Slow computer

[Gord]

Just wondering if anyone out there would like to help me speed up my
computer. It is slower than the 2nd coming and hangs p on programs.

 

[Unknown]

Do the normal things. Run disk cleanup, defrag, and then shut down virus
programs. How much memory does your system have?

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Just wondering if anyone out there would like to help me speed up my
computer. It is slower than the 2nd coming and hangs p on programs.

If you're looking for help, you need to begin by giving us some
information. Your message above tells us next to nothing, and any
"help" you get from someone based on so little information is nothing
but an outright guess.

1. Describe the hardware configuration of the computer.

2. Have you always had the problem on this computer or is it new? If
new, when did it start, and what did you do it before it started.

3. What does "hangs p on programs" mean. Describe the symptoms
exactly, and if you get an error message, post its exact verbatim
text. What applications does it do this on? Do is do it whenever they
start or after some time? If the latter, what are you doing with the
applications when the problem starts? Does it do it on all programs or
only some? If the latter, tell us which ones.

4. Describe the speed problem clearly. What does "slow" mean? It is
slow when doing what things? How slow? Don't tell us about the "2nd
coming," but put an approximate number on its speed for each thing it
does slowly.

5. What security software do you run? Tell us the names of your
firewall, and anti-virus and anti-spyware programs. Do you update each
of them regularly?

6. What programs do you have start automatically with Windows? Post
the complete list.

7. What applications do you run? Is it slow while running each of them
or only some of them?

 

[JS]

#1: A process that's loading down your CPU:
It could be a sub-process or application that's running in the background
and taking all the CPU resources, which could be the cause of your PC
running slow.
To find and display what could be the problem try Process Explorer:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/SystemInformation/ProcessExplorer.mspx

Note: Once you have Process Explorer installed and running:
In the taskbar select View and check 'Show Process Tree' and
'Show Lower Pane' options.
Then expand the process named 'Explorer' (click on the + sign)
In the column on the left named 'CPU', look for any high CPU usage.
Next click on the CPU column to sort the processes by %CPU usage
(Highest to Lowest).
Move the mouse cursor over any process, you should see a popup with some
detailed info.
Then mouse over the process that's using most or all the CPU %.
Then click on that process to highlight it,
Now that it's highlighted, right click and from the options listed select:
'Search Online'
This should display what out there on the web about that process.
You can also double click on any process to open up a more detailed
'Properties' window.
Note: some entries like Explorer, System/Services, and
Svchost entries may need to be expanded to show the detail (sub processes),
in this case click on the + located to the left of the entry.

An alternate method using Process Explorer is to double click
on the Graph just below the Menu bar.
This will open the 'System Information' window, which has a larger display
of all three graphs.
Move your mouse over any spike in the CPU Usage graph to see what
process/application or service was the cause of the spike.

#2: Stuff that loads during boot or logon and then is always running in the
background:
If you want to list and explore what may be the cause then:
Try Autoruns from the MS Windows SysInternals site:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/ProcessesAndThreads/Autoruns.mspx

AutoRuns will show/list all apps/etc. that load/run when you first boot
(Boot Execute tab),
when you logon (Logon tab) and other programs that load
(grouped by labeled tabs) for easy viewing.
It also provides the ability to selectively allows you to stop any program
(use with care) that you don't want to load.
You can undo any changes you have made.
Note: To get additional details on an item in the list you may need to
highlight the item (right click) and use the 'Search Online' option to get
the details, especially useful for the more obscure items in the list.

#3: Viruses
Viruses and malware can also cause your PC to slowdown or malfunction.
Malke has an excellent set of instructions on what to do:
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

#4: To much crap on the hard drive:
Take a look at CCleaner as a tool to remove Internet history info,
cookies, temp files, auto complete and other junk.
Note that when CCleaner is first installed most if not all the options
are checked which is far too aggressive. So I recommend unchecking
all the items listed in 'Applications' tab and in the 'Windows' tab
selectively place a check mark for only those options that are of some
value in increasing the amount of free space on your PC.

The 'Analyze' button allows you preview what and how much
hard drive space you will get back.

Also available is customization, see Options/Custom to add any
other/additional folders you want files deleted from.

http://www.ccleaner.com/

#5: Defragment your hard drive.

JS
http://www.pagestart.com

 

[db.·.. >]

the first step you
should take is a
simple one.

boot into safemode
and see if there is
a notable improvement
in performance.

if so, then the solution
is at your finger tips.