Slow/Overworking PC?

Question

Since approx 1 year ago my 3 year old desktop computer has been very slow and seems to be overworking (tremendously). I have ran virus software, disk cleanup, defragmenter and everything I know to do but it doesn't help. It also has a lot of disk space available so it can't be the memory. What can be the problem?

Answer 1

If everyone trust their anti virus software to protect 100%, then think again.

As you said you have done almost all usual user performed tasks without results, it could be your antivirus software either not working, or its working overtime taking up all your CPU performance.

Answer 2

3rd answer was good. Blowing dust out will *definitely* *not* speed up your system - although it's not a bad idea. It is also possible - but *highly* unlikely - that your antivirus software is hogging a significant amount of CPU time.

Backing up necessary data files and then re-installing the OS can often lead to an unburdened system. It's quite a project, though. I do mine about twice a year.

It *sounds* as if you're disk is "thrashing". This happens when both RAM and virtual memory (hard disk space) are insufficient. The symptom is the hard disk is accessed far more than seems necessary. It can also happen if your system has contracted spyware (not the same as a virus).

Another very common cause of this malady is that people gain access to faster systems at work. After working several hours per day on a faster system, the one at home seems slower by comparison. In fact, this is probably the *most* common cause.

A final possible culprit is software with a "memory leak". Such software can cause this behavior until the system is rebooted.

I would pursue the following course:

1) If re-booting solves the problem - temporarily - then you can be pretty sure that it is a memory leak problem. One or more of your programs are hogging your valuable RAM. Try to use individual programs, or do what I do and reboot at least once per day.

2) If it does not appear to be a memory leak, install a spyware detector (if you haven't done so yet). I use Spyware Terminator (free from http://www.download.com ). Run a full scan and see if that solves the problem.

3) If that fails, check your available hard drive space. If you have plenty, and your hard disk appears to be "thrashing", you can increase the size of your virtual memory (Win XP calls this a "paging file" and can be found in the system/advanced tab of the control panel).

4) If *all* of the above fail, go ahead and do the complete system re-install. Back up all of your valuable data files - but *only* the data files. Make sure to get all of them. If your data is very important to you, make *2* backups (in case 1 fails). Re-format the hard drive (and repartition, if possible). Re-install the OS and all of your necessary or favorite software (keep the junk off). Then, restore your data. It takes me about 2 days to accomplish all of this, but I find it is usually worth it. Also, it forces me to make a data backup if I haven't been keeping up like I should.

If *all* of these suggestions fail, it is likely that your system needs more RAM or, even more likely, you need a new system.

I hope this helps.

Jim, http://www.jimpettis.com/wheel/

Answer 3

You have most probably installed too many programs so that the RAM is overloaded because of too many processes. Go to start>run> then type msconfig. The msconfig screen will appear. Go to start up tab and uncheck the items that you do not need to start up. Many items start along with the booting of the computer. Mostly they are not needed. Feel to tinker with this tab. It won't cause any harm.

There is another tab called services tab. Check 'hide microsoft services' box and uncheck the services that you don not need. Be careful with this tab though; it can cause some programs to stop working. Need some experience for this.

Also open task manager and end programs that you do not need.

Also if you have not formatted your computer for a long time, why not do it now. I do it once a year.

Answer 4

Based on the information provided I would suggest the physical memory(RAM) is not adequate for the workload...Check the motherboard manufacturer website for the specs on how much RAM it will support as well as how much speed(Mhz). For example... I have a motherboard that supports 4Gb of 1033Mhz RAM...I currently run 2Gb of 800Mhz RAM...so just be aware that you can upgrade the speed of the RAM as well as physical memory size. Make sure your overall usage of the available RAM isn't peaked while running most of your normal programs...you can check that by Ctrl+Alt+Del and using the task manager "processes" tab to see how much RAM each running program uses. Also, in the lower right corner of that window you will see "commit charge XXX / XXX" keep in mind that the fist number represents your total current usage and the number after the "/" represents the TOTAL memory on your system which is the physical-RAM- and virtual memory(Hard disk space allocated as RAM that draws harder on the processor but allows for more temporary memory space)...compare the 1st number to the actual physical amount you have. At times, you can actually slow your pc down by having more virtual memory than your processor can support. Hope this helps.

Answer 5

Open case and blow out dust with compressed air especially around the chip heat sink.

Run a good Registry Cleaner like Iobit Advanced Windowscare or Ccleaner.

Might need more RAM memory. You might have too many processes running at one time or using too much memory.

Sometimes the only way to get it back is to reinstall Windows.

Answer 6

It could be you need more RAM (you can have a 'truck load' of disk space, but not enough memory to run whatever programs are wanting to run simultaneously), as someone else mentioned, and/or, it could be you need to empty your Temporary Internet Files/Cookies/History folders. To do that - Click onto Tools on your Toolbar; then Internet Options; then on the General tab look for Browsing History; click onto Delete; then click onto Delete Temporary Internet Files, Cookies, and History.

I have a 7 year old computer that is working fine - in fact I am typing this post on it - but occasionally it will slow down; I have to remember to do what I just told you to do, and it speeds it right up like it's supposed to run. If my oldie-but-goodie can do that, your much newer one should, as well. :))

Answer 7

Using a registry cleaner can clean up your computer and then make your computer faster,Why?the reason is that there may be some regsitry errors and remnant,corrupt files and temp files in your computer to cause "computer slow".
Everytime you install and uninstall software on your computer and surfing online you create junk in the computer 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 it fast.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.speed-up-pc.info/
You can download and scan your computer for free.

Answer 8

Er maybe it needs the OS reinstalled.After a while ur pc get bogged down with lots of crap leftover from viruses, uninstalled software and stuff like that.You could have some type of spyware or something that ur antivirus can't detect.Try running the pc in safe mode and then doing a scan

For safe mode open run and type in msconfig.Then in the boot tab click safe mode.When ur in safe mode scan.to get back just uncheck the box in msconfig

Answer 9

Hmmm, it sounds like it may be your registry, that's the only thing that you haven't checked. Run the free registry scan at www.freecomputerscan.info, and it will detect all of your registry errors. You will then need to purchase the product to fix your registry. If the free scan shows errors, especially if it is in the hundreds, then that is definitely the problem and then it would be a good idea to purchase the program.

Answer 10

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