Why does my d/top pc get slower and slower?

Question

I am getting so frustrated I want to kick it. It is an Advent 3000 with plenty of memory unused.I also have 80gb Freecom external HD. Also,how can I remove the many start up items??

Answer 1

Whoah whoah....before you go tearing your PC to bits there are a number of reasons why it can get slower.

This is quite a long reply so bare with me.

The thing with Windows is, despite its best efforts, its a messy OS. Other OS's have problems too but due to some of the complexities of windows it lends itself more to being messed up.

The registry, which is essentially a huge database made up of two parts (a machine specific part and a user specific part) contains settings and values for everything on your computer.

The concept of the registry is a great one, in many aspects, since it removes the situation commonly found on other OS's such a linux whereby configuration is scattered among different ini files (conf files in the *nix world) which are not always in the same place.

The registry is loaded in to memory so it is quick to access as well, there should be little to no disk activity required to retrieve registry setting(s). This concept works untill it begins to get messy.

So how does it get messy? Many reasons but almost definately the worst offender is the "Uninstaller" process of many programs including some of Microsofts own. Each time you install and run a program there will almost definately nowadays be 1 or more new keys (keys are folders in the registry) created and within these keys values will be stored. Many uninstallers do not remove all these keys when the program is no longer in use. Over time your registry will invariable grow in size, this affects the performance twofold.

1. The registry is in memory so you are losing available free RAM.

2. The database that is the registry will start to get slower to search. (This will probably be less of a factor than the first one)

Windows is providing more and more tools to try keep systems well maintained but unfortunately the registry is a very difficult beast to tame since it is reliant on everyone who uses it to clean up after themselves. Even so-called registry mechanic tools are limited in how much they can help (although any help is good). These will usually look for invalid OLE/COM entries which are easy to pick out since they often linke to single file (dll / exe). Leftover program settings are very very difficult to identify other than by hand.


Ok, moving on...(sorry told you this was long)...Your computer runs a number of programs in the background right up from the kernel at the lowest level to your try icon for volume at the higest level. These can be launched in a number of ways.

Kernel (et al base services)- Part of the windows bootstrap...you dont want to worry about this anyway.

Device Drivers - In NT4 there used to be a Device Manager similar to Service Manager now you have the visual tool within the System Control Panel that allows you enable or disable drivers. Dont worry about this too much either. Windows will generally only load the drivers you need anyway. (I do say generally!)

Services - These are regsitered programs designed to run in the background. (Registered where? Well the registry of course.. (HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services) these programs are written specifically with certain functions exposed to allow them to act as a service. These will normally be background tasks such as your printer spooler (printing ability) or network services which are not linked to a specific piece of hardware like a device driver.
Whilst still not the worst offenders, uneccessary services can use up RAM that could otherwise be spared.
Some programs do create services when they are installed and will usually tell you so. Not wanting to go in to too much depth here all I will say is that a few google searches should help you find information on pruning your services (i.e. which ones you need to make the system work and which you dont).

Next we have the registry Run keys (remember the registry is made up of two parts a machine one and a user one hence there are two run keys), these are located at HKLU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run and
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run. In here are entries for exe files that are run when a user logs on to the PC. These will commonly be things like your taskbar icons for things like your antivirus program or graphics card e.t.c. It is also the worst offender for getting cluttered. Offenders here are:
P2P Sharing programs like to dump their startup in here.
Media players - real player, quicktime e.t.c. mess this up bad.
And unfortunately...a lot of trojans / viruses will hide stuff in here.

Finally, although this is more historical the Startup folder in your profile forms a similar function to the registry keys but this is now retained more for historical purposes since the above.

Between all these different locations (and especially the more you move through that list) you can inadvertantly end up loading a lot un unneccessary cr@p! When you load this all it eats up RAM. When you have less free RAM your programs will not be able to use as much and end up having to run from the disk more.

There is a lot of info and tools out there that will help you tidy up your memory usage although I prefer to do it manually as it really is the best way.

Ok so that pretty much covers memory, what next?

Disks, as some people have already mentioned and I am sure by the time I post this more will no doubt have said. Disks similar to the registry will over time become messy. To give a massively over simplified explaination of what is known as fragmentation:

Write file1 (250k) to disk, Write file2 (64k) to disk, Write file 3 (90k) to disk. Assume the disks places these sequentially.

|...file1...|..file2..|...file3...|

say you delete file 2.

|...file1...|..64k..|...file3...|

windows can not use this space very easily. This is not a very accurate description but I dont exactly want to write a book here. Conceptually if you pciture it like this however you will not go far wrong.

