On Wed, 13 Aug 2008 06:58:56 -0700 (PDT), ship <shiphen******.com>
wrote:

> Hi
>
> Any thoughts about why my PC is suddenly running dead slow?
> It is running Windows XP Pro (SP3).
>
> I last updated it about 20 days ago. And then it started running slow
> about 2 days ago.


A sudden unexplained drop in performance like that is extremely likely
to be caused by malware infection.


> I have now installe dall the latest patches but it is still dog-slow.
>
> I have various things installed but which I have now EXITED
> including:
> Windows Search,
> Google Desktop,
> Logmein.com and
> SpyBot - Search & Destroy.
>
> I notice in Windows "Task Manager" that even just after on a cold re-
> boot, I have 7 copies of "svchost.exe".


That's normal.


> They are not taking any CPU
> time though.
>
> In fact the CPU is running at about 2-3%. But when I open FireFox, it
> takes a VERY long
> time to open (about 90 seconds first time, and still about 15 seconds
> to immediately
> re-open it with nothing else open). Whereas msInternet Explorer
> (normally fairly slow
> to open now opens in about 8 seconds and re-opens in about 2 or 3
> seconds
>
> I am running AVG Anti-Virus Free (v8.0.138) - but it can't find any
> viruses.


Viruses are only one kind of malware. Non-viral malware, such as
spyware, remains a distinct possibility (also note that no anti-virus
program is perfect, and even viral malware is still a possibility).

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup