Question:
My computer system has been running quite slow... especially on startup, why?
Natasha Marie
2010-01-16 11:51:41 UTC
I have an HP Pavilion dv4, and it seems that my system has started running slow. For example, I cannot open anything for about ten minutes without it not responding. I have to wait for everything to load up. (AIM, such and such) The only programs I have downloaded and/or installed onto my computer are Oovoo, Skype, AIM, Frostwire, Google Chrome, and Microsoft Office (though I have barely started using FW yet). I have taken off the two webcam programs to see if that helps.
This is really starting to annoy me, please help?
Six answers:
anonymous
2010-01-16 12:18:56 UTC
If your computer had been running quickly in the past and just recently you have noticed a significant slowdown it might be a virus or spyware that is slowing it down. Since you do not have many programs it is doubtful that your startup needs to be cleaned or that you have registry problems.



Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware programs are two different thing, so owning one does not necessarily protect you from the other. If your computer is not acting funny but just going slower than usual that usually means you have some sort of spyware issue.
?
2010-01-16 12:17:35 UTC
Slowness of boot up can mean a few things. It can mean that you don't have enough memory allocated on your computer. Or you are running out of hard drive page to cache files while running. Your files can also be so fragmented that it takes time to get them together at boot time. It can also mean that you have some sort of malware which infected your computer and is slowing it down.



Run the system's check disk utility and/or defragmenting utility first to determine if your files have been scattered into too many bits.



If you've simply installed the programs you've mentioned using default installation mode, then there are plenty of unwanted things it has installed on your computer that will definitely make it run slow at start up. If you've downloaded stuff using FrostWire then you may have also accidentally downloaded and installed unwanted malware programs or viruses. You never mentioned if you have any anti-malware or anti-viral programs.



Malware and viruses make your computer slow and can turn it into a zombie. Zombie computers usually slows the computer down by checking with other zombie and communicating with spammers servers at the beginning during boot up and during shutdown periods.



Do yourself a big favor, download and install Malwarebytes' anti-malware and run it. If it finds problems, it will fix it automatically for you. Then download and install Microsoft's free Security Essentials and run it. It will check to see if you have any viruses running and lurking in your computer that would have made it run slow.



Taking off programs correctly minimized problem but simply deleting them doesn't do much and creates more problem. It also leaves a lot of remnants in he registry which will slow things down. Use a registry cleaner to make things run faster.



Otherwise, find a tech savvy friend who can help you with checking what boots up with your system and/or what makes it slow. Good luck and I hope this helps.
Andray
2010-01-16 12:17:00 UTC
Do your typical maintenance.... Run spyware program to make sure there is no spyware. Also, run disk cleanup and disk defragmentor as well as clearing your temp internet files and cookies. All these will help to speed up the system. Just a little tip - I don't know how much memory you have on your pc, but usually anything under 1 GB will cause your system to run slow with all the new programs and apps that are coming up. I would always recommend at least 2 Gb, 1 at the minimum.
Anoetn
2010-01-17 19:16:28 UTC
The steps to fix slow computer should do as follows:



Use anti-virus software



Clean registry



Defragment disk
zeoli
2016-11-05 12:57:21 UTC
Do a equipment fix. in case you nonetheless have a restoration disk, placed that for the duration of and reinstall the working equipment.. confirm you backup all your archives even with the undeniable fact that because of the fact this could fix your computing gadget lower back to the way it became the day that to procure it.
kjr
2010-01-18 23:10:41 UTC
I think there are programs that help speed up boot specifically. You can try out something like that if all the maintenance tasks dont work.


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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