Fortunately this problem can be quite easily fixed since even windows included a disk defragmenter. Although if it becomes a real issue sorry for the sales punt but I have found that PerfectDisk is the best defragmenter around. Under normal circumstances the windows one is just fine tho. These will reorganise the data on your disk so that it is "better ordered" with less gaps.

Ok now some less obvious ones...an avid overclocker would probably pick up on these but the average home user will start squinting at me and start angling for the door.

Over time your computer case will get filled with dust. The ball bearings on fans will go (noisy fan syndrome). Ok...erm what am I on about....well computers work best when they are cold. The reason for all the fans and ventilation is that its trying to keep the computer cold. You would be very surprised how much difference a CPU operating temperature varying by 5 degrees C will make. No I am not crazy, look how silly people get about this on overclocking forums. If your computer is a few years old it has likely filled with dust. Some fans will be noisy/failing or just all out failed. The overall operating temp of your comp will probably have risen by 5 degrees or more. This can actually make a difference! As strange as it may sound, computers can really benefit from a spring clean and a quick fan servicing :D

The final reason for PC's getting slower is ultimately because programs are getting more complex however. Ok this is obvious I know but it needs to be said.

Anyway....to summarise...it sounds like you are on the right tracks by looking for programs that are starting at boot.

Your main offenders will almost definately be in the registry under:

HKLU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

HKLM (HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE)
HKLU (HKEY_LOCAL_USER)

and unlikely but possibly under the Startup folder.

You can find the first two by running regedit.

and can find the other by going to the Startup folder in your start menu, right clicking and selecting explore.

Last of all you want to make sure you have no virus's or spyware. These will usually launch via one of the methods above but may try conceal their identity. AV / Spyware tools will do the job here for ya.

As a final note: some of my most hated registry run items:
(This a my personal list, others may disagree)

TkBell - Real player....biggest waste of poo... realplayer works fine without
qttask - As above but apples offensive tool.
jusched - Java (I think i can live with not having my java updated the second a new release is brought out....I just download newer versions when i need it or browse past it).
Every P2P sharing program...like to load on boot so other people can get your files.
Adobe acrobat startup item (cant remember what its called now)
Microsoft office startup item again useless.

Hope this helps, there is much information out there and many tools to let you prune out the rubbish.

For a free one download Spybot Search and Destroy. It has other tools in it to allow you to enable / disable startup items in the registry.

(p.p.s. for anyone that moans I have not included files like system.ini or win.ini here is my inclusion, but I did not think they would likely be a big enough cause of problems)

Answer 2

Do disk cleanup and defrag (in Windows). Delete everything you don't need or use, or store it on a memory stick.. Then defrag again. Unless you have a restore disk (you will bring it back to it's original state and lose all your files), or a Windows disk where you can retain existing files you are stuck. Extra memory is the most likely way to increase speed, but really you should tidy up first before spending.

Answer 3

I would guess this is becuase of all the programs you have installed (hence the many items in your start up items)

programs can be removed by clicking the add/remove programs button which I think is found in settings somewhere.

If that happened to me thought I would probably format and reinstall or use my recovery disks to go back to how it was when it was new.

Answer 4

maybe your pc is infected by virus or spyware now a days a spyware running through internet when you open wrong url or adult website your pc will be infected.
For solution if any antivirus in your system uninstall after some times install then check daily update your pc you go to msconfig then open startup files copy startup files to any drive.
problem is solve.If not plz chat with me on yahoo messenger

Answer 5

Well it could be a virus but get rid of all the programs that you no longer use and maybe get a external hard drive and put all your media on that and just have programs on your pc. Also close any programs that are opertating in the background that you are not using.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

may be a virus, go to pc tools .com and down load spyware doctor [ free ] to run a spyware virus check
if it helps you can buy the main download, maybe you need registry mechanic as well from the same people they really work very well at keeping your system clear of problems
good luck

Answer 8

you could try defraging the hard drive or put a programme on called system mechanic 6 it does it all automatic and is quite good for keeping your pc running smooth as for removing start up programmes click start/all programmes/start up and then delete them from the list by right clicking

Answer 9

from doule clicking thinking its goin to go faster it really jis makes it go slower and slower in time and i suppose there r other ways

tnx

Answer 10

Well its simple its been infected by virus. Go to a computer repair shop and reprogram it ok buddy hope this helps

Answer 11

check for virus or free some unuseful programme