XP is SLOW

[Robert]

Hey Everyone,

I just got a new Dell a few months ago (P4 2.4 with
512mb) running XP Home. It's so slow that when I click on
the start button - even after a fresh reboot - the menu
doesn't "pop-up" like it did running W2K, I can "see" it
form. Same when I click on ANY programs. I just opened
Outlook and it took about 15 seconds to come up.

Am I the only one who has this problem? I did some tests
with my last computer - a PIII 600 with 512mb ram running
W2K Professional - and that system was about 4x faster.

And Microsoft, in all it's wisdom, won't allow ME to
install an older OS on MY system than the one currently
installed, XP. This is incredible - they don't provide
support for me anyway, saying I have to go thru Dell, so
what do they care if I want to run an OS that works
better?

Does anyone know why XP runs like $%*@# - are there any
solutions to this or is Microsoft just going to stick
it's head in the sand and say there is no problem?

Thanks,
- Rob

 

[purplehaz]

See below.........

Hey Everyone,

I just got a new Dell a few months ago (P4 2.4 with
512mb) running XP Home. It's so slow that when I click on
the start button - even after a fresh reboot - the menu
doesn't "pop-up" like it did running W2K, I can "see" it
form. Same when I click on ANY programs. I just opened
Outlook and it took about 15 seconds to come up.

You can turn off the xp eye-candy if you want, but this depends alot on how
much memory your video card has. Many oem computers such as dell only give
you a 64mb card, which is the very minimum needed now-a-days.

Am I the only one who has this problem? I did some tests
with my last computer - a PIII 600 with 512mb ram running
W2K Professional - and that system was about 4x faster.

And Microsoft, in all it's wisdom, won't allow ME to
install an older OS on MY system than the one currently
installed, XP. This is incredible - they don't provide
support for me anyway, saying I have to go thru Dell, so
what do they care if I want to run an OS that works
better?

Sure you can. What makes you think you can't install an older version of
windows along with xp. Just cause of that warning when you put the cd in.
Well, thats because thats not how you do it. What this is called is a dual
boot configuration and it can be setup by installing the older os first or
last.
And no support from ms is correct. You bought an oem computer you should
have been aware of the limitations that oem computers and their licenses
have. An oem computer is supported by who made the computer, not who makes
the os. So your support is thru dell. This is how all oem computers are.

Does anyone know why XP runs like $%*@# - are there any
solutions to this or is Microsoft just going to stick
it's head in the sand and say there is no problem?

XP in general runs very good and is extremely stable. Most probs are caused
by user error. Xp should not run slow on your machine and in similar
machines I've seen it screams. First thing I would do is get rid of the
spyware, adware, and viruses. In my experience this is the #1 cause of slow
machines and crashes.

Run these tools weekly
spybot -- http://www.safer-networking.org/
ad-aware -- http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
HiJackThis - http://mjc1.com/mirror/hjt/

 

[Steve Pearce]

Hey Everyone,

I just got a new Dell a few months ago (P4 2.4 with
512mb) running XP Home. It's so slow that when I click on
the start button - even after a fresh reboot - the menu
doesn't "pop-up" like it did running W2K, I can "see" it
form. Same when I click on ANY programs. I just opened
Outlook and it took about 15 seconds to come up.

Am I the only one who has this problem? I did some tests
with my last computer - a PIII 600 with 512mb ram running
W2K Professional - and that system was about 4x faster.

And Microsoft, in all it's wisdom, won't allow ME to
install an older OS on MY system than the one currently
installed, XP. This is incredible - they don't provide
support for me anyway, saying I have to go thru Dell, so
what do they care if I want to run an OS that works
better?

Does anyone know why XP runs like $%*@# - are there any
solutions to this or is Microsoft just going to stick
it's head in the sand and say there is no problem?

Are you running Norton Anti-Virus, if so there was a problem recently
with an expired root certificate that caused systems to run very
poorly?

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your help.......I didn't think of the video -
that might be it. As a rule XP has been stable, just not
the performance I expected.

It seems that I'm spending lots of time removing adware,
spyware, etc...installing patches. I never had so many
issues of this type under W2K - is it just a timing
thing - they are becoming more prevalent now? Or is it
that they are being created/aimed at XP users? I go into
task mgr this morning and my cpu was pegged at 100% due
to something called cleanmgr.exe - which I removed.

I'll use the links you provided to clean up stuff.

Thanks again

 

[Robert]

Hi,

Thanks for your response....I'm running Mcafee. Someone
else responded regarding video memory and "adware,
spyware" stuff. I replied that I'm spending lots of time
removing adware and spyware and all kinds of cpu hogging
things that I have no idea where they come from!

Maybe I should have 1 system to surf with and 1 system
that isn't connected to the outside world!

Thanks!

 

[purplehaz]

It's just a timing issue. More and more bad guys are on the internet now and
more people have broadband. Now that BB is really taking off, it's only
going to get worse unless people are required to be educated about the
internet and it pitfalls before buying a computer. Unfortunatly it just the
way the world is. <sigh>
BTW - there is a fix for the cleanmgr.exe hanging problem. MVP Kelly from
this group has it on her site(sorry I don't have the link right now).
You're welcome.

 

[MAP]

I have the same problem. At times it takes a long time
for the tool bar to come up. Ususally after I change
something in the system. a couple of reboots and it is
OK. At times the I experience the same delay when going
to the start menu.. If i wait for it to start and then
do it again the delay is gone. I believe XP has some
problems that Microsoft and the people that work for
Microsoft will not acknowledge. the stock is not doing
to well lately.

 

[JAX]

Hi Robert,

I have had good luck with the spyware blocker from the link below. It does
not remove spyware, it keeps "most" of it from being installed in the first
place. Run Ad-aware and Spybot S&D and then engage SpywareBlaster.
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

LOL, JAX

 

[Quaoar]

Hey Everyone,

I just got a new Dell a few months ago (P4 2.4 with
512mb) running XP Home. It's so slow that when I click on
the start button - even after a fresh reboot - the menu
doesn't "pop-up" like it did running W2K, I can "see" it
form. Same when I click on ANY programs. I just opened
Outlook and it took about 15 seconds to come up.

Am I the only one who has this problem? I did some tests
with my last computer - a PIII 600 with 512mb ram running
W2K Professional - and that system was about 4x faster.

And Microsoft, in all it's wisdom, won't allow ME to
install an older OS on MY system than the one currently
installed, XP. This is incredible - they don't provide
support for me anyway, saying I have to go thru Dell, so
what do they care if I want to run an OS that works
better?

Does anyone know why XP runs like $%*@# - are there any
solutions to this or is Microsoft just going to stick
it's head in the sand and say there is no problem?

Thanks,
- Rob

For slow XP, start here:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/slowcom.htm

Q

 

[Guest]

If you have nvidia display drivers installed, disable "Nview desktop manager" in the display properties. Disabling it will dramatically improve your startup. to get to it, right click on the desktop, click on the settings tab, click on the "GeForce" tab and then click on desktop management. Uncheck the "Enable nView Desktop Manager".