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re: SLOW performance Saturday, March 15, 2008 at 9:24 pm Posted by Sammy so-so (4 messages posted) greetings. from what you have described, sounds like you need more ram. also sounds like you have many too many programs starting when you start your computer. delete the ones that are not essential. i do not know of a quality free virus scan. some one else knows perhaps. cheers [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: SLOW performance Saturday, March 15, 2008 at 10:36 pm Posted by Ricer46 (20226 messages posted) 29 processes is actually very few. How much RAM do you have? However that would not account for a change in performance. What is your cpu utilization? AVG doesn't slow down a computer. Could be malware, may be a setting such as running in PIO mode rather than DMA. Hard to say, with so little to go on. On Saturday, March 15, 2008 at 6:48 pm, Linda wrote: >Hi, >New to this forum. I am not very famiilar with Windoz because my main computer is >Mac (shhh!), but I have used my PC for medical transcription and other things that >I could not use on my Mac. > >For the past few months, I noticed that it has been taking about an hour to boot >up, or to open applications, and delayed reactions like page rendering, or even typing >here. I do have 29+ processes running looking at the Task Manager, and I am not sure >which ones I should quit. > >I'm using Windows XP Professional on Toshiba laptop with very little RAM (can't even >open My Computer now to tell ya). This laptop was given to me by my sister whose >husband put XP Pro on this thing because I was told I needed that OS so I could do >my home business. It worked well for a while, and I can't tell you when, but it started >having extremley slow startups and slow with opening anything. I removed AVG antivirus >program thinking that might be the culprit, but no, not the problem. I need an anti-virus >progam using this laptop to protect it but don't know which one will be best (need >a free one). > >I use Ad-Aware, Spybot and do the routine maintanence but no fixes as of yet. So >far, this has taken me 30 minutes to type and I type 75 wpm. > >I am trying to avoid doing a clean install beause I would lose some important programs. > >I shouold have typed this on my Mac, and I will next time until I get this resolved. >If you have any questions about my OS or anything, please let me know. I so much >want to get this machne runnine smoothly. > >Thank you in advance. I was referred to this site because you have a good reputation >for replying to those in need. >FYI, just as I was about to post this, I see the little icon on the bottom tray for >Windows Update and that thing is constantly wanting to update something! It's at >2% for very long time now, how annoying! [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: SLOW performance Sunday, March 16, 2008 at 5:50 am Posted by Steve Dunn (911 messages posted) 'For the past few months, I noticed that it has been taking about an hour to boot up, or to open applications' You've been using it like this for MONTHS! History on this sort of problem is generally very important. Often behaviour like this starts after you have added/removed hardware or software (so did you before the problem started?). Telling us the amount of RAM would be useful - XP really needs at least 256MB to run reasonably - but you also said it did run ok in the past. Which suggests that its something that's happened (ricer gave you some suggestions). First this I'd do is run msconfig (start, run, type msconfig, hit enter). Go to the startup tab and click on disable all button. Restart the machine and see if its any better. If it is, suggests its one of those programs in the startup list that you've just disabled - and you can then find culprit by process of elimination (enable apps one at a time). You don't actually need any of them running - exception being anti-virus, and if you have any real time anti-spyware protection. btw - AVG is probably the best (free or not) anti-virus program available and its certainly one of the least heavy on resources. Also - look in the event log (start, run type eventvwr.msc, hit enter). See if there are any error entries in there - particularly ones that refer to the disk and mention bad blocks. If you find these entries, you will probably need to replace the hard drive. In this case you'd really need professional help if you want to save/transfer from old drive to new. If the msconfig approach doesn't work & its not a bad block, I'd look at scanning machine for viruses and malware. I'd run at least 2 anti-spyware/malware apps - eg, spybot, adaware, AVG (they have a free anti-spyware app too). Given the status of your machine this will take a long time to complete. On Saturday, March 15, 2008 at 6:48 pm, Linda wrote: >Hi, >New to this