PC experts only please... slow PC with no apps / processes running?

Question

I have a PC running WinXP Pro. From time to time it starts running slow. The performance meter of the Task Manager shows 60 to 70% CPU usage even without any application open. At the Processes tab the only active process is System Idle Process at 99%.
Restart of the computer solves the problem until the next occurance.
The machine is frequently scanned aginst spyware and uses antivirus.

Any suggestions for remedy?

Thanks in advance,
Eran

Answer 1

How to make your computer faster

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...





All programs are FREE!



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

Answer 2

What most users dont understand is how to configure each program they have on their PC's because its these that can slow it down quite a bit

Hows your firewall?
How have your configured it correctly?

Thes programs will automatically update themselves so need to be ALL reconfigured to update manually

-Firewall
-Anti-virus
-Windows Update
-Nero
-Quicktime
-many others..

These are usual culprits - Just manually update each at your leisure - i usually do the impotant ones once a week (antivirus & firewall: windows i only update if i have problems with it)

Answer 3

try this software