why is my computer slow when starting up?

Question

i recently had a few viruses on my computer. after getting rid of my old antivirus program, i downloaded a new one from norton. unforntuantely, the large size of the program caused my computer to be incredibly slow after i turned on the computer. for example, my internet browser would take a long time to open, and things like microsoft word documents would take a whopping 15-20 mins to open. after conducting virus scans with norton and not finding anything, i got rid of it, because i thought it was making my computer slow. i then got AVG, and after i did a scan, it found a trojan. thing is, now the scans from AVG i do show no viruses, but still, when i turn on the computer, it takes anywhere from 20 mins to an hour for everything to speed up to normal levels. at these normal levels, my computer is fine. is my computer just loading everything up after i turn it on? or is there still a virus? if so, should i change my antivirus prgram?

Answer 1

follow that ::--

1.CLEAN YOUR TEMPORARY FILES AND OBSOLETE REGISTRY ENTRIES REGULARLY. how ?? --->
Download CCleaner and run it’s Cleaner section, once daily, before shutting down your computer.
It removes all the trash files that are created while surfing through the net. Use its Issues
section once a while to delete all the unused registry keys. Another good cleaner, Disk Cleaner,
can be used along with CCleaner for even better results.

2.REMOVE ALL THE UNWANTED AUTO-START ENTRIES. MOST IMPORTANT PART
If you have a lot of Auto Start entries, then you should remove them. To do so, go to Start > Run.
Type 'msconfig' in the box and then click 'Startup' tab. Uncheck anything that is unnecessary.
Of course, you can revert that in future. Just go back to MSConfig and check anything back that
you removed from the start-up list. However, you should not remove any of the security related
startups (read next point), like the real-time shields of your anti-virus / anti-spyware, firewall etc.

3.KEEP YOUR COMPUTER SAFE AND GET RID OF VIRUSES AND ALL OTHER FORMS OF MALWARE.
Any Windows computer connected to the Internet MUST have an anti-virus, a firewall and and one or two anti-spyware.
They MUST be regularly kept updated with the latest detection databases. The real-time monitoring of the anti-virus and any one of the anti-spyware should always remain active .
I give u some free and good anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewall, you can get them get them all:
> Anti-virus: AVG
> Anti-spyware: Spyware Terminator , a-squared Free
> Firewall:Comodo Personal Firewall


N.B. Never keep two anti-virus or firewall on a single system. If you are already using a good anti-virus
or firewall, then you need not download the corresponding one. You can, however, use as many anti-spywares
as you want, provided you use the real-time protection shield of only one of these.

3.ALWAYS MINIMISE THE USAGE OF RAM.(Only for those with 256MB or less RAM)
For this purpose, you may keep a virtual memory booster as an auto-start entry. It frees the clogged RAM.
I use RAM Booster, which is very effective. Here is the link to download it:
http://www.download.com/rambooster/3000-...
To configure it, please follow these steps:
* Click on Edit > Options and tick the follow options:
(a) Set auto optimisation on
(b) Show CPU usage
(c) Start minimised
(d) Launch automatically at start up
Also, change the ‘Auto Optimisation Level’ and 'MB of RAM to free at auto level' as per your requirement.

4.DON'T JAM YOUR MOTHER DRIVE (C:).
Keep at least 35% of your C: free. Transfer all the music, image and video files to other drives.

5.DEFRAGMENT THE HARD DRIVES PERIODICALLY.
Defragment the hard drives (especially C:) once every month. To defrag, go to Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools >
Defragment. It takes a lot of time (50 minutes or over) so don’t become impatient. It’s for your computer’s good.

6.You may get the free Google Web Accelerator to boost up your Internet speed http://webaccelerator.google.com/

7.ALWAYS KEEP YOUR RECYCLE BIN EMPTY.

8.USE MINIMUM POSSIBLE SHORTCUTS ON YOUR DESKTOP.

9.IF YOU HAVE GENUINE WINDOWS, KEEP IT UPDATED EVERY MONTH. IT HELPS A LOT BY FIXING MANY VULNERABLE SECURITY ISSUES

10.HEAVY GAMES CAN PUT A LOT OF PRESSURE ON VIRTUAL MEMORY. SO, STAY AWAY FROM THEM IF YOU HAVE 512MB OR LESS RAM.