forum. I am not very famiilar with Windoz because my main computer is >Mac (shhh!), but I have used my PC for medical transcription and other things that >I could not use on my Mac. > >For the past few months, I noticed that it has been taking about an hour to boot >up, or to open applications, and delayed reactions like page rendering, or even typing >here. I do have 29+ processes running looking at the Task Manager, and I am not sure >which ones I should quit. > >I'm using Windows XP Professional on Toshiba laptop with very little RAM (can't even >open My Computer now to tell ya). This laptop was given to me by my sister whose >husband put XP Pro on this thing because I was told I needed that OS so I could do >my home business. It worked well for a while, and I can't tell you when, but it started >having extremley slow startups and slow with opening anything. I removed AVG antivirus >program thinking that might be the culprit, but no, not the problem. I need an anti-virus >progam using this laptop to protect it but don't know which one will be best (need >a free one). > >I use Ad-Aware, Spybot and do the routine maintanence but no fixes as of yet. So >far, this has taken me 30 minutes to type and I type 75 wpm. > >I am trying to avoid doing a clean install beause I would lose some important programs. > >I shouold have typed this on my Mac, and I will next time until I get this resolved. >If you have any questions about my OS or anything, please let me know. I so much >want to get this machne runnine smoothly. > >Thank you in advance. I was referred to this site because you have a good reputation >for replying to those in need. >FYI, just as I was about to post this, I see the little icon on the bottom tray for >Windows Update and that thing is constantly wanting to update something! It's at >2% for very long time now, how annoying! [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: SLOW performance Sunday, March 16, 2008 at 10:01 am Posted by Linda (4 messages posted) Ricer, I have the following information for you. Steve, thanks for your input, I will get back to you after I have tried a few of your suggestins: -RAM Capacity: 64 MB (extremely low, I know, but it's maxed out) -Free space: 3.81 GB -File System: Fat 32 Speed: 646 MHz -Pentium III Processor -Total paging file size for all drives: 288 MB -CPU usage: 1% - 15% (fluctuates) -I have FOUR svchost.exe in my Task Manager I do not know what PIO or DMA means or how to reset that. I have not been using this laptop for months on a daily basis. I use my mac for surfing the web and checking email. I was basically using it to do my medical transcription. I downloaded AVG when my ZoneAlarm expired. I can't think of anything new I downloaded except the new definitions and letting Windows software Update do its thing. Please ask me more questions if you need to know. Back later to try out some other suggestions Steve made. And thanks to both of you! [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: SLOW performance Sunday, March 16, 2008 at 10:58 am Posted by bob wells (1355 messages posted) What Model Toshiba? You state that ram is maxed out, but A Toshiba with a P III, 650mhz processor should accommodate approx 320mb ram. This figure includes 64mb built into the Motherboard. Your first step should be to Add more ram. I reccommend Kingston if you can find it. (Kingston was Toshiba Vendor of choice). Next clean out all the accumilated junk, including programs you don't use.. Go into Internet Options and reduce the Temp internet file size to 10 mb, find the option to empty Temp Internet files on exit and check the box to activate. On the General Tab, click on Delete Files. on the pop-up, put a tick in the "Delete All Offline Content" box. Double click MY Computer, right click on C:\, select properties, find and click on Disk Cleanup and remove any files found. Click on the Tools Tab, Note how long it's been since last Scan Disk-Defrag, if longer than 30 days, click on Scan Disk and set it to run on next restart. Now shut down and restart and let the Scan run. When finished go back and run Defrag, this will take some time so leave it till you don't have anything urgent. I'm guessing your Toshiba originally came with Win98SE, possibly Win 2000 Professional, so you are dealing with an upgrade to XP pro. Not a big deal but it does affect some things. Definitely complicates a Windows re-install. I would turn off the automatic Updates. MS has stuff you do not want on this system and they're more than happy give it to you even if, especially if, you don't want it. You can still get the Updates when YOU are ready for them. AVG tends to slow down Boot-up with it's Boot Scan, and I had problems with it on my satellite Pro. replaced AVG with Avast AV, have never regretted it. Avast is Freeware, Daily auto updates. http://www.filehippo.com/download_avast_antivirus/ Hope this is of some help. BW There's nothing to learn from someone who already agrees with you. _________________________________________________________ On Sunday, March 16, 2008 at 9:01 am, Linda wrote: >Ricer, I have the following information for you. Steve, thanks for your input, I >will get back to you after I have tried a few of your suggestins: > >-RAM Capacity: 64 MB (extremely low, I know, but it's maxed out) >-Free space: 3.81 GB >-File System: Fat 32 >Speed: 646 MHz >-Pentium III Processor >-Total paging file size for all drives: 288 MB >-CPU usage: 1% - 15% (fluctuates) >-I have FOUR svchost.exe in my Task Manager > >I do not know what PIO or DMA means or how to reset that. > >I have not been using this laptop for months on a daily basis. I use my mac for surfing >the web and checking email. I was basically using it to do my medical transcription. >I downloaded AVG when my ZoneAlarm expired. I can't think of anything new I downloaded >except the new definitions and letting Windows software Update do its thing. > >Please ask me more questions if you need to know. Back later to try out some other >suggestions Steve made. And thanks to both of you! [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: SLOW performance Sunday, March 16, 2008 at 11:08 am Posted by Linda (4 messages posted) Steve, In System Config, there were only 5 things checked, so I disabled GPCtray (part of encryption software which I no longer use), hp psc 1000 series (rarely print from the laptop), and hpoddtol.exe. Went to Event Viewer errors: Under System, the source ACPI came up a lot. Said, "attempting to write to an illegal IO port address which lies in the protected address range. This could lead to system instability. Go to go.microsfot.com/fwlink/events.asp. And another Source is windows Update Agent (lots of errors on that one), and Service Control Manger, and some warnings like W32 time. And an application warning with Userenv (lots of those). I think I will get connected and let Windows Software Update complete the updates (sometimes it won't finish and other times I need to use my phone so I disconnect). Last night I ran Spybot and Ad-Aware (no errors). Strange, Ad-aware doesn't have any new definitions since a few months ago, when I checked for updates. I removed AVG thinking that was the culprit, but I will go ahead and download it again. I'll let you know how things are running after I get on and use it for a while today. Please question me for anything else you need to know. This laptop was given to me by my sister's husband who removed a lower OS and installed Windows XP Professional because that's what I was told I needed to use my medial transcription software. Maybe I can downgrade. I'm wondering how much that would cost to get the next one down, what's the name of it? And which one is most stable for my little laptop? How do I make line spaces on this thing? It's now showing after I post. Thanks again. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: SLOW performance Sunday, March 16, 2008 at 11:28 am Posted by Steve Dunn (911 messages posted) You definitely need more RAM to have any chance of running XP even reasonably on that machine. Judging by the processor speed, you should definitely be able to upgrade the RAM - though with the age of machine, RAM for it may be quite expensive (its currently very cheap for new machines). If you post the model (you said it was a Toshiba..), we could probably find some RAM prices for you (also need to know where you are to price up). The previous o/s was probably windows 98 - which should run ok on that spec (but 64MB ram still not brilliant even for 98). I'd be surprised if your software doesn't run on 98. If its just for one app, does it need to be on the internet? You've nowhere else to run said app? Putting 98 back on may not be straightforward (would need install Cd & to get the relevant 98 drivers for the laptop's hardware). Upgrading RAM to say 256MB would probably make the machine usable with XP - unless there is something else wrong with it - but won't know unless you get reasonable amount of RAM in the first place (some of those messages in the event log suggest the machine's bios may not be totally XP compatible - but that doesn't usually matter in terms of how it actually runs. Ie, if it runs, probably ok). On Sunday, March 16, 2008 at 10:08 am, Linda wrote: >Steve, >In System Config, there were only 5 things checked, so I disabled GPCtray (part of >encryption software which I no longer use), hp psc 1000 series (rarely print from >the laptop), and hpoddtol.exe. > >Went to Event Viewer errors: Under System, the source ACPI came up a lot. Said, "attempting >to write to an illegal IO port address which lies in the protected address range. >This could lead to system instability. Go to go.microsfot.com/fwlink/events.asp. >And another