Netbook went extremely sluggish/slow.

Auntie got a netbook.

Taught her how to Facebook, Skype and alla that - great.

Two days later, she sends it back to me saying it's not working properly. Basically it now takes an obscene amount of time to boot and everything is extremely - and I mean EXTREMELY slow.

Even on the log on screen, I'll click on her username so the password field pops up for me to type the password - after clicking, it takes a good minute or two before the password field pops up. Once the password is typed, it'll take a good amount of time for the OS to load up and everything as well.

Clicking on anything takes the longest while to respond.

Once the desktop finally loaded up, I realised she downloaded a bunch of games and whatnot from fishy looking websites, so yeah, chances are she got some bad stuff.

I tried scanning with MSE and after about 8 hours, it was 11% done. So obviously I gave up on that idea.

This happens in safe mode too - very slow and sluggish.

I'm generally well versed with computers but I don't have to deal with broken computers very often (I'm OK at making sure mine doesn't get wrecked) so I figure you guys may have a nice list of troubleshooting that would save me a lot of pain hehe.

P.S: I'm perfectly OK with formatting the whole thing if needs be, probably the easiest thing to do. She has nothing of value on the netbook (only had it for two days). Problem is it's a netbook, so no CD slot, but it was legally purchased and I presume the OS on it is legitimate. I just don't know how to format a netbook without having the OS disc if the OS came preinstalled without any disc. Recovery partition or whatnot?

 

Hi Karl. Welcome to Computer Help Forums.
First I would run a full scan in safe mode with Malwarebytes Free version and see what it finds.
Post the scan log when finished.

http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free/

 

On it.

P.S: It's Karl. Karl like Kommunism.

EDIT. I fixed the spelling, Karl.

 

Struggling to even get the browser to navigate to that page. It's pretty ridiculous. I'm considering just formatting it if it's possible? I recon the scan itself is going to take hours upon hours.

 

You can't format it every 2 days. Best first to find what the issue is if possible.
Give it back fixed to your Auntie and they stuff it up again.

What's the Make, model and Serial Number?
I am sure this netbook will have a recovery partition.

 

I was actually considering formatting it and setting her on a limited account where she can't download stuff without passing by me first - which she's OK with.

 

Could you supply the information I asked for Please Karl.
See if you can run the Malwarebytes scan.

 

Been trying ever since.

Had to upload the exe to my own fileserver because it wouldn't download it off CNet for some reason. Took a bit but I managed to install it and now it's updating. I'll update you as soon as it starts scanning.

 

Modern Netbooks and Laptops don't come with any discs, Karl.
They have a recovery Partition built in so you can restore the Operating system back to default instead of having an OS install disc.
That's why we need the information asked for so we can advise you further.
See if you can run the full scan first.

 

Finally managed to get a full scan going. I'll update you with progress in an hour or so.

Thanks again!

 

From watching the "Time elapsed" counter on Malwarebytes, I've come to realise that the netbook is freezing up every few seconds for a few seconds. Saying that to describe the "sluggishness". Basically, every 4 seconds, it'll freeze for about 13 seconds (from my counting).

Not sure if that helps.

Scan is still going on.

 

If it's freezing every 4 seconds then it could be a Ram issue.
The Netbook could have been dropped or knocked by your Aunty.
If you open the netbook to check the Ram you could Void your warranty.
I would RMA it back to the manufacturer if it's under warranty.

 

Scan is still ongoing. 2 hours in and "Objects detected: 1" in red, I assume that's a malware it detected.

I'm going to let the scan go on.

She said she hasn't dropped it at all. It's no longer under warranty though.

 

5 and a half hour in, still scanning, 1 object detected. Do I leave it finish?

 

OK, it finished. Cleaned the one item it found and restarted. Computer still feels sluggish.

However, I just realised I wasn't scanning in safe mode. :/ So I'll start a safe mode scan too right away.

Trying to upload the log of the scan during non-safe mode anyways since it did find one infected item.

 

Scan logs (Not in safe mode)

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware (trial) 1.75.0.1300
www.malwarebytes.org

Database version: v2013.07.03.07

Windows 7 Service Pack 1 x86 NTFS
Internet explorer 10.0.9200.16618
tarrouz :: VIVIANE [administrator]

Protection: Enabled

7/3/2013 11:41:42 AM
MBAM-log-2013-07-03 (17-28-51).txt

Scan type: Full scan (C:\|Q:\|)
Scan options enabled: Memory | Startup | Registry | File System | Heuristics/Extra | Heuristics/Shuriken | PUP | PUM
Scan options disabled: P2P
Objects scanned: 363452
Time elapsed: 5 hour(s), 38 minute(s), 37 second(s)

Memory Process Detected: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Memory Modules Detected: 0(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Detected: 0(No malicious items detected)

Registry Values Detected: 0 (No malicious items detected)

Registry Data Items Detected: 0(No malicious items detected)

Folders Detected: 0 (No malicious items detected)

Files Detected: 1
C:\Users\tarrouz\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\BELGGWYZ\pricepeep_190001_0101[1].exe (Adware.Agent) -> No action taken.

(end)


Literally had to type all this out because I couldn't get pastebin to load on neither IE nor Chrome on the netbook. :s

 

OK Karl, The thing Malwarebytes found is only a minor issue, but you should tell Malwarebytes to fix it.
However if returning it back to full factory condition is not a problem, will you please tell us the full name, make, and model as DSTM asked for.
We can then find how the system full restore should work from the partition.
Once we know that and explain how to restore it, we can work with you to go further.

Nev.

 

Thanks guy, I ended up formatting the whole thing and using the product key under the laptop. It wouldn't even boot the OS anymore.

 

OK Karl thanks for the feed back and hope all is OK now.

Nev.