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You should install every critical Windows update... the others are optional, but always make sure you get the critical ones. Some of the optional ones will be necessary depending on your hardware. Never install drivers from Windows Update unless you can't get it anywhere else. Get a good defrag program and use it at least once a week; there will be some that allow you to schedule daily defrags at a time when you're not using the computer... that is a good idea.

If you're using Windows XP, a registry cleaner isn't a bad idea either. The idea is to keep the system up and running with as few reloads as possible. Don't forget to get some sort of back-up system in place, as I'm sure there will come a time when you need to reload. Windows doesn't get any more fragmented than anything else on the drive... it's the registry that will bog your comp down. A program like RegScrubXP will stave off the reload monster a while longer by removing the dead weight from your registry. There isn't really any good registry cleaners for Vista yet, however.

Make sure to keep your motherboard's BIOS up to date as well... you'd be surprised at how much a BIOS update can fix sometimes. One screensaver isn't going to bog your system terribly unless it happens to be running. But if the screensaver is running, you're not using your computer anyway. Avoid those "free" downloads from those little ads that pop up from time to time... they are usually loaded with spyware and can slow your system down considerably.
 
Something is seriously wrong with your computer other than an outdated/inept CPU. Could be very poor maintenance, malware, corrupt windows installation, or bad hardware just to name a few.

The maintenance suggested by Blood_Raven is good albeit a bit extreme for my taste (I defrag once a week at most, it's not nearly as important with ntfs as it was with fat).

If I was having those problems on a properly maintained computer, my first guess would be a bad hard drive and/or a corrupt windows installation. Download Seatools or a similar program for your hard drive to check it before you do anything. I would make sure S.M.A.R.T. is enabled and check the hard drive status either through Seatools or speedfan.

Check Event Viewer in Administrative tools to see if it tells you something useful.

Checking the memory with memtest86+ and the cpu with Orthos dual prime would be a good idea as well.

Try reinstalling windows if your hardware checks out. Good luck!
 
Just pick up another two of the HDs you have,

and upgrade to a Q6600 or an E8200 and OC it...

maybe more memory, let me check what you've got

maybe 2gb/3gb
 



If you want to totally future proof yourself go with 64-bit. However, there will be some compatability trade-offs.

My recommendation would be to go with 32-bit Vista and 3 to 4 gigs of RAM.

I would recommend you get a quad core (to future proof yourself). I would either go with the top of the line AMD choice or the Q6600 or greater. AMD's top offering competes with the Q6600. If you're willing to shell out more money on a CPU you'll have to go with Intel because AMD doesn't have any offerings better than the Q6600.
 
Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 9:51:49 AM, on 6/30/2008
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.16674)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\ACS\AOLAcsd.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\TopSpeed\2.0\aoltsmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\MSC\mcmscsvc.exe
c:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\mcafee\mna\mcnasvc.exe
c:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\mcafee\mcproxy\mcproxy.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcshield.exe
C:\Program Files\McAfee\MPF\MPFSrv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\PnkBstrA.exe
c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\agent\mcagent.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe
C:\Program Files\RocketDock\RocketDock.exe
C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcsysmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\1158890330\ee\aolsoftware.exe
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\DllHost.exe
C:\Program Files\America Online 9.0\waol.exe
C:\Program Files\America Online 9.0\shellmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox 3 Beta 3\firefox.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.comcast.net/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.comcast.net/
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Window Title = Windows Internet Explorer provided by Comcast
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyServer = :0
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: RealPlayer Download and Record Plugin for Internet Explorer - {3049C3E9-B461-4BC5-8870-4C09146192CA} - C:\Program Files\Real\RealPlayer\rpbrowserrecordplugin.dll
O2 - BHO: MorpheusToolbar BHO - {3F3714A1-89A4-46be-8AF3-D0C9D1FB03F9} - C:\Program Files\MorpheusBar\bar\1.bin\MORPHBAR.DLL
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: scriptproxy - {7DB2D5A0-7241-4E79-B68D-6309F01C5231} - C:\Program Files\McAfee\VirusScan\scriptsn.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Morpheus Toolbar - {3F3714A9-89A4-46be-8AF3-D0C9D1FB03F9} - C:\Program Files\MorpheusBar\bar\1.bin\MORPHBAR.DLL
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvMediaCenter] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvMcTray.dll,NvTaskbarInit
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [mcagent_exe] C:\Program Files\McAfee.com\Agent\mcagent.exe /runkey
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MSConfig] C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\MSConfig.exe /auto
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [RocketDock] "C:\Program Files\RocketDock\RocketDock.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [AOL Fast Start] "C:\Program Files\America Online 9.0\AOL.EXE" -b
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office10\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: Real.com - {CD67F990-D8E9-11d2-98FE-00C0F0318AFE} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Shdocvw.dll
O9 - Extra button: Fiddler2 - {CF819DA3-9882-4944-ADF5-6EF17ECF3C6E} - "C:\Program Files\Fiddler2\Fiddler.exe" (file missing)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Fiddler2 - {CF819DA3-9882-4944-ADF5-6EF17ECF3C6E} - "C:\Program Files\Fiddler2\Fiddler.exe" (file missing)
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O16 - DPF: {17492023-C23A-453E-A040-C7C580BBF700} (Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool) - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=39204
O16 - DPF: {4EFA317A-8569-4788-B175-5BAF9731A549} (Microsoft Virtual Server VMRC Advanced Control) - http://vistatestdrive.com/ActiveX/VMRCActiveXClient1.cab
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/wuweb_site.cab?1158884616892
O16 - DPF: {6E32070A-766D-4EE6-879C-DC1FA91D2FC3} (MUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/muweb_site.cab?1158886737093
O16 - DPF: {85D1F3B2-2A21-11D7-97B9-0010DC2A6243} (SecureLogin class) - http://secure2.comned.com/signuptemplates/securelogin-devel.cab
O16 - DPF: {917623D1-D8E5-11D2-BE8B-00104B06BDE3} (CamImage Class) - http://floridakeysmedia.tv/axiscam/Codebase/AxisCamControl.ocx
O16 - DPF: {CD995117-98E5-4169-9920-6C12D4C0B548} (HGPlugin9USA Class) - http://gamedownload.ijjimax.com/gamedownload/dist/hgstart/HGPlugin9USA.cab
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://fpdownload2.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{DA6FFC8C-1200-4317-8CC3-26337B6F983C}: NameServer = 192.168.15.1,192.168.15.2
O18 - Protocol: skype4com - {FFC8B962-9B40-4DFF-9458-1830C7DD7F5D} - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\Skype\SKYPE4~1.DLL
O20 - AppInit_DLLs: C:\PROGRA~1\Google\GOOGLE~2\GOEC62~1.DLL
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: IE Component Categories cache daemon - {553858A7-4922-4e7e-B1C1-97140C1C16EF} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ieframe.dll
O23 - Service: Adobe LM Service - Adobe Systems - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe Systems Shared\Service\Adobelmsvc.exe
O23 - Service: AOL Connectivity Service (AOL ACS) - AOL LLC - C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\ACS\AOLAcsd.exe
O23 - Service: AOL TopSpeed Monitor (AOL TopSpeedMonitor) - America Online, Inc - C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\TopSpeed\2.0\aoltsmon.exe
O23 - Service: Apple Mobile Device - Apple, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
O23 - Service: ##Id_String1.6844F930_1628_4223_B5CC_5BB94B879762## (Bonjour Service) - Apple Computer, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
O23 - Service: FLEXnet Licensing Service - Macrovision Europe Ltd. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Macrovision Shared\FLEXnet Publisher\FNPLicensingService.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\1050\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Services (mcmscsvc) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\MSC\mcmscsvc.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Network Agent (McNASvc) - McAfee, Inc. - c:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\mcafee\mna\mcnasvc.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Scanner (McODS) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcods.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Proxy Service (McProxy) - McAfee, Inc. - c:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\mcafee\mcproxy\mcproxy.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Real-time Scanner (McShield) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcshield.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee SystemGuards (McSysmon) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcsysmon.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Personal Firewall Service (MpfService) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\Program Files\McAfee\MPF\MPFSrv.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (NVSvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
O23 - Service: PnkBstrA - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\PnkBstrA.exe

--
End of file - 8804 bytes
 
I know I have a lot of AOL crap, and I use Rocketdock, so I don't have any Desktop items.
-To The_Blood_Raven, I do most of the things you recommend, and nothing you say not to.
-Just to let everyone know, this is all a great help
 
To get an idea if RAM or the CPU is an issue, start the task manager. (alt/cntl/delete) It will display a history of RAM and CPU usage. If cpu or ram is over 65% utilized, then more ram or a better cpu may be justified. More likely, something is running that you don't expect. look for more details on what is causing it. Select the performance monitor, and look for tasks that are using lots of resources.
 
