Help!! Slow computer

[TURBOPOWERED68]

All of a sudden my computer slowed down a lot.
I have "Symantec Internet Protection" and I have done a bunch of Full system scans to see if any viruses are found or spy ware but it all comes back clean.
I have also used
"Disc Clean up"
"Defragment"
I also went to the "Start Up" menu in the "MsConfig" section and disabled all of the extra non essential junk.
I also went to the "Task Manager" to check for stuff running in the back round and it’s all empty.
My hard drive has 83.4 GB of empty space.
1.99 GHz CPU
1.50GB OF RD-Ram
OS is Windows XP.

Any help would be appreciated.
David

 

[Ms. FastNasty]

Try going through the "add/remove programs" section of your computer and taking out the crap you don't use anymore. I personally like the McAfee products better than Symantec (Symantec tends to take up more computer space)...IMO.

 

[SS/GNX]

Go to Task Manager and click the Performance Tab. Then click the CPU column so it will sort by CPU usage. If nothing is really running in the background the System Idle Process should be 98-99% if you see something else hogging up the CPU usage, that's your culprit.

Also, click the Performance Tab and check your PF usage, make sure it doesn't exceed your physical memory.

 

[Butchman]

Symantec is not very good finding/fixing spyware. You might try downloading Spybot Search and Destroy (free). Update it and run it. I had a friend with a similiar problem. Symantec didn't find anything, but Spybot found 329 instances of spyware.

 

[TurboBob]

it seems that all the virus scanners have their strengths and weaknesses.

I wind up using several different tools to keep the cornputers here running

one is "MalwareBytes" they have a free scanner that finds stuff that my virus package (Trend Micro) doesn't.

There is also a piece of software called "HijackThis" that will report what files and stuff are loaded in the machine. It can be used to remove some stuff, but is not really an automatic tool. Many of the support forums use this for checking whats running.

When you use task manager, how many processes are running?

Bob

 

[Junior Samples]

or go to

Ubuntu Home Page | Ubuntu

Sign up for free install disc then remove all that windows garbage and install Linux:biggrin:

 

[Dwayne]

Malwarebytes.org

download it

update it

run it

 

[klrv6]

Malwarebytes.org

download it

update it

run it

x2 get the most current install from the web site. All kinds of malware will prevent any updating. What you download may be the only chance you have of cleaning things up.

With the hardware you have speced, don't be surprised if the hard drive is on it's way out. My important desktops get new drives every year. I just got three 160GB drives back and one of my other machines has it's 320 unit making noise. In event viewer > system you would see disk errors. Like delayed write failed to drive or volume what ever.

Either way, it's time to backup any and all data you need to keep, before something kills it.

 

[Weester]

Malwarebytes is good but this one is better

Download the free version!!

IObit SystemCare | Computer Scan, Protection & Repair | Powerful PC Maintenance

 

[TurboBob]

what do you use to move the software to the replacement drives? Ghost?

Bob

 

[klrv6]

Almost all new retail boxed drives will come with the needed software to perform the data move. I brought up the drive issue because they do fail and may appear to be an infection when it is a hardware issue.

Make sure your data is backed up.

 

[gnxtc2]

Your problem is Symantec (Norton). Norton is a memory hog. My laptop did the same when I had Norton on it. I removed it and install the Trend Micro.

I'm not a fan of all the free internet proggrams. You have to ask yourself why are they free then sell a version in the store

Billy T.
gnxtc2@aol.com

 

[klrv6]

Your problem is Symantec (Norton). Norton is a memory hog. My laptop did the same when I had Norton on it. I removed it and install the Trend Micro.

I'm not a fan of all the free internet proggrams. You have to ask yourself why are they free then sell a version in the store

Billy T.
gnxtc2@aol.com

Many of the free versions that have big brothers that cost money are to acquaint people with the product. Take AVG, millions of people run the free version. If you want more advanced features, it will cost you $50 but, you already know most of the product. Not all of the free programs are bad....some very much so.

 

[charlief1]

I've got Regcure and superantispyware and they have helped quite a bit. I have my slow moments (puter not me, no jokes guys) but everything works OK for me.

 

[TURBOPOWERED68]

Go to Task Manager and click the Performance Tab. Then click the CPU column so it will sort by CPU usage. If nothing is really running in the background the System Idle Process should be 98-99% if you see something else hogging up the CPU usage, that's your culprit.

Also, click the Performance Tab and check your PF usage, make sure it doesn't exceed your physical memory.

Process 93-99 idle
PF usage - 863MB

i have Norton for about 3 years now and never had this problem.

 

[klrv6]

You could always go back and do a system restore on it

Go back a week or two before the problem started and see what happens. If it is an infection, the restore files get infected sometimes though.

How to restore Windows XP to a previous state

 

[SS/GNX]

System restore wont help if its a bug, I agree it could also be spyware.

You have to pay for it, but spyware doctor works pretty good. You can download the trial for free and it will scan your computer, it just wont fix the problems until you buy it (register).

Also, whats using up the other 7% CPU usuage when you checked that?

 

[Junior Samples]

back up all the stuff you want to save, do a reformat and install XP as well as Linux Ubuntu with dual boot then post back in 6 months with what OS you like better and have the least problems with. with linux you can install program called "wine" which allows you to run any windows programs you cant live without.

Myself I just got sick of the hassles, the crashes, the bugs, the missing DLL's....took a deep breath and made the jump to Ubuntu, I wasnt sure due to new OS and learning curve so forth and so on but I could not be more pleased with the results... its like once you ride in a turbo6.. all others just dont messure up.

 

[turbojay]

Also run the scans with the computer disconnected from the internet. I had an issue with my laptop and it turned out that everytime I caught the spyware, it would download another one from the internet. Finally I ran the scan with the wireless turned off and no network cable plugged and it caught them all...no issues since then.