System slows down BIG TIME

[Guest]

This problem comes and goes. When it comes, however, the problem happens a
few times a day. I can't find the pattern except maybe Internet Explorer. The
programs slow to a crawl and I close each one as soon as the PC lets me. I
tried to find the Microsoft Knowledgebase (kb) article that sounded much like
the problem I'm having, but can't relocate it.

I've studied the KB articles and the problems don't apply to my situation. I
have Windows XP SP 2, I don't have the speech app running, and a few other
things. There's not enough information to narrow down the search. Strange
situation considering the problem stops for a while and then starts again,
and does it repeatedly.

Wish I could narrow down the problem and have more information. This is too
broad to find the right information. What factors should I look at to try to
narrow down the problem? Thanks.

Meryl

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

This problem comes and goes. When it comes, however, the problem happens a
few times a day. I can't find the pattern except maybe Internet Explorer. The
programs slow to a crawl and I close each one as soon as the PC lets me. I
tried to find the Microsoft Knowledgebase (kb) article that sounded much like
the problem I'm having, but can't relocate it.

I've studied the KB articles and the problems don't apply to my situation. I
have Windows XP SP 2, I don't have the speech app running, and a few other
things. There's not enough information to narrow down the search. Strange
situation considering the problem stops for a while and then starts again,
and does it repeatedly.

Wish I could narrow down the problem and have more information. This is too
broad to find the right information. What factors should I look at to try to
narrow down the problem? Thanks.

Meryl

Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc, click the "Processes" tab, then click the
"CPU" column header once or twice so that the most CPU
intensive processes float to the top. You can now see exactly
what's eating up your CPU time (and therefore slowing down
the PC).

 

[Larry Gardner]

Do you have Desktop Search installed?
Do you Indexer Service on?
Automatic Scanners?

Check your Control Panel | Scheduled Tasks and see if there are any entries?
Open msconfig and see what is running under Services Tab.

Indexer? Are you back doors open - Alerter? Messenger? Remote Registry?
TCP/IP Helper?

 

[MAP]

This problem comes and goes. When it comes, however, the problem
happens a few times a day. I can't find the pattern except maybe
Internet Explorer. The programs slow to a crawl and I close each one
as soon as the PC lets me. I tried to find the Microsoft
Knowledgebase (kb) article that sounded much like the problem I'm
having, but can't relocate it.

I've studied the KB articles and the problems don't apply to my
situation. I have Windows XP SP 2, I don't have the speech app
running, and a few other things. There's not enough information to
narrow down the search. Strange situation considering the problem
stops for a while and then starts again, and does it repeatedly.

Wish I could narrow down the problem and have more information. This
is too broad to find the right information. What factors should I
look at to try to narrow down the problem? Thanks.

Meryl

If IE is a common factor I suggest scanning for malware, this is a good
indication of some type of parasite.

Here are some tools to start off with.
http://www.ewido.net/en/
http://www.webroot.com/
http://www.lavasoft.de/software/adaware/

 

[Pennywise]

|>This problem comes and goes. When it comes, however, the problem happens a
|>few times a day. I can't find the pattern except maybe Internet Explorer. The
|>programs slow to a crawl and I close each one as soon as the PC lets me. I
|>tried to find the Microsoft Knowledgebase (kb) article that sounded much like
|>the problem I'm having, but can't relocate it.

As mention'd, but a better approach/program

download and run Process Explorer
http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/ProcessExplorer.html

Click on the CPU graph in the upper right; it keeps a history. Just
run your mouse above the graph to show what program is causing the
problem.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

|>This problem comes and goes. When it comes, however, the problem happens a
|>few times a day. I can't find the pattern except maybe Internet Explorer. The
|>programs slow to a crawl and I close each one as soon as the PC lets me. I
|>tried to find the Microsoft Knowledgebase (kb) article that sounded much like
|>the problem I'm having, but can't relocate it.

As mention'd, but a better approach/program

download and run Process Explorer
http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/ProcessExplorer.html

I like it!

 

[Guest]

Thank you all for your input. I should've mentioned this. I believe IE is
eating it up because that's the one that takes up all the CPU when the system
slows down.

I've already verified no spyware, adware, or badware.

No scheduled tasks.

No indexer.

Automatic scanners run at night when I am asleep.

No desktop search as I know those take up too much resources.

IMs, alerts, etc. None.

Hence, the mystery!

 

[Guest]

Thank you all for your input. I should've mentioned this. I believe IE is
eating it up because that's the one that takes up all the CPU when the system
slows down.

I've already verified no spyware, adware, or badware.

No scheduled tasks.

No indexer.

Automatic scanners run at night when I am asleep.

No desktop search as I know those take up too much resources.

IMs, alerts, etc. None.

Hence, the mystery!