Things not to do:

Use desktop shortcuts, or more than ABSOLUTELY necessary. It always pains me to see some one's computer and see half the screen filled with short cuts. Honestly that slows the PC down a lot, more so old ones but this definitely still applies, if you need to access a program go through the start menu, it is not THAT much of an inconvenience, not to mention the performance boost.
Click to expand...

Explain to me how shortcuts slow down your computer? They just show the home path/location for the original .exe (or other file extention) and launches it that way.

Its like ordering McDonald's at the drive through or at the counter. Both get you the same product, and neither is really slower than the other. You either have to browse to the file location (super slow) or Windows has to launch the file path (fast). Either way, your food is still sitting under the heat lamps, getting rancid.
 
Yeah,, I would say do a fresh OS install and see how things run for you. It might allow you to put off another PC for a little while longer. Or , just build a new one! Its fun why not... if you have the money !
 
I'd say do a fresh install of the OS also. And really, defrag once a day? F*** that, maybe once every couple of weeks, or once a month, but once a day?

If you wanna try some things before you do a fresh install:

1. type msconfig in run command prompt and click startup tab and uncheck everything you don't need to start when you login to your computer. that will help for sure.

2. Then I'd chkdsk /r ( in cmd prompt) your hard drives. or if you go through windows it's error-checking under properties\tools when you right click on your hard drive/partition. tell it to fix all errors automatically

3. Defrag everything once you've chkdsk'd everything.

If all that does nothing for you, then I'd do a fresh install of the OS. I'd atleast try all of this before building a new computer if your sole purpose of building this new computer is because your $h!t runs too slow.

That's what I would do first anyway.

EDIT: I guess I could add that all that I just said pertains to Windows XP which is what I'm assuming your running on a P4 2.8Ghz machine. If you're running Vista than I have absolutely no effin clue cause I've never used Vista. I'd also ask you why the hell you're running Vista on that machine. But I think I'm safe assuming you're running XP, right?
 
If you're running vista, all of that still applies (use the start search bar instead of run for msconfig and cmd.exe, but other than that...). Of course, if you're running vista on a P4, I would have to question your sanity...
 
Yeah I am a bit extreme about some of these things, but hey I have too much time on my hands. Shortcuts do not slow the computer down because of their function, they slow it down by being, more or less, extra complicated pictures on the screen that must be loaded when going from a non-windowed program to the desktop. It mostly matters in instances such as when you exit a game, the PC must load every shortcut again and if the game was taxing your hardware then that can make a slowdown, albeit not 5 minutes. Again this is more for older computers (say P4 2.8GHZ?), but it still applies today as I see there is a limit to how many shortcuts you can have. After about 10-20+ (depending on hardware) you can run into problems. It is a general idea, but very helpful to older computers that run P4s or equivalent, it also makes you desktop look nicer!

Also for all the people who do not think defragging once a day is good, consider this. Most computers take HOURS to defrag, but nice I keep it up so nicely it takes me 1-5 minutes at most, that is something you can do everyday. I strongly recommend to start this practice after an install of windows, because it it very hard to get defragging to that speed when it takes HOURS to do it once. Again there is a limit to everything and if you have more than 70% of your hard drive filled, then I would back off a bit so as not to damage or corrupt the hard drive and data. A strict defrag schedule can really help at times, especially after installing or uninstalling a large program.
 


Total agreement.

If your computer starts to slow down a fresh OS install can do wonders. I also agree that at most I would defrag once a month. Defragging daily is just going to put unneeded wear on your HD and cause sectors to go bad earlier than they need to.
 
cjl, thanks for that little tidbit about Vista, I wasn't sure if it still applied. I've yet to even touch a box with Vista on it. I know I'm going to have to one of these days though...

