Help with slo-o-o-o-w PC please | FerrariChat

Help with slo-o-o-o-w PC please

Discussion in 'Technology' started by neilmac, Aug 14, 2006.

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  1. neilmac

    neilmac Formula 3

    Apr 18, 2005
    1,252
    Oakville, Ont.
    Full Name:
    Neil
    For the past little while, our PC has been really, really slow. We can surf the web acceptably quickly, but opening a new application seems to take forever, receiving new emails (we use Netscape) takes all day, looking for a document in Word takes forever, clicking on an open application to maximize it is slow, etc etc.

    Not sure if I'm providing enough info for a diagnosis, but that's what I have.

    Norton was installed recently, updated all the time and run weekly without fail.

    Am I in need of a faster PC, or is there another fix?

    Many thanks,

    Neil
     
  2. ^@#&

    ^@#& F1 World Champ
    BANNED

    Feb 27, 2005
    12,091
    Less porn = faster computer :D
     
  3. whart

    whart F1 Veteran
    Honorary Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 5, 2001
    6,554
    Austin, TX
    Full Name:
    William Maxwell Hart
    True. Once I quit frequenting the NAMBLA site, my computer got much faster. BTW, installing a utility after the thing is clogged up with (ahem) is not a good solution.
    I caught a thing that hijacked me to the same, lame webpage, time after time. Running various programs to get rid of it didn't work. I had to basically wipe the harddrive, and reload everything. I also quit using IE as a browser- much happier with Mozilla.
     
  4. SrfCity

    SrfCity F1 World Champ

    Try Firefox instead.
     
  5. neilmac

    neilmac Formula 3

    Apr 18, 2005
    1,252
    Oakville, Ont.
    Full Name:
    Neil
    Actually, I use Firefox as a web surfer, and I'm quite happy with it. As I said, web browsing is not an issue.

    It's just about everything else, really.

    Neil
     
  6. GhostRider

    GhostRider Formula Junior

    Dec 20, 2002
    999
    Tulsa, OK
    Full Name:
    Matt
    Best way--backup what you want to save, format the drive, and reinstall windows. If you want to try some other fixes--you might try CCleaner (aka Crap Cleaner -- www.ccleaner.com). It can help clean up some junk. Other than that, make sure you are running some good anti-spyware program(s), as such things can slow your computer down if affected.
     
  7. judoug88

    judoug88 Formula Junior

    Dec 5, 2004
    590
    Marin, CA
    Full Name:
    JD
    More details about your computer (eg processor, RAM, etc.)? Depending on your processor and RAM it could actually be Norton that is slowing down your computer. An old laptop I had actually ran slower with Norton. Try using Avast instead of Norton, it is a bit less of a drag on your system, it's free, and it's more effective than Norton. Once you post your specs we'll see if we can narrow down a better solution.
     
  8. wax

    wax Five Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jul 20, 2003
    52,410
    SFPD
    Full Name:
    Dirty Harry
    Slowdown as described = Spyware.

    In addition to crapcleaner which GhostRider mentioned, another excellent and free utility which requires little thinking:
    http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/

    hijackthis requires a bit of restraint to use to it's full potential, but helps by displaying what hijackers see. TomCoyote explains:
    http://www.tomcoyote.org/hjt/
     
  9. neilmac

    neilmac Formula 3

    Apr 18, 2005
    1,252
    Oakville, Ont.
    Full Name:
    Neil
    Thanks for the help, guys. Will download crap cleaner right away.

    Actually, I use Ad Aware, just didn't think to mention it - I figured it would only affect web performance, not Windows in general.

    Cheers,

    Neil
     
  10. ernie

    ernie Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 19, 2001
    22,614
    The Brickyard
    Full Name:
    The Bad Guy
    Say as far as anti-spywear goes, what are the most effective programs, free if possible?
     
  11. Fan512bbi

    Fan512bbi Two Time F1 World Champ
    BANNED

    Mar 25, 2004
    20,938
    Wales-UK
    Full Name:
    Steve.
    Have you tried the obvious??

    Disc clean up.
    Clear cookies and history.
    Defragmentation.
     
  12. neilmac

    neilmac Formula 3

    Apr 18, 2005
    1,252
    Oakville, Ont.
    Full Name:
    Neil
    I'm not as savvy with my PC as all that. I downloaded the crapcleaner last night, ran it, and I think it has looked after clearing cookies and history.

    System seemed to run a bit better, and shut down took less time than previously.

    Disc clean up and defragmentation - sorry, but this is 'way over my head.

    Can someone possibly post a link that would tell me what this is, what to do and what to avoid?

    Thanks,

    Neil
     
  13. Schatten

    Schatten F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Apr 3, 2001
    11,238
    Austin, TX
    Full Name:
    Randy
    My suggestion - download hijackthis and post or PM the results. http://www.majorgeeks.com/download3155.html It will provide me (and possibly others) with a lot of information.

    I would hate to see your pc as a drone out there sending out spam spam spam. So it is time to clean clean clean. Drop me a PM if you have any questions.


    Also...

    Please don't do this. Don't even suggest a thing. There is NO NEED TO FORMAT and reinstall at this point. Especially without diagnosing the issue.
     
  14. neilmac

    neilmac Formula 3

    Apr 18, 2005
    1,252
    Oakville, Ont.
    Full Name:
    Neil
    Thanks for the advice, Randy......and everyone else, for that matter. I feel so ignorant about this stuff.

    I'll do the hijackthis thing first chance I get, and will post results.

    Cheers,

    Neil
     
  15. GhostRider

    GhostRider Formula Junior

    Dec 20, 2002
    999
    Tulsa, OK
    Full Name:
    Matt
    Windows is know to get cluttered up over time, and cause your PC to run slower. Though you may not be familiar with it, some people, as a common practice, do exactly this to ensure a speedy system. I have one friend that does it every 6 months religiously. So my suggestion is not unwarranted.
     
