Question Help Me Clean Up A Sluggish Computer

[xarzu]

I have had to start working from home. That work has involved setting up virutal machines and I quickly ran into a memory problem. The way I see it, there are a number of things I can do. The first thing is to look at my task manager and see how many processes and aps I have runnnin gin the backgrounnd that I can clean up. Then I can see how much memory I have and how much more memorny I can install in my motherboard. Finally, I can get a new computer. But I am going to put that last option off to the last moment .

So let's start with cleaning up my computer. So, my first question would be to ask for advice on some good software for removing malware and garbage. The next request is for you to have a look at the screen shots I made of my task mannager. I don't know how to do text grabs. So please have a look and tell me what you think.

I am going to just post the links to the images here.
https://millionthompson.com/images/tasks 01.png

https://millionthompson.com/images/tasks%2002.png

https://millionthompson.com/images/tasks 03.png

https://millionthompson.com/images/tasks%2004.png

 

[helper800]

Malwarebytes and Ccleaner to clean up unwanted bloat and temp files.

 

[Lafong]

136 background processes; 108 Windows processes. Probably 50 percent more than I have right now.

Chrome using the most memory? Not sure how much total.

Have you looked at the performance or startup tabs in Task Manager?

 

[CountMike]

I have had to start working from home. That work has involved setting up virutal machines and I quickly ran into a memory problem. The way I see it, there are a number of things I can do. The first thing is to look at my task manager and see how many processes and aps I have runnnin gin the backgrounnd that I can clean up. Then I can see how much memory I have and how much more memorny I can install in my motherboard. Finally, I can get a new computer. But I am going to put that last option off to the last moment .

So let's start with cleaning up my computer. So, my first question would be to ask for advice on some good software for removing malware and garbage. The next request is for you to have a look at the screen shots I made of my task mannager. I don't know how to do text grabs. So please have a look and tell me what you think.

I am going to just post the links to the images here.
https://millionthompson.com/images/tasks 01.png

https://millionthompson.com/images/tasks%2002.png

https://millionthompson.com/images/tasks 03.png

https://millionthompson.com/images/tasks%2004.png

For best performance a lot of free RAM and fast disks is elementary while for multiple VMs at same time number of cores also counts.
As for cleaning Windows as a host, nothing beets new, clean installation with as little of background clatter as possible.If you need or want to get rid of less used or useless programs/APPs, best to use a dedicated uninstaller like Revo uninstaller which will also clean up inevitable leftover files and registry entries followed by (in case of W10 and W11) "In place upgrade" with newest ISO that replaces all OS files with new clean and updated ones without loosing your APPs or data. Revo also has very good options to clean up "junk" files and registry entries even if they were not uninstalled by Revo itself.

 

[xarzu]

I went ahead and took the leap and bought some RAM.
Will this work or should I return it? What do you think?
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BkqHoc5NKbt3n9xxFxnQxCm6Q-jv3qH3/view?usp=sharing

There are lots of reasons why the RAM might not work. One reason repeated is that it is the wrong type of RAM. I wanted to ask the fourm before I even try.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BjLWFDrwBUpFchi1yvm4MYTguyWm0l2E/view?usp=sharing

I appreciate any input, suggestion or advice. Here is the RAM screenshot from before. Please tell me if more informatioin is necessary. https://millionthompson.com/images/Memory.PNG

 

[USAFRet]

And the full hardware specs of this system?

 

[DSzymborski]

Since you already have bought the memory, might as well see if it works.

As CountMike notes, I think your best option here would be to wipe Windows and do a fresh installation. You have a mess of processes going on in the background. I don't think there's been much discipline in installing and monitoring different software and buying more RAM just to run a cluttered messy Windows is like building a second garage because you filled up the first one with trash.

 

[Bob.B]

I have had to start working from home. That work has involved setting up virutal machines and I quickly ran into a memory problem. The way I see it, there are a number of things I can do. The first thing is to look at my task manager and see how many processes and aps I have runnnin gin the backgrounnd that I can clean up. Then I can see how much memory I have and how much more memorny I can install in my motherboard. Finally, I can get a new computer. But I am going to put that last option off to the last moment .

So let's start with cleaning up my computer. So, my first question would be to ask for advice on some good software for removing malware and garbage. The next request is for you to have a look at the screen shots I made of my task mannager. I don't know how to do text grabs. So please have a look and tell me what you think.

I am going to just post the links to the images here.
https://millionthompson.com/images/tasks 01.png

https://millionthompson.com/images/tasks%2002.png

https://millionthompson.com/images/tasks 03.png

https://millionthompson.com/images/tasks%2004.png

You've got a mess... adding more ram is just going to be a band aid.
It's your call if you want to try to clean the mess a piece at a time or just wipe everything and start over.

Run this and post a LINK to the results page.
It will at least show the parts.
UBM

 

[xarzu]

And the full hardware specs of this system?

Here is the system info of my computer:
https://millionthompson.com/images/System_Info.png

 

[xarzu]

You've got a mess... adding more ram is just going to be a band aid.
It's your call if you want to try to clean the mess a piece at a time or just wipe everything and start over.

Run this and post a LINK to the results page.
It will at least show the parts.
UBM

Here is the Benchmark of my computer
https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/53647266

 

[USAFRet]

An i5-4690k and 16GB RAM is going to be marginal with "virutal machines ". Even in the best of conditions, which that system is not.
You simply have WAY too much stuff going on.

I also suggest a full wipe and reinstall.
Start over with a clean slate, rather than trying to surgically remove things.

 

[hemkanishka777]

Well I think I had the same problem few years back.
The main problem is BLOATWARE.
As for everything I turned to Youtube and also a fan of Jays2cents.
Here's the video that helped me and many friends of mine to get our Potato PC's back into action.
(1) How to make a slow computer fast again... for FREE! - YouTube

This has very minor things like disabling unwanted programs, deleting junk files, managing services to preserve system resources etc. Anyone can try these steps....
You won't be disappointed.

 

[Phillip Corcoran]

In this case, a Windows reinstall is still the best option, and the quickest.
It could take the OP a week or more to find and remove all the bloatware, unused apps etc., there's just too much of it to do it that way.

 

[Bob.B]

Here is the Benchmark of my computer
https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/53647266

Same answer.....it's your call....nuke and build up or work your way down a piece at a time.

As has been mentioned disk cleanup/ccleaner/revo uninstaller will help if you decide to work your way down.

 

[rakinar2]

Here is the Benchmark of my computer
https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/53647266

I see too much background CPU usage. That's probably slowing down your PC. As others suggested, I'd strongly recommend a clean installation of Windows - that will remove all possible bloatware.

 

[xarzu]

For now, I think I will add my memory. It does not seem as easy as just powering down the computer and putting them in there: https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/i-need-some-help-adding-memory-to-my-cpu.3769688/