High Page File Usage, making computer lag Options

[MrElsewhere]

ok my computer's been really laggy today. and i looked at the windows task manger, and i found out that the page file usage is 812mb. i dunno what's wrong with my computer. can somebody please help me fix my computer. thanks in advance.

[visualfusion]

the best way to fix: REFORMAT & REINSTALL!

[MrElsewhere]

^yeah i don't wanna do that just yet. that's a last resort. somebody please help.

[*kryogenix*]

How much ram do you have? Do you have spyware? What were you doing while your page file usage jumped?

[MrElsewhere]

i have 256mb and my virtual memory is like 700 something. i've run a ton of scans on adaware and i fixed the spyware and junk. it spikes at random times..like today when i was using ms word. or sometimes when i'm surfing the web.

[*RiC3xBoy*]

Do you have excess programs running?(limewire, aim, etc...)What is your CPU?

[visualfusion]

256MB for today's computer is a bit low... and running 700MB virtual memory is just asking for lag. Unless really required, it's recommended not to run more than 2x of your physical memory for virtural memory... due to lag problems and such... especially if physical memory is low. On "better" computers, it really doesnt matter what the VM is at cause the PM never gets used. Add some ram? Get a new computer? Upgradeee... or try my way... REFORMAT!

[MrElsewhere]

ok before it was just lag, but now the computer is freezing.

it usually freezes when i'm running a program like ms word, firefox, and basically anything that takes up space on the screen. it froze once while i was trying to type this message. o.o;; i have AIM, MSN, and Ares running whenever the computer is on.

oh and my cpu is intel celeron

yeah i know 256 is pretty low for nowadays. i'm probably gonna have to reformat if this keeps up..

[*kryogenix*]

ok before it was just lag, but now the computer is freezing.

it usually freezes when i'm running a program like ms word, firefox, and basically anything that takes up space on the screen.  it froze once while i was trying to type this message. o.o;;  i have AIM, MSN, and Ares running whenever the computer is on.

oh and my cpu is intel celeron

yeah i know 256 is pretty low for nowadays.  i'm probably gonna have to reformat if this keeps up..

Yeah, celerons and 256mb aren't very good for more intensive tasks. You might want to move up to a pentium 4 and at least 512mb (1 gb would be better if your motherboard supports it).

Don't reformat though. Run a HijackThis scan and post it here.

[MrElsewhere]

ok here's the hijackthis log:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 10:23:16 AM, on 8/1/2005
Platform: Windows XP SP1 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP1 (6.00.2800.1106)

