Windows 7 very slow in normal mode, ok in Safe Mode

I have a Windows 7 Laptop (Home Edition) that boots fine in SAFE mode, but takes an extremely long time to boot in normal mode. When it does get into normal mode, it runs so slow it is unusable.

 

I have run Malwarebytes, SuperAntiSpyWare and Spybot S&D (all in Safe Mode - of course) and it doesn't find any issues.

 

What else can I try?

 

Thanks,

Scott

 

 

Download Security Check from here or here and save it to your Desktop.

• Double-click SecurityCheck.exe
• Follow the onscreen instructions inside of the black box.
• A Notepad document should open automatically called checkup.txt; please post the contents of that document.

NOTE 1. If one of your security applications (e.g., third-party firewall) requests permission to allow DIG.EXE access the Internet, allow it to do so.
NOTE 2. SecurityCheck may produce some false warning(s), so leave the results reading to me.
NOTE 3. If you receive UNSUPPORTED OPERATING SYSTEM! ABORTED! message restart computer and Security Check should run

Please download Farbar Service Scanner (FSS) and run it on the computer with the issue.

• Make sure the following options are checked:
  
  • Internet Services
  • Windows Firewall
  • System Restore
  • Security Center/Action Center
  • Windows Update
  • Windows Defender
  • Other Services
• Press "Scan".
• It will create a log (FSS.txt) in the same directory the tool is run.
• Please copy and paste the log to your reply.

Please download MiniToolBox and run it.

Checkmark following boxes:

• Report IE Proxy Settings
• Report FF Proxy Settings
• List content of Hosts
• List IP configuration
• List Winsock Entries
• List last 10 Event Viewer log
• List Installed Programs
• List Devices (do NOT change any settings here)
• List Users, Partitions and Memory size
• List Restore Points

Click Go and post the result.

Please download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) to your desktop.
NOTE. If you already have MBAM 2.0 installed scroll down.

• Double-click mb3-setup-1878.1878-3.4.5.2467.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
  
• At the end, be sure a checkmark is placed next to the following:
  
  
  • Launch Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
  • A 14 day trial of the Premium features is pre-selected. You may deselect this if you wish, and it will not diminish the scanning and removal capabilities of the program.
  
  
• Click Finish.
• On the Dashboard, click the 'Update Now >>' link
• After the update completes, click the 'Scan Now >>' button.
  
• Or, on the Dashboard, click the Scan Now >> button.
• If an update is available, click the Update Now button.
  
• A Threat Scan will begin.
• When the scan is complete, if there have been detections, click Apply Actions to allow MBAM to clean what was detected.
• In most cases, a restart will be required.
• Wait for the prompt to restart the computer to appear, then click on Yes.

If you already have MBAM 2.0 installed:

• On the Dashboard, click the 'Update Now >>' link
• After the update completes, click the 'Scan Now >>' button.
  
• Or, on the Dashboard, click the Scan Now >> button.
• If an update is available, click the Update Now button.
  
• A Threat Scan will begin.
• When the scan is complete, if there have been detections, click Apply Actions to allow MBAM to clean what was detected.
• In most cases, a restart will be required.
• Wait for the prompt to restart the computer to appear, then click on Yes.

How to get logs:
(Export log to save as txt)

• After the restart once you are back at your desktop, open MBAM once more.
• Click on the History tab > Application Logs.
• Double click on the Scan Log which shows the Date and time of the scan just performed.
• Click 'Export'.
• Click 'Text file (*.txt)'
• In the Save File dialog box which appears, click on Desktop.
• In the File name: box type a name for your scan log.
• A message box named 'File Saved' should appear stating "Your file has been successfully exported".
• Click Ok
• Attach that saved log to your next reply.

(Copy to clipboard for pasting into forum replies or tickets)

• After the restart once you are back at your desktop, open MBAM once more.
• Click on the History tab > Application Logs.
• Double click on the Scan Log which shows the Date and time of the scan just performed.
• Click 'Copy to Clipboard'
• Paste the contents of the clipboard into your reply.

Download Malwarebytes Anti-Rootkit (MBAR) to your desktop.

• Warning! Malwarebytes Anti-Rootkit needs to be run from an account with administrator rights.
• Double click on downloaded file. OK self extracting prompt.
• MBAR will start. Click "Next" to continue.
• Click in the following screen "Update" to obtain the latest malware definitions.
• Once the update is complete select "Next" and click "Scan".
• When the scan is finished and no malware has been found select "Exit".
• If malware was detected, make sure to check all the items and click "Cleanup". Reboot your computer.
• Open the MBAR folder located on your Desktop and paste the content of the following files in your next reply:
  
• "mbar-log-{date} (xx-xx-xx).txt"
• "system-log.txt"

NOTE. If you see This version requires you to completely exit the Anti Malware application message right click on the Malwarebytes Anti-Malware icon in the system tray and click on Exit.

