Hi DougThank you very muchTroy

Make sure vertical refresh rate (AKA V-Sync) for your video card is turned off. As I stated in the FS Hardware Forum, turning on the vertical refresh rate option for my Radeon ATI video card suddenly brought FS2K4 almost to its knees. Turning it completely off gave me 10-15 more FPS. I think improperly installed video card driver upgrades will also bring down systems (upgrades are happening quite frequently so suspect problems here). They may appear to be properly installed but old .dll's and registry items may be taking up resources. I have had slow downs in FS2K4 everytime I upgraded my ATI drivers by simply installing over the old ones (the install program usually states it's "deleting" the old drivers/software first - but don't believe it). I now uninstall the old drivers first, go into the registry to delete left over entries, delete the ATI**** dll's in my Windows/System 32 directory, and then install the new drivers. It's unbelievable how much better FS2K4 has run for me. Also make sure, after installing new drivers, to start FS2K4, then close FS2K4, and then shut down the system, wait a minute, and then restart. I've found that somehow the proper registry settings for your video card and FS2K4 don't take effect immediately unless you go through this procedure. Spyware will also bring down a computer system. I had a friend who had little knowledge of computers and had 93% of his resources going somewhere else. He couldn't figure out why his system was running so slow. He ran his virus checker but found no viruses. I ran AdAware (free edition) and found 275 problems installed on his system without his knowledge. After deleting them all (many were secretly installed software programs), his system suddenly had only 35% of its resources being used. Defragging brought even more resources to his system. I doubt seriously there is a problem with ActiveX 9.0b/c or Windows XP SP2 as those are installed on my system and not causing me resource problems.Anyway, these "solutions" worked for me and hope they will help others.Jim

I've been seeing a new breed of spyware that is all but invisible to Spybot, Adaware and the like--and the signs are it's surfaced only in the past five, perhaps six weeks. If you have Hijack This, do a scan and post the results here. I've had to review several workstations at my office recently which were getting these symptoms, and the symptoms went unnoticed until memory intensive apps were running like our financials system, which "buffers" clients in memory to the limit of available memory. It turned out they were infected with what I like to call "persistent" spyware, which I was still able to clear but not until I caught on to what it was doing. I wish I could give you an .exe or dll to look for, but this latest batch of Spyware/Malware morphs with random names and registry entries disguised to look like legit system files. It can't be killed via task manager or other programs that terminate unwanted processes. Regardless, a Hijack This log should rule it out or flag it as a problem upon my review.-John

Thanks John, I'm running the software now....I don't think this a case of user perception of slower performance. I work in IT as well and there is diffidently an issue with performance degradation in FS2k4. Why this is I don't know but there's something going on...

John,Just ran the latest version of Hijack This. Here is my log file, do you see anything suspicious in it?Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.0Scan saved at 14:33:48 PM, on 12/18/2004Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)Running processes:C:WINDOWSSystem32smss.exeC:WINDOWSsystem32winlogon.exeC:WINDOWSsystem32services.exeC:WINDOWSsystem32lsass.exeC:WINDOWSsystem32Ati2evxx.exeC:WINDOWSsystem32svchost.exeC:WINDOWSSystem32svchost.exeC:WINDOWSsystem32spoolsv.exeC:WINDOWSsystem32Ati2evxx.exeC:WINDOWSExplorer.EXEC:Program FilesCreativeSBAudigy2Surround MixerCTSysVol.exeC:Program FilesCreativeSBAudigy2DVDAudioCTDVDDet.EXEC:Program FilesHewlett-PackardDigital Imagingbinhpotdd01.exeC:Program FilesTrend MicroInternet Security 2005pccguide.exeC:WINDOWSSystem32CTsvcCDA.exeC:PROGRA~1TRENDM~1INTERN~1PcCtlCom.exeC:PROGRA~1TRENDM~1INTERN~1Tmntsrv.exeC:PROGRA~1TRENDM~1INTERN~1tmproxy.exeC:WINDOWSSystem32MsPMSPSv.exeC:PROGRA~1TRENDM~1INTERN~1TmPfw.exeC:Program FilesInternet Exploreriexplore.exeC:Documents and SettingsE. FisherMy DocumentshijackthisHijackThis.exeR0 - HKCUSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerMain,Start Page = http://www.avsim.com/O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:Program FilesAdobeAcrobat 6.0ReaderActiveXAcroIEHelper.dllO2 - BHO: (no name) - {243B17DE-77C7-46BF-B94B-0B5F309A0E64} - C:Program FilesMicrosoft MoneySystemmnyside.dllO2 - BHO: (no name) - {FDD3B846-8D59-4ffb-8758-209B6AD74ACC} - (no file)O4 - HKLM..Run: [CTSysVol] C:Program FilesCreativeSBAudigy2Surround MixerCTSysVol.exeO4 - HKLM..Run: [CTDVDDet] C:Program FilesCreativeSBAudigy2DVDAudioCTDVDDet.EXEO4 - HKLM..Run: [sBDrvDet] C:Program FilesCreativeSB Drive DetSBDrvDet.exe /rO4 - HKLM..Run: [CTStartup] "C:Program FilesCreativeSplash ScreenCTEaxSpl.EXE" /runO4 - HKLM..Run: [HPDJ Taskbar Utility] C:WINDOWSSystem32spooldriversw32x863hpztsb08.exeO4 - HKLM..Run: [DeviceDiscovery] C:Program FilesHewlett-PackardDigital Imagingbinhpotdd01.exeO4 - HKLM..Run: [pccguide.exe] "C:Program FilesTrend MicroInternet Security 2005pccguide.exe"O4 - HKCU..RunOnce: [CTStartup] "C:Program FilesCreativeSplash ScreenCTEaxSpl.EXE" /playO9 - Extra button: MoneySide - {E023F504-0C5A-4750-A1E7-A9046DEA8A21} - C:Program FilesMicrosoft MoneySystemmnyside.dllO9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:Program FilesMessengermsmsgs.exeO9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:Program FilesMessengermsmsgs.exeO16 - DPF: {4BEE3896-4820-48D1-85EA-5A9A9ECD3D95} (OPUCatalog Class) - http://www.microsoftoffice.com/productupda...ontent/opuc.cabO16 - DPF: {E5ABEB00-B357-4884-9949-77B2C71A7EE3} (BoardCtl Class) - http://www.intel.com/design/motherbd/boardid/BoardID.cabO23 - Service: Ati HotKey Poller - Unknown - C:WINDOWSsystem32Ati2evxx.exeO23 - Service: ATI Smart - Unknown - C:WINDOWSsystem32ati2sgag.exeO23 - Service: Creative Service for CDROM Access - Creative Technology Ltd - C:WINDOWSSystem32CTsvcCDA.exeO23 - Service: hpdj - HP - C:DOCUME~1EAE86~1.FISLOCALS~1Temphpdj.exeO23 - Service: Trend Micro Central Control Component - Trend Micro Incorporated. - C:PROGRA~1TRENDM~1INTERN~1PcCtlCom.exeO23 - Service: Trend Micro Real-time Service - Trend Micro Incorporated. - C:PROGRA~1TRENDM~1INTERN~1Tmntsrv.exeO23 - Service: Trend Micro Personal Firewall - Trend Micro Inc. - C:PROGRA~1TRENDM~1INTERN~1TmPfw.exeO23 - Service: Trend Micro Proxy Service - Trend Micro Inc. - C:PROGRA~1TRENDM~1INTERN~1tmproxy.exe

