Tech: Computer slows down

Subject: Tech: Computer slows down
From: kendall
Date: 15 Mar 07 - 04:29 PM

Jacqui has a problem with her computer. It runs fine for a while, then it slows down to a snail's pace. I took it to Staples but their technician said it worked fine in his shop. Now, at home it is slowing down again.
Any suggestions?

Subject: RE: Tech: Computer slows down
From: Sorcha
Date: 15 Mar 07 - 05:07 PM

Have you thought about taking a class? Most of us just seem to pick it up as we go along.

Subject: RE: Tech: Computer slows down
From: Jim Lad
Date: 15 Mar 07 - 05:10 PM

Staples is selling those Easy Buttons for $5.95. Incredible.
I thought there were a few recent threads on this subject, Kendall.
Hey, where have you been?

Subject: RE: Tech: Computer slows down
From: Jeri
Date: 15 Mar 07 - 05:48 PM

Call the 'Geek Squad'. When the guy shows up to fix your computer, either 1) Offer him a retainer and a room, or 2) Kidnap him and put him in your basement. (joke)

GUEST is perhaps being snotty, but this is #1 in any trouble-shooting guide: "Did you do something stupid?"

Now, this is Jacqui's computer, and I don't think she'd do something stupid. Here's one idea: if they couldn't duplicate the problem in the store, maybe the problem's related to something at home, such as your internet conncection or something her computer does when it's connected. Maybe it automatically downloads stuff or connects to a large website. If she doesn't have up-to-date anti-spyware, maybe it's sending stuff. Does the computer slow down when it's not connected to the internet?

Subject: RE: Tech: Computer slows down
From: Sorcha
Date: 15 Mar 07 - 06:11 PM

Standard maintainence might help. Cookies, Ad/spy ware, scan, disc clean up, de frag....re boot. If you don't know what all that is, get off the computer and take a class. Really. Is anyone using the recycle bin for My Docs storage or anything like that?

When it slows down do you check an Internet traffic site to see how many routers are down? And where?

Subject: RE: Tech: Computer slows down
From: kendall
Date: 15 Mar 07 - 08:36 PM

We took it to a computer technician he had it for a few days and he couldn't fix it either.

Just as a reminder, Guest, you need a name to post here.

Subject: RE: Tech: Computer slows down
From: Bernard
Date: 15 Mar 07 - 08:55 PM

All anyone can do is go through a process of elimination.

First work out what didn't go to the shop and see if any of those items are causing the problem - always easier if you've got something to swap when it's something like the keyboard, mouse etc.

You've got to analyse what is being used around the time it slows down... detective work.

I've just repaired a machine for a friend which had a weird fault. It, too, was running slow - and sometimes would reset itself a few times before it would eventually boot up. It also randomly claimed the video card was faulty or needed new drivers - the dreaded blue screen of death!

I discovered what was wrong using a cardboard tube - as the machine booted, I listened to the various components through the tube (one day I'll buy a stethoscope!), and realised every time it reset itself I could hear a faint 'fizz' from the power supply. Now it has a new power supply, and is totally stable again, and running as quickly as it should.

Dry solder joints (which is what I suspect is the fault) can show no fault for a while - especially after being moved... though I wonder whether your fault is more to do with temperature. Perhaps a fan isn't spinning as it should?

It could just as easily be a software problem, which can be a pig to find...

Maybe it's running automatic updates? Windows, AntiVirus, AntiSpyware or whatever?

Subject: RE: Tech: Computer slows down
From: Bee
Date: 15 Mar 07 - 09:26 PM

My computer's almost nine years old, Win98SE, 10G hard drive, 160meg RAM. Not much compared to what's available, but it still works. I've had lots of problems over the years, some of which were a bit like the one described. Fixes for slowing and/or crashing included: new power supply: $50. and under, new fan, free to me, new mouse driver download, installation and regular use of Adaware, Ultra WinCleaner One Click, AVG, regular use of win98 system maintenance tools, and keeping an eye on what my computer's doing when I'm online. If it slows down only online, check if it's downloading something it shouldn't - or even something it should: with dialup, when AVG kicks in for its daily data dump, I have to cease all other online activities or the browser will shut down.

Subject: RE: Tech: Computer slows down
From: EBarnacle
Date: 15 Mar 07 - 09:29 PM

Just because he kept it for a few days does not mean that he had it on and working for long periods of time.

