Computer running extremely SLOW!

[fksbuffalo]

My boss uses aol 9.1 and the cpu usage is usally 90%+ for waol.exe Getting rid of aol is not an option. He has to restart after a few hours every day for the last few months. Here is my hijack this log. I'm running out of ideas.


Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 10:33:36 AM, on 4/15/2008
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.16640)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\AOL 9.1\waol.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\ACS\AOLAcsd.exe
C:\Program Files\AOL 9.1\shellmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\1204914453\ee\aolsoftware.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\Topspeed\3.0\aoltpsd3.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Nullsoft\ActiveX\2.6\AOLMediaPlaybackControl .exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Nullsoft\ActiveX\2.6\AOLMediaPlaybackControl .exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
c:\program files\aol\aol toolbar 5.0\AolTbServer.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://www.gateway.com/g/sidepanel.h...ys=DTP&M=T3504
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R3 - URLSearchHook: AOLTBSearch Class - {EA756889-2338-43DB-8F07-D1CA6FB9C90D} - C:\Program Files\AOL\AOL Toolbar 5.0\aoltb.dll
O2 - BHO: Winamp Toolbar BHO - {25CEE8EC-5730-41bc-8B58-22DDC8AB8C20} - C:\Program Files\Winamp Toolbar\winamptb.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {724d43a9-0d85-11d4-9908-00400523e39a} - C:\Program Files\Siber Systems\AI RoboForm\roboform.dll
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: AOL Toolbar BHO - {7C554162-8CB7-45A4-B8F4-8EA1C75885F9} - C:\Program Files\AOL\AOL Toolbar 5.0\aoltb.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &RoboForm - {724d43a0-0d85-11d4-9908-00400523e39a} - C:\Program Files\Siber Systems\AI RoboForm\roboform.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Winamp Toolbar - {EBF2BA02-9094-4c5a-858B-BB198F3D8DE2} - C:\Program Files\Winamp Toolbar\winamptb.dll
O3 - Toolbar: AOL Toolbar - {DE9C389F-3316-41A7-809B-AA305ED9D922} - C:\Program Files\AOL\AOL Toolbar 5.0\aoltb.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SystemTray] SysTray.Exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [AOL Fast Start] "C:\Program Files\AOL 9.1\AOL.EXE" -b
O8 - Extra context menu item: &AOL Toolbar Search - C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\AOL\ieToolbar\resources\en-US\local\search.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Winamp Toolbar Search - C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Winamp Toolbar\ieToolbar\resources\en-US\local\search.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Customize Menu - file://C:\Program Files\Siber Systems\AI RoboForm\RoboFormComCustomizeIEMenu.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office10\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O8 - Extra context menu item: Fill Forms - file://C:\Program Files\Siber Systems\AI RoboForm\RoboFormComFillForms.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Save Forms - file://C:\Program Files\Siber Systems\AI RoboForm\RoboFormComSavePass.html
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: Fill Forms - {320AF880-6646-11D3-ABEE-C5DBF3571F46} - file://C:\Program Files\Siber Systems\AI RoboForm\RoboFormComFillForms.html
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Fill Forms - {320AF880-6646-11D3-ABEE-C5DBF3571F46} - file://C:\Program Files\Siber Systems\AI RoboForm\RoboFormComFillForms.html
O9 - Extra button: Save - {320AF880-6646-11D3-ABEE-C5DBF3571F49} - file://C:\Program Files\Siber Systems\AI RoboForm\RoboFormComSavePass.html
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Save Forms - {320AF880-6646-11D3-ABEE-C5DBF3571F49} - file://C:\Program Files\Siber Systems\AI RoboForm\RoboFormComSavePass.html
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O15 - Trusted Zone: sxfls.fnismls.com
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://*.rapmls.com
O16 - DPF: {17492023-C23A-453E-A040-C7C580BBF700} (Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool) - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=39204
O16 - DPF: {6DE617B8-49C0-40F8-8118-D2C3741F1C28} (SetTrustedSitesControl.clsReg) - http://medialaxj.rapmls.com/tools/Ml...tesControl.dll
O16 - DPF: {8AD9C840-044E-11D1-B3E9-00805F499D93} (Java Runtime Environment 1.6.0) - http://javadl-esd.sun.com/update/1.6...ws-i586-jc.cab
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://fpdownload2.macromedia.com/ge...sh/swflash.cab
O16 - DPF: {E8F628B5-259A-4734-97EE-BA914D7BE941} (Driver Agent ActiveX Control) - http://plugin.driveragent.com/files/driveragent.cab
O23 - Service: AOL Connectivity Service (AOL ACS) - AOL LLC - C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\ACS\AOLAcsd.exe

--
End of file - 5706 bytes

[law99]

Does it run normally in Safe Mode? Maybe one of the auto starting programs is the problem.

