Alright the other day my computer was going normal and the same speed as it usually does and starting last night it started going very very slow. I dont know what is wrong with it. I have windows xp. I already defraged my computer as well as did a disc clean. I dont know what else to do. Any suggestions ?

Got any spyware/adware? Cookies? Freshly-made brownies? Those can slow it down!:D

i have the same problem right now aswell
seriously, if this was my computer it probably would be lying in my backyard right now, after a fall from my bedroom window
thing gets me so frustrated!
i can only open the sites who are in my favorite map
so i'm already glad that i can open the board

so my first guess was that i had a virus or a worm in my computer
but as i started search for my virusscanner.... it's gone! wtf removed that???
so Gilwellian recomended to go to www.antivirus.com to get an online scan but my computer refuses to open that site

now i'm stranded on board....

Got any spyware/adware? Cookies? Freshly-made brownies? Those can slow it down!:D

dont know about the brownies ;) but where can i scan to see if I have the spy/adware

Download "Spybot Search and Destroy". It's a spyware/adward detector and destroyer. I forgot where I got it from but it works wonders!

Check to see if any programs are taking up all your cpu cycles.

Ctrl-Alt-Del to get to the Task Manager.

Select the Processes tab.
Scan through the CPU column and look for a number that is above 40.

If you see anything like that then click on that process and then select the End Process button. You also might want to list the process name on here (if there is one).


Likewise you will want to scan for spyware / viruses as they might be slowing down your pc as well. You can get Spybot Search and Destroy 1.3 from www.download.com which is a spyware scanner.

Finally, what are your system specs?

well I have one thing on my cpu numbers it is System Idle Process it is ranging from 97 to 87 to 76 and my system specs are 1.81 ghz 224 mb of ram. I think that is what you are talking about if not where can I find the specs ?

well I have one thing on my cpu numbers it is System Idle Process it is ranging from 97 to 87 to 76 and my system specs are 1.81 ghz 224 mb of ram. I think that is what you are talking about if not where can I find the specs ?

Opps, forgot to mention. Ignore the System Idle Process.

But keep an eye on everything else. It might just be spyware/virus.


There is also a CPU Usage box at the bottom of that window. It should usually be under 20% while your PC is not doing any work.

well I have one thing on my cpu numbers it is System Idle Process it is ranging from 97 to 87 to 76 and my system specs are 1.81 ghz 224 mb of ram. I think that is what you are talking about if not where can I find the specs ?

System Idle Process is normal. Definitely grab Search and Destroy as Luna mentioned. Also there's a couple more programs that are helpful.

BHOCaptor - searches for adware/malware that attaches itself to your web browser in the form of toolbar plugins and so on. http://www.snapfiles.com/get/bho.html

HiJackThis - let's you see everything that's running and starts up with your system and save a log of it. You could post that log file here and perhaps someone will spot something suspicious that you should remove. http://www.spychecker.com/program/hijackthis.html

Edit: Oop, Luna beat me to the idle process explanation, but yeh ignore that ;)

Mmmmmmmmmmbrowniesmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

For spyware i normally use Ad-Ware (http://www.download.com/3000-2144-10045910.html?part=69274&subj=dlpage&tag=button) Its free plus my work reccommended it. You can find more about it at www.lavasoftusa.com.

I had this terrible thing called "Allaboutsearching" literally take over my computer. It changed my homepage all the time, I had millions of popups, new icons, and my computer was terriblely slow.

Nothing would work. Not Norton, (Because it's not a technical "Virus") Not Spybot, or anything.

If that happens, sometimes you gotta just reformat and start all over. Make a partition to back up all the stuff you need like music, videos, documents, saved games, etc... and reformat completely. This is the only true way of getting rid of everything.

I do this often anyway. Like 4 times a year, and it keeps the computers running like new all the time. It doesn't take long, esspecially if you keep your backup file updated, reformatting can take about 30 minutes or so.

yeah, i had a virus that was slowing down the computer. i found out that it was from downloading music from kazaa..stupid me didnt scan anything when i downloaded it, so i got a virus.
anyway, we reformatted it, so i would suggest you do that. it worked well for us, our computer started working really well(again)

http://www.evboard.com/showthread.php?t=7139

Read that and try all the suggestions there (and in this thread) before you go formatting your machine.

