Computer help - any geeks here?

**HamSandwich** · 10-12-2009, 12:36 PM

If there are a lot of processes running that look unfamiliar, your computer could be infected with a bunch of spyware/malware or even a virus. Do you have a virus scanner installed? If not, check not AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition. Its one of the best free virus scanners out there. Also, get Ad-Aware Free as well. That'll sweep your system for adware. You can get these from download.com.

And if all else fails, you can backup your files and just do a format and reinstall windows.

**disneysteve** · 10-12-2009, 12:42 PM

I update and run AVG, Ad-Aware and SpyBot regularly. They catch the occasional thing (ad and spy ware, never any viruses) but that hasn't seemed to change anything.

**Caoineag** · 10-12-2009, 12:57 PM

My work computer is running about 30 and I have a lot of programs with multiple exe for them so my guess is that you have a lot of programs auto running on your computer. Why don't you check out the add remove programs under the control panel and see if there are things that you can remove that you don't use. A lot of programs that get downloaded or installed on a system will do auto updates or add other "useful" programs to your computer. Generally, they just slow your system.

**boosami** · 10-12-2009, 01:05 PM

To get the Start menu bar to reappear after it disappears, press Control-Alt-Delete and get to the Task Manager. Go to File > Run and type "explorer" (no quotes) and press Enter.

**HamSandwich** · 10-12-2009, 01:21 PM

Oh I missed the part that you said it was a laptop. For laptops, computer lag is typically due to overheating. Do you use your laptop on say, a bed? This would cover the vents and the excessive heat would or has damaged the ram on the computer. Do you leave your laptop on frequently?

Also, what version of windows are running? And what is the speed of your processor and how much memory do you have?

**disneysteve** · 10-12-2009, 02:13 PM

Originally posted by boosami View Post

To get the Start menu bar to reappear after it disappears, press Control-Alt-Delete and get to the Task Manager. Go to File > Run and type "explorer" (no quotes) and press Enter.

I tried this. It opened My Documents folder but didn't make the Start bar reappear.

**disneysteve** · 10-12-2009, 02:16 PM

Originally posted by HamSandwich View Post

Oh I missed the part that you said it was a laptop. For laptops, computer lag is typically due to overheating. Do you use your laptop on say, a bed? This would cover the vents and the excessive heat would or has damaged the ram on the computer. Do you leave your laptop on frequently?

Also, what version of windows are running? And what is the speed of your processor and how much memory do you have?

I use the laptop on the desk at my office. No obstructions to the vents. I'm always careful about that. The computer does stay on all day at work but is shut down at the end of each day.

I'm using Windows XP Home, Pentium M 1.6 GHz, 512MB.

**CraigThor** · 10-12-2009, 02:44 PM

I would personally back up all important files / programs and format and do a clean install of windows. Prior to installing any other software once windows installs is fully update the windows software.

I did this a couple months back it was a PITA but the computer runs so much faster and smoother now.

Craig

**HamSandwich** · 10-12-2009, 03:01 PM

Originally posted by disneysteve View Post

I use the laptop on the desk at my office. No obstructions to the vents. I'm always careful about that. The computer does stay on all day at work but is shut down at the end of each day.

I'm using Windows XP Home, Pentium M 1.6 GHz, 512MB.

Ooo okay. The problem may be your low amount of memory. 512 is awfully low and seeing that you've had the compute for a few years, you probably have quite a few programs installed. Even if you don't use them, it can really bog down your computer.

You could do a clean install of windows and it would be seem faster because there is nothing installed but that would only be a temporary fix until you start installing more programs.

I would recommend having at least 1gb of memory. You can get a 1gb stick for less than $50 nowadays.

**Seeker** · 10-12-2009, 04:44 PM

DS,

I'm tending to second CraigThor's recommendation since in reality, it's the best way to get your computer running as if it were new again.

One of the problems with MS Windows is that very little is actually properly removed from the computer once it gets installed. The Windows registry tends to grow and grow which makes the computer less and less responsive. Backing up all the data files to an external drive and then installing Windows Home with a format is the best option.

Short of that, the only other alternative is to delete all your files within c:\temp, c:\windows\prefetch and c:\windows\temp. If you use Internet Explorer for your browser, then go to Tools --> Internet Options --> and click on the button "Delete Cookies" and "Delete Files"; I would also recommend deleteing the Offline Files from there as well.

When's the last time you did a Disk Defrag? Start --> Programs --> Accessories --> System Tools --> Disk Defragmenter. This puts together all the fragments of files that end up scattered on your hard drive, which in turn makes loading files slightly better.

You might also want to make sure that no hardware issues are developing ... look in Start --> Settings --> Control Panel --> Administrative Tools --> Event Viewer. See if you have any red x's with Disk Errors and any type of repetitive hardware errors.

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Suggest printing out After the Windows Logo displays or after you log on to Windows, a Windows XP-based computer may only display the wallpaper, a black screen, or a blue screen and then following the steps there to resolve the Start/Task Bar problems you're experiencing.

**simpletron** · 10-12-2009, 05:12 PM

go to Start>Run and type msconfig. click on the startup tab. you should see a list programs with checkboxes next to them. these are the programs that run at startup, and most are just helper programs that make a particular program start up faster like QTTask makes quicktime startup faster and Reader_sl makes adobe reader start faster. uncheck the ones that you don't use often. you'll get a message about restarting after you click OK. go ahead and restart, once you boot back up you'll get a message about there has been changes to the startup process, check the box about not displaying this message in the future and click ok.

this should speed up your startup times and free up ram space, which in turn allow the programs you're using to run faster.

the second thing you should do is defrag the hard drive. go to Start>Progams>Accessories>System tools>Disk defragmenter. choose the hard drive from the top list and click on defragment. if you haven't done this in a long time(years), then this can take a long time(hours). this helps with reading information from the hard drive(also writing to a lower extent)

**disneysteve** · 10-12-2009, 06:01 PM

Thanks for all the tips. I won't be in the office tomorrow due to my wife's surgery but when I go back on Wednesday, I'll defrag the drive and check the startup program list.

**kork13** · 10-12-2009, 06:07 PM

All good ideas so far, and I am also one that will totally wipe/re-install the Windows OS every year or two, just to get a fresh start.

Another thing to do (prior to the defrag, preferably) is the Disk Cleanup wizard (Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Cleanup). It allows you to easily clear out your temporary items, cookies, installation logs, and stuff like that, and will also compress all of the old files you've not used in months/years.

For computer maintenance in general, you should do an adware/spyware/virus scan at least weekly, disk cleanup/defrag/backup monthly, and (IMO) re-image annually.

**Broken Arrow** · 10-13-2009, 04:26 AM

Yikes. The laptop specs are rather low, even for XP. Virtual ram is incredibly slow and cumbersome. To me, that's the biggest cause for slowdowns.... You'll want to run only one app at a time if you can help it.

Then there's fragmentation. NTFS isn't terrible about this, but the drive should still be defragged once in a while.

Malware and heat have already been mentioned, and that too can be an issue.

I once had a Pentium II 400mhz. Windows ME grounded that thing to a near standstill. Replaced that with Linux, and the thing ran beautifully for a while until I upgraded to better hardware.

Forgot to add, but if you can do a clean re-install, it may solve most of the issues.

Computer help - any geeks here?