11.SET YOUR WALLPAPER TO BLANK.
You will hate this suggestion, but believe me; blank wallpaper helps a faster startup.

Note :- when u run antispyware or antivirus run it in safe mode
how --->To do so, go to Start > Run Type 'msconfig' in the box choose diagnostic from
the general tabe and retart ur computer run the antispyware and do not forget to do all over
again but choose normal instead of diagnostc

Answer 2

You could still have a virus, try this: (If using ME or XP)
First turn off System Restorer, and then try starting your computer in the Safe Mode. Once in safe Mode, run your anti virus program, and any and all spyware programs. Once this is done restart your computer in the normal mode and turn your System Restorer back on. Make sure all anti virus and spyware program are updated on a regular basis. If this does not work, you may need to reload Windows and when you do be sure to add Service Pack 2, Good Luck By The Way, in my opinion AVG is a very good free program just be sure you are using version 7.5 Also Norton is a very hard program to uninstall from your computer, it leaves lots of thing behind. There is a Norton Tool which can be downloaded from the web (free) that will clear all items from your computer.

Answer 3

If the slowness started with Norton, that would be because norton like Windows is bloatware... That is to say, it does what it's supposed to do but it sure takes up a TON of disk space and hogs the entire pc and when you uninstall it there is still pieces of it everywhere.

I hate to say it but, having been through this a few times, you're probably just going to hack at it until you get it right. I would start by using some Adware cleaners and Spyware cleaners and use free stuff you can find like Lavasoft's Adaware, then clean up all your temp files and cookies and history and crap.
Also uninstall anything you no longer need, once your computer is as clean as you can get it, you may have to empty recycle bin and clean up some parts on your hard-drive by browsing through it manually (sux i know) and once all that is done, try running a registry cleaner (also u can find free) and just keep doing that until it runs, there are also other av progs out there u can try, sometimes a troj is persistent and one av will get rid of it but others will not...

Answer 4

Go to C:\Windows\Prefetch and delete everything "INSIDE" that folder, not the folder itself but everything inside that.

After that, go to www.ccleaner.com, clean up your old useless junk files, some old and useless registry keys, etc. On the left side of CCleaner, there's some tabs or options, they should say "Cleaner, Issues, etc." go to Cleaner and run a clean,
then go to Issues and and fix registry issues. Look for registry issues about 3 times, CCleaner misses some the first time.

I forgot to mention, also check for Spyware. Download AVG Spyware, Spybot, or any other program that is trusted.

If none of the above works, I would do a clean install of Windows.

PS: Don't use Norton, McAfee, or any of those "commercially" famous anti-virus. They are nothing but bloated, and they never really work that well. The only anti-viruses I trust are Avast and AVG.

Hope this helps,
Steven

Answer 5

According to your description,there are some regsitry errors and virus remnant,virus corrupt files and temp files in your computer to cause "computer slow".You need to clean you computer.
Every time you install and uninstall software on your computer,Delete virus and surfing online you create junk in the registry.over time, the registry can grow to enormous proportions, especially if the various programs you've installed do not do a good job of deleting and/or updating it's Registry entries.You need to scan and clean your computer with registry cleaner to make your computer faster.Good Regisry Cleaner will improve your computer and Internet performance dramatically!It even can speed up your computer by 300% or more!
There are some comparison and review of
TOP 5 registry cleaners.
http://www.****************************

You can download and scan your computer for free.

Answer 6

Have you tried scanning for spyware? There are many free ones out there. I found this guide pretty helpful, hope this helps. http://www.basicspywaretips.com/getridofspyware.html

Answer 7

You probably have spyware installed on your machine. AVG does not check for that.

Answer 8

Visit zolve.com
There is an experts division in that site.
Ask them
http://www.freebyte.com/technical_support/

See all links of this site upto bottom:
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http://www.ammas.com/ar/home.cfm?r=taq&topicid=315&bid=1519
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http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/bowrageeks/
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http://hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/65263/
http://ukcitymedia.co.uk/free_advice/pc_computer.php
http://groups.msn.com/FreePCCleanupSecurity
http://www.computer-advice.info/category/computers/hardware/
http://www.seaton-online.com/
http://www.speakwithageek.com/

Answer 9

Here are some tips to help your system run better. Most spyware/malware/trojen removing software just sucks.

