My computer is operating slow and sluggish...

[LJSNYC]

I've noticed lately that my computer is slow and sluggish.

What can I do to increase the functionality of my system?

Please let me know.

Thank you!

 

[philo]

I've noticed lately that my computer is slow and sluggish.

What can I do to increase the functionality of my system?

Please let me know.

Thank you!

Plenty of tweaks:

Run disk cleanup

Run your virus checker and spyware checker.

Go into the control panel and adjust machine for best performance.

Run defrag.


Run msconfig and take unneeded apps out of startup

 

[LJSNYC]

Thanks!

What is disk clean up?

Is there a free virus checker out there worthwhile? What about a great
spyware checker?

Finally, what should I adjust in control panel? (I'm not in the know.)

Please let me know.

Thank you again!

 

[Mike Hall - MVP]

Thanks!

What is disk clean up?

Is there a free virus checker out there worthwhile? What about a great
spyware checker?

Finally, what should I adjust in control panel? (I'm not in the know.)

Please let me know.

Thank you again!

Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Cleanup

It removes junk files from your hard drive..

Avast or Avira are both good free anti-virus programs..

www.avast.com www.avira.com

For anti-spyware, do a Google search on Windows Defender, and then go
through the install process..

Also go to

www.malwarebytes.org

and download the free Malwarebytes utility. This has to be run manually
unless you go for the paid version.

Also go to

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/

and download and install SpyBot S&D..

To learn how to use Spybot, go to here..

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial43.html



--
Mike Hall - MVP
How to construct a good post..
http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
How to use the Microsoft Product Support Newsgroups..
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=newswhelp&style=toc
Mike's Window - My Blog..
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/default.aspx

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I've noticed lately that my computer is slow and sluggish.

What can I do to increase the functionality of my system?

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.

 

[Mick Murphy]

Avast is a good, free Anti-virus. but, only have one AV installed on your
computer.
And here are 2 very good Anti-Spyware/Anti-Malware Programs to use.

http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html

Avast Anti-Virus is XP and Vista compatible (32bit and 64bit Versions),
FREE, auto-updating, and a low resources user of your computer.
And, only have 1(one) Anti-Virus installed / running on your computer at any
one time..
Conflicts may occur if you have more than 1(one).

http://www.spybot.info/en/index.html

Spybot Search & Destroy 1.6 is a very good, FREE Anti-Spyware Program.
Download, install, update, and immunize your System with it.
Then SCAN with it.
Update it, and scan your System once a fortnight.

http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php

Malwarebytes is as the name says, a Malware Remover!
For the Free version scroll down their page to either download from
Download.com, or Major Geeks.com

Download, install, and update.

Important re: Safe Mode
If you happen to find a problem that you can’t uninstall / delete, reboot
the computer, and go into Safe Mode.
To get into Safe mode, tap F8 right at Power On / Startup, and use UP arrow
key to get to Safe Mode from list of options, then hit ENTER.
RESCAN your computer with your Anti-Virus, Malwarebytes and Spybot S & D
while in Safe Mode.

 

[philo]

Thanks!

What is disk clean up?

Is there a free virus checker out there worthwhile? What about a great
spyware checker?

Finally, what should I adjust in control panel? (I'm not in the know.)

Please let me know.

Thank you again!

Control panel
system
advanced
settings
visual effects (set for best performance)

(the other folks have answered all the rest of your questions)

 

[Kayman]

I've noticed lately that my computer is slow and sluggish.
What can I do to increase the functionality of my system?
Please let me know.

Restore Your Computer's Performance with WindowsXP.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/expert/northrup_restoreperf.mspx

Help! My Computer is slow!
http://miekiemoes.blogspot.com/2008/02/help-my-computer-is-slow.html

Good luck