I don't know if this is a related problem. My image icons in file explorer
(jpg and gif) appear in the default instead of the icon that shows up in File
Types. I've tried changing apps and icons and back... but they continue to
appear in a default icon. Also checked KB and nothing worked.

Thanks for any help.

Meryl
http://www.meryl.net/blog/

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Use Firefox instead of IE and see what happens!

Thank you all for your input. I should've mentioned this. I believe IE is
eating it up because that's the one that takes up all the CPU when the system
slows down.

I've already verified no spyware, adware, or badware.

No scheduled tasks.

No indexer.

Automatic scanners run at night when I am asleep.

No desktop search as I know those take up too much resources.

IMs, alerts, etc. None.

Hence, the mystery!

 

[Pennywise]

|>Thank you all for your input. I should've mentioned this. I believe IE is
|>eating it up because that's the one that takes up all the CPU when the system
|>slows down.

Went to the Dr. told him it hurts when I do this, he told me to stop
doing that.

The cure then would be easy as www.Opera.com or www.FireFox.com
IE is a POS anyhow.

 

[Guest]

I do use Firefox 90% of the time. I have a couple of businesses in which I
have to use IE to get the work done.

Another problem I've discovered is that File Explorer doesn't refresh itself
when I move or delete a file. I've tried this:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/823291/en-us and it didn't work. The fixes I
am finding are not working to solve these problems (slowed down system,
refresh, and image icons).

Meryl

 

[Pennywise]

|>I do use Firefox 90% of the time. I have a couple of businesses in which I
|>have to use IE to get the work done.
|>
|>Another problem I've discovered is that File Explorer doesn't refresh itself
|>when I move or delete a file. I've tried this:
|>http://support.microsoft.com/kb/823291/en-us and it didn't work. The fixes I
|>am finding are not working to solve these problems (slowed down system,
|>refresh, and image icons).

Might want to see if all of your system files are in order with SFC
http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html

 

[Guest]

|>I do use Firefox 90% of the time. I have a couple of businesses in which I
|>have to use IE to get the work done.
|>
|>Another problem I've discovered is that File Explorer doesn't refresh itself
|>when I move or delete a file. I've tried this:
|>http://support.microsoft.com/kb/823291/en-us and it didn't work. The fixes I
|>am finding are not working to solve these problems (slowed down system,
|>refresh, and image icons).

Might want to see if all of your system files are in order with SFC
http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html

Good idea. I had forgotten about that. One question (that the Web page
doesn't answer) -- it wants the Win XP SP2 CD. My CD is SP1. I upgraded to
SP2 online through Windows Update.

 

[Pennywise]

|>
|>"(e-mail address removed)" wrote:
|>
|>>
|>> |>I do use Firefox 90% of the time. I have a couple of businesses in which I
|>> |>have to use IE to get the work done.
|>> |>
|>> |>Another problem I've discovered is that File Explorer doesn't refresh itself
|>> |>when I move or delete a file. I've tried this:
|>> |>http://support.microsoft.com/kb/823291/en-us and it didn't work. The fixes I
|>> |>am finding are not working to solve these problems (slowed down system,
|>> |>refresh, and image icons).

|>> Might want to see if all of your system files are in order with SFC
|>> http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html

|>Good idea. I had forgotten about that. One question (that the Web page
|>doesn't answer) -- it wants the Win XP SP2 CD. My CD is SP1. I upgraded to
|>SP2 online through Windows Update.

It's a real mess then, you will need to obtain SP2
http://tinyurl.com/5bobl then slipstream your XP CD to SP2
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sp2_slipstream.asp

Then run SFC.

 

[Guest]

|>
|>"(e-mail address removed)" wrote:
|>
|>>
|>> |>I do use Firefox 90% of the time. I have a couple of businesses in which I
|>> |>have to use IE to get the work done.
|>> |>
|>> |>Another problem I've discovered is that File Explorer doesn't refresh itself
|>> |>when I move or delete a file. I've tried this:
|>> |>http://support.microsoft.com/kb/823291/en-us and it didn't work. The fixes I
|>> |>am finding are not working to solve these problems (slowed down system,
|>> |>refresh, and image icons).

|>> Might want to see if all of your system files are in order with SFC
|>> http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html

|>Good idea. I had forgotten about that. One question (that the Web page
|>doesn't answer) -- it wants the Win XP SP2 CD. My CD is SP1. I upgraded to
|>SP2 online through Windows Update.

It's a real mess then, you will need to obtain SP2
http://tinyurl.com/5bobl then slipstream your XP CD to SP2
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sp2_slipstream.asp

Then run SFC.

It took a while to get the slipstream CD created, but finally got it and ran
SFC. Rebooted. And my problems ain't solved. Anything else to try?

 

[Guest]

Does no reply mean I am doomed and have to put up with all the weird quirks
that I mentioned before?

Meryl