Slow booting and opening programs

  • Thread starter Thread starter Robert
  • Start date Start date
R

Robert

Running XP Home on Dell Dimension 4100, 256MB RAM, 30 GB
HD.
Over the past month or so, my computer operations have
gotten progressively slower. Now, it can take as much as
10 or 15 minutes to reboot (both shutdown and boot are
like molasses) and 2 or 3 minutes to open browser or some
programs.
I have run complete virus scans with updated virus
definitions and have taken out all files indicated as
spyware by Ad-aware with most current updates.. None of
this seems to help.
Can't identify any unusual startup items in msconfig, but
Windows Task Manager seems to have an awfully lot
of "Processes" running, but I don't know whether any are
unnecessary or not.
Have plenty of unused RAM and free memory.
When I have this problem, the hard drive runs constantly
for a long time until the program window finally opens.
Once a program or browser is open, however, for the most
part everything in the program or opening new browser
pages runs normally.

Any helpful suggestions?
 
I had the same problem. It only happened when I
installed new video drivers though. Not sure why that
would cause it to do that, but I just put my old video
drivers back on and it worked fine.
 
Do you have a Logitech keyboard or mouse? Or do you have CD-ROM software installed? If so uninstall both.

If that doesn't work try new RAM
 
Dudes,

Did you defragment your HD? if not you should try to
download Diskeeper 7.0 or version 8.0. They both work way
faster then the microsoft version.

Homer J. Simpson
 
Robert

I would look in Event Viewer at the logged errors.

1. To open Event Viewer, click Start, click Control Panel, double-click Administrative Tools, double-click Event Viewer and select System for system errors or Application for application errors. Look for Error in the Type column and double click on Error to reveal a Description of the error. This can be copied by using Clipboard Viewer (see later).

2. Part of the Description of the error will include a link, which you should double click for further information and you can copy using copy and paste.
http://go.microsoft.com/fw.link/events.asp
(Please note the hyperlink above is for illustration purposes only)

3. For some errors you will find "+ Related Knowledge Base Article", which if double clicked takes you to the Knowledge Base Article containing a suggested solution.

There always seems to be a step 2 but not always a step 3.

A tip for posting copies of Error Reports (Step 1). Run Event Viewer and double click on the error you want to copy. In the window which appears is a button resembling two pages. Double click the button and close Event Viewer. Now start your message ( email )and do a paste into the body of the message. This will paste the info from the Event Viewer Error Report complete with links into the message. Make sure this is the first paste after exiting from Event Viewer. It can be helpful to place a shortcut to Event Viewer on your Desktop.

Check your position regarding the following issue.

You May Experience Performance Issues After You Install the 811493 (MS03-013) Package on Your Windows XP SP1-Based Computer
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;819634

The original 811493 has been replaced with a revised version. On May 28, 2003, Microsoft released a revised version of the 811493 security update for Windows XP SP1 to address this problem. Remove the old one and replace with the new one. You can remove through Add / Remove Programs -Start, Control Panel.

Download Adaware from http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/ and use it to remove parasites.

How good is your housekeeping?

1. In Outlook Express empty your Deleted Items folder.

2. In Outlook Express run File, Folder, Compact All whilst OFFLINE.

3. Run Disk Cleanup. Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk Cleanup.

4. Run Disk Defragmenter.



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Hope this helps.

Gerry
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FCA
(e-mail address removed)
Stourport, Worcs, England
Enquire, plan and execute.
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