Source is windows Update Agent (lots of errors on that one), and Service >Control Manger, and some warnings like W32 time. And an application warning with >Userenv (lots of those). > >I think I will get connected and let Windows Software Update complete the updates >(sometimes it won't finish and other times I need to use my phone so I disconnect). >Last night I ran Spybot and Ad-Aware (no errors). Strange, Ad-aware doesn't have >any new definitions since a few months ago, when I checked for updates. I removed >AVG thinking that was the culprit, but I will go ahead and download it again. > >I'll let you know how things are running after I get on and use it for a while today. >Please question me for anything else you need to know. > >This laptop was given to me by my sister's husband who removed a lower OS and installed >Windows XP Professional because that's what I was told I needed to use my medial >transcription software. Maybe I can downgrade. I'm wondering how much that would >cost to get the next one down, what's the name of it? And which one is most stable >for my little laptop? > >How do I make line spaces on this thing? It's now showing after I post. > >Thanks again. [Reply or follow-up to this message] Ad-Aware Sunday, March 16, 2008 at 11:39 am Posted by SpiritWind (575 messages posted) Concerning Ad-Aware : depends on which SPECIFIC ver you are speaking !? The "Older" SE Series, specifically the "Personal" Edition had Lavasoft stop issuing Updates Jan 1, 08 . Both Ad-aware & Spybot are no longer top antispyware programs; you be better off uninstalling both, then going to www.superantispyware.com & getting the FREE version there . [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Ad-Aware Sunday, March 16, 2008 at 11:48 am Posted by MartinM (3265 messages posted) Nothing catches everything, and the "top spot" is hard to measure objectively. So its a good idea to run 2 or 3 scanners, and to install SpywareBlaster which pre-empts much (but not all) of this stiff. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: SLOW performance Sunday, March 16, 2008 at 3:19 pm Posted by Ricer46 (20226 messages posted) That computer never could have possibly run XP well. I doubt that 64 MB is really maxed out. You need more memory, don't even bother with any other suggestions, they won't help. I've run XP on 64MB before, it ran just like you described, I abandoned the IT owned computer after a couple of days. Check the Toshiba web page for your model, I think you will find that it is possible to add more memory. Don't even bother with less than 256MB. On Sunday, March 16, 2008 at 9:01 am, Linda wrote: >Ricer, I have the following information for you. Steve, thanks for your input, I >will get back to you after I have tried a few of your suggestins: > >-RAM Capacity: 64 MB (extremely low, I know, but it's maxed out) >-Free space: 3.81 GB >-File System: Fat 32 >Speed: 646 MHz >-Pentium III Processor >-Total paging file size for all drives: 288 MB >-CPU usage: 1% - 15% (fluctuates) >-I have FOUR svchost.exe in my Task Manager > >I do not know what PIO or DMA means or how to reset that. > >I have not been using this laptop for months on a daily basis. I use my mac for surfing >the web and checking email. I was basically using it to do my medical transcription. >I downloaded AVG when my ZoneAlarm expired. I can't think of anything new I downloaded >except the new definitions and letting Windows software Update do its thing. > >Please ask me more questions if you need to know. Back later to try out some other >suggestions Steve made. And thanks to both of you! [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: SLOW performance Sunday, March 16, 2008 at 8:30 pm Posted by Linda (4 messages posted) To be honest, I really do not know what I am doing here. I'm a Mac gal and this Windoz machine has got me puzzled. I d/L AVG again but it won't install. I did something wrong by looking into too many menus. I now have a faded desktop. Maybe I tried to optimize my performance by looking in the Help feature. I'm sorry to bother all of you. I know I have more than 64 megs of RAM because I saw it once before, I think 128 megs, but I forgot how to go in and look for the real number. The only reason I like the laptop is so I can go to certain websites that my Mac won't let me and because it has Word 2003 which I use for resumes to send over the Internet. I know someone who has Windows 98, SE with the disks. Maybe I can somehow get that on the laptop, but if I don't know what I'm doing I may end up having a completely dysfunctional computer. Maybe i should leave well enough alone and just do the regular maintenace stuff. I'm sorry that I could not give you more accurate information, but thank all of you for trying. This forum is truly a gem. [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 XP Discussion Forum