My first time using these groups so forgive me if this is the wrong place

My computer is running very slowly and about the only thing I haven't tried
is reformatting and reinstalling Windows, which is said to help. The problem
is I don't have the CD...

Am I stuck? Can I legally borrow someone else's disc, and would that work
anyway?

On Tue, 6 Jan 2009 15:01:02 -0800, UYV <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

> My first time using these groups so forgive me if this is the wrong place
>
> My computer is running very slowly and about the only thing I haven't tried
> is reformatting and reinstalling Windows, which is said to help. The problem
> is I don't have the CD...


Although it invariably fixes such problems, unless they are hardware
problems, I think it's almost always the wrong thing to do, for two
reasons:

1. It's a lot of work to back up your data, reinstall Windows, reload
all your drivers, restore your data, reload all your programs,
reconfigure Windows and all your programs the way you like to have
them, etc.

2. When you take that approach, you never find out what was wrong, and
almost certainly what is wrong is something you did incorrectly or
didn't do. That means that you are extremely likely to make the same
mistake and very quickly find yourself back in the same situation.

So my recommendation is that you do *not* do this, but instead
describe your problems and your environment here, giving us to the
chance to help you and fix the problems without reinstallation.

To start with, answer these two questions:

1. What anti-virus and anti-spyware programs do you run, and are they
kept up to date?

2. What programs do you have starting automatically when you boot.

The answer to most poor performance problems is usually found in one
or both of these questions.


> Am I stuck? Can I legally borrow someone else's disc, and would that work
> anyway?


Yes, you can use someone else's CD, as long as it matches yours with
respect to Professional vs. Home, Retail vs. OEM, and Full vs.
Upgrade. If it doesn't match in all those respects, your product key
won't work with it.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

"Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:

> So my recommendation is that you do *not* do this, but instead
> describe your problems and your environment here, giving us to the
> chance to help you and fix the problems without reinstallation.

Ok, here goes:

I have XP Pro, and the computer is a several-years-old Emachines 380 but a)
it was probably modified when we got it and b) we've had the motherboard
replaced since. Not sure what it is now but I can find out if you need to
know.
Other info: 20GB free space (out of 60GB), 2.2GHz, 1GB RAM, basic onboard
graphics etc.

For anti-virus stuff I run AVG Free 8, Spybot S&D and the normal Windows
firewall. Could be better I suppose but I'm pretty sure I don't have a virus
and getting bogged down in these programs could be just as bad at the moment.

So far I've tried all the normal stuff - defragged, run CCleaner, bought
more RAM, freed up hard drive space, cut down the startup programs, even used
a little Microsoft tool called PageDefrag... Can't think of anything else
right now.

I don't just mean I'm trying to tweak the speed, it's really slow. Drives
my mother mad when she's trying to use a site like ebay or amazon and each
page takes ages to load. If more than 3 or 4 tabs/windows are open when
using the internet it tends to freeze up almost completely until you close
some.
It's not only using the internet that's slow, just the examples that come to
mind.

With these specs it should be running quite well, so I don't know what to do
next apart from trying a reinstallation.....

UYV

Are there any yellow question marks in Device Manager? Right click on
the My Computer icon on your Desktop and select Properties,
Hardware,Device Manager. If yes what is the Device Error code?

Select Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System
Information. Open Components under System Summary and click on Problem
Devices. Is anything listed there?

What is the Current Transfer Mode for your hard drives?
http://www.helpwithwindows.com/WindowsXP/howto-05.html

Have a look in the System and Application logs in Event Viewer for
Errors and Warnings
and post copies here. Don't post any more than 48
hours ago.

You can access Event Viewer by selecting Start, Control Panel,
Administrative Tools, and Event Viewer. When researching the meaning
of the error, information regarding Event ID, Source and Description
are important.

HOW TO: View and Manage Event Logs in Event Viewer in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308427/en-us

A tip for posting copies of Error Reports! Run Event Viewer and double
click on the error you want to copy. In the window, which appears is a
button resembling two pages. Click the button and close Event
Viewer.Now start your message (email) and do a paste into the body of
the message. Make sure this is the first paste after exiting from
Event Viewer.