On quick glance, no. The HKLMRun entries don't have the vectors to the most recent batch of malware, and you don't have any signs of hijacked pages or current Browser Helper Objects.However, I don't run any of the Creative "Junk". Much of that is overhead on the system if you want a pristine simming environment. When I need the Creative tools, I run them manually. -John

Hello all,I too had seemed to find slower performance after SP2. After reading this thread, I went to add and remove programs, removed SP2 and then degragged twice.FS performance is back up to where it was before SP2Best,Clayhttp://www.dreamfleet2000.com/gfx/images/F...ers/Dopke01.jpgClayton T. Dopke (Clay)Major, USAF (retired)"Drac"

That's great but whatever opinion anyone has of Microsoft, they don't issue services releases just to waste their time and make our OSs worse. My understanding is that there were MAJOR security holes that SP2 addressed so you may enjoy better fps with FS9 but may be exposing your system to more attacks at the same time.But I am in favor the the DEATH penalty for anyone releasing any sort of malware. Maybe not death but at least 10 minutes in a locked room with my Navy Seal buddy who says the biggest problem he would have in killing his enemy would be to decide which out of a large number of ways to do it!!!!He's the same guy who, when I ask him how he's feeling, says that he feels like "190 pounds of rompin', stompin' death and destruction!!(:

