Gone for a week, now my computer performs terribly

[mdjeffries]

I left for a week (the entirety of that time my computer was turned off) and now that i have come back none of my games work properly (minecraft has extremely low fps, as with team fortress 2, both of which performed excpetionally before) and now netflix cant stream videos. This problem i find to be the most odd for when i going to netflix any video runs smoothly for a few moments then after about 10 seconds of video my CPU runs up to 100% at which point the video lags and the audio gos in and out. The strange thing is if i view any other kind of video such on youtube or anywhere else the video runs just fine and doesn't eat up my processing power.

Ive tried defragging my hard drive, updating all drivers (they were all up to date), going through all startup programs and services but nothing seems to have changed. I have no idea why this is happening and it is extremely frustrating!

Here are my system specs:
OS:Windows Vistax64 Home premium
Processor: Intel Core Duo T8100 2.10GHz
RAM: 2 GB
Video: ATI mobility radeon HD 3870

 

[richc46]

Welcome
We need to ignore extraneous events (you were not home)
Run a full anti virus scan
Download and run a full updated scan with malwarebytes.

 

[americancritic]

Hello great advice by Rich also do not use any of your restore points until you rule out malware or virus...

 

[mdjeffries]

I guess i should have said this in the original post, but i use McAfee Antivirus Plus. A scan was the first thing a tried, but it found no virus.

However, whenever i start my computer, after i log in when windows is opening, an error message always pops up saying a task scheduler engine failed. This has been going on for a while and has not seemed to effect my computer adversely but i am now wondering if it could be tied to my current problem in any way.

Thanks for your help guys

 

[richc46]

Malwarebytes is the best for Malware (may be different than a virus) Donwloand and run a scan.

 

[richc46]

After the Malwarebyts scan, which is important, and there is no improvement, try to resolve with a clean boot. Follow the instructions to resolve the situation
How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows Vista or in Windows 7
If that is not successful, you may have a bunch of updates that were installed (you were gone a week). If so use system restore to remove them and then instll one at a time, to determine the culprit.
Post if nothing suggested works, it may be a hardware problem. Lets go step by step to find the cause.

 

[mdjeffries]

Thank you for your help Rich, the malwarebytes software works great (it removed 39 items) but unfortunately my problem still remains. Even with clean boot, with no services other than microsoft running, my computer still starts with the task scheduler engine error, and is still performing sluggishly

edit: also, the only system restore point available is from three hours ago : /

 

[richc46]

Check update history. Any updates installed when you got back?
What is this engine error, this is something not discussed?
How does it work in safe mode?

 

[mdjeffries]

The two updates installed were both for windows defender.

The task scheduler engine error has been occurring for a few months, but didnt really seem to effect any performance. Windows starts normally but a window pops up saying task scheduler engine error and it is being reported. However in safe mode the is no task scheduler engine error

 

[richc46]

Are you sluggish in safe mode?

 

[mdjeffries]

No windows seems to run fine in safemode

 

[mdjeffries]

No windows seems to run fine in safe mode

edit: sorry i didnt mean to post that twice

 

[richc46]

Im going to log off now. But tomorrow, Id like to have you confirm for me.
Works ok in Safe Mode, but does not work ok With clean boot. Try clean boot again if you are not certain. Make sure you turn off the anti virus and firewall.
Try with internet turned off, too.
Also give me this information
Go to search and type cmd
In cmd type driverquery
Look for any very current drivers.
No rush, Im logging off now.
Good Night
.

 

[mdjeffries]

Again, thanks for all your help rich.

even with clean boot the task scheduler engine error comes up, and windows seems a bit sluggish. In safe mode there is no task scheduler engine error

The newest drivers listed were back in march of 2011.

Im starting to think i might just buy an extrernal hard drive to back up all my data and just use a system recovery tool (Alienrespawn) that came with my computer (Alienware mx15)

 

[richc46]

Again, thanks for all your help rich.

even with clean boot the task scheduler engine error comes up, and windows seems a bit sluggish. In safe mode there is no task scheduler engine error

The newest drivers listed were back in march of 2011.

Im starting to think i might just buy an extrernal hard drive to back up all my data and just use a system recovery tool (Alienrespawn) that came with my computer (Alienware mx15)

If you are Sluggish in clean boot, this should do the trick. Based upon your answer, I am not SURE that it is sluggish, however
About Soluto
Always make a system restore point, first, before installing new software.