[Dtree11]

Did you check your startup using the "msconfig" comand?

If not use the list at Sysinfo.org

[fksbuffalo]

I have disabled everything. It apears to be with aol and it can't/won't be able to be removed. I'm trying to do everything I can to keep aol for him. I have completly uninstalled and reinstalled aol. Thing seemed of without aol for the short time I used it.

[law99]

Hope your boss enjoys his AOL. A review at download.com

Cons: aol is the worst thing you can do to a computer. it destroys your registry, install it's own spyware, puts in unwanted programs. it slows your system because it's such a resource hog it has to be on your start up list just to get going. i thought windows 98 ended the life of aol? it is definately for newbies, along with the norton anti virus trash that gets put on new computers. do not ruin your hard drive with this junk. avoid any program aol has to offer. you'll never get it completely cleaned out. read all the one star ratings, they know what they're saying.

[fksbuffalo]

I had showed him a similar article but he just got upset.
He doesn't understand how it can run fine on his home pc and another workroom pc, and used to work fine on his. His office pc is in the middle as far as performance/specs. AOL told him there was a conflict with aol and something windows in running.

[law99]

How to shut down unecessary Windows services, I used the Safe column-no problem. Maybe you could get lucky.

http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm

[ktkendall]

Good OL AOL. Sorry you had to learn this one the hard way about AOL.

[systempat]

What's his system like? Do you know what the hardware is? Maybe he has a dog of a machine. A faster machine with like 4 times the memory will help even the worst hogs. Convincing him to change might be harder than springing for a decent dual-core system......
And if he hurries up and does it now, maybe he can avoid Vista and still get an XP machine. Like direct from Dell or something. I shudder to think of the Vista and AOL combination.

[law99]

Could be a good idea maybe, but

I had showed him a similar article but he just got upset.
He doesn't understand how it can run fine on his home pc and another workroom pc, and used to work fine on his. His office pc is in the middle as far as performance/specs.

[Negeva]

Good thing is there's nothing malicious in the HiJackThis log; unless you class AOL as malicious

Might be an idea to remove some of the none essential AOL services and see if they have an effect;

C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\Topspeed\3.0\aoltpsd3.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Nullsoft\ActiveX\2.6\AOLMediaPlaybackControl .exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Nullsoft\ActiveX\2.6\AOLMediaPlaybackControl .exe

And, double check for latest updates on Java and RoboForm - I do remember an old version of Robo causing a few issues with AOL, but I think that had more to do with their browser than anything else.

Curious, but never saw any entries for internet security in that log. Do you have any installed? If so, maybe the firewall is blocking AOL. Just a thought.

[autotran]

I have to run AOL 9.1 also (9.5 seemed to be worse, so I removed it) and I have found the program that causes the slowdown is aolsoftware.exe. You don't have to execute it, it just executes itself at indiscriminate times. It executes at Windows XP startup, right after Process Lasso, and then very shortly thereafter. It then might execute a hour or two later, you never know when. You can check this yourself by installing Process Lasso from here, http://www.bitsum.com/prolasso.php When it executes my system bogs down for 6 or 7 seconds and sometimes much longer (never over a minute and a half).
I tested it on a clean Win XP install, just WinXP with service pack 3 and then Process Lasso. System ran clean with absolutely no problems. I then installed AOL 9.5 and immediately experienced over 99% CPU usage when aolsoftware.exe executed. I then removed AOL 9.5 and installed AOL 9.1, same problem, maybe less extreme. I don't think previous versions of AOL, 9.0 and before had this problem as I don't remember experiencing it.
The strange thing is that I have Process Lasso set to show all processes that are launched but it never shows aolsoftware.exe being launched, it just shows it bogging the system down.