Any computer performance geeks here?

[disneysteve]

My PC laptop is running super slow. I've run the virus, adware, and spyware scans. I've deleted temporary files. I've cleared caches. Still super slow.

When I pull up the Task Manager, it only shows one thing in Applications - my browser (Firefox) but under Processes and Services it shows 30 or 40 things under each. CPU usage is at 100%. I'm assuming the problem is in there somewhere.

How do I figure out what all of this stuff is that is running and how do I stop it all since I'm thinking that most of it is not needed and is contributing to how slowly the computer is running?

Or am I totally off base and something else is causing the issue?

[HundredK]

How old is your computer? What are the basic specs (processor speed, ram, etc)? What is it you basically do on your computer (watch media, pay bills, excel, photoshop, etc?) Oh, and which OS are you running?

[Spiffster]

You will need to sort processes in task manager by CPU to see what is chewing up all your resources. Could be anything from zombie process to malware of some sort. Usually its just some process that has gone haywire.

[rennigade]

I would be willing to bet you're not running a solid state drive (ssd?) Pick up one of these...or any brand it doesnt matter

https://www.amazon.com/Crucial-MX300-275GB-Internal-Solid/dp/B01IAGSD5O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474565998&sr=8-1&keywords=solid+state+drive+crucial

I doubt you download a lot of stuff so something around 250gig would work. You will need the windows installation disk...install the hard drive...pop in the dvd and boot to dvd...install windows 7 and be amazed.

SSD's are the biggest performance boosters you will ever see. Forget about processors, ram...its meaningless unless you're doing some high end graphic/CAD/modeling type stuff...which 99.9% of people arent.

Heres the jist of computers...they start to run slow over time. Its just how it is. They need to be cleansed periodically. I do mine once a year or so. Its a quick process and will take care of all the problems you have that are software related. Ive seen people try to run spyware stuff, registry cleaners, they'll go to msconfig and disable startup services, blah blah...all band aid fixes.

Heres a tutorial on how to reinstall windows 7...seriously...a moron could do it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pf408Rkc5IA

[disneysteve]

Heres the jist of computers...they start to run slow over time. Its just how it is. They need to be cleansed periodically. I do mine once a year or so. Its a quick process and will take care of all the problems you have that are software related.

I'll have to see if I have the installation disk. I'm kind of figuring that the only thing that will really fix this is wiping the system and starting over. I just need to backup some documents and photos before I go that route.

I mainly use this computer for surfing the web, watching Netflix/YouTube, discussion forums like this one, Facebook, and e-prescribing at work (web-based system). I don't download much. The main files stored are Word documents related to work.

The computer is 3-4 years old, which I know is getting up there in computer years. And I know I can buy a new laptop for $399. I just don't want to do that if I don't have to.

[GoodSteward]

Pm me if you want some help. I can remote in with a free program and take a look. I already do the IT for one doctor in town, might as well help another doctor

[DaveInPgh]

Steve, you better liquidate your accounts and put your riches into that fire safe that was suggested. You don't want GoodSteward installing a program that transfers your millions into his account.

[HundredK]

I still don't think you said which OS version you're running? Some are more stable than others. Might be a good idea to let GoodSteward in to take a look around.

Yes, SSDs are nice, but aren't necessary for what you do. And once you go SSD, you'll never go back, so save yourself the added expense of knowing their joy for now. Besides, I don't think that's what is causing your issue at all.

Not sure if you're running Windows 10, but a friend of mine had an update recently and has been complaining of sudden high processor usage. He figured out that it was related to a media player he uses to watch movies. Once he updated that, all was well.

[GoodSteward]

SSDs are only 35-45$ for a 120GB one. Doesn't sound like much, but 90% of the people don't need more anyway. Double that is only another 20$. SSDs do more than load things faster, they help with multitasking as well. The page files (software ram basically) are loaded much faster.

No one part of a computer is a miracle worker. You can have the top of the line processor, but if you don't have enough ram for what you do it will drag. You can have loads of ram, but if you have a slow hard drive, stuff will still load very slowly and windows will take forever to finally be up and running. For the common person, Ram and hard drive are mostly what you are seeing when a computer is either fast or slow. Modern CPU's are not taxed at all hardly. Just watch them while opening a program on the system monitor and see for yourself.

Oh, and I don't need his millions. Just thousands will suffice.

