Slow Task Switching

  • Thread starter Thread starter Elle
  • Start date Start date
E

Elle

Switching from an Outlook Express Window to a loading Internet Explorer
Window is much slower with my new Windows XP (SP2 Home, bought separately
from my computer). This is despite the fact that it's loaded on a computer
with a new mobo/CPU and 512 MByte RAM. I have to click repeatedly on the
taskbar button, and still I have to wait several seconds for the new window
to appear.

My old computer with Windows ME and only 128 Mbyte RAM switches much more
quickly and seemed to search more quickly, too.

I googled and found discussion turning off background tasks (but which
ones?). Also, right clicking on "My Computer," Properties, then advanced,
then unchecking so as to maximize performance. Neither of these helped
noticeably.

My computer is not connected to a network. It runs independently.

In my googling, I found this critique of Win XP:
http://www.memecode.com/docs/winxp-problems.php . It seems to capture some
of my concerns.

Seems like I'm trading "stability" of Win XP for the speed of my old Win ME
(when it wasn't crashing). This so?
 
Hi Elle,

What are you using for antivirus software? If you disable it, does this
help? WinXP on 512MB of ram should move along rather quickly, so there has
to be some background process (likely one that was preinstalled on the
system by the manufacturer and is totally unnecessary) bogging you down.
Prime suspects are the large commercial AV software products like Norton's
and Mcafee.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
 
Thanks, Rick. I don't use any antivirus software except what may have come
with Windows XP (again, purchased separately, not pre-loaded or from a
manufactuer like Dell or Gateway). I did a search for anything Norton or
Mcafee and nothing came up. I am now using msconfig, services, then
disabling all processes there, as well as the two other approaches I
mentioned earlier to try to get some speed. These help. I'll keep digging
and monitoring.
 
Elle said:
Thanks, Rick. I don't use any antivirus software except what may have
come with Windows XP (again, purchased separately, not pre-loaded or
from a manufactuer like Dell or Gateway). I did a search for anything
Norton or Mcafee and nothing came up. I am now using msconfig,
services, then disabling all processes there, as well as the two other
approaches I mentioned earlier to try to get some speed. These help.
I'll keep digging and monitoring.
Click to expand...

Windows XP does not come with any antivirus software. Your computer is
probably infected with something. Go through these malware removal
steps systematically, starting with the virus scan:

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

Do not connect a Windows computer to the Internet without a current
version (not earlier than 2005) antivirus installed and a firewall.

Malke
 
Elle said:
Thanks, Rick. I don't use any antivirus software except what may have
come with Windows XP
Click to expand...


Windows comes with no anti-virus software. If you haven't installed any
yourself, it's *very* likely that you are infected, and probably even with
multiple viruses. Your first step at trouble-shooting almost any problem
should be to check for viruses (and spyware) and clean the system. If you
are really badly infected with lots of thing--and that's certainly possible
if you've been running without protection--your best course is probably to
reformat and reinstall Windows cleanly.
 
Hi Elle,

What Malke and Ken said.

Basically, the most likely cause of the trouble is a virus since you are
unprotected. Free virus removal tools:

http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/
http://www.emsisoft.com/en/
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/8/lng/us/tpl/v5/nid/3001#3001
http://www.f-secure.com/download-purchase/tools.shtml

Also, you may use this free on-line scanner:
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

Many are best run in Safe mode to minimize interference. Most will resist
removal in normal mode where they are active.

How to start in Safe mode:
http://www.rickrogers.org/fixes.htm#Safe mode

Emergency system tools:
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_emerutils.htm

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
 
Rick, Malke, and Ken,

My computer setup has about a one-month old Win XP installation, mobo/cpu,
case, power supply, and 512 Mbyte RAM, and a four-month or so old Seagate
hard drive. From the get-go with it, ISTM I was having to click on the
buttons on the taskbar multiple times, and waiting a long time compared to
my old Win ME set up with a lot less RAM (128 Mbyte).

I was going back and forth between my new computer, with newly loaded Win XP
and old computer for a couple of weeks while waiting for a new power switch
for the new computer.

Call me naive, but before I download any virus protection software, what do
you think of doing a reformat and re-install of Win XP on my hard drive
first? Shouldn't that eliminate any viruses? Then I'd compare.

Another question: Are viruses popping up on computer systems connected
strictly via modems and with email protection features? (I don't download
any attachments from email, anyway.)

I am being careful with my important spreadsheet files etc. so everything is
well backed up. The only cost is taking the time to reformat and reload Win
XP, Works Suite, Earthlink software, Adobe, now Java software, and my
somewhat old modem's Win XP driver. I have careful notes on reloading
everything needed now.
 
Plus, my old computer doesn't have virus protection software and it's still
way faster. Surely Win XP isn't more prone to catching viruses than my
antiquated Win ME, is it?

Thanks Rick, Malke, and Ken (among others) for taking the time to help.
 
Hi Elle,

Even modem connected systems are being targeted, hopefully your firewall is
still up? As XP is the most commonly found version of Windows out there
right now, the bugs hit it pretty heavily. A format/clean install would
knock out any bugs provided they are not in the boot sector, but to me
that's like replacing the motor when all you need's a tune-up.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
 
Rick said:
Hi Elle,

Even modem connected systems are being targeted, hopefully your
firewall is still up? As XP is the most commonly found version of
Windows out there right now, the bugs hit it pretty heavily. A
format/clean install would knock out any bugs provided they are not in
the boot sector, but to me that's like replacing the motor when all
you need's a tune-up.
Click to expand...
What Rick said. I'd just add that an unprotected Windows machine has an
average of 12 minutes on the Internet before it is infected with some
sort of malware. I've seen it happen in less than a minute, especially
if there was already some malware on the box. Go through the malware
removal steps I gave you in my first post if you want to be sure.

