slow computer
i need to speed up my computer. please help
December 17th, 2010 10:40pm

Hi,References to Vista also apply to Windows 7.What antivirus/antispyware/security products do you have on machine? Include any you have EVERhad on this machine including those you uninstalled (they leave remnants behind which can causestrange issues).----------------------------------------------------Do these :Try these to clear corruption and repair/replace damaged/missing system files.Start - type this in Search Box -> COMMAND find at top and RIGHT CLICK - RUN AS ADMINEnter this at the prompt - sfc /scannowHow to Repair Windows 7 System Files with System File Checkerhttp://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.htmlHow to analyze the log file entries that the Microsoft Windows Resource Checker (SFC.exe) programgenerates in Windows Vista cbs.loghttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/928228Also run CheckDisk so we can rule out corruption as much as possible.How to Run Disk Check in Windows 7http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html==========================================After the above :How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows Vista orWindows 7http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135Use Advanced Tools to Troubleshoot Performance Problems in Windows 7http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/6152/use-advanced-tools-to-troubleshoot-performance-problems-in-windows-7/Problems with overall system speed and performancehttp://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/gp/slow_windows_performance?p=1How to troubleshoot performance issues in Windows Vistahttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/950685Optimizing Microsoft Windows Vista Performancehttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/959062To see all that is loading bootup - wait a few minutes without doing anything - then Right ClickTaskBar - Task Manager - take a look at Appplications - Processes - Services - this is a quickreference (if you have a little box on Lower Left - Show for All Users then check that).How to Change, Add, or Remove Startup Programs in Windows 7http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1401-startup-programs-change.htmlA quick check to see which are loading is Method 2 there - using MSCONFIG then post a list ofthose here.--------------------------------------------------------------------Tools that should help :Process Explorer - Free - Find out what files, registry keys and other objects processes have open,which DLLs they have loaded, and more. This uniquely powerful utility will even show you who ownseach process.http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspxAutoruns - Free - See what programs are configured to startup automatically when your system bootsand you login. Autoruns also shows you the full list of Registry and file locations where applications canconfigure auto-start settings.http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspxProcess Monitor - Free - Monitor file system, Registry, process, thread and DLL activity in real-time.http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896645.aspxThere are many excellent free tools at Sysinternalshttp://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/default.aspxWhatsInStartUP - Free - This utility displays the list of all applications that are loaded automaticallywhen Windows starts up. For each application, the following information is displayed: Startup Type (Registry/Startup Folder), Command -Line String, Product Name, File Version, Company Name,Location in the Registry or file system, and more. It allows you to easily disable or delete unwantedprograms that runs in your Windows startup. http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/what_run_in_startup.htmlThere are many excellent free tools at NirSofthttp://www.nirsoft.net/utils/index.htmlWindow Watcher - Free - Do you know what's running on your computer? Maybe not. The WindowWatcher tells all, reporting every window created by every running program, whether the windowis visible or not. http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptwinwatch.aspMany excellent free tools and an excellent newsletter at Karenwarehttp://www.karenware.com/===========================================Consider this an absolute must - manually updating your drivers.Vista and Windows 7 love updated drivers so here is how to update the major ones.This is my generic how to for proper driver updates :This utility makes it easy to see which versions are loaded :DriverView - Free - utility displays the list of all device drivers currently loaded on your system.For each driver in the list, additional useful information is displayed: load address of the driver,description, version, product name, company that created the driver, and more.http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/driverview.htmlFor Drivers check System Maker as fallbacks and Device Maker's which are the most current.Control Panel - Device Manager - Display Adapter - write down the make and complete modelof your video adapter - double click - Driver's tab - write down the version info. Now click UPdateDriver (this may not do anything as MS is far behind certifying drivers) - then Right Click -Uninstall - REBOOT this will refresh the driver stack.Repeat that for Network - Network Card (NIC), Wifi, Sound, Mouse and Keyboard if 3rd partywith their own software and drivers and any other major device drivers you have.Now go to System Maker's site (Dell, HP, Toshiba as examples) (as rollback) and then DeviceMaker's site (Realtek, Intel, Nvidia, ATI as examples) and get their latest versions. (Look forBIOS, Chipset and software updates at System Maker's site while there.)Download - SAVE - go to where you put them - Right Click - RUN AD ADMIN - REBOOT aftereach installation.Always check in Device Manager - Drivers tab to be sure the version you are installing actuallyshows up. This is because some drivers rollback before the latest is installed (sound driversparticularly do this) so install a driver - reboot - check to be sure it is installed and repeat asneeded.Repeat at Device Makers - BTW at Device Makers DO NOT RUN THEIR SCANNER - checkmanually by model.Manually look at manufacturer's sites for drivers - and Device Maker's sites.http://pcsupport.about.com/od/driverssupport/ht/driverdlmfgr.htmInstalling and updating drivers in Windows 7 (updating drivers manually using the methods aboveis preferred to ensure the latest drivers from System maker and Device makers are found)http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/43216-installing-updating-drivers-7-a.htmlIf you update drivers manually then it is a good idea to disable Driver Installations in WindowsUpdates, this leaves Windows Updates ON however it will not install drivers which will usually beolder and cause issues. If Updates suggests a new driver then HIDE it (Right Click on it) and thengo look for new ones manually if you wish.How To Disable Automatic Driver Installation In Windows Vista - Drivershttp://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips/how-to-disable-automatic-driver-installation-in-windows-vista/http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc730606(WS.10).aspx===========================================Refer to these threads for many more excellent tips however be sure to check your antivirusprograms, update major drivers and BIOS, and also troubleshoot with the cleanboot methodfirst.Problems with overall system speed and performancehttp://support.microsoft.com/gp/slow_windows_performance/en-usPerformance and Maintenance tipshttp://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7performance/thread/19e5d6c3-bf07-49ac-a2fa-6718c988f125Windows Explorer has stopped workinghttp://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7performance/thread/6ab02526-5071-4dcc-895f-d90202bad8b3Hope this helps and Happy Holidays!Rob Brown - MS MVP - Windows Desktop Experience : Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
December 17th, 2010 10:42pm

i running windows xp. i have already did the disk clean up and disk defragment but i was told to go to windows defender but i can find it .
December 17th, 2010 10:51pm

Hi,Many of the methods above will work on XP however instead of Start - Search use XP'sRun Command.Please check with the Experts in the Answers - Windows XP Forums.Answers - Windows XP Forumshttp://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/category/windowsxpHope this helps and Happy Holidays.Rob Brown - MS MVP - Windows Desktop Experience : Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
December 17th, 2010 11:26pm

On Fri, 17 Dec 2010 19:40:27 +0000, Darlene Minton 2010 wrote: > i need to speed up my computer. please help Please answer all the following questions: Please tell us what "slow computer" means. Under what circumstances itis slow? How slow is it (put a number on it, even if approximate)? Hasit always been slow or is it something new? If it's new, when did itget slow and what changes did you make just before then? What hardware do you have (how fast is your CPU and how much RAM doyou have?)? What Service Pack are you running? What programs do you have starting automatically when you boot (if youdon't know, run MSCONFIG To get a list of them)? And since a malware infection is perhaps the most common reason for aslow computer these days, what anti-virus and anti-spyware programs doyou run? Are they kept up to date? Ken Blake (MS MVP)
December 18th, 2010 12:26am

This topic is archived. No further replies will be accepted.

Other recent topics Other recent topics