Fresh install - but very slow...

[Guest]

I recently changed my broadband ISP and decided to do a completle fresh
install during the 10 days my line was 'being tested for optimum speed'
before being set at an appropriate level, and now my PC has turned in to a
sloth.

It's a homebuilt P4 2.8E with 2Gig RAM and two SATA drives and, although I
know this isn't anywhere near a true gauge of speed, the blue progress bar
crosses the screen at least 11 times now when it used to take only 4-5 before
the login screen appears. I've changed nothing other than the graphics card.

Originally I thought it may have been related to the new ISP, but this is
likely to have been coincidental - I came back from holiday the (expected)
changeover had taken place, but the connection was running really slow. As I
hadn't done any housework for a while, I thought a fresh install would help,
but if anything it's slower than before.

Another symptom seems to be internet explorer related, in that when
connected to the web clicking on a link often leads to a 'Page not found'
error, sometimes resolved by several clicks of the refresh button.

The only software installed was legitimate, registered and activated
Microsoft programs and hardware drivers, and no problems are apparent in
Device Manager. The soundcard is a Soundblaster Audigy 2 and the graphics
is a Gigabyte GeForce 7600GS. The USB hardware includes a Netgear DG834N,
Epson R300 and Brother HL-1440 printer, a Canon LiDe 80 scanner.

I also run Norton antivirus 2007.

Any suggestions - including a reinstall if necessary - would be appreciated,
thank you.

 

[Guest]

Hi,

iF the blue progress bar is seen for a long time on the screen that means
you have problems with the hard disk. The best choice will be to take the
hard disk to the vendor from where you purchased it and then check it for
faults.

Do not attempt to tweak the settings in Windows as there is nothing that can
be done now.

 

[Gerry Cornell]

Both Norton and McAfee are infamous for creating performance issues
on computers. You might consider AVG. A change definitely helps with
your system performance. Lower overheads.
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/FAQ

You may find the attached link interesting reading:
http://www.thepcspy.com/articles/other/what_really_slows_windows_down/5



--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Guest]

Thanks Gerry, that makes quite interesting reading! Are you aware of similar
speed problems with Kasparsky antivirus? I've looked at the ratings for AVG,
but it seems only 85% effective.

Thank you,

Pete

 

[Guest]

Thanks for that. It was working OK before the fresh install, but I know how
these things can suddenly start to fail from bitter experience! I'll get it
checked out.

Pete

 

[Mike Hall - MS MVP Windows Shell/User]

AVG free is very good.. wouldn't use anything else..

 

[Gerry Cornell]

Pete

You need to take all so called ratings with a pinch of salt. I used Norton
and changed
to AVG and noticed a significant improvement in system performance.

I have only once been hit by a virus. This was when using Norton but it was
caused
by me relaxing my guard and not an anti-virus programme failure. It is
important to
emphasise that any user needs to have an effective firewall and take
anti-spyware
measures. My machine is kept up to date with Windows XP Security update and
incoming email filtered and unknown mail blocked.

As I said Norton and McAfee are infamous for creating poor system
performance.
Whilst the anti-virus components cause problems it is the related utilities
which
are the real killers e.g. Norton Internet Security.


--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
..

 

[Guest]

Thanks, Gerry, annd it does. I'm using a Netgear wireless router/moden woth
built-in firewall and my ISP e-mail traffic is filtered through an online
filtering system, so I'm pretty well covered (at least according to the
Symatec Security website)

I'll d/l the trial versions of both (after removing NAV!) and see how I get
on.

Thanks for all your advice,

Pete

 

[Guest]

Thanks, Mike. I'll d/l them both and see how they fare.

Regards,

Pete

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Thanks, Mike. I'll d/l them both and see how they fare.

If you want to compare different free anti-virus products, you might want to
add Avast to the mix. I run it on all my machines here, and I'm happy with
it.

 

[Guest]

Just would like to say that I have had to do a fresh install of Windows XP
Professional this week on my laptop. I have re-installed AVG Free Edition,
which I have been using on my machines for the past 2 years.

However, strangely enough, my laptop is also running much slower than
before, plus I also have the same problem with having to refresh web pages to
view them. Prior to the fresh install the laptop was quite speedy with
software aplications and with surfing.

I don't think that the choice of anti-virus software is the solution to the
"slow" problem which both Nightowl and I are expereincing after the fresh
install.

By the way, part of my job is trouble-shooting PCs, so as soon as I have a
solution I will post it here.