Malke
 
No idea about the firewall. I'll research that.

You say all the computer may need is a tuneup. But you listed about six
software packages to download for virus protection etc. Downloading and
running all these seems as time intensive. Plus don't these packages monkey
with my basic Windows XP settings, potentially causing more problems (albeit
presumably fixing the virus problems)?

Can you (or anyone) tell me what sort of routine they now follow to keep
their (brand new mobo/cpu/hard drive, with Win XP SP2) computer running
well? Must one who wants to "do it one's self" become resigned to expending
significant labor each week (or each day??) to computer software
maintenance? Is that where the technology (with viruses) is at these days?

For the last two years, I have pointedly kept things very simple with my
computer: Word processing, spreadsheets, Usenet, email, a bit of photo
edition, a bit of web site building, a lot of internet searching (but when
downloading, it's almost exclusively only PDF files). I keep things simple
to minimize aggravation. Is that a mistaken philosophy these days?

I need a strategy, or I need to know whether, well, one is simply screwed
these days with a computer used a lot for the internet. Having only a small
bank account, and preferring to give my extra money to charity etc., I can't
hire a technician (shudder the thought) to daily check my computer.

Thanks again for trying to help.
 
Elle said:
Rick, Malke, and Ken,

My computer setup has about a one-month old Win XP installation,
Click to expand...


It can take just a few second of being connected to the internet without
protection to get infected with viruses or other malwatre.

mobo/cpu, case, power supply, and 512 Mbyte RAM, and a four-month or
so old Seagate hard drive. From the get-go with it, ISTM I was having
to click on the buttons on the taskbar multiple times, and waiting a
long time compared to my old Win ME set up with a lot less RAM (128
Mbyte).
I was going back and forth between my new computer, with newly loaded
Win XP and old computer for a couple of weeks while waiting for a new
power switch for the new computer.

Call me naive, but before I download any virus protection software,
what do you think of doing a reformat and re-install of Win XP on my
hard drive first? Shouldn't that eliminate any viruses?
Click to expand...


Yes, although I think that's usually the wrong thing to do, that's probably
a good idea in your circumstances. However be sure you are protected before
going on the internet.

Then I'd
compare.

Another question: Are viruses popping up on computer systems connected
strictly via modems and with email protection features? (I don't
download any attachments from email, anyway.)
Click to expand...


Strictly? No. Viruses can still come on diskettes, CDs, or any external
medium. But the most likely place to get them by far is from your internet
connection.

You need three things for adequate protection:

1. A firewall

2. An anti-virus program

3. At least two anti-spyware programs. No single one is good enough. I
recommend these three, all free:

Spybot Search & Destroy
Adaware
Spyware Blaster

Whatever software you get, download it now and burn it to CDs, so that after
you reformat and reinstall, you can install these without having to first
connect to the internet.
 
Hi Elle,

The tools and pages we all linked to are ones we ourselves all use precisely
because they are the least system intrusive. Most, like adaware, can be
started and simply allowed to run while you do other things in your life -
no technician required. They are fairly self explanatory and do not require
that the user have any extensive computer knowledge.

To check the firewall, right click your connection and check properties. You
should find the settings on the advanced tab. As Malke has pointed out, an
unfirewalled system will become infected in no time at all.

Once running smoothly, with windows update set to automatic, properly
firewalled, and with a self-updating antivirus program (avg from
www.grisoft.com is free and will do this), there is little that requires
intervention on the part of the user other than using common sense about
email, attachments, and downloads.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
 
I am now using msconfig, services, then
disabling all processes there
Click to expand...

Be careful disabling services. Some of them are needed for the system to
operate efficiently. Also if disabling, do so using Administrative tools
instead of MSCONFIG.

Use MSCONFIG to manage/keep an eye on startup *programs.* Even then I
prefer to change startup behavior in the menus of the relative program
instead of using MSCONFIG.
 
Ken, Rick, and Sharon: Thank you for the suggestions (based I realize on a
lot of experience, so I understand I need to pay attention.).

Rick, for some reason right clicking on my connection etc. didn't indicate
anything about a firewall, but I must be missing something. Anyway, it helps
to know it's easy to check. I'll dig further and hopefully identify soon
what's up with that on my computer.

I appreciate all of you reinforcing and elaborating further on your original
points. I will take a day or so off from this and then try what will be a
totally new approach (per your descriptions re virus prevention) to my
computer operations, taking lots of notes.

Thank you again.
 
Elle said:
Ken, Rick, and Sharon: Thank you for the suggestions (based I realize
on a lot of experience, so I understand I need to pay attention.).
Click to expand...


You're welcome, Elle. Always glad to help.
 
For the archives: Downloading and installing the Firefox browser, and using
it instead of Internet Explorer, has sped up my internet site loading and
switching enormously. I also do not have to click repeatedly to switch from
one IE (or Outlook Express) window to another.

http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/ has the Firefox browser.

I don't know why Firefox is so superior. All I can tell is that when I check
"Connection," "Status," it appears over three times as many bytes are being
sent and received now. This is despite the connection speed being unchanged
at about 49.2 Kbps.

I have a long list of items to pursue further, re virus protection, spyware,
etc., per people's directions here, as I've noted. I am keeping my paws off
altering processes via running msconfig.
 
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