Have you defragged your hard drive?

When you shut down, do you get one of those funny boxes indicating that there is an application that needs to shut down?

As mentioned above, check and see what you are doing. Perhaps you are running several apps at the same time.

Subject: RE: Tech: Computer slows down
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 15 Mar 07 - 09:32 PM

If the computer is connected to the internet at home, it's possible that something is being downloaded, and is taking lots of attention in the background. I seldom notice any slowdown from the regular Microsoft patch downloads, although they're often fairly large. AV updates don't usually cause anything visible either.

I have encountered serious slowdowns when one of the "media" programs decided to update itself (without my permission), and some of those downloads can try to sneak in, in background. If you play a CD on your computer at home, some of the media programs seem obsessed with finding (on the web) the "track info" for each track as it comes up, and that traffic can affect performance.

If you're normally connected, but are subject to "dropouts" on your internet connection, sometimes a program that calls for a connection and doesn't get it can monopolize the system "waiting for a response" so that everything else slows down.

Also, if you're connected at home and weren't hooked to the internet at the tech guy's place, it's possible that you've picked up a 'bot that's using your machine to send spam or to try to download more malware to you.

Offline, without an open internet connection, I occasionally notice some slowdown when the AV decides to do a scheduled scan, although for the most part even that works fairly unobtrusively, with the exception that when I open a new program, or a new file in the one that's running, it may take a few seconds for it to interrupt the scan to check out the program/file (and return to the scan).

A slowdown could be caused by some specific program that you run at home but that the tech guy didn't run at the shop. This doesn't necessarily have to be a program that's running when you notice the slowdown, if one you ran earlier is subject to "memory leaks" - doesn't clear and release memory where it's loaded when the program closes - since a significant leak can make lots of your RAM unusable by other programs.

The usual advice about maintenance applies, although you've probably already done the dump the trashbin, run disk cleanup, and defrag.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Computer slows down
From: JennyO
Date: 15 Mar 07 - 09:50 PM

Look at the Task Manager (hit ctrl/alt/del) to see what processes are running, and if anything in particular is taking more than its share.

I had a problem last week which turned out to be a particular website I had opened. I have multiple tabs saved in Firefox which automatically open up when I open Firefox - a few more or less doesn't seem to matter.

I narrowed it down to this particular site because it wasn't one of my usual tabs that I save, and I had only recently opened it. It's an online version of a newspaper we have here for buying and selling goods, and for some reason it was overloading the CPU to a point where everything I did had slowed to a crawl. Dunno why. However, as soon as I closed that tab, everything went back to normal.

So, does it only happen when you are online, or offline as well? Did the techician try it out online?

Another thing that can happen - with my ISP anyway, is that if I was to go over my download limit for the month, I would be "shaped", which means I would not be charged any more, but my speed would be reduced for the rest of that month. It's never happened to me because my limit is quite high and I've never been in danger of exceeding it, but in theory it could happen.

Anyway, as Bernard said, all you can do really is go through a process of elimination.

Subject: RE: Tech: Computer slows down
From: Bee
Date: 15 Mar 07 - 09:50 PM

I don't know about newer computers, but on mine, if you try to defrag when anything else is running, it just continually restarts. That includes screensavers coming on. If you use a screensaver, turn it off before defragging.

Subject: RE: Tech: Computer slows down
From: GUEST,computer geenyus
Date: 15 Mar 07 - 10:01 PM

I have to do that reset thing once a year or so, when a new problem crops up. Forget the technical name at the moment. Where you pick an earlier date (from a time before the problem began), and you set the system back to that point.

Also, is the computer slowing down when performing certain functions? Mine freezes up when I'm burning a disc. All other work (multi-tasking) stops until the disc is burned. It worried me at first, but now I live with it.

Subject: RE: Tech: Computer slows down
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 15 Mar 07 - 10:54 PM

Bee -

If you're in Win98, sometimes there doesn't need to be anything else running. If defrag has to make a correction back at the start of the disk, and prior to where it's working, defrag has to restart, and it logs that as an "interruption." I think it allowed 6 before it complained and asked if you want to continue. Ignore it and charge onward.

I'm not sure whether WinME did the same, but I believe the defrag program used was the same - or very similar - in those two versions.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Computer slows down
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 16 Mar 07 - 04:47 AM

Actually John, the ME version runs better, faster, and produces a better result than the 98SE version, and is compatible to run on 98SE - I use it. All the same, it is best if nothing else that will access the HD - ESPECIALLY to write to it - although THAT can be a trial to discover just WHAT does - is running while trying a DEFRAG or SCANDISK.

