XP Pro running slow

[Mark Flynn]

This Dell laptop running XP Pro is running slower and slower. The proplem
started a few days ago and I don't believe that any new drivers or programs
have been added lately.
The laptop has 1 GB of ram and 65% of the hard drive is unused. Virtual
memory is set at 2 GB.
When starting, the system tray fills with many more applets than it did a
few days ago. Yet the Start folder is empty.
The laptop has AOL anti virus software running.and nothing abnormal has been
detected.
Any ideas?
Thanks, Mark Flynn

 

[Guest]

Have you defragmented the HD winthin the last 2/3 months?

 

[JS]

Track down what these new applets are:
Try Autoruns from SysInternals:
http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/Autoruns.html
This will show all apps/etc. that load/run when you first boot and
selectively allow you to stop any that you don't want.

Note: You may need to highlight an item (right click) and use the Google
option on some entries to get the details for more obscure items in the
list.

You might also try some of the freeware AV scanners available as these
applets didn't come from nowhere, something or somebody put them on your PC.

JS

 

[vaporvic]

JS has a good idea if you feel that the slowness is related to the
applets for some reason (like you don't know what they are and/or where
they came from), but I would also like to know how much of that 1GB of
RAM is actually available to the system? You can have 1GB but if you're
using 900MB of it then you will see slowness when you perform certain
tasks.

Also, please define "slow". Slow when? After log on when you do
anything at all? Only when you are performing certain tasks? Have you
launched Task Manager during the slowness and sorted the CPU column to
determine if the slowness is related to a busy processor? Slowness can
manifest itself in many ways...could be memory related, could be
processor related, could be disk related (when's the last time you
defragged your hard drive(s)?...Just some things to think about...

hth-

Vic

 

[Bob I]

I'd say a malware infestation

Download, install and run the free versions of Ad-aware SE and Spybot
S&D (links below)

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/