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re: Computer running slow Tuesday, March 7, 2006 at 2:16 pm Posted by Wy (602 messages posted) Do the basics first, then you'll see if anything else needs to be done if that doesn't work. - Maybe you have too many running programs in the task bar. Go to Programs>Run, type msconfig, click on Startup, and uncheck what's not needed to always run in the background. - Run the Maintenance Wizard in Programs>Accessories>System Tools, this'll clean up junk as well as scandisk and defrag all at once. Depending on how much needs straightening out and the size of your hard drive, it can take anywhere from a half-hour to two or three. - Update and run your anti-virus program. Additionally, download A-Squared from www.emsisoft.com, the FREE verson not the Personal one. It's an excellent secondary anti-malware program to have. You'll need to register your email address to get the activation code for it. Update it and run it as well. - Update and run your anti-spyware programs. Best to have a few of them, i.e. Ad-Aware, Spybot, Spyware Blaster. Not on any one program will pick up everything. They all can be downloaded from www.download.com. Usually doing just the basics will do the trick. On Tuesday, March 7, 2006 at 1:37 pm, Lew Koch wrote: >Though I'm still using Dial-Up, I'm connected to Earthlink's Total Access 2005 system >with Accelerator, yet my system, suddenly, has been responding slower than usual. >Trouble-shooting says to clean up the hard drive by removing unneeded files. My problem >with this is that it's difficult to determine what icons to delete without causing >trouble. Any help would be greatly appreciated. (I've defragged, gone through Internet >Options, etc.) Thanks! [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Computer running slow Tuesday, March 7, 2006 at 2:58 pm Posted by gewg_ (4444 messages posted) |my system, suddenly, has been responding slower than usual. |Trouble-shooting says to clean up the hard drive by removing unneeded files. | Lew Koch | Are you sure you read that right? Is there a Web page that you can point to that would print such rubbish? (use the QuickLink button) --or have you avoided saying that your disk is almost full? |My problem with this is that it's difficult to determine what icons to delete | The word **delete** is always dangerous when talking about a Windoze system. Have you ever used **Control Panel; Add/Remove Programs**? When things suddenly get worse in a Windoze box, start looking for an infection. If you're not running proper anti-malware apps, there are online scans: cache of http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/1110218552 ---Joe's Resources Page Lots to read here: Dealing with Unwanted Spyware and Parasites http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm If that passes muster, dealing with a slow box starts here: http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/win98/1127247347 [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Computer running slow Wednesday, March 8, 2006 at 1:29 pm Posted by Ms. Eagle (33640 messages posted) More accurately would be to 'remove/uninstall Earthlink's software', which you likely installed. Internet providers' software installs a lot of unnecessary trash. You can set up a connection without it. Don't remove anything you're unsure of, but do clear out your temporary files. Go through these TaskList sites and read the descriptions on the items in your startup, to help you decide what can be removed. AnswersThatWork or CastleCops StartupList Dealing with Unwanted Spyware and Parasites [Reply or follow-up to this message] Tip: Use one of the [Reply or follow-up to this message] links above to add a message to this thread Search this forum Start a new thread on a different subject Report abuse of the forum Return to the Windows 98 Discussion Forum