I use 'System Monitor' (C:\WIN98SE\SYSMON.EXE) to monitor what is happening to cpu % use and modem tranfer rate - other versions have a similar program somewhere.

Subject: RE: Tech: Computer slows down
From: Tootler
Date: 16 Mar 07 - 06:16 AM

A couple of tips I got from a computer magazine recently which seem to have worked with my laptop running Win XP SP2

Go to "My Computer",. right click on the Hard drive icon and select "Properties"

In the "General" Tab, uncheck the box labelled "Allow indexing service the index this disk for fast file searching".

The File indexing service takes over periodically and you cannot use the computer at all while it is chattering away. Unless you use the search facility, frequently, it is not needed.

Also on this tab, is a button labelled "Disk Cleanup". Checking this will cause the computer to get rid of temporary files and other fragments that clutter the hard drive. I did this and recovered between 3 & 4 meg of hard drive. It takes several hours, so set aside time to do this.

I also ran msconfig and unchecked a lot of the files that start up during booting and then run in the background

Since doing this, I have found that my computer boots more quickly and I get fewer problems with the computer taking over and chattering away to no apparent effect. It still happens, but less frequently.

Subject: RE: Tech: Computer slows down
From: kendall
Date: 16 Mar 07 - 06:29 AM

Maybe I should have mentioned that her computer is on the same broad band set up as mine via a router. My machine works like a charm.
Her machine was working fine until recently, and no new stuff has been added, such as a new printer, keyboard etc.

Subject: RE: Tech: Computer slows down
From: jacqui.c
Date: 16 Mar 07 - 06:42 AM

It happens in most applications. I was downloading onto discs, using Record Now, last night prior to taking the machine to the shop today and it was frustratingly slow. Word doesn't seem to be affected though, although I cannot switch to Word from an Internet application if I've, say, pressed Forum Home in Mudcat or clicked on a new email item. It won't move until it has completed the first task.

For me it's a little like any domestic machine. I know my way around it a bit but, when I have gone as far as I feel able, I let the professionals take over and that is what I'm going to do this morning.

Subject: RE: Tech: Computer slows down
From: kerryguy7
Date: 16 Mar 07 - 06:57 AM

A couple of things to try...
Be certain that you have all of the latest virus/anti-spyware/adware definitions installed and be sure to run these anti virus, anti spyware programs daily.
Also...be sure to use the option that these programs provide to do a "complete or detailed sweep", as oppossed to a "quick sweep". This allows the entire hard drive to be checked for potential problems as oppossed to just certain areas on your hard drive.
Also...be sure to empty the "temp files" on a regular basis.
Over time these build up and can cause the computer to slow down greatly.
Be sure to run the built in defragmentation utility that is provided through Windows XP. Just go to :
Start>Programs>Accessories>System Tools>Defrag
Over time the hard drive becomes fragmented and it takes the system longer and longer to access the data needed as your use your computer. Running the defrag utility can help to speed up the system noticably!

Lastly I recommend a (free) program called CCLEANER.
It is a wonderful utility that helps to "clean out" all of the "junk files" that accumulate on your hard drive, are taking up precious room and have a way of slowing your system down.
It can be downloaded from any of the well know shareware/freeware sights here on the internet.
Try www.downloads.com or www.twocows.com.
Both are excellent and highly regarded shareware sites.

OK...hope that helps!
I'm a computer tech and I do this sort of thing for a living!

Subject: RE: Tech: Computer slows down
From: Jeri
Date: 16 Mar 07 - 07:26 AM

I'm going to repeat this, from my earlier post, since you haven't mentioned it and I believe it may be important:

Does the computer slow down when it's not connected to the internet?

Subject: RE: Tech: Computer slows down
From: Bert
Date: 16 Mar 07 - 11:14 AM

Rachael bought a used HP at a thrift store, obviously it was a few years old.

It worked quite well but it was slow.

So I loaded Linux on it and now it is as fast or faster than her newre machine.

Subject: RE: Tech: Computer slows down
From: Sorcha
Date: 16 Mar 07 - 09:50 PM

Still no answer to Jeri's question about Internet connection or other maitainence questions. Kendall may be hopelessly tech challenged.

