Suddenly considerably slower start up and poorer performance

[Ian]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain (More info?)

I realise from the outset that this is a difficult problem to fix, but I
thought I'd ask anyway! Recently my computer has started running slowly.
Start up (the bit with the Windows XP screen and the green lozenge going
across the screen) takes about 5 times longer than it used to. Then once
I've logged on, the initial opening my desktop and connecting to the internet
takes much longer than it used to.

Once it's up and running it's ok, but everything takes a little bit longer
than it used to, with applications frequently freezing or crashing. Also,
sometimes, my usb mouse just stops working!

I'm using an AMD Athlon(TM) XP 2100+ with 512MB of RAM on a A7V8X
motherboard. I have a lot of software installed and my 80GB harddrive is 80%
full. (I've just noticed that there is a new BIOS on the ASUS website, but I
don't know if I should install that or not)

I have Win XP SP2 (the problem arose since I installed it, but not
immediately after). I use panda antivirus and zone alarm firewall.

I also recently bought a NewLink 4 port usb hub and it was about this time
that it started running slowly, although disconnecting the hub didn't fix it.

Should I re-install windows or remove all of the programs and re-install
maybe?

Can't think what else to post, but I will add anything else that anybody
might need! I'm just utterly confused about the sudden decrease in
performance.

Ian

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain (More info?)

Using 80% of the hard disk will tend to make the system run more slowly.
Files will become fragmented more quickly. Running housekeeping routines
more frequently and removing unneeded files to inc the amount of free
space will help. You might consider adding a second hard disk if you
want to retain so many files on hard disk.

Poor system performance can be the result of a single problem or a
combination of factors. Listed
below are issues, which you may wish to examine if you are experiencing
poor performance after
the boot process has completed. Some items may help with slow starting
of Windows XP but the
list has not been prepared for tackling that problem. Work through the
list until you achieve an
acceptable result.

Regular and effective housekeeping is essential. What you do and how
often you do it will depend
on how you use your computer. A suggested routine may include:
1. In Outlook Express empty your Deleted Items folder.
2. In Outlook Express run File, Folder, Compact All whilst OFFLINE.
3. Run Disk Cleanup. Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk
Cleanup with
Temporary Internet Files, Offline Web Pages (optional), System Restore
( more Options tab )
and Recycle Bin selected for deletion. If you have more than one drive /
partition you may
need to do this operation for each drive / partition.
4. Remove Cookies. Start, Control Panel, Internet Options, General,
Delete Cookies.
5. Run Disk Defragmenter.

Check whether you could reduce the number of days the History of sites
visited is retained. Start,
Control Panel, Internet Options, General, History.

Spyware causes many problems. If not installed download Adaware and / or
update Reference file
from http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/ and use it to remove
parasites. If Spyware
persists as a problem try a Hosts file.
http://www.accs-net.com/hosts/what_is_hosts.html

Slow performance resulting from insufficient memory, causing over
reliance on virtual memory,
may be especially noticed by those upgrading to Windows XP from an
earlier version of Windows.
Windows XP will run with 64 MB of RAM memory. However, a minimum of 256
MB is
recommended and many users will recommend 512 MB. You may check on
pagefile (virtual
memory) usage with Page File Monitor for XP:
http://www.dougknox.com/

Check how much free space you have on the hard drive / partition where
your pagefile is located.
You need a minimum of 15% but 20% or more is better.

Check your setting for the Indexing Service. Start, Administrative
Tools, Services, Indexing
Service. The default setting is Manual. Check that it is not running.
More information here:
http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/service411.htm#Indexing_Service

You can have too many programmes running in the background. Close
programmes/windows after
use. Check whether all the programmes loading when Windows is started
are really necessary.
http://aumha.org/a/loads.htm

Check whether you can identify slow performance with a particular
programme. Look in Google to
see whether others have encountered the same problem and found a
solution.
http://groups.google.com/

Are there any error messages in Event Viewer? You can access Event
Viewer by selecting Start,
Administrative Tools, and Event Viewer. When researching the meaning of
the error, information
regarding Event ID: and Source Description is important.
HOW TO: View and Manage Event Logs in Event Viewer in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308427&Product=winxp

~~~~~~


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FCA

Stourport, Worcs, England
Enquire, plan and execute.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


"Ian" <Ian@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:48C8D122-F3A6-43FA-93FF-8DA72E64F274@microsoft.com...
>I realise from the outset that this is a difficult problem to fix, but
>I
> thought I'd ask anyway! Recently my computer has started running
> slowly.
> Start up (the bit with the Windows XP screen and the green lozenge
> going
> across the screen) takes about 5 times longer than it used to. Then
> once
> I've logged on, the initial opening my desktop and connecting to the
> internet
> takes much longer than it used to.
>
> Once it's up and running it's ok, but everything takes a little bit
> longer
> than it used to, with applications frequently freezing or crashing.
> Also,
> sometimes, my usb mouse just stops working!
>
> I'm using an AMD Athlon(TM) XP 2100+ with 512MB of RAM on a A7V8X
> motherboard. I have a lot of software installed and my 80GB harddrive
> is 80%
> full. (I've just noticed that there is a new BIOS on the ASUS
> website, but I
> don't know if I should install that or not)
>
> I have Win XP SP2 (the problem arose since I installed it, but not
> immediately after). I use panda antivirus and zone alarm firewall.
>
> I also recently bought a NewLink 4 port usb hub and it was about this
> time
> that it started running slowly, although disconnecting the hub didn't
> fix it.
>
> Should I re-install windows or remove all of the programs and
> re-install
> maybe?
>
> Can't think what else to post, but I will add anything else that
> anybody
> might need! I'm just utterly confused about the sudden decrease in
> performance.
>
> Ian