Computer space question?

Question

On my "Local disk" it says 76.3GB and 56.0 on "Free Space".

The OS is Pentium, 4 CPU, 1.50 GHz, with 512 MB of RAM.

Does this information tell you pros out there whymy computer has just started running very slowly. Could it be that I am out of space? I have all the firewall and anti-virus programs installed and perform regular clean-ups and checks.

Thanks.

Answer 1

You have a lot of free space on your hard drive, 56 gb. So that is not an issue here.
Your memory could be increased by adding more RAM and that would be useful. The new Vista operating system uses 2 gb of RAM to run well.
If your pc was fast before and slow now, then look at what programs are being loaded in the start up and eliminate some of them. Also check for spyware.
Get a pc nerd to help you with this stuff.
Good luck.

Answer 2

There are several reasons a pc runs slow:
1. Insufficient RAM.
2. Two many programs running at startup.
3. Inflated "Security Suite" programs like Norton.
4. Virus
5. Spy ware
6. Hard disk full
7. Corrupted registry.

First thing you need to do is look at the Task Manager and see how much RAM is actually being used.

Ctl-Alt-Del to open Task Manager and go the Performance tab.

Take a look at the PF Usage graph and see what the number is and compare this with the "Total" number. Total is in Kilobytes and PF usage is in Mega bytes. Convert the Kilobytes to mega bytes (move the DEC point 3 places left)

If the PF usage is larger than total you need more ram or you need to kill some running programs.

To Control the programs that start when the computer starts:
START > RUN > type MSCONFIG and click OK.
Go the to the start up tab and UN-Tick everything except your anti virus program, and reboot the pc.

email me for more info if you need it.

Bill

Answer 3

You didnt run out of space. You have 56 free,
You should get more ram though, like a gig. (Thats 2 - 512) So, if you got 1 gig, you would have 1 1/2 gigs. Antivirus programs do really get the spyware and adware removed. And you may not be cleaning out all those cache files either.

But if it started to run slow, you may have other things going on. Like what is loading at startup?
Check and see. o to start.run and type in msconfig.
Then choose startup tab.
UNCHECK most thing that are not virus program, like aol, printers, Office, you get the idea.
So, first maybe do a defrag and then run some spyware programs. You can print this out and follow it if you want.


*Download, install and the get the updates for the following programs,
<< BUT DO NOT RUN A SCAN YET>>:

Adware
http://www.download.com/3001-8022_4-10731194.html

Spybot15
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html

SuperAntispyware
http://www.superantispyware.com/download.html

*Then, DISCONNECT from the internet. PULL the plug.

*Go to Start>Settings>Control Panel>Internet Options and delete all browsing history (cookies, temporary internet files etc). Check the box, Also delete files and settings stored by add-ons.

*Make sure your folder settings allow you to see the ALL your folders, Go to My Computer>Folder Options>View. CHeck all the show files boxes and UNCHECK all the Hide boxes. Click apply and ok.

*Go to C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Local Settings \temp
Delete all files. (for each user)

*Delete all in recycle bin

*Next, boot up in safe mode (Tap the F8 key every few seconds as the system boots up until the screen Saying Safe Mode option appears).

*Now run the above spyware programs.

I would also download and install Firefox, its less vulnerable than IE.
http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/
(Then configure it for pop-ups and other things, like Clearing everything when you exit. tools>options>privacy tab to clear everything)

Answer 4

If you have all the firewall and virus protection and I assume other programs that you have loaded on the problem is 512 MG ram. You need more upgrade to 1G at least it's not expensive.

Answer 5

u need to upgrade lil bit hun. first of all get more memory ( from 512mb to 1gb or more). then i dont know if u want to get higher speed procesor. 1.5 ghz is not alot , but if u want to spend more $$ u can go higher but its not bad at all. so wat u need to do is get ride of those programs u dont use, just uninstall them. then do a disk clean up and then disk defragment to speed up file loading process. then u can stil remove unwanted files and programs. see if that can help. good luck.

Answer 6

You have plenty of space... you might want to consider upgrading your RAM. But before you do that run a complete scan for viruses and spyware.

Answer 7

in truth neither provide you with more suitable room, the in basic terms thanks to get more suitable room is to purchase a higher confusing force or upload more suitable. My files should be on the C: force and D: is both a partition of a similar confusing force or yet another one. i might want to look at my computing gadget and be conscious which force has more suitable free area and placed the photos there.

Answer 8

it may be the anti-virus programs that are slowing your computer down

Answer 9

Speed up computer:

1) Disable programs that can be disabled to improve computer performance using msconfig.
First: Uninstall any programs listed in "step 1"
http://www.techsupportforum.com/security-center/hijackthis-log-help/15968-updated-important-read-before-posting-log.html

Install MSconfig Update for Windows XP (KB906569)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=9689F6E9-ADED-44B8-BBBB-BEAE1B4A4BC9&displaylang=en

Run PCPitstop "full tests" and "running programs" in the results it will designate programs that can be disabled to improve computer performance. Run MSconfig and uncheck any program "that can be disabled to improve computer performance"
http://www.pcpitstop.com/

How to use MSCONFIG
http://www.netsquirrel.com/msconfig/

Using MSCONFIG to reduce background programs at startup
http://alri.org/step2/usingmsconfig.htm

TASK LIST PROGRAMS A-Z
http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist.htm
http://www.castlecops.com/StartupList.html
http://www.pcreview.co.uk/startup/

The PC Decrapifier
http://www.pcdecrapifier.com/

Startup Delayer v2.3.125
http://www.r2.com.au/software.php?page=2&show=startdelay&PHPSESSID=51519f

Can you learn another language in the time it takes for your machine to boot? Do you turn on your PC when you go to bed, so it's finished booting by the time you get home from work the next day?

