Hi, my Laptop has slowed down to the point that some applications won't open and a lot of web pages will not load. I'm running AVG Free 8.5 and can't get it to up-date. I know vary little about trying to run REGEDIT but after reading some of the post on here and they couldn't get it to open I tried to run it and couldn't either, I don't seem to be redirected to other web sites like the google problem I've read about on here. Got a copy of HiJackThis and pasted it on that site that checks it for you but said nothing about a threat. Tried Malwarebytes and SUPERAntiSpyware found some tracking cookies but nothing else. I'm clueless is it spywear or possibly hardware ? Any and all help will be greatly appreciated

sanchez, emptied your temp files lately? Ideally, they get emptied each time you use your machine, but some folks never reboot. You? If you habitually are 'always on', maybe you should get something like CCleaner (free @: http://www.ccleaner.com/) and set it to delete temp files and run it now and then? Also, a common ailment is a file called 'index.dat'. It gets read every time and can take quite a while if it’s too bloated. It's like a log file and keeps a record of every site you visit on the web. Empty, it's 32K, but it can grow HUGE. It's a protected file and can't be deleted by normal methods. CCleaner can get rid of it (not to worry, it gets rebuilt EMPTY on the next boot.). HTH. Ed in Texas.

As with what he said.... use the registry cleaner from Ccleaner as well. Change Is Good http://www.citizenlink.org/Stopligh...

Hi Ed and lurkswithin I'll try and get a copy of CCleaner I have dial-up with a vary SLOW connection speed But that is another story I'll see if I can use a friends DSL internet for the down load. I checked my temp file and the only ones were for today in one folder, deleted them. Found index.dat in another file it was 32K. As far as rebooting goes my last computer had windows 98 shutting down every night became a habit. And I learned that here. Thank you

Ok I downloaded CCleaner and ran it.... still no change. I've tried to update AVG, read all the post and fixes went to web site reinstalled still won't update. Tried to open REGEDIT to delete CTF file but can't. seem to have a lot of trouble trying to download anything. Any thoughts, thanks

sanchez, possible you have a Trojan/worm? Be aware that a virus and a Trojan are similar, but not the same. Many times, an AV detects one it can't clean, other times, it gets missed entirely. If you need to clean one, Superantispyware can do the job and you can get it free @: http://www.superantispyware.com/ among other places. They have a Vista compatible version if needed. If it turns out that you need to use it, be sure to update prior to running and disable 'restore' (restart after cleaning) so it doesn't get put back. They just released a new update recently and it changes all the time. Things are in a constant state of flux. The restore thing is critical. May not be your deal at all, but won't hurt anything to try. HTH. Ed in Texas.

I had a similar problem recently. See if you can download Ad-Aware from Lavasoft, and run it. Mine found a piece of malware - Win32 something or other - can’t remember it’s full name. Once I had a name, it was possible to Google for help. Malwarebytes got rid of the problem, but only after I changed the name of the .exe file to Tools.exe! Good luck. Tomg