finding my computer is really slow

[Guest]

When I click on my computer the little flashlight starts searching and takes
about 1 minutes to locate it. It wasn't always this slow. Any idea what is
causing this?

Thanks for any help.

Cindy

 

[Guest]

Well first pull up the Task Manger and see what is running in the Process
screen. You may have apps like the antivirus scan running in the backround.
Check your start up folder to see what is automatically starting in the
backround and delete any unwanted items. Then I would also check the free
space left on the drive, clean up and defrag. That is always a good start.
Good luck.

 

[Malke]

When I click on my computer the little flashlight starts searching and
takes
about 1 minutes to locate it. It wasn't always this slow. Any idea
what is causing this?

Thanks for any help.

Cindy

The first step is to make sure your computer is completely
virus/malware-free:
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

When you know the machine is clean, you can look at other possibilities.
See:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/slowcom.htm
http://aumha.org/a/health.htm - Take Out the Trash (section 4)

Malke

 

[Pat Coghlan]

When I click on my computer the little flashlight starts searching and takes
about 1 minutes to locate it. It wasn't always this slow. Any idea what is
causing this?

Thanks for any help.

Is the disk light flashing a lot? This could mean lots of swapping is
going on (do you fast user switch between several users running large
apps?). More memory would help in this case.

 

[Jake]

The first step is to make sure your computer is completely
virus/malware-free:
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

When you know the machine is clean, you can look at other possibilities.
See:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/slowcom.htm
http://aumha.org/a/health.htm - Take Out the Trash (section 4)

Malke

Coincidence...
I got this thing since a few days too
I found the cure from Ramesh MVP
Here is the link http://www.pcreview.co.uk/forums/thread-72625.php
Cheers
Jake

 

[Rock]

When I click on my computer the little flashlight starts searching and takes
about 1 minutes to locate it. It wasn't always this slow. Any idea what is
causing this?

Thanks for any help.

Cindy

See if running the edit on Kelly's site helps
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
Line 157: Prevent Automatic Folder and Icon Refresh

See the top of the page for info on running the edit.

 

[Bullwinkle Moose]

There are a number of things that could be slowing down your machine.

1: run AV/Malware/Adware programs to make sure that part of it is clean.

2: If you can run a registry cleaner. You may be loading all kinds of keys
which will search for non existent program.

3: check msconfig to what is running (starting up when you boot the
computer.) If they are background programs which you won't use uncheck them.

4: Defrag the machine. If you haven't done this for a long time you surely
need to do this as this slows down the computer.
Windows has a built in Defragger. Check it out in the help module.

5: If you have a registry compressor run that.

These procedures should over time get your machine back to what you want it
to be. We all need to set up a system of maintenance to check all this out.
There are a number of comprehensive programs to do a lot of this stuff. Some
are free some cost money. Usually those have trial copies available. Check
those out.

I'm not going to recommend any particular one as I use several which I
bought. I'm a fanatic. I do recommend a free one called ccleaner which will
remove cookies and temporary files. Use that one for sure.

Let us know how you make out. As with everything make a backup of the
registry before doing anything there.

Go slow. Regards,