Hi Jerry
Run HJT Scan only remove the below entry.
R3 - Default URLSearchHook is missing
OK no Malware so it is a system and more likely the Hardware issue. XP needs more ram than 256 and even more after SP3.
So we will attack this with cleanup and general maintenance.
We are going to Shotgun the system with most everything, so this is a long post but it is not as complex as it seems. Do it one step at a time.
The first thing I want you to do is go carefully thu Add/Remove programs and uninstall all unused programs.
Did you get and use CCleaner from the 8 Steps and run it? If not do so now.
Run CCleaner again twice or more on Cleanup temps, then on left click Registry then Scan for issues also repeat till clean.
Run ATF-Cleaner
http://majorgeeks.com/ATF_Cleaner_d4949.html Temp and Registry, repeatedly until no more found.
KCleaner
ftp://ftp2.kcsoftwares.com/kcsoftwa/files/kcleaner.exe
Fantastic cleaner.
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Start-Programs-Accessories-System Tools-Disk- System Restore and create a new Restore point. Name it "Recommended cleanup at TechSpot".
Then Start-Programs-Accessories-System Tools-Disk Cleanup
Click OK to accept C:
Select all Boxes
Then click More Options
Here click System Restore and OK to "Are you sure" and the OK to Run.
As this runs it clears all but the most recent Restore Point but it does one other thing that can contain infested files and a huge amount of disk space.
It clears what is known as Shadow copies which are used by specialized back up programs.
This is if you have the Volume Shadow Copy running which is the default.
Then reboot before continuing
Update then run SAS
Click Preferences-Repairs
Then counting down from top do the following entries
Numbers 6, 8, 11, 12, 13, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24 25, 26 and 27!
Then another Reboot and continue
Download Dial-A-Fix (DAF)
http://wiki.djlizard.net/Dial-a-fix#...C_and_articles
http://djlizard.net.nyud.net:8080/software/Dial-a-fix-v0.60.0.24.zip
Have XP CD available in case DAF needs a file.
Check all boxes on the screen (clear any restrictions if it shows any)
Then click GO!
When the entire page is finished click the HammerHead at bottom to go to the second DAF page.
Here 1 at a time do the below
Flush DNS
Flush Icons
Process Idle Tasks
Reset Networking Interfaces
Reset WMI/WBEM (not reinstall)
Repair Permissions
Watch for any File not found or other errors and make note as this may lead to the fix!
Final Reboot here before continuing below.
Download AutoRuns
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s.../bb963902.aspx
Run it let it scan, then when it says ready at bottom left corner click File at top and then Find.
Type in the find box
file not found and hit enter and delete all lines that have file not found.
There is a bunch of old stuff that M$ thought you might or would need that no longer exist or for computers that are assumed to have SCSI or AMD processors but do not or you have AMD so there is some Intel stuff!
Then look carefully through all the other entries and delete anything that you may have had but uninstalled and thought was gone. If you are sure delete these also.
Then get...
RunScanner
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s.../bb963902.aspx
Click Scan computer
Double click all Red lines to select, then click Item fixer and remove them.
Then click Extra stuff again select all Red lines.
Then click back to Malware hunting and Click the Item fixer again and remove these.
Same as already said on AutoRuns stuff that was assumed to be need but you do not have.
None of these items can run as the file is missing so most of the improvement you may see comes as a quicker startup as windows no longer searches or tries to load some of these. But some have noticed a faster shutdown also.
Reboot and recheck with both AutoRuns and RunScanner.
Lastly
Clean and tweak services
In services stop and disable all of the below just to get them out of the way for now for trouble shooting purposes.
Nothing is un-installed or deleted only disabled from running!
They can be put back anytime later but I would not, as none of them are needed by most home users and very few business users. Basically stuff M$ thought you should have.
Disabled uses no memory (RAM) and no CPU cycles.
Manual uses the RAM but a small amount of CPU.
Auto and not started they use even more RAM and CPU.
Auto and started even more RAM and CPU ..
Now in this case we disabling for trouble shooting purposes. But when we finish if you leave them all off until it is noticed that you need one (not likely for 99%) then it can be enabled.
Leaving these all off, then becomes a performance tweak/boost as they free some RAM and CPU cycles! Special note. If you are going to pick and choose then be aware that the small amount of RAM and CPU cycles of each one individually is not significant but as a group it is! So if you need most of them (or just think you do because you don't) then just as well enable them all)!
Distributed Link Tracking Client
Distributed Transaction Coordinator
DNS Client
Fast User switching
Health Key and Certificate Management Service
Indexing service
Messenger
Net logon (needed only for logging on to some Domain Servers)
Net.TCP Port Sharing
NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing
IPsec services
QoS RSVP
Remote Registry (additionally is a security threat)
Uninterruptable power supply
Universal Plug and play
Web Client
Windows media player Network Sharing
IF you are using a wired network card and "NOT" using wireless on this computer then you can
also disable
Wireless Zero configuration
Wireless Zero configuration is only used on computers with a wireless NIC like a Laptop. Do not disable Wireless Zero configuration on a Laptop. Has nothing to do with other wireless hardware like wireless routers etc.
In short if this computer has a CAT 5 or 6 cable and no ability to connect wirelessly if that cable is unplugged, then you can disable Wireless Zero configuration.
This is not to be confused with Wired Auto Config do not disable that!
Let me know when you have finished with all the above, then run for a few days to see if we made progress!
Mike