Subject: RE: Tech: Computer slows down
From: JennyO
Date: 16 Mar 07 - 10:25 PM

'Twas my question too. Jacqui did say it was slow when she was downloading, so she must have been online then. Have you guys looked at the processes on Task Manager yet?

Subject: RE: Tech: Computer slows down
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 17 Mar 07 - 01:53 AM

I haven't made a serious attempt to figure out exactly what's going on, but in a few cases when my browser has said it's "waiting for reply" my impression is that everything slows down. Since I usually just sit, wait, and curse, I haven't often tried to open or actively use another program when this happens, and I tend to just not go back to sites where it happens a lot.

There is a network setup configuration documented at Microsoft's Knowledge Base in which a local server can "listen too hard" and slow down both the network and individual computers connected to it. Unfortunately, the article wasn't what I was looking for at the time, and I apparently didn't make notes. If I could remember what I was looking for, I might be able to stumble on it again, but at the moment I'm drawing memory with null content.

If (imagine "If" in big letters) there's anything to the browser being able to soak up (or block other processes from using) processor cycles while "listening" it would seem possible that a browser window that was open but minimized, or just behind another window, might be doing something to result in some slowdown, possibly as a "background process" that doesn't show that anything is happening.

It would be necessary(?) that a site be incredibly slow at responding, and likely that it be one that refreshes frequently, like perhaps an RSS feed or a "news site" that changes their page frequently. The only site I know of that is that incredibly bad probably would be MSNBC, although I'm sure there are others that could be suspects.


While Task Manager gives some indication of which processes are using up cycles, it doesn't give much of an indication of how hard (total) the processor is working. An alternate view, that may or may not be more revealing can be had, in WinXP, at Start|Settings|Control Panel, Double-click Administrative Tools, and down at the bottom of the list you should find "Performance." Double-click Performance, and select the System Monitor. The "real-time" plot of what your system is doing should appear, and will show processor activity, memory swap rate, and disk activity. Whether this is helpful depends on whether anything "special" happens to be going on, so you'll have to make up your own mind about whether it tells you anything useful. (This tool may not be present in WinXP-Home(?).)


When you set up a network, in some cases there's a check block to have setup put a "monitor" icon in the System Tray at the lower right on the Start bar. (I haven't figured out what determines whether you get the option to put the icon there, so don't ask too many questions.)

If the icon is there, hovering your mouse pointer over it should flash a popup showing "current rate" (always a lie), bits sent, and bits received. This might be helpful in getting a quick hint on whether your connection (your browser) is doing something in the background. The icon should look like a pair of monitors, with one flashing when something's being sent and the other lit up when somethings coming in, so just glancing at the icon gives some indication of whether there's "internet activity."

Also, if the monitor icon is there, you can double-click it to open a window that may give some additional info. Probably the most useful thing is on the "Details" tab, where at the bottom it should (may) show the IP Address of the last connection (target site) that was active or the one that is currently active.


All I can do at this point is to offer the places above where you can look for clues. I can't say what clues you may find or what they really mean - but happy hunting anyway.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Computer slows down
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 17 Mar 07 - 04:33 AM

"being able to soak up (or block other processes from using) processor cycles "

If you have setup some web sites to be 'available offline' and want them to be 'updated regularly' - you will find that things will get clagged occassionally.... :-)


Netwatcher for Win98 is C:\WIN98SE\NETWATCH.EXE - the 98SE monitor (which allows you to se connection rate, etc) I mentioned above.

Subject: RE: Tech: Computer slows down
From: jacqui.c
Date: 17 Mar 07 - 06:17 AM

We're on Broadband so the PC is always connected to the Internet. It seems to work better in Word and My Pictures but Record Now was frustratingly slow when I downloaded to disc the other day.

My machine went to the shop yesterday and, from the discussion I had with the guy, he thinks that there might be a virus in there. He seems to know what he's doing and he's a grat fan of Irish music, so he must be OK. :0)

Subject: RE: Tech: Computer slows down
From: Jeri
Date: 17 Mar 07 - 07:27 AM

It's not connected to the internet when you take it to Staples, and it didn't slow down then. What I was thinking was that there was some program you had running that did something on the Internet that slowed the computer down. There is malware that will use your computer as a proxy to send spam or share files, or download whatever. Lots of bad stuff out there.

I'm glad you found somebody to look closer than the last guy.