Computer peeps - need some help

[ponyfitness]

So my system is acting really funny for the past week - meaning locking up and my cpu usage is fluctuating like crazy. After the last lockup I rebooted it and it was dead - would not boot. I took the back off, blew into it (really scientific) and it booted again. I immediately backed up my HD files onto my USB and downloaded my most recent spyware checks which I'm running right now.

One thing - I have this CCAPP which there is a debate over whether or not it is a trojan horse. Sometimes my MSN messenger is also running even though I'm not on it. I think I may have a virus or someone hacked into my system. I run the most recent versions of Norton AntiVirus and have a good firewall but it might be time to do something more drastic. My CPU is constantly running at 100%.

Should I get rid of some of this crap and if so, how?

 

[Razorguns]

So my system is acting really funny for the past week - meaning locking up and my cpu usage is fluctuating like crazy. After the last lockup I rebooted it and it was dead - would not boot. I took the back off, blew into it (really scientific) and it booted again. I immediately backed up my HD files onto my USB and downloaded my most recent spyware checks which I'm running right now.

One thing - I have this CCAPP which there is a debate over whether or not it is a trojan horse. Sometimes my MSN messenger is also running even though I'm not on it. I think I may have a virus or someone hacked into my system. I run the most recent versions of Norton AntiVirus and have a good firewall but it might be time to do something more drastic. My CPU is constantly running at 100%.

Should I get rid of some of this crap and if so, how?

Start unloading all kinds of crap from your computer. If you don't know how to check registry's, startup programs, reset windows files, etc. - take it a computer store and tell them uninstall as much as needed.

Or just re-install, and this time - use mozilla and don't install anything from the web that isn't needed and legit.

Kudos to backing up ur stuff.

r

 

[str8nubin]

Hard to say what it is right off the bat. If your cpu is under that kind of constant load, it is usually due to more than one or two factors. I think its unlikely due to a single virus. The first thing I would do is buy some canned air, take the case outside, and kill off all the dust bunnies. From there I would defrag the hard disk, and run spyware apps. Spyware, lack of available RAM, and sometimes viruses are the most common culprits of this kind of problem in my experience working for an ISP. Both in custies computers and coworkers.

If you run anti-spyware, defrag, clean the case, and you still have this issue then you might want to start uninstalling apps you really dont need, dont use. Disable apps you want to keep from running on startup. This will always help unless you are beginning to experience a more serious hardware failure.

As a final last ditch effort before throwing in the towel and taking the machine to a shop or buying a new one, I would consider throwing as much RAM at the beast as you can. If its getting on in age, it can be tough to find the correct memory, but once you do it is dirt cheap and will improve performance across the board.

There are other tweaks of course but I always found these painless and most useful. Good luck I don't think its fatal =)

 

[NickyE3]

good advice above

 

[Dial_tone]

Do you have Norton antivirus?

 

[ponyfitness]

Yeah I have Norton but I hate it. It sucks up memory and makes everything slow.

Uninstalled some programs plus I got rid of at least one trojan horse msmsgs.exe that was sitting on my system.

Are there any good free anti-virus programs out there? I have SpyBot and Ad-Aware but they don't have anti-virus or firewall protection.

 

[Dial_tone]

Yeah I have Norton but I hate it. It sucks up memory and makes everything slow.
.

Ya lazy non Googling SOB

http://www.neuber.com/taskmanager/process/ccapp.exe.html

 

[roadwarrior]

Hard to say what it is right off the bat. If your cpu is under that kind of constant load, it is usually due to more than one or two factors. I think its unlikely due to a single virus. The first thing I would do is buy some canned air, take the case outside, and kill off all the dust bunnies. From there I would defrag the hard disk, and run spyware apps. Spyware, lack of available RAM, and sometimes viruses are the most common culprits of this kind of problem in my experience working for an ISP. Both in custies computers and coworkers.

If you run anti-spyware, defrag, clean the case, and you still have this issue then you might want to start uninstalling apps you really dont need, dont use. Disable apps you want to keep from running on startup. This will always help unless you are beginning to experience a more serious hardware failure.

As a final last ditch effort before throwing in the towel and taking the machine to a shop or buying a new one, I would consider throwing as much RAM at the beast as you can. If its getting on in age, it can be tough to find the correct memory, but once you do it is dirt cheap and will improve performance across the board.

There are other tweaks of course but I always found these painless and most useful. Good luck I don't think its fatal =)

good advice but he can also run taskmgr.exe from cmd prompt then check to see what apps/processes are consuming resources. Once you id then then dig deeper to see what they are and if they are necessary.

S

 

[NickyE3]

Yeah I have Norton but I hate it. It sucks up memory and makes everything slow.

Uninstalled some programs plus I got rid of at least one trojan horse msmsgs.exe that was sitting on my system.

Are there any good free anti-virus programs out there? I have SpyBot and Ad-Aware but they don't have anti-virus or firewall protection.

Get rid of Norton and get AVG Free Edition Anti-Virus

http://www.download.com/AVG-Anti-Virus-Free-Edition/3000-2239_4-10320142.html?tag=pop.software

 

[puddlemonkey]

New computer


Problem solved

 

[Razorguns]

New computer


Problem solved

So you bought a mac huh? hahahaha!

r

 

[hanselthecaretaker]

So my system is acting really funny for the past week - meaning locking up and my cpu usage is fluctuating like crazy. After the last lockup I rebooted it and it was dead - would not boot. I took the back off, blew into it (really scientific) and it booted again. I immediately backed up my HD files onto my USB and downloaded my most recent spyware checks which I'm running right now.

One thing - I have this CCAPP which there is a debate over whether or not it is a trojan horse. Sometimes my MSN messenger is also running even though I'm not on it. I think I may have a virus or someone hacked into my system. I run the most recent versions of Norton AntiVirus and have a good firewall but it might be time to do something more drastic. My CPU is constantly running at 100%.

Should I get rid of some of this crap and if so, how?

There's your problem lol.