Windows XP Professional hangs

[Peter Birmingham]

My computer stops responding each time i take the
following actions:
1. Double left click on the My Computer icon. The
resulting dialogue box is greyed out and CTRL ALT DEL is
the only way to clear it leaving a plain screen (no
desktop icons)
2. When I try to "Save As" the computer hangs requiring
CTRL ALT DEL to proceed. The document is lost!

My computer runs very slowly. For example, opening
OUTLOOK or WORD takes about six seconds.

 

[Malke]

My computer stops responding each time i take the
following actions:
1. Double left click on the My Computer icon. The
resulting dialogue box is greyed out and CTRL ALT DEL is
the only way to clear it leaving a plain screen (no
desktop icons)
2. When I try to "Save As" the computer hangs requiring
CTRL ALT DEL to proceed. The document is lost!

My computer runs very slowly. For example, opening
OUTLOOK or WORD takes about six seconds.

Unfortunately, this could be software or hardware. First, do the normal
Windows troubleshooting: 1) scan with current antivirus ("current"
means a version not earlier than 2002 but using updated virus
definitions); 2) remove spyware with Spybot Search & Destroy
(www.security.kolla.de) and Ad-aware (www.lavasoftusa.com). Be sure to
update these programs before running, and it is a good idea to do
virus/spyware scans in Safe Mode; 3) delete temporary and Temporary
Internet Files; 4) stop unnecessary services/programs from starting
with Windows - see www.blackviper.com for services info and
www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_index.htm for programs info - 5) look in
Event Viewer for clues.

If the problem persists when you know your computer is clean, then it
might be a hardware problem. I can tell you that my XP box was running
very slowing yesterday and then I remembered it had one of those nasty
ultra-thin Maxtor hard drives in it. The ones that fail all the time.
Yep, the drive is toast. To test a hard drive, download a utility from
the mftr.'s website. You may need to do this on another computer. You
will make a bootable floppy with the executable.

Post back if you need more help, including information about your system
and what you've already done to troubleshoot.

Cheers,

Malke