--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
UYV wrote:
> "Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:
>
>> So my recommendation is that you do *not* do this, but instead
>> describe your problems and your environment here, giving us to the
>> chance to help you and fix the problems without reinstallation.
>
> Ok, here goes:
>
> I have XP Pro, and the computer is a several-years-old Emachines 380
> but a) it was probably modified when we got it and b) we've had the
> motherboard replaced since. Not sure what it is now but I can find
> out if you need to know.
> Other info: 20GB free space (out of 60GB), 2.2GHz, 1GB RAM, basic
> onboard graphics etc.
>
> For anti-virus stuff I run AVG Free 8, Spybot S&D and the normal
> Windows firewall. Could be better I suppose but I'm pretty sure I
> don't have a virus and getting bogged down in these programs could be
> just as bad at the moment.
>
> So far I've tried all the normal stuff - defragged, run CCleaner,
> bought more RAM, freed up hard drive space, cut down the startup
> programs, even used a little Microsoft tool called PageDefrag...
> Can't think of anything else right now.
>
> I don't just mean I'm trying to tweak the speed, it's really slow.
> Drives my mother mad when she's trying to use a site like ebay or
> amazon and each page takes ages to load. If more than 3 or 4
> tabs/windows are open when using the internet it tends to freeze up
> almost completely until you close some.
> It's not only using the internet that's slow, just the examples that
> come to mind.
>
> With these specs it should be running quite well, so I don't know
> what to do next apart from trying a reinstallation.....

On Thu, 8 Jan 2009 14:01:25 -0800, UYV <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

> "Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:
>
> > So my recommendation is that you do *not* do this, but instead
> > describe your problems and your environment here, giving us to the
> > chance to help you and fix the problems without reinstallation.
>
> Ok, here goes:
>
> I have XP Pro, and the computer is a several-years-old Emachines 380 but a)
> it was probably modified when we got it and b) we've had the motherboard
> replaced since. Not sure what it is now but I can find out if you need to
> know.
> Other info: 20GB free space (out of 60GB), 2.2GHz, 1GB RAM, basic onboard
> graphics etc.
>
> For anti-virus stuff I run AVG Free 8, Spybot S&D and the normal Windows
> firewall. Could be better I suppose but I'm pretty sure I don't have a virus
> and getting bogged down in these programs could be just as bad at the moment.
>
> So far I've tried all the normal stuff - defragged, run CCleaner, bought
> more RAM, freed up hard drive space, cut down the startup programs, even used
> a little Microsoft tool called PageDefrag... Can't think of anything else
> right now.
>
> I don't just mean I'm trying to tweak the speed, it's really slow.


I can't be sure of course, but my guess is that you're infected with
malware. That's the most common reason for slowness these days.

You say above that you run "AVG Free 8, Spybot S&D." AVG is not one of
the best anti-virus choices, but it's far from the worst either. I
would recommend that instead you get NOD32 if you are willing to pay
for an anti-virus or Avast or Avira if you want a free one.

But AVG is good enough that I doubt that you're infected with a virus.
But I do think it's considerably more likely that you are infected
with spyware. Spybot Search and Destroy is nowhere near the top level
available. Moreover, no anti-spyware program is anywhere near perfect,
and you should have at least two or three good ones installed for real
protection. I recommend that you add the MalwareBytes program and also
SuperAntiSpyware. If you want still more (it wouldn't hurt), add
Spyware Blaster and Adaware.



> Drives
> my mother mad when she's trying to use a site like ebay or amazon and each
> page takes ages to load. If more than 3 or 4 tabs/windows are open when
> using the internet it tends to freeze up almost completely until you close
> some.
> It's not only using the internet that's slow, just the examples that come to
> mind.
>
> With these specs it should be running quite well, so I don't know what to do
> next apart from trying a reinstallation.....



If I'm right that you are infected with spyware, reinstalling will fix
the problem, but not for long. You will very likely quickly repeat the
behavior that led to the infection and find yourself back where you
started.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

Ken

I use AVG 8.0 and Spybot S & D with Windows Defender. Host file and
Windows Firewall . No problems.

An interesting link:
http://snipurl.com/9nmqt [www_av-comparatives_org]

I agree malware is always a possibility. I have been watching the
results achieved by Malwarebytes ( freeware version available )and it
does seem to achieve good results in difficult situations. I did not
know about it's potential when I encountered a nasty mess on a
colleagues computer in November. If I had I think I would liked to have
seen what it could do.

