Hidden programs?

[Raiden]

I haven't used my computer too much recently, but after my wife's computer suddenly went dead I decided to use my computer for our usage until hers is fixed. However, I noticed that my computer (which has 2GB memory) is very slow, and when I check the Task Manager to see what my computer is running (even after I close all the browsers and programs), the CPU was taking on 75K of usage while the Idle section only occupied 28K. Most of my programs are games, like Half-Life 2, but I doubt Stream takes that much processing power. I also have other programs like Skype, which I might delete since I rarely use it, but I can't figure out what else that may be responsible. I'm considering using websites like FinallyFast.com, since their ads claimed that they can make your computer faster by purging all the programs that slow it down, but I haven't made a decision yet.

Btw, I ran AVG and Spybot, and even after they found no more things to delete my computer hasn't improved much in terms of speed.

 

[ComicChick]

have you tried looking up the programs that show up in your task manager?

go to processlibrary.com and type in the filenames of the .exe's. it'll tell you what they are and what they're used for, if they're harmful etc

 

[Drakon]

CCleaner and SuperAntiSpyware I swear by.

 

[Malice]

Use HiJack as well

 

[Paradoxium]

"HijackThis" you mean?

 

[Van Petrol]

"Hijack This" only gives you a log I believe, it doesn't do any cleaning up or removing.

To Raiden, I'd also recommend ComboFix.

 

[Raiden]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll try those programs you guys suggested and hopefully it will help speed up my computer again.

 

[Kable24]

"Hijack This" only gives you a log I believe, it doesn't do any cleaning up or removing.

To Raiden, I'd also recommend ComboFix.

yeah, but you post the log on hijack this sites and the true experts will tell you which entries to delete.

 

[Van Petrol]

yeah, but you post the log on hijack this sites and the true experts will tell you which entries to delete.

Exactly. Though I thought the discussion was referring to "Hijack This" being a removal program. You are quite right though.