  16. gougoul

    gougoul Formula 3

    Nov 25, 2004
    1,305
    Geneva, Switzerland
    Fomr what i read, if it ain't spyware, re-install the machine.

    It's fun, as they got to make you feel that your machine gets "older" (hence, slower) and needs renewal.

    The registry, which is accessed just for about anything (shape of controls on screen, settings etc etc) is a big problem in all current Windows Machines.
    It just doesn't get smaller, no matter what you do.

    Frankly, try :
    1. Defrag if there is fragmentation
    2. If it doens't help, re-installing the machine, from SCRATCH, backing up before all that needs to be.
     
  17. wax

    wax Five Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jul 20, 2003
    52,410
    SFPD
    Full Name:
    Dirty Harry
    This is actually the simplest routine maintenance.

    It's kind of like this - you've got 8 forks, 8 spoons, 8 knives. But, they've been scattered all over your home. What diskcleanup does is clean the dirt off those items; defragging puts the forks in one slot, spoons in another, knives in another. What that french tickler is doing in your drawers is your own business.

    Close all your programs & be offline.

    Disk Cleanup

    When working with programs, Windows stores information in temporary folders, but does not always clean them out afterwards, leaving behind unnecessary files. The Disk Cleanup system tool allows you to clean out Windows components and programs you no longer need, and remove these temporary files.

    From the Start menu, click on:
    Programs> Accessories> SystemTools> Disk Cleanup.

    Hit OK

    In the Disk Cleanup tab window, put a tick in the following boxes:

    - Downloaded program files

    - Temporary internet files

    - Recycle bin

    - Temporary files.


    Hit OK

    After it's finished with Disk Cleanup, hit Cancel

    Easy, huh?
    _____

    Defragmenting Your Hard Disk

    Defragmenting your hard disk helps Windows arrange files in a way that makes it easier and faster for it to find your programs.

    From the Start menu, click on
    Programs> Accessories> SystemTools> Disk Defragmenter.

    Select Drive:
    Hit OK

    Hit Defragment

    Hit Show Details

    This may take a while, as it hasn't been done on your PC before. Open a can of beer, drink it.

    After it's finished degragmenting, hit Cancel

    ____

    Restart Computer.

    Note how much faster it's running.
     
  18. neilmac

    neilmac Formula 3

    Apr 18, 2005
    1,252
    Oakville, Ont.
    Full Name:
    Neil
    Geez, Tom!! I don't know what to say....'thank you' seems so horribly inadequate.

    I can't wait to get home and try this.

    My nomination for Post of the Month.

    Thanks again,

    Neil
     
  19. MOUNTAINWOLF

    MOUNTAINWOLF Karting

    Nov 3, 2005
    179
    Can anyone tell me why my disk will not defragment ? It has been about 2 years since I have done it, this thread reminded me to do it again. I tried it yesterday & left it defrag-ing overnight, the next day, it was still at 0% ?? Tried it again today... stays at 0%. If you click show details, it just shows a blank white screen, says, " checking disk for errors" at the bottom, but stays at 0%. Wtf ???
     
  20. MOUNTAINWOLF

    MOUNTAINWOLF Karting

    Nov 3, 2005
    179
  21. neilmac

    neilmac Formula 3

    Apr 18, 2005
    1,252
    Oakville, Ont.
    Full Name:
    Neil
    Mountainwolf,

    Hang tight. I had the same problem. PM'd wax about it, and have just received his response. Will try to send it to you, so watch your PM box.

    Neil
     
  22. wax

    wax Five Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jul 20, 2003
    52,410
    SFPD
    Full Name:
    Dirty Harry
    FWIW - here was my reply on the PM - it's just about how to use your basic maintenance resources already installed on Windows PC:
    _____

    Hiya! More than happy to assist!

    No surprise it didn't finish, given the disk has not been defragged before. But, on this first attempt, you got past the major portion of where most of the programs and so forth are, which is on the 1st 10% of the disk - so, that's a good sign.

    Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragmenter.

    ("Select Drive" Popup Box appears)
    Click: [Settings]

    ("Disk Defragmenter Settings" Popup Box appears)
    When defragmenting my hard drive:
    [x] Rearrange my program files so my programs start faster.
    [ ] Check the drive for errors

    ________

    I want to use these options:
    [x] This time only
    [ ] Every time I defragment my hard drive.

    {In other words: uncheck the box marked "Check for errors" and switch from "every time" to "this time only."

    Hit [OK]

    Then, when you see your old pal, "Select Drive" again, click [OK]

    It'll defrag just fine.

    After this is done, we'll go over some other stuff which will tune it up.

    You'll find that after you clean this baby up, you'll not only know what to do, but it will take very little time from here on out.
     
  23. MOUNTAINWOLF

    MOUNTAINWOLF Karting

    Nov 3, 2005
    179
    Thanks neilmac & wax. I'll try that tomorrow. Actually I have defragged before, but it has been a couple of years.
     
  24. MOUNTAINWOLF

    MOUNTAINWOLF Karting

    Nov 3, 2005
    179
    Still not working for me. Wax, I unchecked what you said & it will start to defrag, but when it gets to 10% or so, it says, " contents of drive changed, restarting", I let it run overnight, keeps doing the same thing, like a loop ... help ?
     
  25. GhostRider

    GhostRider Formula Junior

    Dec 20, 2002
    999
    Tulsa, OK
    Full Name:
    Matt
    You've probably got some processes running that are interfering with the defrag. Restart your computer in Safe Mode, and then run defrag. It should be able to complete then.
     

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