Problem description: My PC won't run properly. It runs super-slowly, takes minutes on end to do the most basic of tasks, and gives me 'virtual memory low' errors up the ass. I also get an error message saying 'pagent.exe' has crashed-- 'the memory could not be read'. Mysteriously, the PC ran fine last night for a few hours, even after having given me errors on startup; but today it's back to shitsville.
Attempted fixes: So according to Google, pagent.exe is bad news. I thought I'd try going after that first. Spybot didn't find it. Sadly I can't try AdAware as I can't install it in safe mode, which is what I'm using currently. (I'm running Stinger right now, but that's taking forever.) I tried following some intructions I got to remove it from the registry, but it doesn't show up anywhere in my registry when I search for it. I did try deleting the folder it's in (Panda Software) but that didn't work.
Of course, I have no idea if pagent.exe is what is causing the memory problems, or if the memory problems are just causing pagent.exe to stop working. I don't know what else to try right now, though.
I have also tried doing a system restore to one week ago (the problems didn't appear until yesterday). No dice.
Recent changes: None that I can think of.
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Operating system: XP Professional.
System specs: Pretty old Elonex laptop. 2.6ghz, 224mb RAM, 15 gig free.
I have Googled and read the FAQ: I suuuure have.