I own a 5 year old HP PC and am getting the part together to build my own PC

In the meantime I have been having a problem.

I have an Athlon 900mHz processor and my PC has been running extremely slow
in most cases.

For example, it takes about 10 seconds to open WinAmp when I click on the
icon when it used to open instantly.

I checked my system monitor and it says that my processor usage is 100%.
This is when the PC is completly at rest and not running any programs.

What could be going on here? Can this be caused by a bug or virus?

Processor usage is 100% when all programs are closed and it takes twice as
long to start up!

This used to be a great PC!

It has 256 ram and the meters say that most of the meory is available.

Any tips and guidance to fix the problem will put me in your debt!


Darren N

For a couple of things

How much hard drive space do you have left? Less than 10 to 20 % will
cause great slow downness.

Have you cleared your temp files out lately as well as your Internet temp
files? A memory sucker

Do you have a lot of programs that start up when windows boots taking up
memory? Same as above

When was the last time you installed your OS fresh? ( this one creates
all kinds of questions but usually has a bearing on how much
garbage is accumulating on your system and the more extraneous files
you have the slower it all goes).

By the way, is your hdd a 5400 or 7200 rpm model?

You have AV software, with up to date definitions and you have run a
scan?

--
Jan Alter
(E-Mail Removed)
or
(E-Mail Removed)
"Darren" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:BIOHf.644$(E-Mail Removed)...
>I own a 5 year old HP PC and am getting the part together to build my own
>PC
>
> In the meantime I have been having a problem.
>
> I have an Athlon 900mHz processor and my PC has been running extremely
> slow
> in most cases.
>
> For example, it takes about 10 seconds to open WinAmp when I click on the
> icon when it used to open instantly.
>
> I checked my system monitor and it says that my processor usage is 100%.
> This is when the PC is completly at rest and not running any programs.
>
> What could be going on here? Can this be caused by a bug or virus?
>
> Processor usage is 100% when all programs are closed and it takes twice as
> long to start up!
>
> This used to be a great PC!
>
> It has 256 ram and the meters say that most of the meory is available.
>
> Any tips and guidance to fix the problem will put me in your debt!
>
>
> Darren N
>
>

did you check your processes? most likely you have a virus

Hello, all,

I checked my PC with two virus software pacages and there are none.

My Internet temp and cashe files are emptied regulary.

How do I delete the Windos OS temp folder? that may be part of the problem.

I can't reload windows because I have an OEM disc that came with my
computer. I have since added a new soundcard and a couple other things and
the PC will not let me reinstall Windows.

I have a 120 GB HD with about 100 GB free space.

Stil am having problems with slow start ups when I turn the computer and
open certain programs, like WinAmp.

Darren Nemeth
(E-Mail Removed)
Owner of "Giant Squid Audio Lab" - Specialists in durable, high fidelity
microphones
for discriminating analog and digital recording enthusiasts.
http://www.giant-squid-audio-lab.com


<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> did you check your processes? most likely you have a virus
>

Darren wrote:
> Hello, all,
>
> I checked my PC with two virus software pacages and there are none.
>
> My Internet temp and cashe files are emptied regulary.
>
> How do I delete the Windos OS temp folder? that may be part of the problem.
>
> I can't reload windows because I have an OEM disc that came with my
> computer. I have since added a new soundcard and a couple other things and
> the PC will not let me reinstall Windows.

Remove sound card. Reinstall windows. Reinstall soundcard. Just a
hypothetical, there could be more information that I haven't been able
to telepathically retrieve yet that may preclude this series of actions
from being successful.

Is slowness the only problem you're having?

