My computer is very slow. What happened?

Question

- this morning, it was working fine, the problem happened this afternoon
- it is now at 100% CPU usage (see windows task manager) from the startup compared to my laptop which is at 2% CPU usage
- i am using windows xp at 1GB ram
- most of my startup programs have been disabled since the action was taken

- the hard drive i have is around 80 GB

- there are only 2-4 GB left but it has been like this for months

Answer 1

When you open task manager, click on the tab labeled "Processes". Make sure that box at the bottom called "Show processes for all users is checked". Now click on the column header labeled CPU. You might need to do this twice. It will order processes by which is using the most CPU. This will tell you what is causing the problem. You can kill the process here as well.

I've seen Outlook sometimes go crazy and use 100% of the CPU, also IE and Firefox, particularly after a return from hibernate.

Answer 2

The problem might be because of the viruses. Or u might have been installed all of ur softwares in the path c:\program files or in windows
This also create problem while restarting or in working it slow down the system.
U better un install all ur programs and re install all those in other drive letter and work.
If the problem continues still then u have to do two options either u defragment ur drive or disk clean up . this can be done by selecting the particular drive right click it and then choose properties and in the tabs u choose tools and go for checking for errors in the drive or defragment it or go for disk clean up there.
Or it may be because of the virus get an updated virus software and scan for virus delete un necessary files in it and also u permenantly delete the files in recycle bin.
If the problem occurs after this u change ur account by go to control panel choose user accounts in that create an new account and create new account as computer administrator and then click ok to proceed.
If u create new account all ur files in the my documents may be deleteed so b4 doing this u create a back up for this and copy it in other drive.
If the problem persist after this also then u better install a new OS.
U didnt mention what u did finally .. ok lt it be u try this it will help. And also u said ur startup has been disabled click start go to run type msconfig and press enter you will b shown one window in that u choose normal startup or u choose selective start up and click ok . it will ask that to restart u choose ok or u disable the un wanted items there by de checking in startup tab there.
hope this will help u
THANK U

Answer 3

There are many reasons why your computer slowed:

1. A virus
2. You don't have much free space in your hard drive.
3. There is a rogue program that is sucking resources.
4. Your hard drive is heavily defragmented.

Solutions:

1. Run an anti-virus program, scan your computer. BE SURE that the program has the latest virus definition BEFORE you scan the computer.
2. Delete some files/programs you are not using to clear space on your hard drive.
3. Run anti-spyware software that may find a rogue script on your computer.
4. Run Disk Defragmenter (or better yet, go to http://www.diskeeper.com andn buy the latest Diskeeper program).

Good luck!

Answer 4

Go to start/run/ and type msconfig, then click on the startup tab and click to disable everything, then reboot. After reboot recheck the cpu. If it's ok, go back and reenable the items you recognize and reboot again. After reboot recheck the cpu again. It it's still ok, you can go back and add the others one at a time rebooting after each add until you find the problem, but keep in mind disabling startup doesn't do anything until you reboot. Good Luck!

Answer 5

If you have a massive hard drive (over 40 gig begins to be massive) which hasn't been partitioned and the OS is sitting together with all your downloads then that's the usual problem.

Most people who have these 250 gigs drives and have the OS mixed up with their downloads find that once they have some 25 gigs of data their computers crawls to a halt even when opening Outlook Express. I have big drives butthe os is sitting on a7 gigs partition and I am not using XP either, I am using win2K so I don't waste RAM on silly graphics.

Answer 6

It's probably because of a virus. Some viruses can occur without any warning or signs of arrival. Get the latest Virus Checking software download and get that product to search your computer. If it is a virus, then it can be easily taken from your software, no worries.

Answer 7

Sounds like a virus Infection.Try scanning for Viruses.
OR
Use your system rstore Utility to return to your previous settings and see what happens.Uninstall recently installed software,and all the other stuff you dont need.Also,perform a disk clean up.Go to control panel,performance and maintanance,free up space on your Hard drive and choose the appropriate drive to clean.

Answer 8

I'm not expert at computer. I don't understand about computer very well. But I have an experience like that you experience now.
First of all , delete the file you don't want.
Second , clean your drive C and D. Please go to start-program-accessories-system tools-Disk cleanup.
Third , defragment the drive C and D. Please go to start-program-accessories-system tools-Disk Defragmenter.
It is important to stop using the computer when you make these.

Answer 9

Use a restore point.

Sounds virus related. You should check your task manager and see what's using up your ram.

Answer 10

It may be a service
in msconfig go to services tab
check the box to hide all microsoft and test by turning the others off.