my computer is stuper slow because of excess "junk" how do i
Started by
luckypunkrockgirl
, Feb 23 2009 04:12 PM
#1
Posted 23 February 2009 - 04:12 PM
#2
Posted 25 February 2009 - 04:48 PM
Some thoughts...
(1) Never run free programs off the internet suggesting to scan for your 'problems'. In a worst case, you just allowed the installation of malware - I would very much scan your computer using several AV/MW programs (there are enough for free on the internet to do this, but cross check their names with GtG or another reputable computer advice board, bleepingcomputers etc.). In a best case, that program shows you issues to incite you to download it...but the 'issues' are probably none. Or you might just catch spyware. Just stay away from stuff like that.
(2) As you indicate, you are aware that 10% is very litle space. You should ideally have more free space for the hd to operate efficiently.
(3) Go over the usual simple steps first and see if that helps:
- always clean out recycle bin, internet temp files etc
- defragment your disk. if you're never done that, you might see a good speed pickup (just in case, accessories->system tools->defragment disk
(4) At extreme low speeds, there is a good chance you have malware running on your computer. Your system might already be too infected to easily remove this, and maybe if you have malware, it has already set up house deep enough to disable scanners. But as under 1, do some malware checks. If it's a rootkit, there are 'how-to-guides' here you could follow. This is all a pain, but if you got mw/rootkits, you could have keyloggers or whatever else, and that's bad.
(5) Check for what you should be seeing in the startup tab under regedit. You might have way too many programs that autostart and so slow your computer down. Be careful with regedit changes as you could crash your computer, but you'll probably have at least 50% of programs starting up automatically that you don't need to start up. From memory, gibson and bleeingcomputer (maybe GtG too) have startup databases where you can check which processes you can safely disable. Careful with this.
I recently needed to completely reinstall my computer from scratch as well bc of a rootkit infection. After, works like a charm. If you want to go down that route, save your important files on any external medium, but don't trust it - if you are infected, infection would follow you. Scan your files from a friend's computer, and only after that check comes up clean, copy back over after reinstall.
If you really can't remove more programs, that's what I'd try. Gl.
(1) Never run free programs off the internet suggesting to scan for your 'problems'. In a worst case, you just allowed the installation of malware - I would very much scan your computer using several AV/MW programs (there are enough for free on the internet to do this, but cross check their names with GtG or another reputable computer advice board, bleepingcomputers etc.). In a best case, that program shows you issues to incite you to download it...but the 'issues' are probably none. Or you might just catch spyware. Just stay away from stuff like that.
(2) As you indicate, you are aware that 10% is very litle space. You should ideally have more free space for the hd to operate efficiently.
(3) Go over the usual simple steps first and see if that helps:
- always clean out recycle bin, internet temp files etc
- defragment your disk. if you're never done that, you might see a good speed pickup (just in case, accessories->system tools->defragment disk
(4) At extreme low speeds, there is a good chance you have malware running on your computer. Your system might already be too infected to easily remove this, and maybe if you have malware, it has already set up house deep enough to disable scanners. But as under 1, do some malware checks. If it's a rootkit, there are 'how-to-guides' here you could follow. This is all a pain, but if you got mw/rootkits, you could have keyloggers or whatever else, and that's bad.
(5) Check for what you should be seeing in the startup tab under regedit. You might have way too many programs that autostart and so slow your computer down. Be careful with regedit changes as you could crash your computer, but you'll probably have at least 50% of programs starting up automatically that you don't need to start up. From memory, gibson and bleeingcomputer (maybe GtG too) have startup databases where you can check which processes you can safely disable. Careful with this.
I recently needed to completely reinstall my computer from scratch as well bc of a rootkit infection. After, works like a charm. If you want to go down that route, save your important files on any external medium, but don't trust it - if you are infected, infection would follow you. Scan your files from a friend's computer, and only after that check comes up clean, copy back over after reinstall.
If you really can't remove more programs, that's what I'd try. Gl.
#3
Posted 26 February 2009 - 10:15 AM
Download CCleaner http://www.geekstogo...ner-file72.html
After installing run it and have a look through all the check boxes on the left, and untick the ones you want to keep (I recommend you keep firefox and ie cache ticked because that can free a lot of space)
Defrag your computer, this can take while to do so do it at a time that the computer can be left on
To defrag go onto the start menu > all programs > accessories > system tools > disk defragmenter
And as gnometorule said a lot of these programs that claim to clean your computer just tell you that you have hundreds of errors and ask you to buy the full version to remove them or are just malware
If you think you might be infected by malware read through this http://www.geekstogo...-Log-t2852.html
By the way this should probably have been posted in windows xp section of the forum http://www.geekstogo...2003-NT-f5.html
After installing run it and have a look through all the check boxes on the left, and untick the ones you want to keep (I recommend you keep firefox and ie cache ticked because that can free a lot of space)
Defrag your computer, this can take while to do so do it at a time that the computer can be left on
To defrag go onto the start menu > all programs > accessories > system tools > disk defragmenter
And as gnometorule said a lot of these programs that claim to clean your computer just tell you that you have hundreds of errors and ask you to buy the full version to remove them or are just malware
If you think you might be infected by malware read through this http://www.geekstogo...-Log-t2852.html
By the way this should probably have been posted in windows xp section of the forum http://www.geekstogo...2003-NT-f5.html
Edited by Tom331, 26 February 2009 - 10:20 AM.
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