[Ham-Computers] [Boatanchors] Computer slow problem

[WA5CAB at cs.com]

Gene,

I would start by rebooting the machine.  After it comes back up, press 
CTRL-ALT-DELETE to bring up Task Manager.  Click the Performance tab.  CPU Usage 
will normally sit at 0% with kicks up to 1% or 2% and back to 0%. Click the 
Processes tab.  In the column headers, click CPU (probably twice) until at 
least the first double number under it is not "00".  Normally, if the 
machine is not doing anything, the first Image Name on the list will be System 
Idle Process at 99%.  The second one might be anything.  On my machine this 
morning it happens to be Acrobat.exe at 00%.  As running applications 
momentarily come active, their names will come up usually to 2nd place with low usage 
numbers.  Then they'll drop back down to wherever they were.

If something is already sitting under or over System Idle Process with 
non-zero usage, it may be your culprit (if it's that sort of problem).  If not, 
try starting IE8 and then go to some Favorite.  Watch the top of the list to 
see whether something other than iexplore.exe comes up and stays there 
until you finally get to the homepage of the Favorite.  Depending upon the 
nature of the Favorite, you might see more than one iexplore.exe.

If, when you start this check, something at or near the top of the list is 
showing non-zero usage, wait a little while to see whether it disappears 
back down the list.  There will probably be several applications on the machine 
that periodically check for updates.  And Murphy's Law being what it is, 
odds are good that one will start just as you start.  :-)

If this check doesn't show any susptect, then I don't know what else might 
be the culprit.

In a message dated 5/19/2010 9:33:07 AM Central Daylight Time, 
erastber at tampabay.rr.com writes: 
> I have a HP DX2250 computer with 125 GB free on the HDD, 2 GB Ram, Win XP 
> 
> PRO w/all latest updates.
> I have defragged the HDD and checked for errors, removed cookies, Internet 
> 
> Cache, ran every virus program I could find, checked for Trojans and 
> Worms, 
> checked the RAM chips, run only a bare minimum of programs, defragged the 
> registry, removed Temp and Tmp files and ran every maintenance program I 
> could find but still have the 'slow' problem(s):
> 
> The machine takes a very long time to start up and shut down.
> Clicking on the IE8 icon takes a long time to load a web page.
> Clicking on any link also takes a long time.
> 
> Short of reinstalling XP PRO is there any suggestions on how to fix this 
> 'problem'?
> 

Robert Downs - Houston
wa5cab dot com (Web Store)
MVPA 9480