If you have any problems with the programs, you can send me a PM :p.

Make a partition to back up all the stuff you need like music, videos, documents, saved games, etc... and reformat completely.

Hmmm, is there a simple way to explain how one does that? :confused:

Also, one thing that comes in handy and is VERY helpful (but some reason now they're starting to get in) is a firewall. Firewalls allow outgoing traffic from your computer but don't allow/monitor incoming traffic. It blocks popups and adware/spyware effectively. Sometimes, adware/spyware creep in but that's why I have Spybot-Search and Destroy. You should try getting a firewall. Go to any computer/electronic store (CompUSA, Best Buy, Circuit City, etc.) and buy one.:D

mine computer keeps on restarting every now oand then which is very irritating when you're in the middle of a convo on msn or when you're trying to post something
once i wanted to post something and i had to start over for 4 tims, 'cause that damn computer of mine just droppes out :mad:

mine computer keeps on restarting every now oand then which is very irritating when you're in the middle of a convo on msn or when you're trying to post something
once i wanted to post something and i had to start over for 4 tims, 'cause that damn computer of mine just droppes out :mad:

yeah, my computer was doing that too. my dad thought it was over heating, so he cleaned it and stuff. when that didnt work we took it to a computer place and they fixed it...it was the motherboard..they said it had gone bad or something.

Hmmm, is there a simple way to explain how one does that? :confused:
The funny thing is, I don't really know, lol. My computer came with a seperate partition. I wish I did know how so I could change the size or something. Someone on this forum knows though...

The funny thing is, I don't really know, lol. My computer came with a seperate partition. I wish I did know how so I could change the size or something. Someone on this forum knows though...
Lol alrighty then :D I shall just wait around nibbling on my knees until some learned person stumbles across this thread...

Thanks anyway :D

The best Security program that I've used is Panda Antivirus Platinum 7 (I've used McAfee and Norton aswell, and both of these annoyed me), available for a 90 day free trial if you use this link:
http://www.pandasoftware.com/microsoft/download.htm

It includes a pretty good firewall aswell.

I also have Adaware and Spybot S&D.

Also, try this:

Go to Start > Run > and type in msconfig and go to the startup tab.

Disable everything that you're not quite sure about. Don't worry, nothing on that screen is essential. Then enable things you're sure about, like MsnMsgr, ctfmon, etc. like mine. (If they're spelt differently, do NOT enable them. The spelling has to be exact)

Then restart and see if the problem persists. If that fails, restart again, and press F8 just after the BIOS stuff finishes and Windows starts loading. Load in Safe Mode. You could try running the Antivirus software from safe mode.

If neither of those work, then a reformat might be an option. Get your parents to help you with sharp scissors, kids!

Here's a great security link from the folks at MS. It contains lists of suggested softwares for all kinds of neat things.

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/ (http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/)

I use Zone Alarm and Trend's PC Cillin on the WIn98, and XP's firewall and PC Cillin with da XP. If things get too wacky (IE me tweaking the fucker until it blows up) I just re-install the sucker. I have all my files backed up to cd cause thats what burners are REALLY for. I am thinking of getting Black Ice and then I can turn off the XP 'wall. It has cool monitoring screens :P
The new Adaware and Spybot S&D are your pals if you are gonna visit 'evil' siteage.

For your email, toggle Outlook and Express to Restricted Sites in Security and set the preview pane to display headers is recommended as well.

Andy

Think you're a computer geek? check: http://www.blackviper.com (http://www.blackviper.com)

well im so happy cause on my new pc so far so good and only got 4 pop up blocked (and they was pm and i forgot press ctrl XD)but lately its getting slow when i turned on so i was doing that and i find a strange program at star up well like 17 and all of them got the same location hklm/sofware/microsoft/windows/currentversion/run
do i should disable them???