Very slow response after period of non-use

[Guest]

I have a computer with XP home edition which is used as a server for some
infrequently used home control routines (they present a very low demand on
the computer) and is always running. When I first try to use the computer
after a period of inactivity, everything is extremely slow. For example,
merely bringing one window to the front over another window might take 15
seconds. After 30 seconds or so everything runs at pretty much normal speed.
I have my power options set so the hard disk is never powered down,
hibernation is disabled, and anything else like a sleep mode is dsiabled that
I know about.

I do have Norton Internet Security, but I do on other compueters as well,
but they are not nearly as slow on returning to activity.

Any suggestions?

 

[PopS]

message
:I have a computer with XP home edition which is used as a server
for some
: infrequently used home control routines (they present a very
low demand on
: the computer) and is always running. When I first try to use
the computer
: after a period of inactivity, everything is extremely slow. For
example,
: merely bringing one window to the front over another window
might take 15
: seconds. After 30 seconds or so everything runs at pretty much
normal speed.
: I have my power options set so the hard disk is never powered
down,
: hibernation is disabled, and anything else like a sleep mode is
dsiabled that
: I know about.
:
: I do have Norton Internet Security, but I do on other
compueters as well,
: but they are not nearly as slow on returning to activity.
:
: Any suggestions?

Is there any disk activity while the computer is just sitting
there and before you do anything? It sounds like you might have
background antivirus or defrag or something like that running
that has to reach a logical "let go" point before you can have
all the processing power back.
What might be running when the computer is idle that isn't
obvious?

Pop

 

[Guest]

As far as I know nothing should be running that would occupy the hard drive.
This behavior occurs every time I go from inactivity of a few hours or so.
If Norton or MS was doing an update on my computer, that might explain the
behavior once in awhile, but not every time.

Are there ways of logging activity so I can see what is going on at any time
prior to my going active again? I will look into this, but do you have a
suggestion as to how to do that? When I look at task manager I really don't
know what many of the processes are that are running.

Thanks for your reply -