My computer has recently begun suffering from horrible performance. Opening up a simple window can take 20 seconds. Clicking on the start menu frequently produces the flashlight icon for 10 seconds or more. Running FS9 is out of the question: takes several minutes to open (using FSAutostart) where it used to take only 1 or 2; frame rates are 0 to 1 with all sliders full left, no weather, no traffic, 800 x 600 resolution, etc. Even the default MS games (Hearts, etc) play like they're in slow motion. My system is getting up there in age- SONY VAIO RX-580 (no upgrades ever), nearly 3 years old. Specs: P4 1.8, 512mb PC133, Win XP Home, ASUS P4BLX motherboard (400 FSB), nVIDIA TnT 4x AGP (64mb)- current driver 6.1.7.7. I've tried rolling back the driver- no change in performance.I haven't installed any new applications (except Motherboard Monitor) for at least 6 months. I did, however, add my own AI traffic to FS9 using AIA, FSP, and MRAI. I've also added a couple of planes (all my FS downloads come from the AVSIM library). I have a single 80 gig HD that is partitioned. The C (where the OS is) drive is 16 gigs, with about 3.5 gigs free. The D drive, where FS9 is installed, has more than 50 % free.I run Trend Micro PC-Cillin at least once a week, and keep it updated. It detects no virus. I also run Ad-Aware and Spybot at least once a week- keep those updated, too. I've run parasite detection (no parasites), CWShredder (no traces), and Windows Memory Diagnostic (results were normal). I've run Disk Cleanup, checked for Disk Errors (there were none), cleared temp files and cookies, and defragged multiple times. I recently read about internal temperatures, so I installed Motherboard Monitor, which tells me the CPU temp is 89 degrees C. I opened up my case, vacuumed out the dust (didn't seem like there was very much), ran the computer with the case open to see if that made a difference (it didn't). The CPU fan seems to be running correctly. The CPU temp stays the same (+ or - 1 degree) whether I've started it up after being off overnight or after being on for an hour or more.I'm not sure what "normal" readings should be in Windows Task Manager. It shows CPU usage varies from 20% (when completely idle) to 100% (when opening up a program). I'm sure this is too high. System Idle Process is usually number 1,2 or 3 as is Explorer.EXE. When I examine Mem Usage, the big 4 are my browser (Mozilla Firefox), Explorer.exe, exec.exe (all 20,000k or more) and an svchost.exe (about 16,000k).I'm not sure what my next steps should be. Should I take it in to the shop (the closest repair store, CompUSA, wants to charge $100 to check the computer); should I try reinstalling the OS/windows; are there other things I can investigate to try to address this myself?Not sure if I should apologize for the length of this post- I was trying to be thorough with providing information.Does anyone have advice/suggestions? Thanks in advance.

>I recently read about internal temperatures, so I installed>Motherboard Monitor, which tells me the CPU temp is 89 degrees>C.89C is way too high.

"Not sure if I should apologize for the length of this post- I was trying to be thorough with providing information."Actually, Alex, your post was a breath of fresh air. Far more info than most of these types of posts bring to the table.First thing I'd do is get that CPU temp down. It is waaayyy too high! The CPU could very well be throttling back because of the excessive heat. Also, you should remove the fan from the CPU cooler... you'll be suprised by what you find between the fins of the cooler (some of that stuff in there may require it's own zip code).Sounds like you've been thorough with your system scans. Might try HijackThis (Google). If you've not used it before don't go deleting any registry entries (lest you want to reinstall Windows :-) ). If you're not sure what the scan log is telling you post a screeni of the log here.Hope this helps, and keep us informed.GregP.S. Here's a pic of what I recently found in the CPU cooler of my daughter's computer:http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/91771.jpg

Thanks for the replies.While my initial post didn't necessarily reflect this, when my performance went south, my initial research led me to suspect the CPU temp unless I could rule it out. That's why I downloaded Motherboard Monitor. For somebody like me, who's not that much of a tech person, at least the validation was nice.SOAR...I never thought to remove the fan. I wish I could say that removing/cleaning it up solved things. Actually, when I took the fan off, all I found was a THIN layer of dust/dirt. I cleaned it off nevertheless. Tried to visually inspect again for anything GROSSLY inappropriate that even my untrained eye could spot. Things APPEAR to be somewhat squeaky clean at this point. Restarted the computer after this: 89 degrees, still.Forgot to mention in the first post, but I did run HijackThis. Can't remember for sure, but there may have been 1 or 2 items that I deleted from the registry after checking them out first. I've not noticed any ill effects due to this.Back to the heat issue. Initally (before posting) I sort of hoped (!) that when I opened the case up, I would find more than I did, as I have found copious amounts of #@*!% with previous computers. While I did find some, I was surprised that there wasn't more.I wish I could say that I had dropped the sucker, or the dog took a leak on it :-lol and this all began just after an incident. But, it just started for reasons unknown to me. It's obviously frustrating. :-8 Should I replace the fan? Everything sounds like it has since I've had the computer, but I don't assume that that means anything. Or do I examine something else?

