100% CPU Usage/Really Slow Laptop

Greetings and Salutations:

Compaq Armada E500 running NT4 w/SP4 running at 100% CPU usage at all times.
services.exe 50 - 60%
lsass.exe 40-50% depending on how much services.exe is taking)

Every thing I try to do is extremely s l o o o o o w. The mouse pointer moves around well (smooth and at the proper rate) but when I click on something (even the X to close task manager) I might as well go get a cup of coffee.

A little history:
This laptop belongs to my boss, an engineer. He has a very specialized drawing program on this computer that he absolutely does not want to lose and it cannot be replaced.
He tried to install a linksys wireless adapter which is not compatible with NT4.
This caused an inablitly to start up>> STOP errors and memory dumps. I ran the Emergency Repair Disk and can now startup, but with the above mentioned problems.

Any suggestions?

When's the last time it was defragged? That should help a little. That era computer wasn't very fast to begin with, but what you describe is way too slow. Also, go to Control Panel | Add/Remove Programs and make sure that wireless adaptor is completely uninstalled, so that the pre-install settings are restored.

When you've done that, you should go to Microsoft and install the last Service Packs for NT 4.0 (up to 6a) and the Service Roll-up Packs to get the last of the updates/patches. That may or may not help, but it couldn't hurt.:)

It was probably never defragged. C:|Properties|Tools|Defragmentation = No defragmentation tool is currently installed.

Linksys Wireless-G Adaptor is not listed in Add/Remove Programs.

The UNINSTALL for Linksys Wireless-G says the program is missing.

Service Pack 6a will not install, not enough free space.

This system, as far as I know, has never been connected to the internet.

Wow! Out of curiosity, I checked System Properties- it could definetly benefit from more RAM and a larger HD (if it will take it-- I'll have to look into that later)
System:
Microsoft Windos NT 4.00.1381
Compaq Computer Corporation
x86 Family 6 Model 8 Stepping 6
AT/AT Compatible
195,956 KB RAM
C: free space: 154MB Capacity: 1.98GB

There's some train tracks not far from the office. I'm thinking this system might visit those tracks here pretty soon. *evil grin*

*Deep Breath* *Sigh* Ok, I'm over that. Let's keep going. What should I do next?

I've got a WinNT disk around here somewhere, let me see if I can upload the Defrag file for you so you can put it on your laptop.

You're going to have to clean out that HDD, it's more than 90% full and that's in the red zone. My advice, if your boss will allow it, is to go to Add/Remove Programs again and look at every entry in the list. If a program hasn't been used in more than a year, uninstall it. Then go to Programs | Accessories | System Tools | Disk Cleanup and run that utility. Also, go here and download CCleaner (transfer it via floppy or flash drive if necessary, it's only 445KB) and let it clean out unused junk, temp files, etc. I've used it a number of times, it's effective and fast.

I have my WinNT disk. I'll see if I can get Defrag and Disk Cleanup onto the system.

Add/Remove programs only lists 3 programs:
ATI NT Display Driver
CCleaner (remove only)
Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4

Running CCleaner now.... (it's taking F O R E V E R R R R R R)
(*going for coffee*) :)

Someone's been down this road before!;)

Soooo... I've run Ccleaner and freed up a (very) little space. I now have 209 MB free. Still running 100% cpu usage:
services.exe 50 - 60%
lsass.exe 40-50% (depending on how much services.exe is taking)
Any ideas?

Upload the following file to Jotti for an on-line scan:

lsass.exe

You can find it through Start | Search if necessary. Put it on a flash drive to transfer it to a computer with internet access if you have to.

There is a legitimate application by this name, but it's a favorite of malware writers to use - the lower-case L and the upper-case I are identical in the default Windows font, so it escapes casual examination. Let's make sure we know which one yours is. Excuse me, your boss's.;)

You may as well get used to slowness. Any hard drive that full leaves little room for rearranging files. Unless your boss has an install disk for his program or some other way to reinstall it on a larger drive, you're kinda stuck.

lsass.exe is OK

File: lsass.exe
Status: OK
MD5 5b5ebd67b570c0a857add7efa9e1d2de

(it took 47 minutes to copy the file off of the laptop and run the scan --arrrrgggghhh!)

I'll move this to another forum where a few more people will see it, and get some more suggestions.:)

Thanks! :)

Have you cleaned out the Temp and Temp internet folders?

Hi Train.
Yes, I did.
I searched for *.hlp files, to delete but didn't find any of those.
Can you think of any other unneeded or even semi-unneeded files I could delete?

More than likely there are.

Like in outlook or outlook express dlete emails and compact the folders.

Take a look at the size of the Recycle bin and the swap file.

And this defragger will work as you do not have one.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=1207
Not the best one available, but will work as Windows NT is not shipped with Microsoft defrag. However, various third-party companies offer utilities that can defrag and check your hard disk drive for you.