Periodic lag while gaming

Hello everyone, first time posting.

I am not tech savy and am seeking help/suggestions. I am not sure if I am infected or my issues are my hardware. 

I am having problems with lag while playing games. Its not normal internet lag, its whole computer lag. Everything slows down. These symptoms have only appeared recently and only when playing games. I play older online games, Neverwinter Nights and Everquest. I have played them for years on this computer and the new lag is currently affecting both games. On average these lag spikes last 1-4 mins and then everything snaps back to normal speed. The lag spikes seem random but I get usually around 5 or 6 an hour. 

I have dealt with a similar problem in the past. An accumulation of dust had been slowing down my computer fan. After cleaning my problems disappeared. Once this new lag appeared I cleaned my fan(which needed to be cleaned) and figured the problems would go away, which they did not. My desktop is 6-7 years old and is generic off the shelf. 

I have run AVG 2015 virus protection, Malwarebytes, Spybot, and Superantispyware hoping to clean out my system. It did remove some things but the problem persists. 

Maybe my computer is getting old and cant handle the load anymore? Not sure if this helps but I have a Ram and CPU meter and while the lag spikes happen the meter does not record any change in performance. 

Seeking any advise. 

Thanks,

Beru

Lets have a look at some logs. But please uninstall spybot prior to running these scans.  

Adware Cleaner Scan.

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.

JRT Scan.

Please download Junkware Removal Tool and save it on your desktop.

• Shut down your anti-virus, anti-spyware, and firewall software now to avoid potential conflicts.
• Run the tool by double-clicking it. If you are using Windows Vista or Windows 7, right-click it 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 is saved to your desktop and will automatically open.
• Please post the JRT log.
•  

Adware Removal Tool Scan.

Download Adware removal tool to your desktop, right click the icon and select Run as Administrator.

Hit Ok.

Hit next make sure to leave all items checked, for removal.

The Program will close all open programs to complete the removal, so save any work and hit OK. Then hit OK after the removal process is complete, thenOK again to finish up. Post log generated by tool.

ZHP Scan.

Please download Zhp Cleaner  to your desktop.  Right Click the icon and select run as administrator.

 http://nicolascoolman.com/download/zhpcleaner

2. Once you have started the program, you will need to click the scanner button.

3. Once the scan is completed, the you will want to click the Repair button.

At the end of the process you may be asked to reboot your machine. After you reboot a report will open on your desktop.

Copy and paste the report here in your next reply.

 Zemana Scan

Run a full scan with Zemana AntiMalware!

Install and select deep scan.

Remove any infections found.

Then click on the icon in the pic below.

Double click on the scan log, copy and paste here in your reply

Edited by InadequateInfirmity, 13 May 2016 - 04:51 PM.

Adware Cleaner Scan.

How are things running now?

Malwarebytes Scan.

We need you to run MalwareBytes to get a log, please download the free version of MalwareBytes HERE

http://data-cdn.mbamupdates.com/web/mbam-setup-2.2.0.1024.exe  Alternate Link.

Save the file to somewhere you can easily find it. Double click the saved file to start the install, accept any security warnings that may appear, and after the install click the new desktop icon to start the program. We need to modify a couple of things with MalwareBytes before we use it so please follow the steps below.

1. If the dashboard is not already displayed select it.
2. Then select "Update Now" to get the latest database.

1. Next we need to change a scanning option, select "Settings" on the main menu, then "Detection and Protection" on the left.
2. Then select "Scan for rootkits" in the detection options, as well as the other two options already checked.

• Now return to Dashboard on the main menu and select "Scan Now" at the bottom of the screen.

• Allow MalwareBytes to scan your system, it may take some time depending on what you have loaded onto your hard drive.

When the scan is finished

1. Click "Save Results"
2. Then click on "Text file"

• A window will then open allowing you to choose a name for the logfile and also allowing you to choose where to save it, save it to the desktop.
• Please copy and paste the contents of this file in your next post.

Eset Online Scanner.

Eset Scan

Click Me To Download Eset Scan

Disable your antivirus prior to this scan.
 
 
 

•  Save it to your desktop.
• Double click on the icon on your desktop.
• Check "YES, I accept the Terms of Use."
• Click the Start button.
• Accept any security warnings from your browser.
• Under scan settings, check "Scan Archives" and "Remove found threats"
• Click Advanced settings and select the following:
• Scan potentially unwanted applications
• Scan for potentially unsafe applications
• Enable Anti-Stealth technology
• ESET will then download updates for itself, install itself, and begin scanning your computer. Please be patient as this can take some time.
• When the scan completes, click List Threats
• Click Export, and save the file to your desktop using a unique name, such as ESETScan. Include the contents of this report in your next reply.
• Click the Back button.
• Click the Finish button.
• NOTE:Sometimes if ESET finds no infections it will not create a log.

Minitoolbox scan.

Please download MINITOOLBOX and run it.



Checkmark following boxes:


Flush DNS
Reset FF proxy Settings
Reset Ie Proxy Settings
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 Users, Partitions and Memory size
List Devices (problems only)



Click Go and post the result.

Security Check Scan.

Download Security Check to your desktop, right click it run as administrator. When the program completes, the tool will automatically open a log file, please post that log here in your next post.

59 processes are running now. Will continue with other scans and post logs.  

Malwarebytes Scan.

Minitoolbox scan

MiniToolBox by Farbar  Version: 07-02-2016 01

How are things running now?

 

Sorry, misread your question last night. Still experiencing lag spikes. They do feel less severe but that might just be my hopeful bias. 

9-Lab Scan.

• Download 9-Lab Removal Tool.
• CLICK HERE to determine whether you're running 32-bit or 64-bit for Windows.
• Install the program onto your computer, then right click the icon  run as administrator.
• Update the program and then run a full scan!
• Make sure the program updates, might be better to install it update reboot and check for updates again.
• You need to make sure the database updates!!!
• Upon Scan Completion Click on Show Results.
• Then Click On Clean 
• Then Click on Save Log.
• Save it to your desktop, copy and paste the contents of the log here in your next reply.

Ccleaner To disable Useless Startups.

Go ahead and install ccleaner Now that you have the program installed go ahead and run the cleaner function.

CCleaner - Free Download - Piriform


Now that you have cleaned out some temp files, lets go ahead and disable all of the items starting up with your machine except your antivirus. To do this you will need to click on tools then start up then under the Windows Tab select each item then disable. Also under the scheduled task tab, you are safe to disable all task. Only disable items under the windows tab and scheduled task tab!



Now that you have disabled those un-needed start ups lets go into the settings, we will have Ccleaner run when your machine boots, so that you will never have to worry about cleaning temp files again.

To do this:

 

• Hit options.
• Settings.
• Place a tick to run Ccleaner when the computer starts.

Now go to the advanced tab, and select close program after cleaning, now run the cleaner again this will close Ccleaner.



Reboot the machine after.

I also highly suggest a check disk be ran on this machine!

Run chkdsk /f /r from elevated command prompt.

Edited by InadequateInfirmity, 15 May 2016 - 09:07 PM.

The lag spikes persist. 

Ccleaner To disable Useless Startups.

Complete.

Run chkdsk /f /r from elevated command prompt.

Complete.

9-Lab Scan.

Can you post a fresh minitoolbox log please.

I believe I have found the problem/solution. The culprit was my fan which I described in my original post. It is not working and probably needs to be replaced. In turn my computer was overheating. I am using a floor fan to temporarily provide life support and it has seemed to fix the issues I was having.