My Windows XP running slow..?

Question

About a week ago, I notice my XP was running really slow. It takes like double the time to load stuff. It still has like 20GB free on its HD. It's still going slow. I don't use it much since I have other computers.

Anyone have any idea what can cause it to go so slow?

Answer 1

Is your PC running slowly? Keeping your PC free of clutter can help performance and can also maximize valuable disk space. Here are a few simple tips for maintaining the performance of your PC.



Run the Regcure clean up scan



The Regcure http://toptenantispyware.com/Tune_Up_Center.htm automatically checks your hard disk for any unnecessary files and gives you the option to delete them. You can run the clean up scan if you're only interested in performing a disk cleanup—or you can run the comprehensive full service scan to check for other PC issues as well.



Remove unused programs



Just because you aren't using a program doesn't mean it isn't consuming resources and affecting your PC's performance. Removing unused programs from your hard disk is an easy way to maintain your system and maximize your available hard disk space.

To remove programs you don't need anymore:

1. Click Start, then click Control Panel.

2. In Category View, click Add or Remove Programs, then click Remove a program.

3. Scroll through the list and examine each program. Windows XP lists how often you use a program and what day you last started it.

Note: Don't remove anything labeled "Update" or "Hotfix." These things improve the security of your computer.

4. Click a program you no longer need, click Change/Remove, and then follow the prompts to uninstall it. (In some cases, a program may be removed without prompting you further.)

You may have to restart your computer after removing a program. After your computer restarts, repeat this procedure to remove more programs.

Note: You must be in order to complete these steps.



Remove optional Windows components



You can remove optional Windows components from your PC to free up space. Many components come standard with Windows, but you may not use them frequently. You can reinstall these components from your Windows CD if you need them later.

To add or remove a Windows component:

1. Click Start, then click Control Panel.

2. In Category View, click Add or Remove Programs, then click Add a program.

3. On the left side of the menu, click Add/Remove Windows Components.

4. Follow the instructions in the Windows Components Wizard.

Note: You must be in order to complete these steps.



Modify System Restore data



Windows XP provides the option to restore your PC to a previous state by automatically saving restore information. System Restore continuously monitors your PC for changes, such as file changes, application changes, or installations. System Restore takes a "snapshot" of your PC at a given point in time and then stores each of these snapshots so that you can roll back any changes to a period before you experienced problems.

As you can imagine, these snapshots of your whole system take up memory space. You can delete older snapshots that you're sure you won't need in order to clean up your hard disk.

To delete System Restore snapshots except for the most recent one:

1. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Disk Cleanup.

2. Wait while Disk Cleanup calculates free disk space.

3. Click the More Options tab, and then, in the System Restore area, click Clean up….



Scan and Clean Up your Registry



Lots of things get saved on your PC that you don't need. Some are benign. Some slow you down. And some let prying eyes track what you do on your PC.

install Registry cleaner and run daily

Use the tool: http://downloadlk.net/themosteffectiveregistrycleaner.htm [if you do not have one]



Scan/Remove spyware



Your computer may be infected with Spyware, Adware, worms or Hidden Trojans!

install Antispyware and run daily

http://toptenantispyware.com [if you do not have one]



Learn More…



http://downloadlk.com/WhyIsMyComputerSlow.htm

Answer 2

The best way is to download Ccleaner here http://bitly.com/UrALrK



Or you can go on Windows operating system locate the command prompt and go there to do the following:

Create a Recovery file of system and date it today.



Then begin by;

delete the 'Temp' folders..they have hidden subfolders so you need to set the attributes in order to bypass this. For each subfolder delete all cookies and rubbish left behnd after install-uninstalled programs. Do a 'dir' command to check your progress. Make sure the 'Temp' file is empty.



goto c:\windows\prefetch and delete everything in there..no exceptions



goto c:\windows folder and delete all the '$' files that have been installed by updates. They can all be succesfully deleted and just take up disk space.



Locate the Internet Temporary Files..Check to see how high the saving level is..some have it set at 30 days..but that stores faaaar tooo much data..though it slows down the system overal. Keep this to a minimum..suggest 2 or 5 at most.



Delete all 'cookies' all those you don't need.



Locate the windows directory and go through the folders you know and those you don't need. Check this once a week at least. Some programs will install under XP as NT and older systems where there is no check of systems weight.



Check to see that system files have not changed since last booting. Things like .ini files or .bat are important items.





Check for 'Hidden Directories' all over the disk...do this at the command prompt:



dir *.* /ah wil show these hidden directories



Check the 'dir' command for all parameters

Answer 3

If your virus/spyware free, there are a couple things you can do get your computer working faster. If you using your computer for normal stuff and not gaming. You don't always need more RAM you just need to perform a few maintenance task.



First, if you haven't cleaned your registry in a while. This is necessary. Your registry holds all the information regarding updates, installs, un-installs etc. Each one of those events produces a key. That key needs your PC's resources and free space. So, if you clean your registry, you make more resources available for speed. Do a registry scan if you got more than 20 errors you should clean it.

http://www.delete-computer-history.com/what-is-the-best-registry-cleaner.html



2. Clear your Windows cache files, this is your temporary file. It can grow up to a large volume and stop your computer from using RAM properly. In a sense slow it down by preventing it from using free space.Here is how:



1. Quit Internet Explorer, Firefox, or any other web browser

2. Click Start, click "Control Panel", and then double-click "Internet Options".

3. On the General tab, click "Delete Files" under Temporary Internet Files.

4. In the Delete Files dialog box, click to select the "Delete all offline content" check box , and then click OK.

5. Click OK.



3. Manage your startups. Your excess CPU usage is due to too many programs running in the background. You can cut these to barebones by alter your msconfig. Here is how:



1. Open your Start menu.

2. Click Run

3. In the command screen type "msconfig.exe"

4. In the "system configuration utility",click either "service" or "startup" tab

5. Uncheck all programs that your are no longer using.

6. Click "OK"

Answer 4

First of all, download a good antivirus like avast or avg and scan your computer. Next, download ccleaner and remove all the unwanted files. Look at what all files are being loaded at startup and remove the unwanted ones. Hope this helps you.

Answer 5

Also spyware type stuff will slow you down. AdAware 2008 is a good FREE program to detect and remove that sort of thing.



Click on download now (18.27mb)

Answer 6

Hey there,

Cleaning the register is a good way of improving the performances of your pc and eliminate malwares and trojans. A program I trust is CCleaner http://j.mp/UrACEs

Give it a try.

Answer 7

Hai,

u can speed the ram to some extent by

my computer-right clik-properties-advanced-virtual memory-advanced-increase the min size to 2 points less than max size.

Start-run-%temp%-delete all the files.

internet exporer - right clik - propeties - general - settings - view files-delete all the files.

Increase the virtual memory by

my computer-right clik-properties-advanced-performance-settings-advanced-virtual memory-change-increase the min size and make jus 2 points less than the max size.

Answer 8

go to start>control panel>performance and mantince>admin tools> computer management and then right click on c drive and defrag it at first it will anilize and then click ok to do it and then you should do a disk clean up start>all programs>accssories>system tools> disk clean up and follow the directions

Answer 9

download ccleaner & clean disk, clean registry ,defragment pc!