BleepingComputer.com: TOO MANY PROCESSES RUNNING

I have a Dell Inspiron 1300 that I have used for about 4 years now. It has Windows XP Home edition installed. Used to work super but recently it has become really sluggish. When I use the Windows Task Manager I see so many processes running and I do not know which is vital for the operation of the laptop and which is just consuming resources and slowing the system down.
This is a list of the processes running at the moment:
svchost.exe
wmiprvse.exe
iexplore.exe
alg.exe
notepad.exe
SSU.exe
ctfmon.exe
wwDisp.exe
iexplore.exe
flux.exe
SpySweeper.exe
mstsc.exe
sprtcmd.exe
avgcsrvx.exe
SynTPEnh.exe
hkcmd.exe
WasherSvc.exe
jqs.exe
avgwdsvc.exe
svchost.exe
spoolsv.exe
BCMWLTRY.exe
WLTRYSVC.exe
svchost.exe
SpySweeper.exe
avgcsrvx.exe
plugin-container.exe
firefox.exe
avgrsx.exe
avgchsvx.exe
svchost.exe
svchost.exe
svchost.exe
svchost.exe
iexplore.exe
svchost.exe
WRConsumerService.exe
avgnsx.exe
lsass.exe
services.exe
winlogon.exe
csrss.exe
sprtsvc.exe
smss.exe
NicConfigSvc.exe
explorer.exe
wuauclt.exe
System
System Idle Process
Can anyone help me with this? I need to know which processes I can leave and the ones that it is safe to terminate. Also how to permanently prevent unwanted processes from starting up with the system and clogging its resources. Or if there is some other reason for the sluggish nature of the system
Thanks

This post has been edited by hamluis: 26 January 2012 - 03:15 PM
Reason for edit: Moved from XP to Am I Infected.

Resources you can use:

Slow Computer-browser Check Here First; It May Not Be Malware - http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic87058.html

I suggest that you not focus on processes running...until you have reviewed everything else that might contribute to system slowdowns.

Then...if you so desire...you can use Google and the following links to further investigate processes reflected in Task Manager.

Process Explorer Mini-guide and Screenshots - http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic354690.html

Process Explorer Tutorial - http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic353933.html#entry1975652

Process Explorer - http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx

Louis

Thanks Louis...I have followed your suggestions without making a difference in the way my system works.

Please explain the SPECIFIC issue(s) you are having. WHAT is sluggish? Exactly what is happening?

Allan,
Thanks for asking. To me it seems the system is being bogged down by too many processes running. All those processes listed above start running at start up even when all I am doing is browsing the web using IE and Firefox. I am tempted to try and shut them down but I dont know which is vital and which is not. I also have several instances of the same process runing e.g. svchost.exe...the other day I saw a process called maindll.dll running and consuming so much memory the computer was virtually unresponsive. When I killed it the system picked up again.
C

Maindll.dll seems to be associated with malware.

Moving this to Am I Infected forum.

Louis

i hope this does not constitute bumping but this topic was moved to the Am I infected forum and I have had no answers from anyone.

Sorry we lost you.

We need some scan logs to see what is happening..
Please download MiniToolBox, save it to your desktop and run it.

Checkmark the following checkboxes:

• Flush DNS
  
• Report IE Proxy Settings
  
• Reset IE Proxy Settings
  
• Report FF Proxy Settings
  
• Reset FF Proxy Settings
  
• List content of Hosts
  
• List IP configuration
  
• List Winsock Entries
  
• List last 10 Event Viewer log
  
• List Installed Programs
  
• List Devices
  
• List Users, Partitions and Memory size.
  
• List Minidump Files

Click Go and post the result (Result.txt). A copy of Result.txt will be saved in the same directory the tool is run.

Note: When using "Reset FF Proxy Settings" option Firefox should be closed.


Next run MBAM (MalwareBytes):

Please download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and save it to your desktop.

Download Link 1 <<<== Use this one first.

Download Link 2

MBAM may "make changes to your registry" as part of its disinfection routine. If using other security programs that detect registry changes (ie Spybot's Teatimer), they may interfere or alert you. Temporarily disable such programs or permit them to allow the changes.

• Make sure you are connected to the Internet.
  
• Double-click on mbam-setup.exe to install the application.
  For instructions with screenshots, please refer to the How to use Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware Guide.
  
• When the installation begins, follow the prompts and do not make any changes to default settings.
  
• When installation has finished, make sure you leave both of these checked:
  • Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
    
  • Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
  
  
• Then click Finish.

MBAM will automatically start and you will be asked to update the program before performing a scan.

• If an update is found, the program will automatically update itself. Press the OK button to close that box and continue.
  
• If you encounter any problems while downloading the definition updates, manually download them from here and just double-click on mbam-rules.exe to install.

On the Scanner tab:

• Make sure the "Perform Quick Scan" option is selected.
  
• Then click on the Scan button.
  
• If asked to select the drives to scan, leave all the drives selected and click on the Start Scan button.
  
• The scan will begin and "Scan in progress" will show at the top. It may take some time to complete so please be patient.
  
• When the scan is finished, a message box will say "The scan completed successfully. Click 'Show Results' to display all objects found".
  
• Click OK to close the message box and continue with the removal process.

Back at the main Scanner screen:

• Click on the Show Results button to see a list of any malware that was found.
  
• Make sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected.
  
• When removal is completed, a log report will open in Notepad.
  
• The log is automatically saved and can be viewed by clicking the Logs tab in MBAM.
  
• Copy and paste the contents of that report in your next reply. Be sure to post the complete log to include the top portion which shows MBAM's database version and your operating system.
  
• Exit MBAM when done.

Note: If MBAM encounters a file that is difficult to remove, you will be asked to reboot your computer so MBAM can proceed with the disinfection process. If asked to restart the computer, please do so immediately. Failure to reboot normally (not into safe mode) will prevent MBAM from removing all the malware.

Troubleshoot Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware



Please download GMER from one of the following locations and save it to your desktop:

• Main Mirror
  This version will download a randomly named file (Recommended)
  
• Zipped Mirror
  This version will download a zip file you will need to extract first. If you use this mirror, please extract the zip file to your desktop.

• Disconnect from the Internet and close all running programs.
  
• Temporarily disable any real-time active protection so your security programs will not conflict with gmer's driver.
  
• Double-click on the randomly named GMER file (i.e. n7gmo46c.exe) and allow the gmer.sys driver to load if asked.
  
• Note: If you downloaded the zipped version, extract the file to its own folder such as C:\gmer and then double-click on gmer.exe.
  
  
  
  
• GMER will open to the Rootkit/Malware tab and perform an automatic quick scan when first run. (do not use the computer while the scan is in progress)
  
• If you receive a WARNING!!! about rootkit activity and are asked to fully scan your system...click NO.
  
• Now click the Scan button. If you see a rootkit warning window, click OK.
  
• When the scan is finished, click the Save... button to save the scan results to your Desktop. Save the file as gmer.log.
  
• Click the Copy button and paste the results into your next reply.
  
• Exit GMER and be sure to re-enable your anti-virus, Firewall and any other security programs you had disabled.

-- If you encounter any problems, try running GMER in safe mode.
-- If GMER crashes or keeps resulting in a BSODs, uncheck Devices on the right side before scanning.

thanks boopme,
sorry but i have been using another laptop and i just saw this post from you. if it is not too late i will follow your instructions tomorrow and post the results. once again thanks.
chopinsin

No problem.