Man, 89C is way to high, try taking the side cover and blow a big fan into it, and see if you can drop the temperature down that way.

Kurt-Already tried that. No difference. I used a 24" room fan on max. Tried it again, only I separated the power supply as far as I could because it covers up the CPU/fan. Left it on for 30 minutes. (Before anyone asks, the computer IS indoors, not outside :-lol and my a/c is running- indoor temp around 80 F).The weird thing is, I can leave the computer off overnight, and when I start it up the next day, Motherboard Monitor reports the temp is already 89C at startup. :-roll The temp sometimes "dips" to 88, sometimes "soars" to 90. Never higher or lower since I began monitoring it. :-hmmm

Have you checked the temp in your BIOS? Perhaps we're all barking at shadows here (the high temp as reported by MBM). 89C is too high to be safe, but the best way to be sure that that temp is what is actually happening is to check it in your BIOS.Cheers,Greg

Nice call, Greg.Don't know that I've ever examined BIOS before. The first thing I noticed was a message that "Hardware Monitor found an error." So I went to the Hardware Monitor page. Not sure what the error was, BUT... CPU temp was 39.5 C. Motherboard temp was 38 C. CPU fan speed hovers around 4300 rpm. Power fan speed was reported as NA (was this the "error"?), however, I can state that the fan on the power supply seems to be working fine- I can hear and feel the air being pushed. The other numbers were:VCORE Voltage=1.7 V+3.3 V = 3.3 V+5 V = 5.1 V+12 V = 11.9 V-12 V = -11.9 VI looked at the other pages while in BIOS. Nothing seemed amiss, although I'm unaccustomed to "normal" BIOS numbers. Interestingly, when I exited BIOS, Motherboard Monitor reported the CPU temp as 41 C... for about 5 seconds... then jumped back to 89 C. I restarted the computer to see if I could duplicate this. I couldn't. BIOS stays within a degree or so of 39 C, MM still reports 89C. I then discovered I could enter an adjustment in Motherboard Monitor, so I did (-49 so it would agree with BIOS).So... is 39 C OK for CPU temp? If so, I'm back to square one as far as why my computer is soooooo sloooooowww. As a non-techie, it's as though Explorer has somehow corrupted, or there is a RAM problem.

39C I believe is a standard good temperature. As for being so slow, have you tried running Ad-Aware? it will remove all spyware that could be slowing you down, then try defragging your hard drive.

Well shucks... would have been easier had the problem been with the CPU cooler/fan.A swell as running Ad-Aware and Spybot another useful tool is Spy Sweeper (Google).Could you post a screenshot of your Task Manager. Also, your HijackThis log would be useful.Thanks,Greg

Greg-I downloaded and ran Spy Sweeper (thanks for the suggestion). It detected 30 items that Ad-aware and Spybot did not- mostly browser/search hijacks (although I never seem to experience hijacks with Mozillza), plus one transponder (vx2). Interestingly, while it was running, PC-Cillin notified me it had detected a virus (ADW_RULEDOR.C, which I've had before) which it quarantined.I have since re-run Ad-Aware, Spybot and Spy Sweeper, as well as PC-Cillin. No hits from any of them this morning.I'm attaching screenshot of task manager after doing this, shutting down the computer for a while and restarting. No applications were running. If I sit and stare at it, doing absolutely nothing- not even mouse movements- the CPU usage varies from 7% to 100%. System is the number one user when the percentage is way up there.Also attaching my HighjackThis log.Thanks again for you time here. Whatever the outcome, it is appreciated very much!http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/91835.jpg

