| Author |
Topic: Ot of the blue |
Ken Lang
From:
Simi Valley, Ca
|
Posted 18 Sep 2008 6:47 pm |
|
I suppose nothing ever happens out of the blue with a computer, it just seems that way. But........
Suddenly:
It has slowed way down. It took 50 secs to load Mozilla. I clicked on my computer. It took a long time to bring that up. It will not load the WordPerfect files. After a while it will come up as not responding.
I did the McAfee get rid of useless files thing. I tried the McAfee scan and fix thing. I have a 111 GB
hard drive, about 1/2 full. After about 7 1/2 hours I shut down the scan. It should not take that long.
Dell 8300
Windows xp home with the ver 3 update.
I will try uniblue registry scan next, but doubt that will help.
Ideas? |
|
|
 |
Wiz Feinberg
From:
Mid-Michigan, USA
|
Posted 18 Sep 2008 10:45 pm
|
|
Ken;
There are a number of things that can slow down your computer, but the most common cause is a process that is hanging and consuming 100% of the CPU. When you shut off the computer, wait, then power it back on, is it still slow from the beginning when Windows loads?
What new applications have you added recently, about the time you noticed this slowdown?
Have you scanned for spyware, ad-ware, rootkits, etc? You can try an online scan from Trend Micro's HouseCall scanner.
If a process or executable is hanging and consuming all of the available CPU power you can locate the culprit with Task Manager > Processes > CPU. To open Task Manager in Windows 2000/XP, press Control + Alt + Delete. Click on Processes, then on the CPU column twice. This moves the process with the highest usage to the top. You can try reducing its Priority, or end the process, using the right-click options by highlighting that process.
Note, you should not mess with System Idle Process. It is required and usually runs a lot of CPU. It actually cools the CPU by idling it when it doesn't need to process any instructions.
There are cases where an automatic update module will cause 100% CPU. A corrupted program may load an invisible instance of itself into memory and run up the CPU. Spyware and other nasties can run up the clock also.
System files getting corrupted, failing hard disks (masters or slaves), RAM going bad, a power supply going under, a loose heatsink on the CPU or video card, a seizing or seized cooling fan, or leaking electrolytic capacitors on the motherboard will slow a system down until it seizes up or shuts down completely.
_________________
"Wiz" Feinberg, Moderator SGF Computers Forum
Security Consultant
Twitter: @Wizcrafts
Main web pages: Wiztunes Steel Guitar website | Wiz's Security Blog | My Webmaster Services | Wiz's Security Blog |
|
|
|
Ken Lang
From:
Simi Valley, Ca
|
Posted 19 Sep 2008 5:21 am
|
|
Thanks Wiz. At the moment, 6AM, the computer is still running Uniblue registry scan. I started it last night about 7 PM. It is running slow no question. As I have a ton of things to do today I think I'll let it continue as is and get back to it when I get home tonight.
I will try your suggestions then.
Ken
BTW. The internet stuff does not seem to be slow at all. Izzat strange? |
|
|
|
Ken Lang
From:
Simi Valley, Ca
|
Posted 19 Sep 2008 6:42 am
|
|
Uniblue finished while I was still home. It found about 30 errors and when it fixed them, it seems to be OK. It now runs as it did a few days ago. Amazing.
I will still go thru it with your suggestions later today. |
|
|
|
