Why is my computer so slow? Programs won't open and my hard drive runs constantly-HELP PLEASE!!?

Question

I have a Dell Dimension with a Pentium 4 (2.4 GHz) with 512MB of RAM. My computer has never had any significant problems until recently. Suddenly, within the last couple days, my computer bogs down during startup. My desktop appears, but I can't open any programs or windows, or if I do, it takes FOREVER for them to open. My hard drive activity light is constantly on. I have Avast! anti-virus, Spy-bot and Ad-Aware, but the problem is, my computer won't let me open them to run a scan! Eventually, me computer will tell me I'm "critically low on virtual memory". I've tried to turn off any unnecessary applications to free up resources. I've even tried to boot up in Safe Mode, but no luck: when I try, my computer shows a bunch of scrolling lines of file paths or something, then just freezes. The most frustrating part is, my computer is so slow that I can barely get into msconfig or regedit to poke around. Does anyone have any suggestions or advice? Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

okay...try increasing the virtual memory.

right click on my comp and click on properties. click on advanced.click on settings under performance. click on advanced. click on change. check available memory...(space available)

increase initial size and maximum size to about 3000. atleast to about 2000. click on set. click on ok. click on apply. click on ok.

and now try disabling startup in MSCONFIG.

if it still doesn't work, you'll have to reinstall windows.

or try uninstalling the anti virus , see if that helps.

Answer 2

This sounds more like a hardware problem to me.

How full is your hard drive? Does windows have enough space for Swap? If not you will need to either add another drive or delete stuff from a command prompt without windows.

If disk space is fine, check your bios settings to make sure all components are detecting properly. Main things to look at are ram, cpu, and video card.

Furthermore, what does your computer freeze at during a safe mode boot up?

Answer 3

You can try these steps:

1- there is a folder named prefetch has files for programs and windows you open , you can clean it per a week
Start menu --> run --> prefetch --> ok
Then select all file and delete.

2- to make start menu appears quickly
Start menu --> run --> regedit --> ok --> HKEY_CURRENT_USER --> Control Panel --> Desktop -->
Then right click on MenuShowDelay --> select modify
Change the value of 400.

3- when windows start, it open many programs to be ready to start when you want to start it, as programs which it's shortcuts appears in Taskbar , you may chose to stop opening some of them, but don't stop antivirus
Start menu --> run --> msconfig --> ok
Then select Startup tab and uncheck what you want to stop opening when windows start.

4- Windows XP has a lot of graphics which slow computer , you may control of this:
Start menu --> control panel --> system --> advanced --> Performance --> Settings
Then select Adjust for best performance.

5- to increase speed of Internet explorer :
Start menu --> run --> system.ini
This will open text file, you can add this in bottom:
page buffer=100000kbps
load=100000kbps
download=100000kbps
save=100000kbps
back=100000kbps

Good luck

Answer 4

spyware
adware
trojans/virus
hijackers
are the main reason why programs wont open and will cause your pc to run slower than snot.

you need to download a spyware/adware remover....

go here:
http://www.lavasoft.com/

download:
ad-aware personal

Ad-Aware Personal provides advanced protection from known data-mining, aggressive advertising, Trojans, dialers, malware, browser hijackers, and tracking components. This software is downloadable free of charge.



good lucK!

Answer 5

Well you are using windows. Even i do sometimes face the same problem and only practical solution i have found out and implemented is that format your drive and reinstall the os and all the softwares. Its a tedious solution but this is the only one that works.

Answer 6

Spyware,adware, viruses all can cause the what you have told. To me it happened sometime ago and I had only one simple solution which was reformatting my PC. Believe me it worked.

Answer 7

you have a virus, when your hdd light never goes off thats a good sign of a virus