Help with computer problem

[Manton]

I have a software problem that I cannot solve.

The main issue is, once the computer is on, it steadily uses more and more RAM the longer it is on, but the usage never goes down. You can close every program but the RAM will still be very high, even maxed out, and it never drops. You have to restart, which get the RAM usage down, but the problem simply recurs. And when it's like this it runs very, very slow and choppy.

I check the task manager all the time to see what processes are using all that RAM and none show up. So, something hidden is doing this.

I have McAfee and scanned several times, nothing. I downloaded avast and tried that, it claimed to find some things but has not fixed this. Ditto MalwareBytes, has not found the problem.

FWIW, avast wanted to run a boot scan but I could not make it work. It would start but after 10 min or so the screen would go dark and there was no way to get it back on. Had to do a hard re-start. Tried that twice.

Also, and maybe related I don't know, I tried to do a malware scan in safe mode and the machine crashed. But it runs the full scan in normal mode.

And, in case this is related, the computer will no longer shut down or restart properly. It always hangs at Shut Down and I have to hold the power button down to shut it off.

I want to avoid having to go through the ordeal of a clean install. Any ideas?

 

[Essential]

Sounds like a memory leak.

I would try running a scan in Microsoft Security Essentials and HitMan Pro 3. If those fail to find anything, chances are your computer is clean and an application is just drawing way too much power. You can check by opening only certain applications each time (out of the ones you normally use) and keep track of the long term memory usage.

But honestly, I would just back everything up and reinstall. Download new versions of the applications you've been using and everything should be fine again.

Edit: Try running MalwareBytes in Chameleon as well.

 

[MikeDT]

You can try CTRL, ALT and DEL, bring up the Task Manager, see what's actually using all the memory up, something could have a memory leak. Firefox was notorious for that, think they've fixed it now though.

But then this is typical Windows behaviour anyway isn't? It uses up more and more memory until it becomes sluggish, laggy and eventually grinds to a halt, and you have to re-boot it periodically.

 

[Manton]

The task manager does not show anything unusual.

I don't think Windows is supposed to max the memory quite this fast, and I have 12 gigs!

Anyway, I did run HitMan Pro 3 and it found some stuff that the others hadn't but computer is still not right. I think I will have to reinstall.

 

[aravenel]

Manton, is this Windows 7 or 8?

When you are in the task manager, under processes, make sure you check the box at the bottom that says "Show processes from all users". Otherwise it will not show you system processes that are not running under your name.

You say it uses more and more RAM--do you know this from looking at the task manager? Or is it just starting to run slowly?

 

[Manton]

well I'm not home at the moment but ...

1) I did run hit man pro 3, it found about 20 things that all the other scans missed but does not appear to have solved the problem.

2) It's windows 7, home premium, 64 bit

3) There is only one user/login on this machine

4) I know the ram usage from a desktop gadget that shows system resources (CPU + RAM). Also, both the task manager and the memory monitor (not sure if that is the right name) DO accurately record the total RAM usage, what they don't show is what programs are causing it. If you add up the RAM usage from the listed programs and processes, it doesn't come close to the total being used.

5) And, as noted, after restart, RAM use starts out normal and slowly builds. The longer the computer is on and the more it is used, the higher RAM goes. You can close every program and it doesn't drop.

6) Finally, and I don't know if this related, but the computer no longer shuts down or restarts properly. it ALWAYS hangs (little circle icon) at "shutting down" and has to be turned off manually.

 

[whiteslashasian]

I concur with the back up and reinstall suggestions.

 

[aravenel]

Manton, when you get back, make sure the "View processes from all users" box is checked. Even if there is only one user account, system processes may not show up otherwise.

I'd suggest opening the Performance tab of the Task Manager, then clicking the "Resource Monitor" button. In here, you can get a more detailed view of CPU, Memory and Disk usage. It would be useful to look in here while the machine is running slow.

One important thing to keep in mind--just because the machine shows very little "free" memory doesn't mean much. This is actually a good thing--free memory is wasted memory, so the OS will do everything it can to keep as much in memory as possible until it needs more space, at which point it will dump the oldest or least-used items to free up space. So simply seeing a small amount of "free" memory doesn't mean a ton. I'd wager that when things are going slow, something is either thrashing your hard disk or your CPU more than the memory.

 

[Douglas]

definitely a memory leak, are you sure you checked all processes and not just apps in the task manager?

something is ******* you in the background.

 

[clee1982]

Check your internet traffic as well, my friend had his computer hacked and end up as part of a Appreciation server (without enjoy the benefit himself)..., isn't there something out there better than task manager, I don't think task manager shows you EVERYTHING even if you check show from all users etc.

 

[MikeDT]



Check your internet traffic as well, my friend had his computer hacked and end up as part of a Appreciation server (without enjoy the benefit himself)..., isn't there something out there better than task manager, I don't think task manager shows you EVERYTHING even if you check show from all users etc.

Rootkits. If it's running a Appreciation server(not for the benefit of the PC owner) or part of a botnet or something, hackers don't usually want their **** showing up in the Task Manager.

Autoruns is better than Task Manager. But if there's a rootkit, it probably still won't show up.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx

 

[Manton]

I am inclined to the view that it is a memory leak but I can't seem to find it. Any programs that do this?

 

[Manton]

been going through computer hell the last 24 hours. One bad adventure/mistake/unforeseen catastrophe after another.

Long story short, I had to buy a new copy of Windows so I got 8 since 7 was the same price. Not sure I even like though the computer does seem faster. Spending a lot of time now figuring out how to do many things that I used to take for granted.

Why does Microsoft change everything? Getting rid of the Start menu is totally perverse, a-holes.

 

[Flieger]

I checked out Windows 8 last week and it would drive me crazy. Can't find the simplest things. I am a computer marsupial though.

 

[Manton]

I am ambivalent, it seems to run better but it is not intuitive at all. I mean, I can get to the desktop, which is good, but not having the start menu truly sucks.