PROBLEM: MY PC IS RUNNING WAY TOO SLOW

If you have a virus/trojan that interfers with PC operation, then follow these directions ; See Lee Maxwell's 7/2015 troubleshooting presentation

When your PC is hosed: How to re-install from a backup of a PC when those backups may contain Malware (i.e., "WannaCry" ransomware)

Otherwise, follow directions below, for normal cleanup and discover/prevent virus/trojan/malware

FIRST:

• get rid of bloatware/programs you do not use;
• general cleanup: http://dell.to/2tSulGV

IF ABOVE IS NOT SUFFICIENT:. Cleanup browsers, registry & startup (download aids from trusted source: filehippo.com, majorgeeks or download.cnet.com )

2.Is your PC underpowered? (Following is relatively costly, but requireslittle debugging time)

1. check memory usage-buy and add memory if the memory usage is above ~60% [anybody have data?]

<ctr -alt-del>, then "Start Task Manager" then click "performance" tab

2. check hard drive capacity - buy a new drive if hard drive usage is above ~60% [anybody have data?]

windows explorer > browse to hard drive > properties

3.if the above still doesnt help, then you may beinfected with a virus.

Do a thorough scan, with your present anti-virus.

• go back to beginning of this help page; locate and scan with a different on-line virus/trojan scanner

 POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS (no cost- except your time)

My hypothesis (in this order):

  - SW PROBLEM:  too many programs are running upon startup  (and/or conflicts caused by a recent automatic software upgrade- esp anti-virus or OS)

  - HW PROBLEM: - a disk is starting to fail  (or - less likely - a flaky memory chip)

 

FOLLOW THESE STEPS

1. remove unwanted programs – use control panel.  (“add/drop programs” or “programs & features” depending upon your OS): Unless you know multiple antivurus programs are compatible, run ONLY ONE anti-virus program

 

TO SPEED UP YOUR PC AS YOU CLEAN IT UP DURING FOLLOWING STEPS:  LAUNCH WINDOWS IN “SAFE” MODE  (click F8 in the early stage of WIndows booting)

   (if “safe mode” causes your PC speed to be normal, then the problem is software and not hardware)

2. Use drive cleanup tools:  start > all programs > accessories > system tools

  a. run hard drive “disk cleanup”, on EACH of your drives : I always use windows explorer, then right click on drive, and look at “properties” and click the “tools” tab and click “disk cleanup” 

   b. run hard drive defragmentation, on EACH of your drives

4.  remove programs that launch upon startup (and clog up memory, and unnecessarily use CPU time) – start > type msconfig 

    NOTE:  I have been ESPECIALLY grieved by SW conflicts and slow response caused by a new HP printer installing and running MANY programs/services upon startup.  Using following steps, remove most everything that is “ HP”  (if you remove too much, and printer stops working- then slowly restore until the printer starts to work OK

     a.  click “Startup” tab; record which items are checked.  uncheck everything that you don’t recognize (keep all parts of your anti-virus program)

     b.  click “services” tab.  check “Hide all Microsoft services”. record which items are checked  Then uncheck everything you don’t recognize (keep all services of your anti-virus program)

      c. after using “msconfig”, you receive a pop-up alert the next time you boot.  Click “always ignore” or “accept” (or whatever) to make popup not appear again

 

Now that you have prevented most of the unwanted software from launching at startup, hopefully you now longer have software conflicts.

 

IF YOU STILL HAVE PROBLEMS, THEN LOOK FOR HARDWARE PROBLEMS:

1. find and run disk error check: window explorer > right click drive > properties > tools > disk error check.  If errors are found, tell it to correct faults; determine which disk has the faulty sectors, and REPLACE IT SOON!!  (New drives come with cloning SW)

2. run the memory check, by clicking the link in the above URL

MORE DETAIL: (information overload): http://home.comcast.net/~stevemiller1/BCUG/2008/clean.htm for details