PC running slow, like there's another program in the background?

Question

What does this mean - having the PC running at an extremely slow speed. I ran the PC through Antivirus, and Ewido, and nothing's come up. I've defragged it, but it always sounds 'busy', like it's running another program in the background, maybe?
How do I find out, and what could be the cause of this?

Answer 1

Well, it could be the hard drive getting ready to die. It doesn't mean it is, but its a possibility. Check your processes in the Process Manager. (CTRL+Alt+Delete) Type each one into google if you don't know what it is. Sometimes spyware can be hiding in the processes. I would also try a couple other programs. Theres a very few that are safe. Out of 100 programs, maybe 5 are are good. The others a rouge products that pose as antispyware or something, and are actually spyware.

Download these and run them.
Spybot SEARCH and destroy. NOT SEEK. Seek and Destroy is the rogue product that looks exactly the same as normal, but when you load it, you load spyware.

Ad-aware

SUPERantispy

Yahoo Antispy

AVG

And, if you don't have a Firewall, Download Zonealarm free version. If you have no firewall, that is more then likely the whole problem. You have your ports open and anyone can enter freely and do whatever they want.



Also try download a Process Manager...like MYProcman...or something like that. I can't remember the name exactly.

You can also do this. hit Start, Go to Run, Type in MSCONFIG, hit enter. Then go to the startup, Uncheck everything but your firewall, and Explorer...if its there. XP it doesnt show up, but older systems it did.

You may also have used almost all your hard drive, so whenever it does something, it has to search the whole thing. Or maybe there isnt enough ram. Like, when I do a deep virus/spyware/adware search with Zonealarm, the whole computer lags, and it constantly sounds like its running something. And anything I try to do is slow. So, double check all the running programs, make sure there yours and not spyware, and shutoff anything you dont need.

Hope this helps

Answer 2

This should be a fast pc,for sure. However, loading programs is mostly a function of the hard drive. So more ram does not speed that up. What you should notice is that when you work in the programs they should be faster. If not, then look at your cpu utilization using Windows Task Master (called up with Ctrl-alt-del) If there is lots of cpu being used,then look for spyware and viruses. Also, look at the Processes to see what stuff is running at the same time. Sometimes a bunch of stuff loads up that you do not need and which uses memory. Good luck.

Answer 3

1. Go to Control Panel, then Add/Remove Programs.
2. Look threw the programs and uninstall all of the programs that you know what they are and know you dont need them. Be careful what you uninstall because you dont want to delete your drivers for your computer.
3. Go to www.downloads.com and in the search bar type Panda Antivirus and download Panda Antivirus 2007. Install it and run it. You will need to uninstall any other antivirus program you may have. Panda is one of the best virus protectors.
4. Go to www.downloads.com once again download Spyware Doctor. Install it and run it.
5. Go to www.downloads.com and download jv16 Power Tools. It has a registry mechanic in it once you have it installed choose the option Registry Cleaner and choose Aggressive scan and scan it. This will make your computer run much faster.
6. Either right click on your internet explorer and go to the option Properties or open internet explorer At the top choose the option Tools and then the option Internet Options. Delete files, history, cookies, saved passwords and web form information.

This is all the ways to make your computer completly like new! Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Following things u may want to check (For windows only)

- Task Manager -> Processes tab - > Click CPU menu to sort it. U should see some process hogging ur CPU. If u find it suitable, u can end the process like killing it. B careful though.

- Task manager->Processes tab->Click on Memory usage menu to sort it. Should u find any process eating up ur RAM, kill it.

- Since u already done defrag and virus scan, go for Spyware and Adware scan.

- Check if u have background services running in ur PC. Settings-> Control panel-> Administrative tools->Services. If u find any service that's the culprit, change it's startup settings to manual so that it doesn't start automatically with ur pc.

Best of luck :)

Answer 5

Close out unneeded programs in taskbar.

ctrl+alt+delete/processes - you can end programs running here

Start/Run - type msconfig
go to startup and uncheck any program you don't want to start when u boot

Clean up desktop if it is full of shortcuts

You need to increase ram because you are running so many programs that your ram is all being used so the reason why it sounds like its writing is because you are writing to your harddrive for the virtual memory - Basically when you use up all your ram then your harddrive takes its place - Best way to fix is either add more ram or close out programs to free up more resources

Answer 6

For me this is a cycle I go through. I do not trust the ad-ware deleting software because I think they are the ones behind the adware.

Every few months I simply restore my computer to it's factory state through restore points (I have a VAIO) . Reformatting is a great way to go too.

It's kind of a pain in the butt, but it makes everything run perfect again without installing unnecessary programs.

Answer 7

i have the same problem but much worse, when i start up my computer it runs so slow that u cannot open anything, get ur computer re-imaged (have it wiped and then have everything loaded back on) fixes the problem but i also found a temoporary solution:

connect a usb memory stick or external hard drive to ur computer and procede to copy a folder of somthing onto ur storage device (preferably something large in size). then go to control + alt + delete and select to shut down your computer. The computer will go through a process of closing a whole heap of non responsive programs and then it will say that windows is working wit a file and cannot shut down.

the computer closes the programs/viruses that are slowing down ur computer but then stops itself from shutting down completely, leaving u to work on ur computer at normal speeds.

hope this helps

Answer 8

Could definately be a sign of spyware, which is downloaded by going to 'questionable' or strange sites, they can be very troublesome, not a virus particularly, but they can cause changing of you homepage and be cause for popups...

maybe try going to download.com and downloading 'Adaware' its free and its pretty good as far as I know.

it could also be that some of the programs you use such as AIM or YahooIM could be occupying your RAM... or perhaps you havent rebooted your PC for awhile...

Hope this helps.

Answer 9

maybe your infected with adware, spyware and malware try downloading SPYBOT SEARCH and destroy. It's a great utility and its free. Or Try this solution

Click start then "run"

Type in "msconfig" w/o the quotation

and at the last tab named "startup"

uncheck those programs you don't want your PC to load at startup

And then click apply then ok

then restart....

Enjoy

here is the downloadable link of spybot
http://www.download.com/Spybot-Search-Destroy/3000-8022_4-10122137.html

Answer 10

You probably have spyware uploading your stuff to somebody's server on the web. Download Spybot and adaware from Download.com and run both of them.