Question Hi. I have an ACER Aspire x XC-1660. I'v had it from new. It still has 95% memory available. It runs really slow and the fan is constantly on.

Feb 7, 2025
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Hi. I have an ACER Aspire x XC-1660. Ive had it from new. It still has 95% memory available. It runs really slow and the fan is constantly on. I've done all the usual things to speed it up. But heres my question. I have Fibre Optic Broadband with speed up to 1000. My work laptop is lightening quick but my desktop is so slow. Is this because the desktop i have cannot handle the speed available. Startup is slow, downloading files is slow, surfing is slow. Whats the issue please.
 
Update your post to include full system hardware specs and OS information.

Include PSU: make, model, wattage.

Disk drive(s): make, model, capacity, how full?

What "usual things" were done to speed it up?

Look in Task Manager and Resource Monitor to discover what all is running on your desktop. What resources are being used, by what apps, etc. and to what extent.

Check Task Manager Start to determine what is being launched at boot time.

Could be some buggy or corrupted app. Could be some other app attempting to update, backup, or simply "phone home".

More information needed.
 
Update your post to include full system hardware specs and OS information.

Include PSU: make, model, wattage.

Disk drive(s): make, model, capacity, how full?

What "usual things" were done to speed it up?

Look in Task Manager and Resource Monitor to discover what all is running on your desktop. What resources are being used, by what apps, etc. and to what extent.

Check Task Manager Start to determine what is being launched at boot time.

Could be some buggy or corrupted app. Could be some other app attempting to update, backup, or simply "phone home".

More information needed.
Hi there,

Thank you so much for your reply.

I am so inexperienced in this field so am struggling with much of what you asked. From looking at the desk top I can add the following:

Windows 10 home 64-bit
Intel Core i5-114000 processor
intel UHD graphics 730
8GB DDR4 Memory
1TB Hard Drive
802.11ac wireless networking
802.11a/b/g/n compatible and bluetooth

C Drive 7.97 GB used 385 GB free

ive done all the process of freeing up space deleting apps i dont use (only the ones i know the names of), defrag, i have avast security and regularly clean up and optimize everything.

Look in Task Manager and Resource Monitor to discover what all is running on your desktop. What resources are being used, by what apps, etc. and to what extent. Dont how to do this or what to look for.

Under task manager process its fluctuates between 0-10% cpu and 80-90% memory whateve that means.
There are 5 apps running and 66 background processes.


on start up apps i have many that are disabled and only 3 enabled.
Avast Launch
Securityhealthsystray
Rtk AUDUService64


I dont know what else to check.

Thanks
 
If it in fact has a traditional hard drive, there’s part of your issue. Solid state dings are very reasonable these days and would make a nice upgrade. Also I would consider swapping that 8gb of ram for a 32gb kit. An ssd with a clean install of windows and extra ram would probably make that feel like a new pc.

As far as avast, it’s an ok program, I used to use it all the time. But anymore I simply use windows defender at home. It’s not very intrusive and does a decent job imo and is free.
 
This:

802.11ac wireless networking
802.11a/b/g/n compatible and bluetooth


The desktop may have two wireless network adapters enabled. For most users there should only be one network adapter (be it wired or wireless) enabled.

Run "ipconfig /all" (without quotes) via the Command Prompt.

Copy and past the full results into a post.

Also try identify the make and model of your modem, router, or modem/router if combined.
 
This:

802.11ac wireless networking
802.11a/b/g/n compatible and bluetooth


The desktop may have two wireless network adapters enabled. For most users there should only be one network adapter (be it wired or wireless) enabled.

Run "ipconfig /all" (without quotes) via the Command Prompt.

Copy and past the full results into a post.

Also try identify the make and model of your modem, router, or modem/router if combined.
ive tried this and when i hot send at he command propt a box flashes up and the disappears.
 
If it in fact has a traditional hard drive, there’s part of your issue. Solid state dings are very reasonable these days and would make a nice upgrade. Also I would consider swapping that 8gb of ram for a 32gb kit. An ssd with a clean install of windows and extra ram would probably make that feel like a new pc.

As far as avast, it’s an ok program, I used to use it all the time. But anymore I simply use windows defender at home. It’s not very intrusive and does a decent job imo and is free.
i cant uninstall avast as its asking for a passowrd and ive entered the correct one which its saying is wrong. ive checked all records and its correct and it doesnt given a forgot password option on the box where you are trying to uninstall.
 
This:

802.11ac wireless networking
802.11a/b/g/n compatible and bluetooth


The desktop may have two wireless network adapters enabled. For most users there should only be one network adapter (be it wired or wireless) enabled.

Run "ipconfig /all" (without quotes) via the Command Prompt.

Copy and past the full results into a post.

