problems with my computer windows xp?

Question

my computer is running really slow. I already cleaned it at and all that stuff. I have avast and it says no virus. But something isnt right. I dont know how to find adware or spyware, and get rid of it. I have a gaming computer so it is supposed to be very fast, it is but the last 2 days have been terrible programs arent responding, when i click on something it takes forever for it to load. i dont want to take it in on warrenty i want to fix it myself can someone tell me how to fix it myself? thank you

my computer is set up to defragment every day. So whenever i've ever gone to do that it said i didnt need to.

Answer 1

I would recommend downloading this program:
http://www.ewido.net/en/download/
It is a spyware program that seems to be better than most. I use it to get rid of spyware that spybot or adaware cannot.

I would install it then do the update. After it's complete restart your computer in safemode.

To do this you hit hte F8 key as you restart it should bring up a menu. Select boot into safe mode. Then do a full system scan.

Hope this works good luck!

Answer 2

Have you checked to see how full your hard drive is? (My Computer->Hard Drive->right click, go to Properties-should show a pie chart with disk usage.) Also under Properties will be a tab for Tools that includes error checking and defragmentation. Run error checking first, then defragmentation. Have the defragment program analyze your drive first; it will tell you whether or not it needs defragmenting. If you save and delete a lot of files from your computer, you'll fragment your drive quickly, and this means that files are found all over the hard drive in pieces. This makes your computer run slower as it has to look for all of them. This one thing can speed your computer up amazingly! It might take a couple of hours to run, though. I suggest running it overnight.

As for spyware detection, the best tool I've seen is Spybot Search and Destroy, which you can download from the site: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html . I see they accept donations for the program, but there is no mandated charge for it, so it is still freeware. I run it every day on my computer.

Good practices also include regularly dumping Temporary Internet files and cookies. This will cause you to have to sign in to many of your favorite sites again if you have those sites set to automatically sign you in. It may be convenient to have Windows and other sites remember your passwords, but it is NOT safe. Write them in a private notebook if you must. Also, if you have sites that hang, won't load or load badly, dumping the Temp Internet Files and cookies will often fix this. (In Internet Explorer, go to Tools->Internet Options->General Choose Delete in the Temporary Internet Files area and also Delete Cookies).

I hope these bits of advice will help! Cheers!
P.S. Saw that you added info that you defrag every day; BRAVO!

Answer 3

um need need a program that is called spyware doctor and adware see the spyware doctor from downloads.com u need to register with a key u can find on limewire and adaware se u can find on limewire too and in the ziped file u will see the key in it . and look for windows washer on limewire too its good it cleans ur windows . and then when u do all that try to defrag ur system.

Answer 4

Check for spyware. Run both Ad-aware (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/) and Skybot (http://www.safer-networking.org/) to remove any spyware. Run both as one may caught something the other missing. Then go to microsoft.com and download Defender to protect against future infections.

Answer 5

Go to the help section and click on troubleshooting. Then, "computer running slow", or "slow response". This should hopefully help you.
Have you also defragmented your computer? I know this usually helps me alot.

Answer 6

did you try a disk clean up and disk defrag, and yes you might have spyware, if you doing alot of gaming im sure you do have some

Answer 7

download the trial version of norton internet Security from www.softpedia.com and install it .get update from web for latest antivirus update.then sacn your pc with this software.

but you can use it only for three months,then u hav to buy it.

if you don't wanna spend money then try AvG antivirus from www.grisoft.com

and free anti spyware from www.lavasot.com

and free firewall zonealarm from www.download.com

Answer 8

Let me know if you get a good answer to this. I think most windows operating systems tie themselves in knots with the passing of time. I am considering reloading my o/s from cd and reloading everything from scratch.

Answer 9

http://safety.live.com/site/en-us/default.htm here you go this works real good. it my take 1/2 to 3/4 hour. but it will fix your machine and its free. just click on the Full service scan yellow button . when its done it will automaticly check whats wrong then hit next or continue

Answer 10

Try emptying all caches and then defragmenting the drive.