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DD716TED's avatar
DD716TED
Explorer
Oct 19, 2015

Windows 7 computer has me stumped..

Here I am back again, this time trying to rescue my wife's Dell all-in-one Windows 7 Home Premium Computer from the scrap heap... It will work fine and at speed for about 2 hours then it slows down to the point of being un-usable..Started last week doing this. I restart it and it works fime for same period of time. Did a system restore to an earlier date with no luck.. I looked at the task manager to see what was going on and the RAM was maxed out.. Two applications that are shown in task manager / applications window when the RAM is full are DSD_3396 and OSD and are always running but I have no idea what they are?? These applications aren't there when the system is running fine. Do you think they are the problem? Do you think that if I do the free upgrade to windows 10,the problem will go away as I don't want her to lose everything (yes I do have a backup but it would be a pain to restore them to a new computer). Just looking for thoughts as I have run out of ideas.. Thanks

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  • Ductape's avatar
    Ductape
    Explorer
    Oct 19, 2015
    Does not have to be malware. Had a server in the office behaving similarly with the Windows update process running a nonstop loop. Turned out to be a corrupted registry entry.

    Google those two processes you identified and look for solutions. Knowing what the offenders are is half the battle already.
  • coolmom42's avatar
    coolmom42
    Explorer II
    Oct 19, 2015
    PCMagazine rates both Malwarebytes & Avast higher than Windows Defender. They are free, why not use them.

    And, upgrading the OS may or may not get rid of the bug. Likely it will keep on causing the same issues.
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer III
    Oct 19, 2015
    I use both ADVANCED SYSTEM CARE and MALWAREBYTES ANTI-MALWARE (FREE programs) here for my WIN 7 high end LAPTOP machines which are now converted to WIN 10... Been virus free for a long time.

    The ADVANCED SYSTEM CARE usually gets updated about every three days. The SMILEY FACE on the program ICON logo turns from BLUE to YELLOW when it needs to be run again...

    My system also has AVG2015 (ALSO FREE VERSION) that loads up when first turned on. It runs in the background all the time...

    Roy Ken
  • pconroy328's avatar
    pconroy328
    Explorer
    Oct 19, 2015
    Yes - Defender is better than Malwarebytes.
    No - Defender isn't better...

    Sorry - when it comes to anti-virus software and malware detection, front runners come and go. In general, Windows Defender has the sole advantage of being free. It's OK, but not great.

    My company laptops run ESET and Malwarebytes Pro.
    That said - I run Windows Defender and home.

    Regardless - you do need to try to remove any concerns on malware. Here's what I'd do:

    1) Download and run MalwareBytes - follow it's recommendations for anything it finds
    2) Download and run SpyBot - same as above
    3) Download and run Hitman Pro - same as above

    Once I'm confident the system is clean (but there are no guarantees) - then I'd run msconfig, hit the startup tab and disable all of the #$%^^& that system makers put in their startup files.

    Reboot, run it for a few hours and see if things are better.

    That's what I'd do - then report back.
  • enblethen's avatar
    enblethen
    Nomad
    Oct 19, 2015
    No, Malwarebytes is better for walmare and spyware then Defender in Win7.
    Another good one is Spybot!
    Have you did a disc cleanup?
  • DD716TED's avatar
    DD716TED
    Explorer
    Oct 19, 2015
    cmb wrote:
    MalwareBytes is very good but get to Windows 10 as soon as possible. You'll then have Windows Defender.


    Is Windows Defender better than Malwarebytes?
  • cmb's avatar
    cmb
    Explorer
    Oct 19, 2015
    MalwareBytes is very good but get to Windows 10 as soon as possible. You'll then have Windows Defender.
  • coolmom42's avatar
    coolmom42
    Explorer II
    Oct 19, 2015
    You need to download Malwarebytes, Panda antivirus, and Avast---all free. Make sure they are all updated and run them. I would run all 3 and then re-run all 3.

    You have a nasty bug of some kind.

    After you do that, go to the control panel and check the list of installed programs. Google the names of those you are not familiar with , and un-install them.

    Then de-fragment the hard drive.

    I use Avast & Malwarebytes, am very careful about where I click, and generally don't have any problems.
  • robsouth's avatar
    robsouth
    Explorer II
    Oct 19, 2015
    Google DSD (Dell System Detect) and read all about it.
  • donn0128's avatar
    donn0128
    Explorer II
    Oct 19, 2015
    I think you have a worm/virus or what ever you want to call it. Unless and until you get rid of it first nothing is going to help you.

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