Slowing PC

[Hellgate]

My laptop has been running kinda crappy lately. I've done the usual, disk defrag and clean up, it helped to a minor degree. I can hear the hard drive working and the processor fan kicks on for no particular reason. I looked at "Process" Tab and I have 62 of the suckers running. Does anyone know if there is a way to know which processes I can kill and what I can do to speed this thing up?

My hardware is fine what I use it for, browsing, email and Office. AMD X2 64 bit, 2GB RAM, 55% free space, etc. XP Home for the OS.

Any suggestions are welcome.

Thanks! :thumbup:

 

[Kilbane83]

Really depends alot Pete. This a real basic way to kill startup progs.

For XP:

Goto run --> type MSCONFIG --> hit enter.
Goto the startup Tab --> Disable (uncheck) anything that's not related to Antivirus/firewall software.

Goto the Services tab --> check Hide all microsoft services --> uncheck anything not antivirus related

For vista it's the same thing, just instead of doing run just do a search for MSCONFIG

Give me a call or pm me or whatever if you want more detail or info. I do it for a living :thumbup:

 

[thirty_too]

buy a MAC... problem solved :thumbup:

 

[FZ1inNH]

Google for Combofix.exe, download and run it. It cleans a bunch of crap such as spyware, malware, tracking cookies, temp files, etc.... I use it often on client and work PCs that are running slow.

 

[Hellgate]

buy a MAC... problem solved :thumbup:

I have a 20" iMac that is five years old, great machine! Its only eaten three power supplies.

 

[ANLR21]

Be careful here. It's really easy to turn off some key processes that support things that you may want. Really depends on your operating system version, the software packages you're running, the equipment you have, and the general hassle factor of maintaining or re-starting specific services that you may need.

There are a number of sources of info out there, but here's a link to a site that provides some good advice, or at least considerations.

Try here:

Windows XP x86 (32-bit) Service Pack 3 Service Configurations by Black Viper

If in doubt, DON'T change the configuration. Seek out some specific advice.

Good luck.

 

[wrightme43]

Google for Combofix.exe, download and run it. It cleans a bunch of crap such as spyware, malware, tracking cookies, temp files, etc.... I use it often on client and work PCs that are running slow.

Is combofix compatable with windows vista 64 bit?

I run into a lot of stuff that just wont work with this system. Its a awesome machine though.

 

[Hellgate]

Google for Combofix.exe, download and run it. It cleans a bunch of crap such as spyware, malware, tracking cookies, temp files, etc.... I use it often on client and work PCs that are running slow.

I ran Combofix, we'll see how it goes. Very simple program to use.

Thanks!

 

[MarinaFazer]

use a BFH.

nah, +1 on what Killbane said. Kill the startup processes that aren't system/antivirus related.

 

[Fz6Sa]

My laptop has been running kinda crappy lately. I've done the usual, disk defrag and clean up, it helped to a minor degree. I can hear the hard drive working and the processor fan kicks on for no particular reason. I looked at \"Process\" Tab and I have 62 of the suckers running. Does anyone know if there is a way to know which processes I can kill and what I can do to speed this thing up?

My hardware is fine what I use it for, browsing, email and Office. AMD X2 64 bit, 2GB RAM, 55% free space, etc. XP Home for the OS.

Any suggestions are welcome.

Thanks! :thumbup:

<to help with the diagnose I need to know:

1. How long have it been since you reinstalled Windows?
2. Do you do alot of installations (Games, utils etc?)
3. What Antivirus are you running?
4. Brand, name and model of the laptop?
5. Age of the Laptop?

 

[Hellgate]

<to help with the diagnose I need to know:

1. How long have it been since you reinstalled Windows?
2. Do you do alot of installations (Games, utils etc?)
3. What Antivirus are you running?
4. Brand, name and model of the laptop?
5. Age of the Laptop?

