Windows Running Slowly!

pcmattman · Post by **pcmattman** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 4:40 am

I've recently noted that my computer is running a lot slower than usual.

I did the standard "check for spyware, viruses, and rootkits" and found nothing at all, so I decided to finally get around to uninstalling Norton Internet Security and replaced it with AVG and ZoneAlarm - and I haven't been unhappy yet.

Unfortunately, my computer still runs slow.

The main problem is that it appears to be running well, and then suddenly a program will use 100% CPU. Upon killing this process, another process takes over the 100% CPU and this continues, which means that I have to restart the PC via the restart button on the front of the case. I have not yet opened the case and looked at the CPU to see how dusty it is, because the temperature averages under 50 degrees most of the time (using SpeedFan to find this out).

I'd prefer to not be told to "Switch to Linux", as it's unlikely that I will be doing that until 2009.

Any ideas?

Solar · Post by **Solar** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 5:07 am

Certainly not a problem of the CPU. If it were, the system would crash, freeze, or something, but you wouldn't be able to terminate any processes (which requires a functioning OS in the first place).

Instead of talking you through a lengthy debug session, how about a backup-reinstall? I found that every OS is subject to "system rot" in some way or another, and doing a "clean slate" reinstall about once a year helps mucho.

inflater · Post by **inflater** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 8:19 am

@pcmattman:
Replace and DELETE avg and ZA with NOD32 trial version, turn on (advanced) heuristics, detection for "potentially unwanted software", adware,spyware, in AMON Control Center and install Spybot Search 'n Destroy. And please don't get scared if AMON/SnD finds a virus... almost any can be removed successfully.

Also delete tracking cookies (SnD will find them).

If a virus is found, first try to boot into safe mode, run SnD and clean everything what is in red, then, run AMON and clean everything that is infected. If it isn't, or the virus would recreate itself after day/two days/week, post here the HijackThis log:

http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/programs.php

If no virus is found, then the slowness is doing some of your programs or drivers. Press CTRL+ALT+DEL, terminate EXPLORER.EXE and see what program is using the maximum memory. Terminate (but do not delete!) all each other, *except* winlogon.exe, lsass.exe, services.exe, smss.exe, csrss.exe or svchost.exe!

Good luck

Regards
inflater

pcmattman · Post by **pcmattman** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 3:35 pm

Solar wrote:Instead of talking you through a lengthy debug session, how about a backup-reinstall? I found that every OS is subject to "system rot" in some way or another, and doing a "clean slate" reinstall about once a year helps mucho.

Hmmmm... I've been thinking about doing that. Unfortunately it's mid-term at the moment and I don't have time. I might do one in December.

inflater wrote:and install Spybot Search 'n Destroy[/code]

I've got it, it finds nothing apart from cookies (which I delete).

I might actually go through later today and try updating all my drivers and see if that changes anything (you just never know, don't you).

com1 · Post by **com1** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 4:02 pm

switch to linux

pcmattman · Post by **pcmattman** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 4:04 pm

pcmattman wrote:I'd prefer to not be told to "Switch to Linux", as it's unlikely that I will be doing that until 2009.

com1 · Post by **com1** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 4:05 pm

oh srry

Alboin · Post by **Alboin** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 4:15 pm

com1 wrote:switch to linux

Linux isn't safe from system rot either. At the moment, my Portage system is quite FUBAR. I'm surprised GNOME still starts. I'll probably have to reinstall, switch distros again (I'm waiting for KDE4 to be released.), or see what the Gentoo forums can do.

Nothing is perfect.

(Although, things suffer differently. Windows slows down, while Linus trashes your scripts.)

pcmattman · Post by **pcmattman** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 4:18 pm

Alboin wrote:Nothing is perfect.

My OS, on the other hand...

Zacariaz · Post by **Zacariaz** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 4:25 pm

Im running debian testing, and due to some weird network setup i have to do, where i need to have a specific name on the network, it doesnt work probably when doing a netinst. So, i have to so a minimun install, add the needed souces to sources.list, edit my network config manually, run tasksel, and a 1000 other things and i started running linux like a month ago so stop whining, if i can get it to work so can all you geniouses!

com1 · Post by **com1** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 4:30 pm

did i ever say linux isn't succeptable to system rot? no. it most certainly is

Alboin · Post by **Alboin** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 4:47 pm

com1 wrote:did i ever say linux isn't succeptable to system rot? no. it most certainly is

You suggested him to switch to Linux, through which one might deduce that you thought it not susceptible.

piranha · Post by **piranha** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 5:07 pm

I think that Linux eventually rots, but it does so a lot slower then Windows.

This comes from personal experience

-JL

Alboin · Post by **Alboin** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 5:17 pm

piranha wrote:I think that Linux eventually rots, but it does so a lot slower then Windows.

Very true. This is even more true when you don't kill portage while it is in the middle of installing something.

jerryleecooper · Post by **jerryleecooper** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 5:42 pm

Is your Windows been reported as non genuine?

OSDev.org