However, I do not think UyV has ruled out non-malware causes either.

--



Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
> On Thu, 8 Jan 2009 14:01:25 -0800, UYV <(E-Mail Removed)>
> wrote:
>
>> "Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:
>>
>>> So my recommendation is that you do *not* do this, but instead
>>> describe your problems and your environment here, giving us to the
>>> chance to help you and fix the problems without reinstallation.
>>
>> Ok, here goes:
>>
>> I have XP Pro, and the computer is a several-years-old Emachines 380
>> but a) it was probably modified when we got it and b) we've had the
>> motherboard replaced since. Not sure what it is now but I can find
>> out if you need to know.
>> Other info: 20GB free space (out of 60GB), 2.2GHz, 1GB RAM, basic
>> onboard graphics etc.
>>
>> For anti-virus stuff I run AVG Free 8, Spybot S&D and the normal
>> Windows firewall. Could be better I suppose but I'm pretty sure I
>> don't have a virus and getting bogged down in these programs could
>> be just as bad at the moment.
>>
>> So far I've tried all the normal stuff - defragged, run CCleaner,
>> bought more RAM, freed up hard drive space, cut down the startup
>> programs, even used a little Microsoft tool called PageDefrag...
>> Can't think of anything else right now.
>>
>> I don't just mean I'm trying to tweak the speed, it's really slow.
>
>
> I can't be sure of course, but my guess is that you're infected with
> malware. That's the most common reason for slowness these days.
>
> You say above that you run "AVG Free 8, Spybot S&D." AVG is not one of
> the best anti-virus choices, but it's far from the worst either. I
> would recommend that instead you get NOD32 if you are willing to pay
> for an anti-virus or Avast or Avira if you want a free one.
>
> But AVG is good enough that I doubt that you're infected with a virus.
> But I do think it's considerably more likely that you are infected
> with spyware. Spybot Search and Destroy is nowhere near the top level
> available. Moreover, no anti-spyware program is anywhere near perfect,
> and you should have at least two or three good ones installed for real
> protection. I recommend that you add the MalwareBytes program and also
> SuperAntiSpyware. If you want still more (it wouldn't hurt), add
> Spyware Blaster and Adaware.
>
>
>
>> Drives
>> my mother mad when she's trying to use a site like ebay or amazon
>> and each page takes ages to load. If more than 3 or 4 tabs/windows
>> are open when using the internet it tends to freeze up almost
>> completely until you close some.
>> It's not only using the internet that's slow, just the examples that
>> come to mind.
>>
>> With these specs it should be running quite well, so I don't know
>> what to do next apart from trying a reinstallation.....
>
>
>
> If I'm right that you are infected with spyware, reinstalling will fix
> the problem, but not for long. You will very likely quickly repeat the
> behavior that led to the infection and find yourself back where you
> started.

"Gerry" wrote:

> UYV
>
> Are there any yellow question marks in Device Manager? Right click on
> the My Computer icon on your Desktop and select Properties,
> Hardware,Device Manager. If yes what is the Device Error code?

Nope.

> Select Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System
> Information. Open Components under System Summary and click on Problem
> Devices. Is anything listed there?

Nope.

> What is the Current Transfer Mode for your hard drives?
> http://www.helpwithwindows.com/WindowsXP/howto-05.html

DMA if available. Exactly like the second screenshot in that link but
without "Multi-Word DMA Mode 1", which is blank.

> Have a look in the System and Application logs in Event Viewer for
> Errors and Warnings
> and post copies here. Don't post any more than 48
> hours ago.