Yep, Alex, your system has critters!! You also have a number of services running that don't have to be, but we'll deal with that after our critter hunting.All the entries in the first section below are related to NetZero Isp. If you're having problems with this (or you don't have NetZero) I recommend you remove them:#-1 reboot into safe mode and scan with HijackThis and check off these entries (ONLY) and click FIX CHECKED.#-2 Clean out your temp files,cookies,internet cache etc. (Google CCleaner... it works a peach and is easy to use (makes it perfect for folks like me)).#-3 Re-scan with HijackThis and post back a new log after you have scanned and deleted these entries in safe mode.R1 - HKLMSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerMain,Default_Search_URL = http://my.netzero.net/s/search?r=minisearchR1 - HKLMSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerMain,Search Page = http://my.netzero.net/s/search?r=minisearchR0 - HKLMSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerSearch,SearchAssistant = http://my.netzero.net/s/search?r=minisearchR1 - HKCUSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerSearchURL,(Default) = http://my.netzero.net/s/search?r=minisearchYou can remove all the entries below. You will then have to remove each of the .exe from your system before rebooting after fixing them in HJT. Should you get some error message when trying to delete that says something to the effect "Cannot delete this file because it's being used by another process" (or something to that effect) you must first end the process in Task Manager (which is the case of hcm.exe... it's running now).O4 - HKCU..Run: [spc_w] "C:Program FilesNZSearchhcm.exe" -wO4 - Startup: PowerReg Scheduler V3.exeI need to do some more research on the GoogleToolBar stuff... never seen that before. Also, this entry has me scratching my head:O16 - DPF: {01FE8D0A-51AD-459B-B62B-85E135128B32} (DD_v4.DDv4) - http://www.drivershq.com/DD_v4.CABI'll await your next log posting. Also, it would be helpful if you post another screenie of your Task Manger as well so that we can track what happens to the CPU usage after each HiJackThis hunt.Cheers,Greg

OK. It took me a little while. but here's where things stand. I implemented suggestions #1-#3 successfully. CCleaner found 936 items to fix. I also deleted:O4 - HKCU..Run: "C:Program FilesNZSearchhcm.exe" -wI hate to say this, though, I could NOT locate:O4 - Startup: PowerReg Scheduler V3.exeI even tried a " *.exe " search. Not sure why this is eluding me... can't remember the last time I couldn't find something, if ever. :-hmmm Updated HJT log and Task Manager screenie are attached. Task Manager CPU varies now from 2-100%, but more time pegged up high than low. I humbly (hee, hee) await the next suggestions!EDIT: forgot to include attachments!

We're making headway (though it might be hard to see).Since you nuked the NetZero nonsense I'll assume you don't want any of it on your computer.First thing is to see all the files on your system (Start>Run>Folder Option>View. Uncheck "Hide protected operating system files"). Next, you'll need to reboot into Safemode to get rid of that NZSearch. Then run HJT and click on Fix for these entries:R3 - URLSearchHook: URLSearchHook Class - {37D2CDBF-2AF4-44AA-8113-BD0D2DA3C2B8} - C:Program FilesNZSearchSearchEnh1.dllO3 - Toolbar: ZeroBar - {F5735C15-1FB2-41FE-BA12-242757E69DDE} - D:Program FilesNetZeroToolbar.dllO3 - Toolbar: ZeroBar - {F0F8ECBE-D460-4B34-B007-56A92E8F84A7} - D:Program FilesNetZerotoolbar.dllOnce done go to C:Program FilesNZSearch and delete the "NZSearch" folder. Also, delete the "NetZero" folder. Finally, run CCleaner (to empty the Recycle Bin primarily, but any other useless stuff that gets dumped is OK).Once done reboot back into Windows. The screenies are very useful here. Please post a new HJT log and Task Manager screenie. Since we'll soon have your system tidied up please include in your next post here a screenie of your Startup tab (Start>Run> type "msconfig">click on the Startup tab).Thanks,GregEdit: Forgot to add... try another search for that PowerReg Scheduler V3.exe after you reboot back into windows (you should then be able to still view the protected operating system files).

he he, you're at-it again Greg, helping us poor PC guy's with our registry issues again, lolhang in there Alex, he'll sort it out for you cos he's Sooooooo good at this reg stuff. we should be paying him in chocolates....lots of chocolates, by the way Greg, I'm still waiting for my bill from you for fixing my problems, of which I will never be grateful enough.thanks Greg,Steve ''Cool'' WilliamsonEdit: Greg, do you remember how much fun we had with ''Monitor.exe'' . . . . now that was fun,http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/91970.jpg