In case anybody is wondering, the work I do in IT is "System support specialist" I basically work on everything from windows and software problems to hardware issues. I build and fix PCs outside of my job as well, and I have been doing that since high school (17 years)

[Singuy]

So did you find any adware? Make sure to run adware(multiple adware programs) in SAFE mode. Sometimes you will have to manually delete some adware too, so I would go through all the programs under "add/remove" and delete anything you don't recognize.

Next go to Run and type in "msconfig". Go to "start up" and uncheck anything you don't want running when the computer first boots up. Basically if it's something you don't recognize or want, just uncheck it. A lot of adware secretly take over this area and runs all sorts of data collecting nonsense in the background..grinding your pc to a halt.

Lastly if none of this works, then you need to go into performances under device manager and mess around with your virtual memory settings. I would google to see what numbers to use.

If you find your harddrive continuously running just to open up a simple program, then it's a virtual memory problem..meaning you are using too much virtual memory and not your ram. That said, I am assuming you have plenty of ram(like 8gigs). If you have less than 8 gigs of ram, then get 8 gigs of ram(to fix harddrive always running problem).

[GoodSteward]

So did you find any adware? Make sure to run adware(multiple adware programs) in SAFE mode. Sometimes you will have to manually delete some adware too, so I would go through all the programs under "add/remove" and delete anything you don't recognize.

Next go to Run and type in "msconfig". Go to "start up" and uncheck anything you don't want running when the computer first boots up. Basically if it's something you don't recognize or want, just uncheck it. A lot of adware secretly take over this area and runs all sorts of data collecting nonsense in the background..grinding your pc to a halt.

Lastly if none of this works, then you need to go into performances under device manager and mess around with your virtual memory settings. I would google to see what numbers to use.

If you find your harddrive continuously running just to open up a simple program, then it's a virtual memory problem..meaning you are using too much virtual memory and not your ram. That said, I am assuming you have plenty of ram(like 8gigs). If you have less than 8 gigs of ram, then get 8 gigs of ram(to fix harddrive always running problem).

Mostly Good advice, but be careful with turning off things in startup. You'll start getting errors if you turn off the wrong stuff. Virtual memory changes are not suggested. Even with 8gb windows will use a lot up if the computer stays on all the time. Increasing virtual memory only helps with avoiding the limit of memory being used(getting out of memory error), not necessarily increase performance. That's why it's best to reboot along. Mac's are not as prone to this due to having better memory management.

[GoodSteward]

Sort by CPU % usage under the task manager and watch for what is using up all the CPU. This is usually due to adware/virus or some other program stuck possibly. You can always wait for a while and see if it goes away, sometimes the load is high because windows is doing a lot in the background like syncing dropbox or something similar. If rebooting doesn't help, and waiting for 10-15 min doesn't help, then it is probably malware.

[HundredK]

SSDs are only 35-45$ for a 120GB one. Doesn't sound like much, but 90% of the people don't need more anyway. Double that is only another 20$. SSDs do more than load things faster, they help with multitasking as well. The page files (software ram basically) are loaded much faster.

I've used solely SSDs at home for as long as they've been around and I love them. I'll never again own a computer without one. That said, when I worked in an office I had a non-SSD and truthfully never noticed much difference once it was booted up, but I don't do the type of processor intensive work that many do (and as you said, maybe only 10% of people do). I kind of doubt that a lack of one here is what's causing his problem. Though it would be helpful to know how old the computer in question actually is.

It just seems like his problem is very sudden, and that seems to often coincide with well meaning Microsoft Updates... they end up tripping up some other program you've been using happily the whole time.

[GoodSteward]

I've used solely SSDs at home for as long as they've been around and I love them. I'll never again own a computer without one. That said, when I worked in an office I had a non-SSD and truthfully never noticed much difference once it was booted up, but I don't do the type of processor intensive work that many do (and as you said, maybe only 10% of people do). I kind of doubt that a lack of one here is what's causing his problem. Though it would be helpful to know how old the computer in question actually is.

It just seems like his problem is very sudden, and that seems to often coincide with well meaning Microsoft Updates... they end up tripping up some other program you've been using happily the whole time.

That is true, once it is loaded you may not see massive improvements. It depends on how much multitasking you do and how much ram you have. It can bring life to an older system that only has 4gb or less of ram, but in systems with 8gb or more it isn't as big a deal. SSDs are mostly for loading windows and programs faster, but can also increase performance with multitasking if you multitask a lot or have a weaker system.

Microsoft updates tend more to break things than just bog the system down. But anything is possible with them peoples.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

add more ram and SSD. Love both. How old's the computer? Maybe time to junk it.