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Thread ID: 100374 2009-06-05 04:30:00 Computer slowed to a crawl. B.M. (505) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
779830 2009-06-05 04:30:00 Another curly one. :rolleyes:

The Sister in Law’s computer has virtually ground to a halt and despite my best efforts I can’t find the problem so I need Help. :) (It used to run very well)

To show how bad it is, it takes seconds to scroll a page using the side scroll bar.

So here are the specs and what I’ve done so far.

CPU Celeron 2GHz
RAM 512MB
OS XP sp3
AVG 8

Ok, I’ve run CCleaner and removed a bit of rubbish, nothing I could see as abnormal.
No improvement.

Ran CCleaner Registry Cleaner and found two errors relating to AVG8, fixed them but no improvement.

Ran Malwarebytes, nothing found.

Ran Hijack This, nothing found.

Ran AVG again, nothing found. (I ran it last because it runs on a weekly schedule and it had only just run.)

Start-Up is set to selective and only starts 3 items: AVG Tray – cftmon – GoogleUpdate.

Taskmanager shows the CPU idling at 3% but touch the mouse and it shoots to 100% and remains there for seconds. The Page File Usage is 246MB and whilst the CPU is sitting on 100% the Memory shows 148000k available.

I’m told that this has happened over a number of weeks and has brought the computer to its knees.

Soooooo, what have I overlooked this time? :rolleyes: 		B.M. (505)
779831 2009-06-05 04:37:00 Try starting it up in safe mode, see if it makes any difference - if it does, then it could be a driver problem someplace - if its the same, could be a HDD playing up, or simply windows Bloat over time - reinstall the OS/Programs.

Hit ctrl+ Alt+ Del -- bring up task manager - see whats hogging the CPU. 		wainuitech (129)
779832 2009-06-05 04:40:00 In task mgr you should be able to see which process is taking up all the clock cycles. Sort on 'CPU' and watch the first (or last) item.

If it does it with mouse activation perhaps try re-loading the mouse driver? 		linw (53)
779833 2009-06-05 04:51:00 Try-

Run msconfig & disable ALL non_MS services & disable ALL startup items
Restart, then re-enable one by one (its a looooong process)
Uninstall any mouse software or programs that 'dont look right'- check with the owner, if they kick up a fuss about what you are removing then walk away from
the job.

disconnect from internet, reboot & check speed
Check for HD space, set pagefile to 'system managed size'
Uninstall AV (corrupt AV can screw things up)-disconnect from internet 1st
In Control panel-internet-reset web settings (& delete temp int files in there as well)
Check system log files for red's (control panel-administ. tools)
chkdsk /r C: 		sroby (11519)
779834 2009-06-05 05:12:00 How long have you had SP3 installed? I found it caused problems, and was better off without it. sammo450 (13626)
779835 2009-06-05 05:13:00 I would change the celeron its not exactly fast. And put more ram in it. Nothing wrong with SP3. Ive had it on 3 PC's and it was fine Speedy Gonzales (78)
779836 2009-06-05 05:16:00 2GHz is plenty for XP. My Athlon 1100 was fine(until I cracked it). sammo450 (13626)
779837 2009-06-05 05:43:00 Ahhh, update,

System still impossibly slow even in Safe Mode but whilst clicking on System Information in Safe Mode I got a message “System Information cannot open this NFO File. It might be corrupt or an unrecognised version”

However, it gives the option to click OK and when you do this up comes the information.

Also the mouse doesn’t seem to be hogging the resources in Safe Mode but the speed is awful.

As for upgrading CPU and RAM. I don’t think that would fix things at all. I’ve got a 1 GHz P3 running XP which is at least 20 times faster than this thing.

I think I might go for SFC Scannow and see what it comes up with.

Oh, in safe mode there is nothing hogging the CPU. 15,000K for explorer is pretty much it.

This is becoming a challenge. :lol: 		B.M. (505)
779838 2009-06-05 05:59:00 Defragged yet? Blam (54)
779839 2009-06-05 06:33:00 Have you checked what process is using all that capacity when you move the mouse? It should be in the CPU column in task manager and usually the highest one should be System Idle Process. If its not that one, then you'll see what is pulling the computer down.

Also, have you tried uninstalling AVG and putting something like Avast or NOD32 on it and running a scan? AVG isn't exactly the best... 		beeswax34 (63)
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