[pete21]

also sorry to dubble post but get task manager on your screen click Performance Tab then start a program and watch the CPU usage if you are on 100% most of the time you probably have load of startup programs running ccleaner can aid you in finding startup items and stopping them from starting up on login/pc startup

[slime]

Hi pete21,
thanks for your concern, but this gives me a dilema.
I'm currently being helped by evilfanatasy who has been very good thus far.
The last thing I want to do is tread on his toes & I feel I want to stick with him
until he suggests I do otherwise.
Once again, thanks for your concern,

Slime.

[evilfantasy]

Download Tree Size and see if you can find where the space is going and what is using it. http://www.jam-software.com/freeware/index.shtml

[pete21]

ok no worrys info is there if needed

[evilfantasy]

You might look at pete21's info as well. Task Manager should tell what is using all of the CPU.

[slime]

Hi,
loads of info coming up.
Ran a TreeSize scan but could only seem to print the results as opposed to getting a log file.
Not sure what I'm looking for but noticed a couple of things.
Name. Size. Allocated. % of parent.
Windows 4220 MB 3961 MB 46
Prog Files 2255 MB 2293 MB 27
Docs & Sets 867 MB 881 MB 10
Task Manager didn't show anything peculiar, as far as I'm aware.

I did an error check, as suggested, and although the machine seems a bit quicker, (re-boot takes 9 mins instead of 12 mins), it is still FAR, FAR slower than it was a few weeks ago.
I have also noticed the following warning pop up,

Windows Virtual Memory minimum too low.
Your system is low on Virtual Memory.
Windows is increasing the size of your Virtual Memory paging file..................

Also, Resident Shield throws up 5 or 6 warning when I open up this page. They close very quickly but I have noticed Tracking Cookies 'Doubleclick' & 'Atdmt'. ??

PC spec as follows (please don't laugh).
Packard Bell
AMD Sempron 2600+
192 MB Ram
XP Home version 2002 SP3
VIA / 53G UniChrome IGP
NEC DVD_RW ND-3500 AG
75 Gb HDD (62 Gb Free space).
I know the spec is very low end, but has only been slow very recently.
Any other information you need, just ask.
If I need to run CCleaner, please advise.
Yours in admiration,

Slime.

[evilfantasy]

I hate to say this but sometimes a re-install is much easier then trying to troubleshoot multiple problems. It's pretty hard for us to set here and guess what's wrong. We could do this for weeks and not get anywhere.

[pete21]

AMD Sempron 2600+
192 MB Ram

am running the amd 2600+ it runs at 2 ghz which is not that slow or fast some more memory would defiantly speed up things alot! try 1 gig of ram (check how much memory your motherboard can handle)
its not that bad of a spec on xp providing you keep on top of programs running

as you say it was running faster a while ago
as evilfantasy
says it is best sometimes to re install and start a fresh .. he has most possibly ruled out now that your problem is not spyware/virus related...i do recommend with your spec of pc you
use a anti virus program which is light on memory
as less as possible startup programs like (quick-time) (ituneshelper) installing programs can soon build up when i had your problem i use to always be in task-manager looking for eney new programs running that i was not using and ending them ( thats how i cort the pc bug)
unlike the big boys with there dual cores and memory in excess or 4 gigs (crazy) our spec pc's are just not upto todays demands but we can still chase them with a little maintinence and a watchful eye on them hungry memory programs

with a spec ner to yours i can say what i do
if my pc becomes slow all a sudden i bring task manager up and END the program that made the lag.
run one program at a time if you have lag say you are playing music with windows player and also trying to edit a movie in windows movie maker (end the one you can do with out)

when installing programs watch for the option (start with windows yes/no?) too many yes of them and your boot and performance of your pc will suffer!

add/remove windows components not needed (i posted earlier on how to)
even fax and printer drivers can be turned off to get back more extra performance (who still uses fax on the pc? hehe. and you would be a fool to have your remote registry terned on!)

a Ccleaner cleanup once and a while with the odd virus scan and spyware scans and once in a while do a error check on harddrive

well thats just my routine and i have no performance issues now

its actelly got me paranoid am always searching and checking if anything is pinching my performance and taking it back nothings worse than trying or in the middle of doing something and your pc freezes we have all bin there at some point.
eneyway i hope this helps weather you choose to re install or keep trying

usefull programs are
spybot search and destroy
Ccleaner
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
TweakUI (powerfull tool free from Microsoft website)
all free downloads too
also if interested i have used avg 8 free and also tried avast free runs easy on this spec of pc
hope this helps

[slime]

Thanks guys,
I really do appreciate your time & help on this.
I'm going to plug away as I don't have any recovery discs for doing a format & install.
If I come up with anything useful I will be sure to let you know,
once again, many thanks indeed,

Slime.

[slime]

Originally Posted by pete21

also sorry to dubble post but get task manager on your screen click Performance Tab then start a program and watch the CPU usage if you are on 100% most of the time you probably have load of startup programs running ccleaner can aid you in finding startup items and stopping them from starting up on login/pc startup

Hi pete21,
sorry fella, I know this is a few days after the event, but, I was running Task Manager & noticed nothing too strange regarding 'CPU usage', but, I have noticed that my 'Page File Usage History' , when the system is idle & with only IE open, is flatlining at 80%.
Isn't that too high, if so, please guide me as to what I can do.
If this is now bordering on being on the wrong Forum, I apologise.
Many thanks as always,

Slime.