What can I do to find out why my PC is running so slow and taking ages to boot up?

Question

I have already scanned the PC several times with Norton Internet Security 2007 and Spysweeper and it comes up clear on both.
Where my computer used to boot from window start up in about a minute it now takes close to 5 minutes and I also sometimes get completely "Frozen" for 30 seconds a time while using the PC.
The PC will also not install Internet Explorer 7 no matter how many times I try.
I use my PC for work and really don't want to have to reset it back to factory or reinstall windows.
I really want some easy way of finding out what is causing this and solving it.
Cheers

Answer 1

A clean computer is key to a faster computer. Run the 3 scans below.

Update and run your Anti-Virus program. Don't have one? You can run a free online scan from CA.

http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/scan.aspx

Download, update and run Spybot---http://www.safer-networking.org/ . Don't forget to use the Immunize feature.

Download, update and run Adaware---http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/products/select_your_product.php

Now lets clean up your registry.

Download RegScrubXP--http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?d...

Safely cleans junk out of the Windows 2000/XP system registry. All changes made to the registry are fully restorable to it's original condition. You can make an exclusion list of registry entries that RegScrubXP will not display as problems. You can sift through a list of file extensions, company names, run upon startup programs, Internet Explorer history, and uninstall programs to delete what you think is junk.

Download CleanUp---http://www.stevengould.org/software/clea...

Free disk space, make your computer run better/faster and protect your privacy - all in one easy solution. All for free!


Now lets clean up your disk.

Do a Disk Cleanup and Disk Defrag. You can find both of them by following the path below.

Start>all programs>accessories>system tools>Disk Cleanup. Let it do its thing. You can check every box that has something to delete.

Now follow the same path and do a Disk Defrag. Again just let it do its thing.

Now lets tweak your connection. There are many programs out there to do this. I will give you 2 of them.

The first one is TCP Optimizer.

Description: The TCP Optimizer is a free, easy Windows program that provides an intuitive interface for tuning and optimizing your Internet connection. There is no installation required, just download and run.

http://www.speedguide.net/downloads.php...

You can get support for the best way to set it up right from their forum http://forums.speedguide.net/

The second one is Cablenut.

Windows XP tested and approved

CableNut is a tool for optimizing your Internet Connection. We have provided a way to tweak any option you may want to in the adjuster. You can load "CableNut Custom Setting" files that are included with the program to tweak your Internet connection.

http://www.cablenut.com/

Again support is available right from their forum.http://www.broadbandnuts.com/index.php?p...

Finally turn off indexing.

Click on My Computer>right click on C drive> left click on Properties. Now uncheck allow indexing. A windows pops up, just click Ignore All and then Apply. Let it do its thing.

After applying the suggestions above you will have a clean and faster computer. Enjoy.

Answer 2

Could be that your flooding RAM with too many software packages at boot up. Go into your start up folder and see what programmes you have that are booting when you turn on. Things such as Microsoft word usually boot when you start your PC and if your not a journalist then you may not need it to boot straight away, If too many programmes are loading RAM can`t handle all of them at the same time as it store info ready for the CPU so it doesn't have to go look for the programme when its needed. Another possibility maybe that you need to upgrade RAM (Random Access Memory), but don`t make rush decision`s just yet check out a few other leads and you may find what it is that's slowing the system down. You may also want to consider up-grading the system fully..

The website below will give you a Lil insight on how RAM or anything else you want to check works and it`s relationship with other PC components... Good luck...

Answer 3

You might have lots of viruses and spyware. Norton DOES NOT PROTECT your computer as a good program should. Get AVG free edition or Avira AntiVir Free (yep, they don't cost a thing) for the viruses, then Spybot - Search & Destroy (also free) for the spyware, update them, let them to a full scan, and THEN check it out. If you want to pay some money, but receive the best available protection, get Kaspersky Internet Security. It's a single program that acts as antivirus, anti-malware, and firewall.

Also, there's a free program called Advanced Windows Care which may fix some of the problems that already exist.

Google for them and get them, get rid of Norton

Answer 4

Sounds like you need to re-install Microsoft Windows. There isn't an option or a magic way out of avoiding this. If you use Microsoft Windows you need to re-install every 12 months as it just gets slower and slower the more you use it. Its been like this since Windows 98.

Answer 5

Go into start - run and type in msconfig. Click on the Startup tab and remove anything that is not needed. You may just have a bunch of stuff loading that you normally do not use. Of course, if you havent already, do a full anti virus scan as well.

Answer 6

START / RUN/ type msconfig

1) Under SERVICES, hide microsoft & then look at all the crap running when you boot, uncheck anything that you dont need to run.

2) Under STARTUP, uncheck any programs running that you dont need.

3) Next to the time & date on the taskbar, if you have loads of icons, you have loads of stuff starting up and you probably dont need half of them !

Good luck !

Answer 7

Go to PC pitstop on the internet and they will check for free.

Answer 8

http://mypchelp.blogspot.com/2006/10/pc-running-slow.html

Answer 9

try using a microsoft product such as Disk Clean Up, its in the start menu and then system tools, see how that goes

Answer 10

have a look at which programs are running when you boot up...click on start>run then type in mscofig then ok then choose startup and uncheck(untick) the programs you no longer wish to run