XP running VERY slowly ???

  • Thread starter Thread starter BertieBigBollox
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BertieBigBollox

Checked and cleaned out spyware etc. Defragged the disk. Checked and
cleaned out the registry. Cleared out unnecessary start up items but
its still v. slow.

So, slow that it takes about a minute to display the menu after
hitting START.

Can do CTRl-ALT-DEL to bring up task manager (eventually) and CPU is
low as is memory usage.

Start up in Safe mode seems much better. How do I procedd with this?
 
In said:
Checked and cleaned out spyware etc.
Click to expand...

What spyware was "cleaned" and how did you do it? What tools did you
use?
Defragged the disk. Checked and cleaned out the registry. Cleared out
unnecessary start up items but its still v. slow.
Click to expand...

How much RAM do you have?
So, slow that it takes about a minute to display the menu after
hitting START.
Click to expand...

Definitely something is amiss...
Can do CTRl-ALT-DEL to bring up task manager (eventually) and CPU is
low as is memory usage.
Click to expand...

Explain better. Amount of free RAM is low? CPU is using a low amount of
RAM?
Start up in Safe mode seems much better. How do I procedd with this?
Click to expand...

Assuming you did have some kind of spyware/malware (your non-detailed
first statement), try more tools.

http://k75s.home.att.net/tips.html#spyware

You appear to be using a broadband connection. Is there any *outbound*
traffic from your computer, like it is sitting there spewing spam
because you have a mass-mailing worm on it? What does your firewall or
router tell you about this?
 
When you checked the CPU usage, what is tying up the CPU? The fact that
safe mode runs OK tells you that something loading at boot in normal mode is
the culprit.
 
Does sound like vermin of some sort on your mahine. I would also run
an up to date virus checker (will probably take 24hours or more) and
Ad-aware and install WinPatrol (both free to download). Actually,
install WinPatrol first to stop changes your system files.
 
Checked and cleaned out spyware etc. Defragged the disk. Checked and
cleaned out the registry. Cleared out unnecessary start up items but
its still v. slow.

So, slow that it takes about a minute to display the menu after
hitting START.

Can do CTRl-ALT-DEL to bring up task manager (eventually) and CPU is
low as is memory usage.

Start up in Safe mode seems much better. How do I procedd with this?
Click to expand...

Perhaps your cpu is overheating.
Dust and a worn out cpu/heatsink fan are sometimes the culprit.
If Intel cpu's get too hot, they go into a protective slowdown mode.
 
Checked and cleaned out spyware etc. Defragged the disk. Checked and
cleaned out the registry. Cleared out unnecessary start up items but
its still v. slow.

So, slow that it takes about a minute to display the menu after
hitting START.

Can do CTRl-ALT-DEL to bring up task manager (eventually) and CPU is
low as is memory usage.

Start up in Safe mode seems much better. How do I procedd with this?
Click to expand...

Get Process Explorer and use it instead of Task Manager to figure out what
is using CPU cycles.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/utilities/ProcessExplorer.mspx

Be sure to expand the listings, and note that putting hte mouse over entries
can give you more information.

If the system is mostly slow at startup, check to see if Automatic Updates
is the culprit. On some systems, this can cause problems for over ten
minutes at start.

HTH
-pk
 
Does sound like vermin of some sort on your mahine. I would also run
an up to date virus checker (will probably take 24hours or more) and
Ad-aware and install WinPatrol (both free to download). Actually,
install WinPatrol first to stop changes your system files.
Click to expand...

Yep. Already run Ad-Aware and done a virus scan...
 
[email protected] said:
Checked and cleaned out spyware etc. Defragged the disk. Checked and
cleaned out the registry. Cleared out unnecessary start up items but
its still v. slow.

So, slow that it takes about a minute to display the menu after
hitting START.

Can do CTRl-ALT-DEL to bring up task manager (eventually) and CPU is
low as is memory usage.

Start up in Safe mode seems much better. How do I procedd with this?
Click to expand...

A failing hard drive (multiple retries for every read or write) can
result in a very slow machine. Fortunately this situation does not
last too long, as the hard drive usually dies completely within a few
days. Make sure that S.M.A.R.T. monitoring is enabled for your hard
drive. Also go to the hard drive manufacturer's web site, download
their diagnostic test utility, and run that to check out the drive.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2008)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."
 