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\Explorer.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\services.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_02\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe
C:\Program Files\support.com\bin\tgcmd.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft AntiSpyware\gcasServ.exe
C:\Updater.exe
C:\Program Files\Ares\Ares.exe
C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Program Files\aim\aim.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSetMgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft AntiSpyware\gcasDtServ.exe
C:\Program Files\BigFix\BigFix.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\cisvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\SAVScan.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\cidaemon.exe
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop CS\Photoshop.exe
C:\DOCUME~1\Phuc\LOCALS~1\Temp\~e5d141.tmp
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe Systems Shared\Service\Adobelmsvc.exe
C:\DOCUME~1\Phuc\LOCALS~1\Temp\~e5d141.tmp
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Program Files\iriver\iriver Music Manager\iriverMusicManager.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Phuc\Desktop\zip\hijackthis\HijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.comcast.net
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://red.clientapps.yahoo.com/customize/...//www.yahoo.com
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.comcast.net
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Window Title = Microsoft Internet Explorer provided by Comcast
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyServer = :0
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar,LinksFolderName =
R3 - Default URLSearchHook is missing
F2 - REG:system.ini: Shell=Explorer.exe C:\WINDOWS\services.exe
F3 - REG:win.ini: load=C:\WINDOWS\services.exe
F3 - REG:win.ini: run=C:\WINDOWS\services.exe
O2 - BHO: Yahoo! Companion BHO - {02478D38-C3F9-4efb-9B51-7695ECA05670} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn\ycomp5_5_7_0.dll
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 5.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.ocx
O2 - BHO: CNavExtBho Class - {BDF3E430-B101-42AD-A544-FADC6B084872} - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {FDD3B846-8D59-4ffb-8758-209B6AD74ACC} - (no file)
O3 - Toolbar: Norton AntiVirus - {42CDD1BF-3FFB-4238-8AD1-7859DF00B1D6} - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Yahoo! Companion - {EF99BD32-C1FB-11D2-892F-0090271D4F88} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn\ycomp5_5_7_0.dll
O3 - Toolbar: (no name) - {E0E899AB-F487-11D5-8D29-0050BA6940E3} - (no file)
O3 - Toolbar: &Radio - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\msdxm.ocx
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NeroFilterCheck] C:\WINDOWS\system32\NeroCheck.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_02\bin\jusched.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Zone Labs Client] "C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [tgcmd] "C:\Program Files\support.com\bin\tgcmd.exe" /server
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Services Controller] C:\WINDOWS\services.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [gcasServ] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft AntiSpyware\gcasServ.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iRiver Updater] \Updater.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Microsoft Works Update Detection] c:\Program Files\Microsoft Works\WkDetect.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Spyware Doctor] "C:\Program Files\Spyware Doctor\spydoctor.exe" /Q
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ares] "C:\Program Files\Ares\Ares.exe" -h
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Services Controller] C:\WINDOWS\services.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MsnMsgr] "C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [AIM] C:\Program Files\aim\aim.exe -cnetwait.odl
O4 - Global Startup: BigFix.lnk = C:\Program Files\BigFix\BigFix.exe
O4 - Global Startup: hp psc 1000 series.lnk = ?
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\OSA.EXE
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office10\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_02\bin\npjpi150_02.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_02\bin\npjpi150_02.dll
O9 - Extra button: Yahoo! Login - {2499216C-4BA5-11D5-BD9C-000103C116D5} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common\ylogin.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Yahoo! Login - {2499216C-4BA5-11D5-BD9C-000103C116D5} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common\ylogin.dll
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {4528BBE0-4E08-11D5-AD55-00010333D0AD} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Messenger\yhexbmes.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Yahoo! Messenger - {4528BBE0-4E08-11D5-AD55-00010333D0AD} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Messenger\yhexbmes.dll
O9 - Extra button: ICQ - {6224f700-cba3-4071-b251-47cb894244cd} - C:\Program Files\ICQ\ICQ.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: ICQ - {6224f700-cba3-4071-b251-47cb894244cd} - C:\Program Files\ICQ\ICQ.exe
O9 - Extra button: ComcastHSI - {669B269B-0D4E-41FB-A3D8-FD67CA94F646} - http://www.comcast.net/ (file missing)
O9 - Extra button: Support - {8828075D-D097-4055-AA02-2DBFA9D85E8A} - http://www.comcastsupport.com/ (file missing)
O9 - Extra button: Help - {97809617-3937-4F84-B335-9BB05EF1A8D4} - http://online.comcast.net/help/ (file missing)
O9 - Extra button: AIM - {AC9E2541-2814-11d5-BC6D-00B0D0A1DE45} - C:\Program Files\aim\aim.exe
O9 - Extra button: Real.com - {CD67F990-D8E9-11d2-98FE-00C0F0318AFE} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\Shdocvw.dll
O9 - Extra button: MoneySide - {E023F504-0C5A-4750-A1E7-A9046DEA8A21} - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Money\System\mnyside.dll (file missing)
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\MSMSGS.EXE
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\MSMSGS.EXE
O12 - Plugin for .spop: C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\Plugins\NPDocBox.dll
O14 - IERESET.INF: START_PAGE_URL=http://www.emachines.com
O16 - DPF: {00B71CFB-6864-4346-A978-C0A14556272C} (Checkers Class) - http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary/msgrchkr.cab31267.cab
O16 - DPF: {01118400-3E00-11D2-8470-0060089874ED} (SdcNetCheckCtl Class) - http://activex.microsoft.com/objects/ocget.dll
O16 - DPF: {04E214E5-63AF-4236-83C6-A7ADCBF9BD02} (HouseCall Control) - http://housecall60.trendmicro.com/housecall/xscan60.cab
O16 - DPF: {072039AB-2117-4ED5-A85F-9B9EB903E021} (NowStarter Control) - http://www.clubbox.co.kr/neo.fld/NowStarter.cab
O16 - DPF: {14B87622-7E19-4EA8-93B3-97215F77A6BC} (MessengerStatsClient Class) - http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary/Messe...nt.cab31267.cab
O16 - DPF: {17492023-C23A-453E-A040-C7C580BBF700} (Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool) - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=39204
O16 - DPF: {8E0D4DE5-3180-4024-A327-4DFAD1796A8D} (MessengerStatsClient Class) - http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary/Messe...nt.cab31267.cab
O16 - DPF: {F6BF0D00-0B2A-4A75-BF7B-F385591623AF} (Solitaire Showdown Class) - http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary/Solit...wn.cab31267.cab
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{092BC156-C23E-4182-BEF8-509D1E30EB9F}: Domain = #™
O17 - HKLM\System\CS1\Services\Tcpip\..\{092BC156-C23E-4182-BEF8-509D1E30EB9F}: Domain = #™
O17 - HKLM\System\CS2\Services\Tcpip\..\{092BC156-C23E-4182-BEF8-509D1E30EB9F}: Domain = #™
O20 - Winlogon Notify: igfxcui - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\igfxsrvc.dll
O23 - Service: Adobe LM Service - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe Systems Shared\Service\Adobelmsvc.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Event Manager (ccEvtMgr) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Password Validation (ccPwdSvc) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccPwdSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Settings Manager (ccSetMgr) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSetMgr.exe
O23 - Service: Macromedia Licensing Service - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Macromedia Shared\Service\Macromedia Licensing.exe
O23 - Service: Norton AntiVirus Auto Protect Service (navapsvc) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
O23 - Service: Pml Driver HPZ12 - HP - C:\WINDOWS\System32\HPZipm12.exe
O23 - Service: SAVScan - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\SAVScan.exe
O23 - Service: ScriptBlocking Service (SBService) - Symantec Corporation - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\SYMANT~1\SCRIPT~1\SBServ.exe
O23 - Service: TrueVector Internet Monitor (vsmon) - Zone Labs Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe
O23 - Service: YPCService - Yahoo! Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\YPCSER~1.EXE

[MrElsewhere]

forgive the double post.

but i updated AIM, and the page file stopped spiking. then today it came back. so naturally i re-installed it. but i still think there's something wrong with my computer.

[ShawnButt]

I was having the exact same problem. With just 33 processes and calculated 210 MB in actual use, my page file was almost the same size as my 512 MB RAM and even then the computer would be excrutiatingly slow.

After running all spyware, adware, AV programs, nothing changed.

I went into System Properties and set the PageFile to 'ZERO', thereby forcing only my 512 MB RAM to be used instead of swapping memory from my Hard Drive.

Long story short, I restarted the laptop and now everything is working as smooth as a baby's Bahookie!

Best of Luck to you guys.... and please "Share the Tribal Knowledge!"
Shawn Butt