Hey John I emailed you but here is my log as well....Running processes:C:WINDOWSSystem32smss.exeC:WINDOWSsystem32winlogon.exeC:WINDOWSsystem32services.exeC:WINDOWSsystem32lsass.exeC:WINDOWSSystem32Ati2evxx.exeC:WINDOWSsystem32svchost.exeC:WINDOWSSystem32svchost.exeC:WINDOWSsystem32spoolsv.exeC:Program FilesNetwork AssociatesCommon FrameworkFrameworkService.exeC:Program FilesNetwork AssociatesVirusScanMcshield.exeC:Program FilesNetwork AssociatesVirusScanVsTskMgr.exeC:Program FilesCommon FilesMicrosoft SharedVS7Debugmdm.exeC:WINDOWSsystem32Ati2evxx.exeC:WINDOWSSystem32MsPMSPSv.exeC:WINDOWSExplorer.EXEC:Program FilesNetwork AssociatesVirusScanSHSTAT.EXEC:WINDOWSsystem32ctfmon.exeC:Program FilesMozilla Firefoxfirefox.exeC:My DownloadsHijackThis.exeR0 - HKCUSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerMain,Start Page = http://www.avsim.com/R1 - HKCUSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerMain,Window Title = Microsoft Internet Explorer provided by Comcast High-Speed InternetO2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:Program FilesAdobeAcrobat 6.0ReaderActiveXAcroIEHelper.dllO2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:PROGRA~1SPYBOT~1SDHelper.dllO2 - BHO: {5B3F2D77-F307-4339-B465-10F26D37DCF9} - {5B3F2D77-F307-4339-B465-10F26D37DCF9} - C:WINDOWS1089046391.dll (file missing)O2 - BHO: ST - {9394EDE7-C8B5-483E-8773-474BF36AF6E4} - C:Program FilesMSN AppsST01.02.3000.1002en-xustmain.dllO2 - BHO: MSNToolBandBHO - {BDBD1DAD-C946-4A17-ADC1-64B5B4FF55D0} - C:Program FilesMSN AppsMSN Toolbar01.02.3000.1001en-usmsntb.dllO3 - Toolbar: MSN - {BDAD1DAD-C946-4A17-ADC1-64B5B4FF55D0} - C:Program FilesMSN AppsMSN Toolbar01.02.3000.1001en-usmsntb.dllO4 - HKLM..Run: [updReg] C:WINDOWSUpdReg.EXEO4 - HKLM..Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE NvQTwk,NvCplDaemon initializeO4 - HKLM..Run: [KernelFaultCheck] %systemroot%system32dumprep 0 -kO4 - HKLM..Run: [shStatEXE] "C:Program FilesNetwork AssociatesVirusScanSHSTAT.EXE" /STANDALONEO4 - HKCU..Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:WINDOWSsystem32ctfmon.exeO6 - HKCUSoftwarePoliciesMicrosoftInternet ExplorerControl Panel presentO8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://c:program filesmicrosoft officeoffice10excel.exe/3000O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:WINDOWSSystem32msjava.dllO9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:WINDOWSSystem32msjava.dllO9 - Extra button: Real.com - {CD67F990-D8E9-11d2-98FE-00C0F0318AFE} - C:WINDOWSSystem32Shdocvw.dllO9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:Program FilesMessengermsmsgs.exeO9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:Program FilesMessengermsmsgs.exeO14 - IERESET.INF: START_PAGE_URL=http://www.comcast.netO15 - Trusted IP range: 64.127.104.144 (HKLM)O23 - Service: Ati HotKey Poller - Unknown - C:WINDOWSSystem32Ati2evxx.exeO23 - Service: ATI Smart - Unknown - C:WINDOWSSYSTEM32ati2sgag.exeO23 - Service: McAfee Framework Service - Network Associates, Inc. - C:Program FilesNetwork AssociatesCommon FrameworkFrameworkService.exeO23 - Service: Network Associates McShield - Network Associates, Inc. - C:Program FilesNetwork AssociatesVirusScanMcshield.exeO23 - Service: Network Associates Task Manager - Network Associates, Inc. - C:Program FilesNetwork AssociatesVirusScanVsTskMgr.exeO23 - Service: Intel NCS NetService - Intel® Corporation - C:Program FilesIntelNCSSyncNetSvc.exeLet me know what you think and thanks....

SP2 might have fix a bunch of things, but it's my understanding SP1 is just as safe if you apply all the latest updates and run Firewall and Anti-virus software. I use ZoneAlarm Pro and it has worked great, plus it cleans cookies, temp folders, and a bunch of stuff with the click of a button. Also, I use Trend Micro Security for virus protection and it has built-in spyware blocking that gets updated with the virus definitions. I've never had spyware or a virus on any searches I've done.

Nothing jumps out either, however I would try disabling this key:O4 - HKLM..Run: %systemroot%system32dumprep 0 -kto see if you get improved performance. Dumprep is the MS Debug Service used in conjunction with memory dumps. It's not required, and you may save some overhead by leaving it off.-John

Dumprep can be useful though- I usually recommend people submit the bug reports. Every once in a while, it will actually tell you what caused a crash. It can be useful.I wouldn't think SP2 is causing any slowdowns, but I won't definatively say that.Defragging with the built in tool is only partially useful. You will find a program like Raxco Perfect Disk works 1000% better. First, the built in tool won't defrag the page file. That is what I'm guessing is causing gradual slowdowns. As an alternative to buying another program, move your page file to another drive (if it is on C), defrag C, then move it back (that is what MS recommends). Also, Perfect disk arrange files by access, so it clumps together more frequently used programs. It also defrags the master file table. Perfect Disk is a phenomenal tool, so you might want to check it out. Yes, I have a SATA RAID 0 array for my system disk, but after defragging with P.D. my boot times are ridiculous- usually right to desktop in 10 seconds from the POST.

<>With respect, that's not what microsoft says. Their recommendations to adopt SP2 have been nearly URGENT. They provide it for free so they have no ax to grind except to get IT managers to stop screeming at them to plug holes.Just IMHO.

Thanks John...

There are 2 freeware tools available to speed up your FS performance (i.e. the fps)Search, download and install:1)Game XP.exe.zip for those of you working under Windows XP. This is a general performance booster.2)LtcyCfg2.zip and set the Latency-value of your videocard to 64 or even 32; idem for the PCI bridge and the Ethernet Controller.Give it a try and check if your fps has gone up.Might be it will work for your configuration or not, but it's worth while trying it!Paddy.