Checked and cleaned out spyware etc.
Click to expand...


Exactly how did you do this? What tools did you use? A single
anti-malware tool is normally not enough.

These days the most common cause for such performance issues is
malware infestation. The first thing to do is always to be absolutely
sure you are really free of malware. Go to
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware and
follow the steps there.

Defragged the disk. Checked and
cleaned out the registry.
Click to expand...


Ugh! Using a registry cleaner is one of the most dangerous things you
can do. Besides being completely unnecessary, it's likely to create or
exacerbate problems, not fix them.
 
Exactly how did you do this? What tools did you use? A single
anti-malware tool is normally not enough.

These days the most common cause for such performance issues is
malware infestation. The first thing to do is always to be absolutely
sure you are really free of malware. Go tohttp://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malwareand
follow the steps there.


Ugh! Using a registry cleaner is one of the most dangerous things you
can do. Besides being completely unnecessary, it's likely to create or
exacerbate problems, not fix them.
Click to expand...

Hi There,

It's your hard drive, IDE cable or IDE header on mainboard
Backup all data as soon as possible
then change cable if no change move cable to another IDE header.
If still slow replace hard drive
is your HD activity light on all the time?
 
A failing hard drive (multiple retries for every read or write) can
result in a very slow machine. Fortunately this situation does not
last too long, as the hard drive usually dies completely within a few
days. Make sure that S.M.A.R.T. monitoring is enabled for your hard
drive. Also go to the hard drive manufacturer's web site, download
their diagnostic test utility, and run that to check out the drive.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2008)
On-Line Help Computer Servicehttp://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."
Click to expand...

Funnily enough having just checked the error log, there are a load of
disk errors in there.... :-(
 
Exactly how did you do this? What tools did you use? A single
anti-malware tool is normally not enough.
Click to expand...

Spybot, Ad-aware, TuneUp Utilities...

Ugh! Using a registry cleaner is one of the most dangerous things you
can do. Besides being completely unnecessary, it's likely to create or
exacerbate problems, not fix them.
Click to expand...

Interesting...
 
Have managed to boot in safe mode and run msconfig...

After disabling a load of stuff in there, and rebooting, it works OK.

Now I guess its trying to ffigure out what was in the original startup
thats causing the problems.

BTW. Its not my PC - its my teenage nephews laptop and hes complaing
about it freezing. As you can imagine theres all sorts of downloads
etc on there !!!!
 
well,

as far as startups i would
live them disabled. the only
exception being 1 anti spyware
and 1 antivirus "or" 1 antiviral
that does both.

when we talk about teenagers,
then we are assured that the
pc has been tested to it's maximum
configuration, eg, games, music
downloads, myspace, etc...

all of these subjects are designed
to attract kids.

with myspace downloading "scripts"
pose a risk.

with music, the large music downloads
take up a lot of disk space, sometime
all of it. and then some music programs
automatically download music as well.

with games, the complexity of these
games with other gamers over the
internet also stresses the operating
system as well.

what i suggest is to make sure
you are the administrator to the pc.

then create users accounts for
the teenagers.

if they operate within the specs
of a user account, it will be one
way to keep the pc safer.

the subject matter is large,
so if you would like to know
anything or ask a question, post
it as a new thread. that way each
posting will have a specific question
with specific responses....

here is are a couple of links
that may be of further help:

http://search.microsoft.com/results...OME&setlang=en-US&q=how+to+keep+computer+safe

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/tips/default.mspx


--

db ·´¯`·.¸. said:
<)))º>·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
Click to expand...


..
 
Have managed to boot in safe mode and run msconfig...

After disabling a load of stuff in there, and rebooting, it works OK.

Now I guess its trying to ffigure out what was in the original startup
thats causing the problems.

BTW. Its not my PC - its my teenage nephews laptop and hes complaing
about it freezing. As you can imagine theres all sorts of downloads
etc on there !!!!
Click to expand...

There is a program (free) that is called SuperAntiSpyware that has had
good customer reviews. Google for it.
 
OK. Think I've sorted it....

I've removed all the various 'Toolbars for....XYZ' etc and also
removed some Packard Bell support stuff that seems to be running at
startup. Much better now....
 
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