Dell Inspiron E1505 Help

[English Mobster]

As of this morning, I have noticed a SHARP decline in my computer speed. I'm not sure why at all, as everything had been running fine recently.

The only thing which may have caused it is last night, I deleted an uncompressed .AVI file from my computer. It was too large for the recycle bin, so I permanently deleted the file. About 10 seconds later I realized I still needed it.
In an effort to recover it, I searched Google for data recovery software. Because I'm virus-paranoid, I only used links from sites with a lot of members, e.g. forums or tech blogs.
The predominant recommended software was freeware called Restoration, which I tried to no avail to use to recover the data. I downloaded a number of programs from other sites, all of which seemed legit. All of the programs I downloaded later turned out to be software which could let me LOOK at the data I lost, but I couldn't recover it. In fact, only one of the 3 or 4 programs I installed even could FIND the .AVI (and it turned out to want me to buy the software if I wanted to recover it).
The programs I've downloaded/used (in order) and the source I downloaded them from are:

http://www.aumha.org/a/recover.php:
Restoration (Freeware) (http://www.snapfiles.com/get/restoration.html)

http://www.geekgirls.com/windows_recycle_bin.htm:
Uneraser (http://www.uneraser.com/undelete.htm)
File Recover (http://www.pctools.com/file-recover/?ref=afl_onenetwork&ClickID=czsssvpza7q7z4zxpnvixpevqznxni7izean)

Linked to in a Youtube video (with many positive comments):
Data Recovery (http://www.recovering-deleted-files.net/)

So actually, I have 2 problems. The first one (which I've largely given up on) is my missing .AVI file.
The second one (and MUCH MUCH MUCH more important one) is my slow computer. Running Xfire, Halo, and Firefox all at once (something I used to do often) takes up 30+% of my CPU, something which used to take up 3%, if that.

Checking my Task Manager right now, having my usual programs open (which normally take up <1%) is taking up 5%, and there is a noticeable lag in any sounds played, almost as if every sound file came off a scratched CD. This is noticable in any System alert noises (e.g. Are you SURE you want to delete this file?), as well as Halo, where I get HORRIBLE FPS on the UI. In a LAN game, it's unplayable, as I'm getting about .5 FPS.

I suspect spyware or a trojan, but I see nothing out of the ordinary in Task Manager. Admittedly, I just realized I have no anti-virus software anymore (I must have uninstalled it to conserve disk space before I put Halo on an external drive), so I'm downloading AVG Free right now.

Any tips? Do you guys think any of those sites aren't legit?

Oh, Dxdiag/currently open programs:
http://i435.photobucket.com/albums/qq80/Mudkipz47/untitled.jpg

[Dotkito92]

Switch to a macbook. problem solved.

[Encoded]

Have you updated your computer to the latest drivers?

[English Mobster]

Have you updated your computer to the latest drivers?
Actually, I rolled back the drivers to some from 2006. Intel fucked up on their drivers from 2007 onwards, any Direct3D game causes Stop BSOD errors every now and then. It only happens about twice a month in Halo, but it also happens every time I try to boot any Source game up. I just barely rolled back the video drivers right as the problem was starting.
However, I'm not sure if the problem started BEFORE I did that, or afterwards. It hasn't improved any, that's for sure.

Also, AVG found 2 Trojans, 1 piece of Spyware, and 1 piece of Adware. I'm downloading Avast! to see if it can catch any more.

[Encoded]

Actually, I rolled back the drivers to some from 2006. Intel fucked up on their drivers from 2007 onwards, any Direct3D game causes Stop BSOD errors every now and then. It only happens about twice a month in Halo, but it also happens every time I try to boot any Source game up. I just barely rolled back the video drivers right as the problem was starting.
However, I'm not sure if the problem started BEFORE I did that, or afterwards. It hasn't improved any, that's for sure.

Also, AVG found 2 Trojans, 1 piece of Spyware, and 1 piece of Adware. I'm downloading Avast! to see if it can catch any more.
Which option is better, human: STOP errors, or having EVERYTHING lag?

You say that the STOP errors are few. If you would like things to stop lagging, meatbag, try to update your drivers, even if it means getting STOP errors. That way your games are actually playable.

[English Mobster]

I'm still confident that there must be some sort of virus doing this. Halo was released back in 2001, XP back about 2003-ish, so having 2006 drivers shouldn't cause any of these problems.

Plus it's nice to be able to play TF2 on this laptop again, albeit a very laggy TF2.

Oh, and I chuckled at your KOTOR reference.

[Encoded]

Your point is strong. However, I still recommend you installing the latest drivers, just to terminate any possibility that those are the problem.

If it does not work, roll them back.

[Teroh]

Actually, I rolled back the drivers to some from 2006. Intel fucked up on their drivers from 2007 onwards, any Direct3D game causes Stop BSOD errors every now and then. It only happens about twice a month in Halo, but it also happens every time I try to boot any Source game up. I just barely rolled back the video drivers right as the problem was starting.
However, I'm not sure if the problem started BEFORE I did that, or afterwards. It hasn't improved any, that's for sure.

Also, AVG found 2 Trojans, 1 piece of Spyware, and 1 piece of Adware. I'm downloading Avast! to see if it can catch any more.
When exactly did you roll them back?

[English Mobster]

I believe I rolled them back around 4 PM (about 3 hours after I woke up, lol).
I didn't play Halo before I did, but it seemed as if my computer was running a bit slowly then, too.

It's not just the video, though, it's the sound, too. ANY sounds I hear are laggy, even if direct3D isn't being used. Youtube videos, for example, are a bitch, and those shouldn't require much work from the video card at all. Would outdated video drivers affect those, too?

[Teroh]

I believe I rolled them back around 4 PM (about 3 hours after I woke up, lol).
I didn't play Halo before I did, but it seemed as if my computer was running a bit slowly then, too.

It's not just the video, though, it's the sound, too. ANY sounds I hear are laggy, even if direct3D isn't being used. Youtube videos, for example, are a bitch, and those shouldn't require much work from the video card at all. Would outdated video drivers affect those, too?
So you rolled them back as a RESPONSE to the slowness or BEFORE?

[Needles]

Happens to me too, I usually shut down the pc for a bit then turn it back on and it's fine. I also get memory leaks in certain programs (tf2 has this as a huge problem).

[Encoded]

So you rolled them back as a RESPONSE to the slowness or BEFORE?


However, I'm not sure if the problem started BEFORE I did that, or afterwards. It hasn't improved any, that's for sure.
I believe there is your answer.

[kid908]

Don't worry, the avi can still be recover right now (well depending on free space on your drive).

My labtop also have this problem now, but I thought it was because of the age of the computer or that I'm killing the processor.

Try restore to a previous time. that usually works for me.

[English Mobster]

Happens to me too, I usually shut down the pc for a bit then turn it back on and it's fine. I also get memory leaks in certain programs (tf2 has this as a huge problem).
That worked. FPS is back to normal.
Repping you and closing thread.