Application: None recent.
Security: None.
Internet Explorer: None.
System:

Event Type: Error
Event Source: ipnathlp
Event Category: None
Event ID: 30013
Date: 09/01/2009
Time: 12:42:25
User: N/A
Computer: YISHIAH
Description:
The DHCP allocator has disabled itself on IP address 10.0.0.4, since the IP
address is outside the 192.168.0.0/255.255.255.0 scope from which addresses
are being allocated to DHCP clients. To enable the DHCP allocator on this IP
address, please change the scope to include the IP address, or change the IP
address to fall within the scope.
___________________________

Event Type: Error
Event Source: DCOM
Event Category: None
Event ID: 10010
Date: 09/01/2009
Time: 12:42:25
User: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
Computer: YISHIAH
Description:
The server {204810B9-73B2-11D4-BF42-00B0D0118B56} did not register with DCOM
within the required timeout.
__________________________

Event Type: Error
Event Source: Service Control Manager
Event Category: None
Event ID: 7000
Date: 09/01/2009
Time: 12:41:18
User: N/A
Computer: YISHIAH
Description:
The Icatch(IV) Video Camera Device service failed to start due to the
following error:
The service cannot be started, either because it is disabled or because it
has no enabled devices associated with it.
______________________

Event Type: Warning
Event Source: BROWSER
Event Category: None
Event ID: 8021
Date: 08/01/2009
Time: 14:07:07
User: N/A
Computer: YISHIAH
Description:
The browser was unable to retrieve a list of servers from the browser master
\\UYVLAPTOP on the network \Device\NwlnkNb. The data is the error code.
Data:
0000: 35 00 00 00 5...
________________________

Event Type: Warning
Event Source: BROWSER
Event Category: None
Event ID: 8021
Date: 08/01/2009
Time: 14:05:36
User: N/A
Computer: YISHIAH
Description:
The browser was unable to retrieve a list of servers from the browser master
\\UYVLAPTOP on the network
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{E1A1CBE8-2E77-49DD-AC69-E0BCD49BB37B}. The data is the
error code.
Data:
0000: 35 00 00 00 5...
______________________

Event Type: Error
Event Source: ipnathlp
Event Category: None
Event ID: 30013
Date: 08/01/2009
Time: 13:41:09
User: N/A
Computer: YISHIAH
Description:
The DHCP allocator has disabled itself on IP address 10.0.0.4, since the IP
address is outside the 192.168.0.0/255.255.255.0 scope from which addresses
are being allocated to DHCP clients. To enable the DHCP allocator on this IP
address, please change the scope to include the IP address, or change the IP
address to fall within the scope.
_____________________

Event Type: Error
Event Source: DCOM
Event Category: None
Event ID: 10010
Date: 08/01/2009
Time: 13:41:09
User: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
Computer: YISHIAH
Description:
The server {204810B9-73B2-11D4-BF42-00B0D0118B56} did not register with DCOM
within the required timeout.
_____________________

Event Type: Error
Event Source: Service Control Manager
Event Category: None
Event ID: 7000
Date: 08/01/2009
Time: 13:40:31
User: N/A
Computer: YISHIAH
Description:
The Icatch(IV) Video Camera Device service failed to start due to the
following error:
The service cannot be started, either because it is disabled or because it
has no enabled devices associated with it.
___________________________

I've left out some warnings about the clock, or the printer running out of
ink!
The computer (YISHIAH) is on a network with UYVLAPTOP which I've had some
unconnected troubles with, so that might be some of these.
I don't know what the Icatch thing is because there's no webcam or anything.

Ken, I tried MalwareBytes and did a full scan. It took over 2 and a half
hours, is that normal? It only came up with one dodgy registry key though.

UYV


Try HD Tune it only gives information and does not fix any
problems.

Download and run it and see what it turns up. You want HD Tune
(freeware) version 2.55 not HD Tune Pro (not Freeware) version 3.00.
http://www.hdtune.com/

Select the Info tabs and place the cursor on the drive under Drive
letter and then double click the two page icon ( copy to Clipboard )
and copy into a further message.

Select the Health tab and then double click the two page icon ( copy to
Clipboard ) and copy into a further message.

What type of internet connection do you have?

Try Ctrl+Alt+Delete to select Task Manager and click the Performance
Tab. Under Commit Charge what is the Total, the Limit and the Peak?

You should be able to gather more information from Task Manager. With
the Processes tab open select View, Select, Columns and check the boxes
before Peak Memory Usage and Virtual Memory size. What are the figures
for the 6 processes using the largest amounts?

Do you leave your computer on 24/7?

I would be interested in seeing a Disk Defragmenter report . Open Disk
Defragmenter and click on Analyse. Select View Report and click on Save
As and Save. Now find VolumeC.txt in your My Documents Folder and post a
copy. Do this before running Disk Defragmenter as it is more
informative.