1. Never
2. Nope - Don't have time for games spend all of my time here. The usually HP printer crap and a couple of other apps.
3. None, they all suck, slow the machine and crap still gets through. I have the firewall on the router and use Yahoo for email.
4. HP Presario V3000, 14.1 inch
5. About 2.5 years old. Been through one war, two hurricane missions and one annual training. This puppy is rock solid!

 

[Fred]

Disable your antivirus protection.

Antivirus programs slow down computers more than anything else out there. It's really pathetic.

 

[doc_simple]

try these out, pretty self-explanatory but if you have any questions I will do my best to answer.

Basically the zip file labeled start allows control of startup programs in a simpler interface the windows built-in

XP-Anti-SPy gives you control of many other windows settings and can not only make your machine run better but can help protect privacy.

But based-upon 2.5 years of use what it probably menas is you need a fresh OS install.

 

[YamahaMAXdRPMs]

buy a MAC... problem solved :thumbup:

 

[BranNwebster]

You should get Avast or AVG anti virus. Trend micro has a free scanner that just uses an active x app. You can get a virus by just visiting a website. Trend Micro HouseCall - Free Online Virus and Spyware Scan - Trend Micro USA

Go to the Elder geek service guide and turn off anything you don't need. The Elder Geek on Windows XP

If you regularly use Internet Explorer, find a good spyware scanner. Spybot.

If all else fails, I have a legit ISO corporate edition of windows XP that is bootable. You will need to save your files. I can store this on a public drive just let me know.

Use firefox.

 

[grommit]

Download Ubuntu and install that. Much better. :thumbup:

Ubuntu Home Page | Ubuntu

 

[Fz6Sa]

OK (I know this sounds like advice you don't really want )

The fastest way to get he (AND YES!!! COMPUTERS ARE FEMALE) back in shape, would be a reinstall.
2½ years running Windows (any version) without reinstalling puts it close to the record
Due to the fact that "normal peoples" PC don't get sanitised by IT-nerds on a regular basis, its recommend to reinstall them at least every 1½ years.
This is due to the registration database getting fragmented, all the updates you install from Microsoft etc. (Windows basicly is NOT build to run forever )

It IS possible to pinpoint the issue that is slowing it down, but it will be way more time consuming than just reinstalling it. Also this would require acceess to the computer, - doing pinpointing on a "foreign" machine without access would be futile.

Just use the CD's you got with the PC, and the process should be self explanatory.

Remember to make a copy of all personal stuff you got on the PC, - copying it to an external USB harddrive is the fast approach to that.

Hope this helps, - otherwise keep asking, - I'll be more that happy to help.

 

[FZ1inNH]

Pete, did Combofix take care of any of it?

BTW, for those without AV, we switched at work to the new ESet NOD32. Very nice! The lowest memory footprint and a triggered scan to the entire company during the day netted ZERO, NIL, NADA Help Desk calls! No one noticed!

 

[Hellgate]

Pete, did Combofix take care of any of it?

BTW, for those without AV, we switched at work to the new ESet NOD32. Very nice! The lowest memory footprint and a triggered scan to the entire company during the day netted ZERO, NIL, NADA Help Desk calls! No one noticed!

It does seem to be better. It had a habit of needing to "think" for 5 minutes or so, just out of the blue. Since I ran the app yesterday it hasn't needed to think.

I'll see how this works for the next week or so. I just hate to retinstall Windows, its such a PITA. Then have to do all of the updates from both MS and HP. Ugh....

I'm not running any AV apps at all. I had Norton and uninstalled it, too much of a pig. I figure with the Firewall on the router, and using the AV in Yahoo to scan my incoming mail I'm good to go.

I will look into the other suggestion the each of you made. I have a feeling I can zap about 5 to 10 process that are always running.

Thanks everyone! :thumbup:

 

[gt89stang393]

I have symantec antivirus on both my computers and it doesn't slow anything down. I also have adaware by Lavasoft, spybot S&D, and new to the cause is Malware bytes. I rarely get any issues with any of these, and Symantec has saved me from viruses on multiple occasions.