When Windows loads it's Startup file, it attempts to load every program in there at the same time. Therefore if you have quite a lot of programs starting when Windows starts, each program will try and grab CPU time so that it can load

Startup Delayer allows you to specify which programs to start first and which ones to delay. You can set a custom delay for each one, even drag the visual display graph which shows you exactly how your programs are starting and allows you to easily modify the order or adjust delay times. (1 second to 100 minutes)

2) Eliminate malware on your computer
------------------------------...
Update your antivirus and run a full scan

If you do not have virus protection install:
AVG Antivirus 7.5 Free Edition
http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/avg-anti-virus-free/lng/us/tpl/v5
http://www.download.com/AVG-Anti-Virus-Free-Edition/3000-2239_4-10669237.html?tag=lst-0-1
or
Free antivirus - avast! 4 Home Edition
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html
------------------------------...
Install Windows Defender (full time spyware protection)
Perform a full scan.
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx
------------------------------...
Install the following five programs and run weekly or at least monthly. You need all five. They are not a substitute for full time spyware and virus protection.

Ad-Aware SE Personal (update + full scan)
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad-aware_se_personal.php

Spybot Search & Destroy (update + immunize + scan)
Do not enable Tea Timer and SDHelper
After installation: update + scan + immunize
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html

SpywareBlaster: Update then open and click “enable all protection”.
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

SUPERAntiSpyware free version: (update + scan)
http://www.superantispyware.com/

CCleaner: Do not install toolbar option
Removes tracking cookies, unneeded files, history
In options.
Set to run when computer starts.
Place cookies you want to keep in save list
http://www.ccleaner.com/
------------------------------...
Additional run this time and as needed.

Microsoft OneCare Live, run “full service scan”
Updates windows, virus and spyware scan, disk cleanup, disk fragmentation (if needed), backs up registry and then cleans registry, and checks for open firewall ports
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/default.htm

Malicious Software Removal Tool (run “full scan”)
http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx
------------------------------
Run this time:

CWShredder: run
http://www.trendmicro.com/cwshredder/
Shoot The Messenger
http://www.grc.com/stm/shootthemessenger.htm


VX2 tool for Ad-Aware and run tool (Install and run)
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/securitycenter/vx2_cleaner.php
-----------------------------------------
Special Removal Tools
Run only if indicated

Roguefix.bat
http://www.internetinspiration.co.uk/roguefix.htm
SmitFraudFix
http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/How_to_use_SmitFraudFix-t109268.html
Vundo Fix and
VirtumundoBegone (if VundoFix does not work)
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic18610.html
Vundo Rootkit Removal
http://wiki.castlecops.com/Vundo_Rootkit_Detection_and_Removal_Procedure
------------------------------
Online Scanners

Trend Micro: HouseCall Free Scan (removes what it finds)
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/
BitDefender Online Scanner
http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html
Kaspersky Labs Online Scanner
http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner
McAfee
http://us.mcafee.com/root/mfs/default.asp?affid=294
Panda ActiveScan Free Online Scanner
http://www.pandasoftware.com/products/activescan?
Symantic Online Scanner
http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/ssc_eula.asp?langid=ie&venid=sym&plfid=23&pkj=ALUFRHYTINMHDKDCWLL&vc_scanstate=2
------------------------------...

3) Run "check disk" check both options and restart.
Run Disk Cleanup then Disk Defragment.
4 Ways to Speed Up Your Computer's Performance
http://www.microsoft.com/atwork/getstarted/speed.mspx

4) Update your drivers
How to update a Windows hardware driver
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial119.html

To find drivers:
Google the manufacturer's name and go to the manufacturer's site for you computer/motherboard; video card; sound card; network card; printer; scanner; mouse; web cam; etc. Each site will have a support section to find the latest drivers and download them. You will need to know the make and model number. If you do not know the make and model number run Belarc Advisor and look in Windows Device Manager.

Belarc Advisor
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

5) Reduce resources needed for protection:
Replace Norton with NOD32, AVG, Avast, etc.
Use the Windows Firewall (very light on resources)

6) Add more ram. 1GB for XP; 2GB for Vista

7) Faster video card. Make sure you are using the latest driver,

8) Faster Internet service

9) Faster computer / processor

10) Format drive and reinstall everything

11) AusLogics Registry Defrag
http://www.auslogics.com/registry-defrag/
http://www.download.com/Auslogics-Registry-Defrag/3000-2094_4-10694974.html
As a result of keeping the registry defragmented and as small as possible, your computer performance will be improved.