Posted on 01/11/2007 10:12:41 AM PST by LouAvul
My computer used to be really zippy. 1 1/4 gig Ram, fast processor, etc.
But then I installed symantic and that slowed it somewhat. Then all the Windows updates.
Now it's actually pretty slow, sometimes.
Anyone else have this problem?
Fragmented disk, spyware, memory resident programs.
Maybe you haven't logged in...
I mean, hey, I used to be able to go out and party and dance until 2 a.m. and not even suffer the next day at work. Not anymore.
(Maybe your cache needs to be cleaned out?)
"memory resident programs
What are they?
I installed SP2 with Norton Internet Protection and had to unistall SP2 because it slowed my computer down.
Norton is a resource hog.
I installed symantic
Ditch Norton and get AVG. Your computer's performance will return immediately.
symantic does slow the computer down.
Also, If you have ANY AOL programs on your computer, Symantic acts as a cover for computer to computer networking.
Also, for good measures, dump temp files, ensure you don't have programs running in the background, do file maintanence and check if Google Tool Bar has installed inself. It launches and runs in the background and you don't even realize it.
At my stage in life, most men buy a Corvette. I just installed Service Pack2. :(
Clean your cookies 3-4 x a week and run maintenence on your computer weekly or at least 2 x month.
If you toss your cookies 3-4 times a week, does it make you bulimic?
Mostly they are started via the Startup group (Start/All Programs/Startup), others get added to the services list. There are a few apps that will allow you to change what gets started, but if it shows up in the system tray it should be configurable to not automatically run. Google msconfig for proper use - it will do the trick for what gets started at boot time.
In my experience a fragmented disk will have more bearing on performance than memory resident programs.
It's also important to have your swap file properly configured for optimum performance. Rule of thumb is swap file size = 1.5 times the amount of RAM. If you have 1gig of RAM, you should have your swap file size be 1.5gig.
But then I installed symantic and that slowed it somewhat.
Question asked, question answered. Symantec is system-hogging bloatware that is easily replaced with free programs that are more efficient and less intrusive. Symantec is a blight on any computer it comes into contact with.
Start > Run > Type msconfig > Hit OK or Enter > System Config Utility will pop up > Click the "Startup" tab > Uncheck anything you don't need. You probably have quite a few things checked that you don't need running. Most folks do.
Download and install Service Pack 2. Then install Ad Aware and Spybot. Run both one after the other, to remove most of the spyware on your system. Then download and install AVG Personal Edition. Remove Symantec.
Atleast, this was what I was suggested to do, when I too experienced the same problems in my otherwise-smooth PC. It worked for me!
Except for anti-virus, get rid of Norton. Don't go without XP SP-2, a lot of security updates require that it be installed first.
Had an IT guy work on my machine to find out why it stalled when we had network problems. After fixing broken dll files, reinstalled SP-2 and something like 60 MS security updates were downloaded.
My bottom line is that with Windows firewall (comes with SP-2), antivirus, and a couple of free anti-spyware/adware programs, the computer works just fine.
A disk optimization program (aka Crap Cleaner) may be worth a try. I used something similar and it did seem to help.
http://www.ccleaner.com
Also run ad-a-ware to make sure you don't have tracking cookies or some other spyware slowing you down. I run two spyware programs every day because I found the program I bought and installed does not catch certain things that Ad-a-ware does.
Thanks for the help.
I love you tagline.
I ran off to a war zone.
My best friend of many years said, "Interesting way of dealing with a midlife crisis." ;-)
My guess is that you need to look at your startup programs, the number of memory resident processes actually running after startup, and also get a good program to maintain your regsitry file. Registry Mechanic or RegCure are both good.
Maintaining a healthy registry file and cleaning out unessential processes is as important as virus, spyware, and hijacking protection, and almost as important as having enough memory and the amount of processing you have. The things I have talked about here drag down what you have and so you need to make sure they are looked at.
Ditto on the AVG. I was running Zonealarm also for a while, but it seemed to conflict. W2KSP4 here.
Even with protection, it's handy to use the netstat command often. I did once find a virus using netstat that AVG missed!
There are several things that can cause this.
First, I'd check your hardware...How much RAM do you have? For Windows XP, 1 gig is good, 2 gigs is better, and 512 megs of RAM is simply inadequate. How full is your hard disk drive? In general, hard disks start slowing down when they are about 50% full and really cause a slowdown when they are 80% full.
Then, check the software: clear out your browser cache, uninstall any unused or un-needed programs, run both Spybot and Adaware to scan your system for mal/spywre, and make sure that you have an updated copy of Norton Antivirus running.
From your Start menu, choosen run and enter "msconfig" to see what Windows is loading when it starts.
Finally, if you're recently installed Internet Explorer 7, this tends to slow down Windows XP.
Run disk cleanup and defragmenter.
...and most importantly, next time you buy a computer, make sure it's a Macintosh.
Nope- I only clean the crumbs ;)
Relativity effects.
It's actually no slower than before, but with the computer exhibiting all that zippiness, you end up aging more than it does. (See Twin Paradox)
That is exactly the response I was looking for, thanks.
Is that why when you're on a Greyhound bus you pass everything on the freeway, but take 15 hours to make a 6 hour drive?
Just as an FYI: This add/remove software not only removes programs, but also uninstalls any associated registry keys with each app. that is uninstalled. Maybe you've already heard about this, but I hadn't until maybe a month ago. Works pretty good:
http://www.download.com/Your-Uninstaller-2006/3000-2096_4-10619595.html
It will COMPLETELY uninstall just about anything.
No, that's because of "Someone Else's Relativity" effects. It seems like 15 hours, due to the jerk in the seat behind you, but it really only takes 6.
AVG finds tons of spooky stuff that Norton used to routinely miss. That made me do the switch. It may have its holes, but for a decent AV that's also free, it does a good job.
AVG is bad at spyware/trojans though. NoSpyware was used once to remove a rather persistant trojan that AVG simply failed to detect.
Running Linux here....don't have these problems....
Giving a bump for the old CCleaner. Great suggestion/recommendation. Probably the best at what it does....
http://www.ccleaner.com
A lot of good advice on this thread
Norton certainly is bloatware. It can also be difficult to uninstall. In fact, Symantec offers a removal tool, to help people get the crap off their systems.
This is often used after "un-installing" via Add/Remove program. (E.G. Add/Remove > reboot > use Symantec tool > reboot > install AVG or Avast!).
Good luck.
That's when I noticed it really slowed down. Plus I'm having other issues with windows (since the downloads) but Microsoft won't respond to my complaints until I give them $35.
Norton Internet Security 2007. That slowed it down some. But it really slowed down after I downloaded the Security Pack 2 from Microsoft.
I actually reformatted my hard drive because of the issues but some Freepers said I needed the security updates. So I reinstalled everything and am back where I started.
Pretty sad when a company has to offer an additional app. in order to remove itself from your computer.
A lot of left over files from updates and installations can slow down your computer quite a bit. Also, I wouldn't remove the Internet Security, it's benefit outweighs the speed issues.
Read later BTTT
On your advice, I installed and ran this when I had trouble with "SpyMarshal" on the first run it found 29 file items and 2 registry items, including SpyMarshal and SpySherrif all of which it quarantined.
Just a testimonial to the fact that it works and a thank you.
As you also noted to me, updating is important too.
Yes. I do that several times a week.
See any unusual Mem Usage in Windows Task Manager Processes tab?
Is system restore out of the question?
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