Please download Rkill (courtesy of BleepingComputer.com) to your desktop.
There are 2 different versions. If one of them won't run then download and try to run the other one.
You only need to get one of these to run, not all of them. You may get warnings from your antivirus about this tool, ignore them or shutdown your antivirus.

rKill.exe: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/rkill/dl/10/
iExplore.exe (renamed rKill.exe): http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/rkill/dl/11/

• Double-click on the Rkill desktop icon to run the tool.
• If using Windows Vista, 7 or 8 right-click on it and choose Run As Administrator.
• A black DOS box will briefly flash and then disappear. This is normal and indicates the tool ran successfully.
• If not, delete the file, then download and use the one provided in Link 2.
• Do not reboot until instructed.
• If the tool does not run from any of the links provided, please let me know.

If normal mode still doesn't work, run the tool from safe mode.

When the scan is done Notepad will open with rKill log.
Post it in your next reply.

NOTE. rKill.txt log will also be present on your desktop.

NOTE Do NOT wrap your logs in "quote" or "code" brackets.
Do NOT use spoilers.
Do NOT edit your reply to post additional logs. Create new reply. I'll not get any email notifications about edits so I won't know you posted something new.

Thanks for the quick reply!

 

Here are the logs you requested. All programs were run in Safe mode.

 

Additional note;

 

After running all of this last night, I restarted the system in Normal mode and while I was able to Log in, all of the Desktop Icons are missing and the system is still very slow.

 

Thanks for the continued help.

 

Scott

All looks clean so far.

 

Download Temp File Cleaner (TFC)
Alternate download: http://www.itxassociates.com/OT-Tools/TFC.exe
Double click on TFC.exe to run the program.
Click on Start button to begin cleaning process.
TFC will close all running programs, and it may ask you to restart computer.

Please download AdwCleaner by Xplode onto your desktop.

• Close all open programs and internet browsers.
• Double click on adwcleaner.exe to run the tool.
• Click on Scan button.
• When the scan has finished click on Clean button.
• Your computer will be rebooted automatically. A text file will open after the restart.
• Please post the contents of that logfile with your next reply.
• You can find the logfile at C:\AdwCleaner[S1].txt as well.

Please download Junkware Removal Tool to your desktop.

• Shut down your protection software now to avoid potential conflicts.
• Run the tool by double-clicking it. If you are using Windows Vista, 7, or 8; instead of double-clicking, right-mouse click JRT.exe and select "Run as Administrator".
• The tool will open and start scanning your system.
• Please be patient as this can take a while to complete depending on your system's specifications.
• On completion, a log (JRT.txt) is saved to your desktop and will automatically open.
• Post the contents of JRT.txt into your next message.

Download Sophos Free Virus Removal Tool and save it to your desktop.

• Double click the icon and select Run
• Click Next
• Select I accept the terms in this license agreement, then click Next twice
• Click Install
• Click Finish to launch the program
• Once the virus database has been updated click Start Scanning
• If any threats are found click Details, then View log file... (bottom left hand corner)
• Copy and paste the results in your reply
• Close the Notepad document, close the Threat Details screen, then click Start cleanup
• Click Exit to close the program

Following are the logs as requested;

 

Restart in normal mode and see how things are.

I started the computer in Normal mode and after entering my password it took 22 minutes for the desktop to appear and the desktop icons never came up.

This is the same time frame as before.

Since your computer is clean it must be some other reason for your trouble.

 

Go Start>Run (Start Search in Vista/7), type in:
msconfig
Click OK (hit Enter in Vista/7).
Windows 8/8.1 users. Press Windows logo key and start typing the following:
msconfig
Press Enter.

Click on Startup tab.
Click Disable all
IMPORTANT! In case of laptop, make sure, you do NOT disable any keyboard, or touchpad entries.

Click Services tab.
Put checkmark in Hide all Microsoft services
Click Disable all.

Click OK.
Restart computer in Normal Mode.

NOTE. If you use different firewall, than Windows firewall, turn Windows firewall on, just for this test, since your regular firewall won't be running.
If you use Windows firewall, you're fine.

Same problem?

Actually, the problem is worse now. Maybe I did this wrong.

 

Now the system doesn't get to the Login screen in Normal Mode or Safe Mode.

Just a cursor.

I suspect some hardware issue...

 

Run hard drive diagnostics: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic28744.html/page__view__findpost__p__160520
Make sure, you select tool, which is appropriate for the brand of your hard drive.
Depending on the program, it'll create bootable floppy, or bootable CD.
If downloaded file is of .iso type, use ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/ to burn .iso file to a CD (select "Write image file to disc" option), and make the CD bootable.
For Toshiba hard drives, see here: http://storage.toshiba.com/storage-services-support/warranty-support/software-utilities#diagnostic

Note : If you do not know how to set your computer to boot from CD follow the steps here

Thanks for all of your help.

 

After everything else, it appears that the Hard drive is the issue.

 

It is a Samsung drive that the SeaTools doesn't even find and the built in DELL hard drive test fails.

 

I was able to pull the drive from the laptop, connect it externally to another computer and retrieve all of the information.

 

Thanks again.

 

Scott