>
> I have a 120 GB HD with about 100 GB free space.
>
> Stil am having problems with slow start ups when I turn the computer and
> open certain programs, like WinAmp.
>
> Darren Nemeth
> (E-Mail Removed)
> Owner of "Giant Squid Audio Lab" - Specialists in durable, high fidelity
> microphones
> for discriminating analog and digital recording enthusiasts.
> http://www.giant-squid-audio-lab.com
>
>
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>>did you check your processes? most likely you have a virus
>>
>
>
>


--
spammage trappage: remove the underscores to reply

I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried to protect my
neighbours from crime, and became the victim of it. Complications in
hospital following this resulted in a serious illness. I now need a bone
marrow transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a marrow
transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a marrow donor:
http://www.abmdr.org.au/
http://www.marrow.org/

I am monitoring the PC all evening with the processor monitor on.

Sometimes it is at 100% but it is now mostly in the 20% range. Whenever I
open an application it immediately hits 100% and PC slows a great deal down
until the application is opened.

I just doubled my RAM today with a chip from a PC my partents were tossing
out and there is no improvement at all!

"spodosaurus" said..
> Is slowness the only problem you're having?

It seems to be the only problem. That and IE web browser crashing and
sometimes crashing the OS.

Also, about 1/2 the time when I attempt a proper shut down I end up having
to unplug the PC. This is due to having to wait for an unknown application
to close, according to an error message box.

BTW, I can hardly wait for the video card to arrive from Newegg. I really
want the PC that I am building to up an running soon. Getting very tired
of this one.

Darren Nemeth
(E-Mail Removed)
Owner of "Giant Squid Audio Lab" - Specialists in durable, high fidelity
microphones
for discriminating analog and digital recording enthusiasts.
http://www.giant-squid-audio-lab.com


"spodosaurus" <spodosaurus@_yahoo_.com> wrote in message
news:43f0185f$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Darren wrote:
> > Hello, all,
> >
> > I checked my PC with two virus software pacages and there are none.
> >
> > My Internet temp and cashe files are emptied regulary.
> >
> > How do I delete the Windos OS temp folder? that may be part of the
problem.
> >
> > I can't reload windows because I have an OEM disc that came with my
> > computer. I have since added a new soundcard and a couple other things
and
> > the PC will not let me reinstall Windows.
>
> Remove sound card. Reinstall windows. Reinstall soundcard. Just a
> hypothetical, there could be more information that I haven't been able
> to telepathically retrieve yet that may preclude this series of actions
> from being successful.
>
> Is slowness the only problem you're having?
>
> >
> > I have a 120 GB HD with about 100 GB free space.
> >
> > Stil am having problems with slow start ups when I turn the computer and
> > open certain programs, like WinAmp.
> >
> > Darren Nemeth
> > (E-Mail Removed)
> > Owner of "Giant Squid Audio Lab" - Specialists in durable, high fidelity
> > microphones
> > for discriminating analog and digital recording enthusiasts.
> > http://www.giant-squid-audio-lab.com
> >
> >
> > <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> >
> >>did you check your processes? most likely you have a virus
> >>
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> --
> spammage trappage: remove the underscores to reply
>
> I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried to protect my
> neighbours from crime, and became the victim of it. Complications in
> hospital following this resulted in a serious illness. I now need a bone
> marrow transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a marrow
> transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a marrow donor:
> http://www.abmdr.org.au/
> http://www.marrow.org/

Darren wrote:
> I am monitoring the PC all evening with the processor monitor on.
>
> Sometimes it is at 100% but it is now mostly in the 20% range. Whenever I
> open an application it immediately hits 100% and PC slows a great deal down
> until the application is opened.
>
> I just doubled my RAM today with a chip from a PC my partents were tossing
> out and there is no improvement at all!

Run memtest86 for at LEAST one full pass.

>
> "spodosaurus" said..
>
>>Is slowness the only problem you're having?
>
>
> It seems to be the only problem. That and IE web browser crashing and
> sometimes crashing the OS.

Run memtest86, just to rule that out.

