Windows XP running slow and apps slow to open

[Doggiepal]

Hi,

I am running Windows XP home edition and it has started running slow......it takes forever to load, then the applications are slow to open. Sometimes they stop responding all together......

I have restarted the computer, deleted tmp files, I tried to run disk cleaner but it hangs up at scanning compressed files......

The computer won't shut down correctly either without hanging.....

I don't know what the heck processes are but I seem to have a lot of them (56) in task manager......don't know which ones I need but there seem to be some duplicates....

I also did a system restore and it helped a little but didn't make the puter run better.....

Any ideas......

I use Norton Anitvirus and Norton Firewall......I tried to scan it last night but when the computer put the screen saver on it froze.....I have turned off the saver and will try again.....

Thanks for any help


P.S. are there any free but non spyware adding utilities to run that will check for errors and fix them......

[dunedin]

Hello Doggiepal

Here are a few things to try

1. Check your entries in msconfig
Start/Run and type in
msconfig
OK

Startup Tab
Keep the page open then go to link below. It will tell you what all the entries are and whether you can disable them or not. It will also identify any malware. Disable everything which is not needed to run at start up

http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php

Read the Key at top of page. Use the Search box to check all your entries

Do not reboot before running these online scans

Housecall http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

AVG Anti-Spyware http://www.ewido.net/en/

Let them fix everything they find.
Take a note of any malware found when doing all of the above

If that does not help you will have to check your RAM and the hard drive too.

Elaine

[BIG JOHN]

Hi Doggie, I have fixed a couple of PC's with similar issues using the program below. It was free for awhile on the net but I believe you have to pay for it now. After using it on a couple of really sluggish PC's the difference was like night & day. BJ

http://www.pctools.com/registry-mechanic/?ref=google_rm

[Doggiepal]

Thanks all,

I tried Ewido and it found some infections......I tried changing my startup in msconfg but I am unable to get housecall to work for me. Will see how it goes with changes so far......and get back to you guys....

Thanks for the help.....

[dunedin]

Okay dokey

Post back if you need more help

Elaine

[Doggiepal]

Hi All

I tried to delete some things in the Start Up Box by unchecking them and then when I restarted the computer a box popped up that said I was now starting in the Selective or Diagnostic mode and suggested that I start in Normal mode. Is is ok to leave it in that mode because when I go back to normal mode all the boxes are checked again.

Ewido found and cleaned some infections. However I still can't run disk cleaner without it hanging and the computer won't go into standby when I leave it.

It does seem to run faster and now CPU usage is not at 100% all the time when I look in task manager.......

Thanks for the suggestions......

Are there any complelety free, spyware free easy to use registry cleaners or fixers......I suspect there may be a problem with that but I don't like to mess with it.......

[dunedin]

Sorry, I should have said that when you get that "Selective" startup message after unchecking entries in msconfig, just check the box "Don`t show this again" and OK You want it to run in "Selective" startup now. That is OK

Disk Cleanup
If it is hanging at "Compress Old Files", here is a fix for that

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
Line 48 Right hand side

"To use the Regedits: Save the REG File to your hard disk. Double click it and answer yes to the import prompt.

Just click on the words "Disk Cleanup-Compress Old Files Freezes" NOT the underscored word "Undo"

Registry cleaners are frowned on by some of the members here, but if you want to use one, here is the best free program

EasyCleaner http://personal.inet.fi/business/toniarts/ecleane.htm

Remember to defrag regularly too.

Elaine

[psny513]

Another thing you might try, Doggiepal, is checking the amount of space you have left on your drives. Go into My Computer and right-click on your C drive, then select Properties. Under the General tab you can see how much cpacity you have left. You may want to delete old files and folders that are taking up a lot of space and slowing your computer down.

A disk defrag may also help, once you've deleted useless files.

In addition to the spyware seekers mentioned above, I use Ad-Aware (freeware) and find it very helpful. Here's the link:

http://www.lavasoft.com/

[Doggiepal]

Hi All

A big Thanks to all of you who responded with very helpful answers. As of right now I was able to fix the problem with the disk drive and everything else seems to have resolved itself along with it. So I will pronouce the problem fixed for now. Thanks again for all the help and Happy Computing......

Doggiepal

[dunedin]

Happy to help you.

One last tip.
When your Norton subscription expires don`t renew it. It is a resources hog, takes over your system and sometimes even causes problems. It will be slowing you down just now.

Just ask here and we can tell you some of the good free antivirus and firewalls around at the time.

Elaine