Internet is Really Slow, computer is too

[marydin]

I just wondered why my internet at home is unbelievably slow lately. I have a Amd k6-2 500 mhz (there is another issue with that that I want to ask), 56K modem connection and 64 MB Ram, I am not sure what else you might need to know.
1: A month or so ago, a program called Webhancer screwed up my computer so my sockets did not work. I downloaded AdAware on a different computer and installed it and it "fixed" my registry and my problem. It seems like since then my internet is slower than ever. Netscape takes forever from when you click the Netscape button to actually accessing the internet. I know my isp is fine because I use the same connection at work and it is dandy.

2: My supposed AMD 500mhz, suddenly was appearing in the system setup as 166mhz! I reset it to 450 mhz, I didn't want to go too high for fear I would blow up my computer. It made the computer a tiny bit faster but internet still ridiculously slow.

What steps can I try to speed my computer back up to the way it used to be?
Thank you very much!!

 

[beach51]

Hi marydin,as you know webhancer is spyware.This nasty program has to be removed a little different then some of the spyware componnets that ad-aware finds.Lets see your startup programs,there might be some others.Go to start>run>type in msinfo32>click ok.At the system information window>click on the + sign next to software environment>click on startup programs>click on edit>select all>click edit>copy and paste the page back here

 

[marydin]

FotoReg Startup Group C:\FotoSuit\fotoreg.exe
Ulead Photo Express 3.0 SE Calendar Checker Startup Group "C:\Program Files\Ulead Systems\Ulead Photo Express 3.0 SE\CalCheck.exe"
eBot Startup Group C:\WINDOWS\DownloadWizard\DownloadWizard.exe
PowerReg Scheduler Startup Group C:\WINDOWS\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp\PowerReg Scheduler.exe
Microsoft Office Startup Group "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\OSA9.EXE" -b -l
run Win.ini c:\windows\SYSTEM\cmmpu.exe
AIM Registry (Per-User Run) C:\PROGRAM FILES\PBI\COMMUNICATOR\PROGRAM\AIM\aim.exe -cnetwait.odl
ScanRegistry Registry (Machine Run) c:\windows\scanregw.exe /autorun
TaskMonitor Registry (Machine Run) c:\windows\taskmon.exe
SystemTray Registry (Machine Run) SysTray.Exe
LoadPowerProfile Registry (Machine Run) Rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,LoadCurrentPwrScheme
CountrySelection Registry (Machine Run) pctptt.exe
IOMON98.EXE Registry (Machine Run) "C:\Program Files\Trend PC-cillin 98\IOMON98.EXE"
mdac_runonce Registry (Machine Run) C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\runonce.exe
DSS Registry (Machine Run) C:\WINDOWS\BBStore\DSS\dssagent.exe
RealTray Registry (Machine Run) C:\Program Files\Real\RealPlayer\RealPlay.exe SYSTEMBOOTHIDEPLAYER
Gator Registry (Machine Run) "C:\Program Files\Gator.com\Gator\Gator.exe"
LoadPowerProfile Registry (Machine Service) Rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,LoadCurrentPwrScheme
SchedulingAgent Registry (Machine Service) c:\windows\SYSTEM\mstask.exe
IOMON98.EXE Registry (Machine Service) "C:\Program Files\Trend PC-cillin 98\IOMON98.EXE"

 

[jbcalg]

arrrgh, closed the wrong blinkittyblink window LOL

while you're waiting for Beach to peruse your start up list, take a look at this page and get a head start at identifying what's needed and not - looks like you have a few you could do without - including gator which used to have spyware attached, don't know if it still does or not

you might also want to run adaware again, after getting the latest reference (use refupdate if you don't have it, makes it a lot easier)
- the us site has been down for a few days, here's the german one: http://www.lavasoft.de/

 

[beach51]

Hi jbcalg,thanks for helping out,i appreciate it.Your right Gator is spyware,and so is Dssregistry.

Marydin,Go to start>run>type in msconfig>click ok.Click on the startup tab>take the check mark next to Gator and Dssregistry.Click apply,then ok.Re-boot the computer.Now go to the control panel,add and remove programs,see if Gator or Dss registry is listed there,if they are highlight them and click the remove button.Reboot the computer.

While your in Msconfig,also remove the check mark for real tray registry.Its not need at startup.If you follow jbcalg link and remove the rest of the startup programs you dont need running at startup,you should see a big diffeance in the way your system runs.

Let us know

 

[TonyKlein]

Microsoft Office eats up a lot of system resources , and is better unchecked, unless you (like to) use the MS Office shortcut bar.

System Tray may not be absulutely necessary, but it consumes hardly any system resources, and won't make a noticeable difference when unchecked.

run Win.ini c:\windows\SYSTEM\cmmpu.exe was designed for use with Win95 only, and can be unchecked if you run Win98 or higher.

And also uncheck Photo Express and eBot; they can be activated manually when required.

Good luck,

 

[Brooks]

Uninstalling webhancer can kill IE

http://webhancer.com/support/index.asp?s=31#17


Installing Webhancer can kill IE

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q302591

Also, this article describes some of the things that nasty bit of software can do to your system.

http://www.audioether.com/spotlight_wh0701.html

Seems that it can mess with windows sockets which could explain the slowdown.

 

[TonyKlein]

Uninstalling WebHancer after removing it from startup and rebooting first causes no problems.
Neither does removing it with Ad-Aware.
It even restores your Winsock2 registry keys after doing that.

Just remember to reboot after running Ad-Aware.

Removing the dll just like that does indeed mess up your internet connectivity.

Greetz,

 

[$teve]

also marydin..........the speed of your connection wont be noticable with an increase in processor speed,it depends almost totally on your connection and how good your server is.

take a look here.

http://www.inboost.com/speed-tweaks/modem-tweaks.html

follow the links to the modem tweaks.

have a read ,if you feel comfortable with tweaking your connection settings ,you will notice a difference.
and you dont need to d/l any software .
good luck.

 

[marydin]

I knew that gator was "spyware" because my adaware found it, but I didn't delete it because it always remembers my passwords for me! (which I never can)...do I really need to get rid of it? I mean I knew webhancer was bad because it screwed up my computer, but is gator the same thing? and what kind of spying does spyware do, anyway? Thank you!

If I really should get rid of gator, is there any similar password remembering program that I could substitute?

 

[beach51]

There is a program that does the same thing as gator but is spyware free.I dont have the link to it but am sure Tony does and will post it when he come back online.

Heres a good site you look at and read about spyware and what it does to your computer.

www.cexx.org

 

[SavvyLady]

you need to get rid of anything thats spyware to keep your system running well and to prevent them from sending info to home & causing you alot of spam etc in the e-mail.

 

[Brooks]

IE 5 and above has the ability to do that as does Netscape 6.2 and Mozilla.

As far as one that works with Netscape 4.x, I am not aware of one that does other than Gator.

 

[TonyKlein]

The Gator alternative Savvy was talking about is <A HREF="http://www.roboform.com/?tag=ex.dl.10059-601-2409576.dir.manu">RoboForm </A> .

It's a lot smarter than Gator is, and contains no spyware.
You can import your Gator data as well, which makes changing over a piece of cake.

Greetz,

 

[SavvyLady]

you can get password keeps at http://www.zdnet.com/downloads/
type in search : free password keeper & click go

Tony recommends http://www.roboform.com/?tag=ex.dl.10059-601-2409576.dir.manu this.




Tony needs to teach SavvyLady how to get her URL's organized for here...lol