Here’s a quick run down from Download.com:
With the ability to scan your RAM, Registry, hard drives, and external storage devices for known data-mining, advertising, and tracking components, Ad-Aware SE easily can clean your system, allowing you to maintain a higher degree of privacy while you surf the Web. Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition boasts a number of improvements. Extended memory scanning now scans all modules loaded by a process. Scanning uses the all- new CSI (Code Sequence Identification) technology to identify new and unknown variants of known targets. Extended Registry scanning now scans Registry branches of multiple-user accounts and performs additional smart checks to detect dynamically created references. Scanning speed is noticeably faster, and this version offers an Extended Scanning mode for known and unknown/possible browser hijackers.

Go download Ad-Aware Personal from here:
http://www.download.com/3000-2144-10045910.html

Press the “download now” link. If nothing pops up, then you’re using a pop up stopper and to by pass this you should press the “Ctrl” button on your key board. Now a file download box should pop up. Press “Run”. After installing the software, you will press “start” on the application. Be sure the “perform smart system scan” option is bubbled in. Now press “next”. Once it has scanned your system for possible hijackings, malware, spy ware and such, now its time to delete them. Press next. Place a check mark in all boxes except for the one labeled “MRU List” as this is not necessary to delete. Click OK and now you’re done.
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Now, if you have anti virus software, and you have viruses, you might want to consider changing to a better virus protection. If you paid for McAfee or Norton, sorry, it’s too bad, because you can go download Avast anti virus for free, and its way better. But you have to uninstall your old anti virus. Go to Start/Control panel/Add Remove programs, and uninstall the other one you have. Alot of people are saying to use AVG, but unless they have improved it, it used to be a resource hog, meaning slow your system dramatically.

Here’s a quick run down from Download.com:
Avast Home Edition is a complete ICSA certified and Secure Computing Magazine awarded antivirus software for home noncommercial use. Avast includes the following components: On Demand Scanner—with skinnable simple interface—just select what do you want to scan in which way and press the Play button; On Access Scanner—special providers to protect the most of available e-mail clients; Instant Messaging—ICQ, Miranda; Network traffic—intrusion detection—lightweight firewall; P2P protection for Kazaa, BitTorrent; Web shield—monitors and filter all HTTP traffic; NNTP Scanner—scans all Usenet Newsgroup traffic and all operations with files on PC; Boot Time Scanner—scans disks in the same way and in the same time as Windows CHKDSK does.

I have been using this program for about four years, and wouldn’t change if you paid me.
Here’s the link:
http://www.download.com/3000-2239-10019223.html

Go head and repeat last steps for downloading and installing this program too. Once you install it, the program will ask you if you want to run a boot scan and answer that with a YES. This boot scan scans your boot up for viruses and is a great tool. Here’s a quick rundown on how to run this antivirus:
Once it’s open, click on the icons to the right. First the one that looks like a hard drive, then the one that looks like a CD. Next, click on the one that looks like a folder and select the “My Computer” icon. Next click on the Icon on the left that is the letter A. This sets the sensitivity level, set it to high. Now press the PLAY button and it will scan you system, most likely finding Viruses your crappy anti virus never found.
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I know this is a long explanation, but I figured it was better than just telling you to go download these programs you never have used before, then you have to figure out how to use it, how annoying.

Once your done with this, go to your start menu. Go to Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools and then run the Disk Clean Up first, then once this is done, using the same method of finding disk cleanup, use your Disk Defragmenter.

Follow these steps if you haven’t already, and you will see a difference immediately. Now keep in mind, the computer wasnt slowed in five minutes, so dont expect to fix it in five minutes. You will have to have some patients in order to finish all of these step, but it is well worth it. I have more information that can help you like stopping programs that are unnecessarily running in the background and slowing your system down, the how to. Contact me via email, let me know how this worked out, and I will send a step by step instructions how to stop progs from running with out your knowledge in your configuration settings.

Good luck!