Also try identify the make and model of your modem, router, or modem/router if combined.
Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : DESKTOP-I3ULII4
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : lan

Unknown adapter Local Area Connection 2:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Avast SecureLine WireGuard Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . :
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Unknown adapter Avast SecureLine VPN:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Avast SecureLine Wintun Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . :
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Unknown adapter Local Area Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Avast SecureLine WireGuard Adapter #2
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . :
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Ethernet adapter Ethernet:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : lan
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek PCIe GbE Family Controller
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 1C-69-7A-94-CE-65
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2a00:23c7:7123:7c00::137(Preferred)
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 11 February 2025 15:28:24
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 12 February 2025 15:28:24
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2a00:23c7:7123:7c00:e077:129a:ffa5:d34(Preferred)
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : fd78:4c15:7f9d::137(Preferred)
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 11 February 2025 15:28:25
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 12 February 2025 15:28:24
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : fd78:4c15:7f9d:0:b2d3:30f6:8ba8:ee94(Preferred)
Temporary IPv6 Address. . . . . . : 2a00:23c7:7123:7c00:7889:2628:9f9:9cf3(Preferred)
Temporary IPv6 Address. . . . . . : fd78:4c15:7f9d:0:7889:2628:9f9:9cf3(Preferred)
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::241d:a28f:740e:ab7%26(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.68(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 07 February 2025 13:18:34
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 12 February 2025 15:28:20
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : fe80::d21b:f4ff:fe35:5d60%26
192.168.1.254
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.254
DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 438069626
DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-28-9A-85-3B-1C-69-7A-94-CE-65
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.254
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Wireless LAN adapter Local Area Connection* 11:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : DA-F3-BC-72-A2-03
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Wireless LAN adapter Local Area Connection* 12:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter #2
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : EA-F3-BC-72-A2-03
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Wireless LAN adapter WiFi:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : lan
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : D8-F3-BC-72-A2-03
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

C:\Windows\System32>
 
Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : DESKTOP-I3ULII4
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : lan

Unknown adapter Local Area Connection 2:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Avast SecureLine WireGuard Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . :
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Unknown adapter Avast SecureLine VPN:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Avast SecureLine Wintun Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . :
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Unknown adapter Local Area Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Avast SecureLine WireGuard Adapter #2
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . :
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Ethernet adapter Ethernet:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : lan
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek PCIe GbE Family Controller
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 1C-69-7A-94-CE-65
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2a00:23c7:7123:7c00::137(Preferred)
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 11 February 2025 15:28:24
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 12 February 2025 15:28:24
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2a00:23c7:7123:7c00:e077:129a:ffa5:d34(Preferred)
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : fd78:4c15:7f9d::137(Preferred)
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 11 February 2025 15:28:25
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 12 February 2025 15:28:24
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : fd78:4c15:7f9d:0:b2d3:30f6:8ba8:ee94(Preferred)
Temporary IPv6 Address. . . . . . : 2a00:23c7:7123:7c00:7889:2628:9f9:9cf3(Preferred)
Temporary IPv6 Address. . . . . . : fd78:4c15:7f9d:0:7889:2628:9f9:9cf3(Preferred)
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::241d:a28f:740e:ab7%26(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.68(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 07 February 2025 13:18:34
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 12 February 2025 15:28:20
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : fe80::d21b:f4ff:fe35:5d60%26
192.168.1.254
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.254
DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 438069626
DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-28-9A-85-3B-1C-69-7A-94-CE-65
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.254
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Wireless LAN adapter Local Area Connection* 11:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : DA-F3-BC-72-A2-03
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Wireless LAN adapter Local Area Connection* 12:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter #2
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : EA-F3-BC-72-A2-03
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Wireless LAN adapter WiFi:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : lan
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : D8-F3-BC-72-A2-03
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

C:\Windows\System32>
on ookla speedtes for 64bit im getting ping 11 downlaod 32.06 upload 86.25
 
Unknown adapter Avast SecureLine VPN:
I use Avast Free Antivirus but I don't use their Secure LIne VPN. I'm wondering if the VPN is being started automatically when you boot into Windows. A good VPN will not slow down your internet connection by a huge amount, but a bad VPN, or one connected to a slow outlet, might explain your low speeds on the desktop PC. Then again, your hard disk might be developing "pending sectors" or even worse "bad blocks", in which case you really should stop using it. Run CHKDSK as described in the link below:

https://www.howtogeek.com/1033/how-to-use-chkdsk-on-windows/

I have not setup a password in Avast (and I didn't realise this was possible). Are you trying to remove Avast using Windows Control Panel, Programs and Features or from inside Avast itself? There may be third-party uninstallers which can bypass AVG's request for a password.

When faced with problem like this, I'd probably disconnect the Windows drive and fit a brand new SATA SSD, then install a fresh copy of Windows from a bootable USB memory stick. Takes around 15 minutes, plus several hours to install all your favourite programs.

It has the benefit of making your boot up PC faster and hopefully cure the fault. You can reconnect the old hard disk and continue using it for data storage if it's still in good condition. Do not leave the hard disk connected whilst you are installing Windows.