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



UYV wrote:
> "Gerry" wrote:
>
>> UYV
>>
>> Are there any yellow question marks in Device Manager? Right click on
>> the My Computer icon on your Desktop and select Properties,
>> Hardware,Device Manager. If yes what is the Device Error code?
>
> Nope.
>
>> Select Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System
>> Information. Open Components under System Summary and click on
>> Problem Devices. Is anything listed there?
>
> Nope.
>
>> What is the Current Transfer Mode for your hard drives?
>> http://www.helpwithwindows.com/WindowsXP/howto-05.html
>
> DMA if available. Exactly like the second screenshot in that link but
> without "Multi-Word DMA Mode 1", which is blank.
>
>> Have a look in the System and Application logs in Event Viewer for
>> Errors and Warnings
>> and post copies here. Don't post any more than 48
>> hours ago.
>
> Application: None recent.
> Security: None.
> Internet Explorer: None.
> System:
>
> Event Type: Error
> Event Source: ipnathlp
> Event Category: None
> Event ID: 30013
> Date: 09/01/2009
> Time: 12:42:25
> User: N/A
> Computer: YISHIAH
> Description:
> The DHCP allocator has disabled itself on IP address 10.0.0.4, since
> the IP address is outside the 192.168.0.0/255.255.255.0 scope from
> which addresses are being allocated to DHCP clients. To enable the
> DHCP allocator on this IP address, please change the scope to include
> the IP address, or change the IP address to fall within the scope.
> ___________________________
>
> Event Type: Error
> Event Source: DCOM
> Event Category: None
> Event ID: 10010
> Date: 09/01/2009
> Time: 12:42:25
> User: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
> Computer: YISHIAH
> Description:
> The server {204810B9-73B2-11D4-BF42-00B0D0118B56} did not register
> with DCOM within the required timeout.
> __________________________
>
> Event Type: Error
> Event Source: Service Control Manager
> Event Category: None
> Event ID: 7000
> Date: 09/01/2009
> Time: 12:41:18
> User: N/A
> Computer: YISHIAH
> Description:
> The Icatch(IV) Video Camera Device service failed to start due to the
> following error:
> The service cannot be started, either because it is disabled or
> because it has no enabled devices associated with it.
> ______________________
>
> Event Type: Warning
> Event Source: BROWSER
> Event Category: None
> Event ID: 8021
> Date: 08/01/2009
> Time: 14:07:07
> User: N/A
> Computer: YISHIAH
> Description:
> The browser was unable to retrieve a list of servers from the browser
> master \\UYVLAPTOP on the network \Device\NwlnkNb. The data is the
> error code. Data:
> 0000: 35 00 00 00 5...
> ________________________
>
> Event Type: Warning
> Event Source: BROWSER
> Event Category: None
> Event ID: 8021
> Date: 08/01/2009
> Time: 14:05:36
> User: N/A
> Computer: YISHIAH
> Description:
> The browser was unable to retrieve a list of servers from the browser
> master \\UYVLAPTOP on the network
> \Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{E1A1CBE8-2E77-49DD-AC69-E0BCD49BB37B}. The data
> is the error code.
> Data:
> 0000: 35 00 00 00 5...
> ______________________
>
> Event Type: Error
> Event Source: ipnathlp
> Event Category: None
> Event ID: 30013
> Date: 08/01/2009
> Time: 13:41:09
> User: N/A
> Computer: YISHIAH
> Description:
> The DHCP allocator has disabled itself on IP address 10.0.0.4, since
> the IP address is outside the 192.168.0.0/255.255.255.0 scope from
> which addresses are being allocated to DHCP clients. To enable the
> DHCP allocator on this IP address, please change the scope to include
> the IP address, or change the IP address to fall within the scope.
> _____________________
>
> Event Type: Error
> Event Source: DCOM
> Event Category: None
> Event ID: 10010
> Date: 08/01/2009
> Time: 13:41:09
> User: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
> Computer: YISHIAH
> Description:
> The server {204810B9-73B2-11D4-BF42-00B0D0118B56} did not register
> with DCOM within the required timeout.
> _____________________
>
> Event Type: Error
> Event Source: Service Control Manager
> Event Category: None
> Event ID: 7000
> Date: 08/01/2009
> Time: 13:40:31
> User: N/A
> Computer: YISHIAH
> Description:
> The Icatch(IV) Video Camera Device service failed to start due to the
> following error:
> The service cannot be started, either because it is disabled or
> because it has no enabled devices associated with it.
> ___________________________
>
> I've left out some warnings about the clock, or the printer running
> out of ink!
> The computer (YISHIAH) is on a network with UYVLAPTOP which I've had
> some unconnected troubles with, so that might be some of these.
> I don't know what the Icatch thing is because there's no webcam or
> anything.
>
> Ken, I tried MalwareBytes and did a full scan. It took over 2 and a
> half hours, is that normal? It only came up with one dodgy registry
> key though.

