both browsers and not regular network traffic (sharing files with other networked PC's). Spyware usually makes its way into the operating system kernel as a process that tries to use the internet connection. My guess is that even when you don't have a browser open, it's still there accessing the internet. Each browser runs slow because it's using the same port which is congested.

It could still be something else, but that's still my guess. It should help to use msconfig to disable everything under startup along with [navy]going into the registry and checking for rogue entries under these locations[/navy]:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServicesOnce
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce\Setup


Good Luck!

 

[zviw]

I did check those registry keys (forgot to mention it before) though I will double check.

I would have thought that Norton Internet Security would have raised an alert if something was trying to access the internet. I think I'll double check the settings and log files also.

Thanks

 

[cdogg]

Sorry, I didn't catch it earlier when you said you had NIS. Since you do, then the chance of it being spyware is lot less.

Some worms/trojans are harder to detect with a software firewall, but with Norton AV up-to-date that shouldn't be much of an issue.

Definitely start with the msconfig suggestion. If it the problem goes away after rebooting, then at least you know it's software related -likely a startup program of some sort. From there, you can gradually renable apps until you find the culprit.

~cdogg
[tab]"All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind";
[tab][tab]- Aristotle
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[zviw]

My client decided to forget about it and replace the system. Probably for the best as the system is showing its age.

Thanks for your help

Zvi