computer very very slow

[StressMonkey]

I have a couple new laptops to set up. They are Lenovo 3000 C100 with
Windows XP and Office 2003 preinstalled. When I started them up, the first
thing I did was install the antivirus. But to even get to that point took a
terribly long time. Now I know I can be impatient sometimes but is it
supposed to take a couple hours for the computer to boot up? On one I have
the antivirus all configured the way I want so that I can go get Windows
updates. Can't do it. It's not going anywhere. What could I have done
wrong? I can give more information if need be.

 

[JoeSpareBedroom]

I have a couple new laptops to set up. They are Lenovo 3000 C100 with
Windows XP and Office 2003 preinstalled. When I started them up, the first
thing I did was install the antivirus. But to even get to that point took
a terribly long time. Now I know I can be impatient sometimes but is it
supposed to take a couple hours for the computer to boot up? On one I have
the antivirus all configured the way I want so that I can go get Windows
updates. Can't do it. It's not going anywhere. What could I have done
wrong? I can give more information if need be.

A couple of hours to boot up??? That's insane. More info needed:

1) What is the brand of antivirus software you're using? If "Norton", which
product?

2) Are you running a firewall? If yes, is it the one supplied with service
pack 2, or a different one?

3) In addition to the AV software, have you scanned the machines using
either Spybot or Adaware?

4) Have you tried starting these machines with your internet connection
unplugged?

While you're waiting for answers, I'd suggest you go here:
www.securitytango.com

Read the brief intro, then click "Let's Dance", on the left side of the
page. Follow ***all*** the instructions, even if you think they don't apply
to you.

 

[StressMonkey]

It hasn't even been on the internet yet. They are brand new out of the box
from our supplier this week. Using etrust antivirus. One has google
desktop installed and running. We get our computers from CDW. It would
take an hour to find out about the firewall but there is no internet
connection yet anyway.

 

[JoeSpareBedroom]

My next step would be to scream at the manufacturer. If just one machine was
having this problem, it would be interesting. But both? There's obviously
something in common. And, when all this is fixed, you will immediately
UNINSTALL google desktop and never think about using it again. Major privacy
issues, and I don't care what ANYONE says about this.

 

[StressMonkey]

Actually it's 3. I don't even want to try the 4th one.

 

[JoeSpareBedroom]

Why are you here, then? Logically, the best assumption is that they are all
having the same problem. Is there anything you've done to ALL of the
machines since receiving them? And, about the 4th, have you even started it
for the first time?

 

[StressMonkey]

I took them out of the box and turned them on. Haven't had a chance to do
anything to them. Just got off the phone with support and he had me disable
all start up and services except for microsoft. The first one works fine
now. I just need to get one of the other recently done ones and duplicate
the services. I'm doing all my updates first and setting up the user's
programs before I start adding things back in. This was very frustrating
because I know a lot of the stuff I stopped was unneeded.

 

[JoeSpareBedroom]

This is why some companies immediately reformat & reinstall the OS - to get
rid of all the crap the machines come with when new. If you buy enough, you
can sometimes custom order them this way.