UYV wrote:
> "Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:
>
>> So my recommendation is that you do *not* do this, but instead
>> describe your problems and your environment here, giving us to the
>> chance to help you and fix the problems without reinstallation.
>
> Ok, here goes:
>
> I have XP Pro, and the computer is a several-years-old Emachines 380 but a)
> it was probably modified when we got it and b) we've had the motherboard
> replaced since. Not sure what it is now but I can find out if you need to
> know.
> Other info: 20GB free space (out of 60GB), 2.2GHz, 1GB RAM, basic onboard
> graphics etc.
>
> For anti-virus stuff I run AVG Free 8, Spybot S&D and the normal Windows
> firewall. Could be better I suppose but I'm pretty sure I don't have a virus
> and getting bogged down in these programs could be just as bad at the moment.
>
> So far I've tried all the normal stuff - defragged, run CCleaner, bought
> more RAM, freed up hard drive space, cut down the startup programs, even used
> a little Microsoft tool called PageDefrag... Can't think of anything else
> right now.
>
> I don't just mean I'm trying to tweak the speed, it's really slow. Drives
> my mother mad when she's trying to use a site like ebay or amazon and each
> page takes ages to load. If more than 3 or 4 tabs/windows are open when
> using the internet it tends to freeze up almost completely until you close
> some.
> It's not only using the internet that's slow, just the examples that come to
> mind.
>
> With these specs it should be running quite well, so I don't know what to do
> next apart from trying a reinstallation.....
>
The short answer is that if you don't have the XP installation CD, and
you don't have an restorable image of the original installation, you
can't reinstall the OS unless you purchase the installation CD.

--

-=Robert Schiele=-
((E-Mail Removed), msn: (E-Mail Removed), aim:
(E-Mail Removed), yahoo: (E-Mail Removed), ICQ: 370663481)

"UYV" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:0BE88A23-4A50-4B80-9D96-(E-Mail Removed)...
> "Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:
>
>> So my recommendation is that you do *not* do this, but instead
>> describe your problems and your environment here, giving us to the
>> chance to help you and fix the problems without reinstallation.
>
> Ok, here goes:
>
> I have XP Pro, and the computer is a several-years-old Emachines 380 but
> a)
> it was probably modified when we got it and b) we've had the motherboard
> replaced since. Not sure what it is now but I can find out if you need to
> know.
> Other info: 20GB free space (out of 60GB), 2.2GHz, 1GB RAM, basic onboard
> graphics etc.
>
> For anti-virus stuff I run AVG Free 8, Spybot S&D and the normal Windows
> firewall. Could be better I suppose but I'm pretty sure I don't have a
> virus
> and getting bogged down in these programs could be just as bad at the
> moment.
>
> So far I've tried all the normal stuff - defragged, run CCleaner, bought
> more RAM, freed up hard drive space, cut down the startup programs, even
> used
> a little Microsoft tool called PageDefrag... Can't think of anything else
> right now.
>
> I don't just mean I'm trying to tweak the speed, it's really slow. Drives
> my mother mad when she's trying to use a site like ebay or amazon and each
> page takes ages to load. If more than 3 or 4 tabs/windows are open when
> using the internet it tends to freeze up almost completely until you close
> some.
> It's not only using the internet that's slow, just the examples that come
> to
> mind.
>
> With these specs it should be running quite well, so I don't know what to
> do
> next apart from trying a reinstallation.....
>


Uninstall AVG free version and install Avast or Avira instead.

AVG cripples Internet performance..


--
Mike Hall - MVP
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