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painfully slow computer


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#1
donhcj

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My computer was running fine but I stopped using it for a while and now it responds SO SLOWLY when I try to access any program. I have no idea where to start to fix this.
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#2
Macboatmaster

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In case this is a problem with Vista, and maybe a virus please ask for your own post to be moved to the Vista forum. You may wish to visit the Malware forum and run some checks yourself first.
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#3
Broni

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It's posted in XP forum, your profile says Vista. Which one is it?

Please, post some computer info:
- processor type, amount of RAM (hold Windows logo key, hit Pause/Break key)
- hard drive size/free space (open "My Computer", right click on hard drive letter, click "Properties")
- security programs in use (antivirus, firewall)
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#4
donhcj

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My laptop that had the virus is Vista and the desktop that runs slow is Windows XP (Dell XPS 400)Intel Pentium D CPU 2.8 GHz 1 GB RAM

I am running CA Security Center and run Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and use Firefox browser with No-Scripts add-on

It literally takes over 3 MINUTES to open, for example, My Computer to check the hard drive free space, over a minute to bring up the options when I right click the C: drive, 30 seconds for the mouse to highlight properties, and another minute to show the capacity - which is 23.5 used 46.2 free 69.8 total
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#5
Broni

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OK, which computer are we trying to cure here? XP?
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#6
donhcj

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yes please
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#7
Broni

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OK, you gave just one example:

My Computer to check the hard drive free space, over a minute to bring up the options when I right click the C: drive, 30 seconds for the mouse to highlight properties, and another minute to show the capacity

What else is slow?
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#8
Macboatmaster

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If you are running CA Security Centre and also have the Windows Firewall and the IE/Mozilla pop-up blocker and other XP Security enabled, that may well be the reason for the slow running.

Activate Task Manager with Ctrl, Alt, Del and click the performance tab. Look on the graphs and bottom right for mem usuage, open My Computer and watch the task manager as you right click on Properties for the hard drive to see if the cpu and mem usuage has gone OTT.
In Task Manager click the Processes tab and then click the Mem sub tab and see what is using the high amounts of memory if anything. Do the same with the CPU sub tab

Edited by Macboatmaster, 29 May 2010 - 05:01 PM.

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#9
donhcj

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Everything is slow - should I uninstall CA security?
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#10
Macboatmaster

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Not just yet, pls follow my last post.

Edited by Macboatmaster, 29 May 2010 - 05:07 PM.

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#11
donhcj

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LOL I fixed it - kind of! - I unplugged my webcam from the USB and now it runs normally! Now I wonder how I can get my webcam to work without slowing down the computer
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#12
Macboatmaster

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PLEASE, if you want me to carry on helping, have a look at Task Manager.
It may be the webcam software, or it maybe a USB port problem, how many USB devices are connected please.

Edited by Macboatmaster, 29 May 2010 - 05:08 PM.

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#13
donhcj

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no USB ports in use now - what do I look for in task manager?
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#14
donhcj

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My bad - the mouse are keyboard are in 2 USB's - sorry!
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#15
Macboatmaster

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as per my post 8 please check the memory usuage and the cpu usuage.
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