>
> Also, about 1/2 the time when I attempt a proper shut down I end up having
> to unplug the PC. This is due to having to wait for an unknown application
> to close, according to an error message box.
>
> BTW, I can hardly wait for the video card to arrive from Newegg. I really
> want the PC that I am building to up an running soon. Getting very tired
> of this one.
>
> Darren Nemeth
> (E-Mail Removed)
> Owner of "Giant Squid Audio Lab" - Specialists in durable, high fidelity
> microphones
> for discriminating analog and digital recording enthusiasts.
> http://www.giant-squid-audio-lab.com
>
>
> "spodosaurus" <spodosaurus@_yahoo_.com> wrote in message
> news:43f0185f$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>>Darren wrote:
>>
>>>Hello, all,
>>>
>>>I checked my PC with two virus software pacages and there are none.
>>>
>>>My Internet temp and cashe files are emptied regulary.
>>>
>>>How do I delete the Windos OS temp folder? that may be part of the
>
> problem.
>
>>>I can't reload windows because I have an OEM disc that came with my
>>>computer. I have since added a new soundcard and a couple other things
>
> and
>
>>>the PC will not let me reinstall Windows.
>>
>>Remove sound card. Reinstall windows. Reinstall soundcard. Just a
>>hypothetical, there could be more information that I haven't been able
>>to telepathically retrieve yet that may preclude this series of actions
>>from being successful.
>>
>>Is slowness the only problem you're having?
>>
>>
>>>I have a 120 GB HD with about 100 GB free space.
>>>
>>>Stil am having problems with slow start ups when I turn the computer and
>>>open certain programs, like WinAmp.
>>>
>>>Darren Nemeth
>>>(E-Mail Removed)
>>>Owner of "Giant Squid Audio Lab" - Specialists in durable, high fidelity
>>>microphones
>>>for discriminating analog and digital recording enthusiasts.
>>>http://www.giant-squid-audio-lab.com
>>>
>>>
>>><(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>>news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>
>>>
>>>>did you check your processes? most likely you have a virus
>>>>
>>>



--
spammage trappage: remove the underscores to reply

I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried to protect my
neighbours from crime, and became the victim of it. Complications in
hospital following this resulted in a serious illness. I now need a bone
marrow transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a marrow
transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a marrow donor:
http://www.abmdr.org.au/
http://www.marrow.org/

--
Four boxes protect our freedom: the soap box, the
ballot box, the jury box, and the cartridge box.
"Darren" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:BIOHf.644$(E-Mail Removed)...
> I have an Athlon 900mHz processor and my PC has been running extremely
> slow
> in most cases.
>
> For example, it takes about 10 seconds to open WinAmp when I click on the
> icon when it used to open instantly.
>
> I checked my system monitor and it says that my processor usage is 100%.
> This is when the PC is completly at rest and not running any programs.
>
> What could be going on here? Can this be caused by a bug or virus?
>
> Processor usage is 100% when all programs are closed and it takes twice as
> long to start up!

Open task manager, see what is using all the cpu time and post back here.

I had something similar to this and it turned out to be Norton trying to
scan friggin instant message crap I don't use. Stopped Norton from trying
to scan IM's and I'm baaaack to normal.
To open task manager, put mouse pointer on taskbar, right click mouse, then
left click task manager when it comes up.

"Darren" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
newsQSHf.889$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hello, all,
>
> I checked my PC with two virus software pacages and there are none.
>

OK, so no virus but have you checked for spyware?

Download Adaware
http://www.download.com/3405-8022-51...bj=dl&tag=top5
and Spybot
http://www.internetsecurity.cc/spybot/index.html
run update on both programs, then scan your system.

Adam S

I check for virus and spyware several times a week. Don't have any


Darren

"Adam Strawson" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:dspu12$msr$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "Darren" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> newsQSHf.889$(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Hello, all,
> >
> > I checked my PC with two virus software pacages and there are none.
> >
>
> OK, so no virus but have you checked for spyware?
>
> Download Adaware
>
http://www.download.com/3405-8022-51...bj=dl&tag=top5
> and Spybot
> http://www.internetsecurity.cc/spybot/index.html
> run update on both programs, then scan your system.
>
> Adam S
>
>