TC, thanks for the back up lol.

Well Blood_Raven, I can't say that defragging every day wouldn't lower your defrag times down to 1-5 minutes as I've never tried that often; but if it does, then yea it wouldn't be that much hassle or wear and tear on your HDD. Of course, I tend to have more faith in Windows that most other people so what can I say ya know lol... And I agree about not keeping your desktop cluttered with unecessary shortcuts. even worse is when people store a$$loads of files, large or small, on the desktop itself. Just uncalled for.

Sweet, I'm an enthusiast now. woohoo!
 
Ha, arson94 I forgot about that one. Once I was fixing a PC that a friend's father used and it had all his music on the desktop..... must have been 50+ songs. It had been proven that as long as the temps are reasonable a hard drive will not be damaged from defragging unless it is over 75% full, then there is a chance, and if the hard drive is 85% full then there WILL be damage unless Windows or the program you are using realizes that and only partially defrags.
 
Diskkeeper recommends defragging daily to keep your hard drive defragged so that you don't have to wait an hour for it to finish. It's not going to put any more wear and tear on the drive than normal use would.
 


Curious, do you have a source for that? Are you talking about physical damage or filesystem corruption?
 


I don't know about physical damage or file system corruption but if the hard drive is 85%+ full XP cannot do a complete defrag

To the OP:

If you are not using AOL go ahead and remove all this stuff so these processes will not be running in the background ...

C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\ACS\AOLAcsd.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\TopSpeed\2.0\aoltsmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\1158890330\ee\aolsoftware.exe
C:\Program Files\America Online 9.0\waol.exe
C:\Program Files\America Online 9.0\shellmon.exe

In Program Access and Defaults use the 'Change or remove Programs' menu to remove the AOL stuff.


The other backgroud processes which jump out to me are your Apple stuffs. I don't do the iPod thing but I don't think these services need to always be running in the background:

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe
C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe

AFAIK the Apple stuff can be launched manually when you need it (but you need to verify this as, once again, I'm iPod ignorant :) )

RocketDock.exe does not have to be running in the background and can be launched manually when you need it.

I think you need to be concerned with programs you have installed which automatically try to update themselves in the background. I think that may be part of your problem. At certain times all this background action reaches a 'perfect storm' in slowing down your system ...

Also, McAfee is a known resource hog - even worst than Norton. AVG Free works for me along with the Zone Alarm firewall. I use Adaware and Spybot Search & Destroy for malware ...
 


I totally agree!!! I Can't stand either McAfee or Norton, both are complete junk and only cause problems while slowing down your computer alot. It's too bad, Norton actually used to be good.

Microsoft update, Firefox, AVG Free is all I need to keep me safe.
 



Agreed.

Norton and McAfee = Bloatware
 


I used Diskkeeper for quite a while. I stopped when I lost my first HD. It was a somewhat older drive, maybe 4-5 years old, but I suspect the daily defrag may have been too much for it. Now I just use jkdefrag, which is freeware, and I just run it manually every week or so.
 
If you have NO budget, then this high end cpu is for you lol:
Intel Skulltrail Motherboard with 2 QX9775 Core 2 Extremes @ 3.2GHz.
Price: $3600 for only Proc and Mobo.

The best processor for price-performance ratio right now is the Core 2 Duo E6850. 3.0 GHz, and pretty cheap. No, not a E8400, but an E6850. Here's some rank ups:

1. E6850
2. E8400
3. Q6600
4. E8500
All of these are under 250$ on Newegg. Shipping may vary.

I'm also getting a 2.8GHz pentium 4 so that I can update my bios for my E8400. My mobo needs bios update for 45nm cpus D:
 


If the drive was 4 or 5 years old... it may have already been dying anyway. There's really no way to tell if daily defragging killed it or not. (I'm leaning towards not). If anything, defragging will save wear and tear on your drive, because it makes the files contiguous instead of bits and pieces of it all over the drive. It will not cause premature failure and it's no harder on the drive than normal daily use.
 
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