PC Speed Reduced

Go to the task manager (ctl-alt-del).

Select performance tab.

If commit charge exceeds physical memory, add more memory (physical or virtual).

I will check that ... thanks.

Kind regards ...

I had a trojan virus and my virus software didn't even detect it. Malware bytes, however, did: http://www.malwarebytes.org/

However, after I removed the virus my system resources were still being used up when I wasn't even using my computer. I control, alt, deleted, wrote down all of the system processes that were running and checked them out one by one. That might help. In the windows task manager under the processes tab, you can click on Memory and that will sort out which processes are using up the most memory in ascending order, or descending order if you click it twice. Then you will see which process is hogging the most memory, then find out if it is necessary to your system operation.

In my case as it turned out the virus protection was the cause of additional problems after the virus was removed. As it turned out it conflicted with my browser, that is zone alarm virus conflicted with firefox, and even after I closed out the browser it was still running on my computer. I removed the zonealarm add on in firefox, and the case is now closed, for me that is.

If you have recently installed programs, spyware, registry cleaners, and virus protection, you may want to remove any programs that were installed since you noticed the problem, one at a time, if you can't figure out which process is hogging all your memory. In otherwords, sometimes the solution is what caused the problem, in my case it was the virus protection, that was kind of the virus.

Good luck.

Thanks for the input. I'm pretty sure my PC is "clean", but I may see if I can scan with an alternate anti-everything software and see what comes up. One never knows.

I do understand what you say about some anti-virus software ... one popular brand was uninstalled by me a couple of years ago, because it was such a memory hog.

I reviewed my processes, but need to do a little more digging. I use IExplorer now, but before I was using Chrome ... maybe something got 'left behind' in the Chrome uninstall. Still, that happened long before this recent problem came about, so I am not sure.

Lots still to check, and thanks for your help.

Kind regards ...

If there's a lot of HDD activity, it's usually the memory.

Install the most memory you can fit in your machine, at least 4 gig. It's cheap if you buy on Ebay and speeds things tremendously. Using a spyware program and Adaware will remove some of the parasitic programs that eat up time without accomplishing anything. But memory is the main thing.

Dangerous Bill

Hello Mr. Penrose,

Your idea may be correct. While most of my memory problems these days are personal , this may be the easiest solution for my PC. As I write, I am not at the computer in question, but I will check later what is installed and what are the possibilities. A memory shortfall may also be indicated by the suggestion given by the Guest earlier. Thanks for your advice.

Kind regards ...

It is a common problem ...
I tell you what I do.

1. I have installed the maximum amount of real memory, which supports my motherboard.

2. I have enabled the maximum amount of virtual memory per hard disk drive.

3. Eliminated almost every day, all temporary files accumulated in my local settings, and delete everything that goes on the Internet, unless the cookie those are important.

4. I have installed 3 hard drives C: Home (80GB) - only for operating systems and software; D: Work (500GB) - only for the Internet, my work documents, pictures and videos, and the E: Backup (1TB ) - backup of everything (work, photos, videos and music).

5. I have installed PCTools Registry Mechanic has helped me to find useless files.

6. Spyware doctor with antivirus PCTools - "EYE is not sales pitch", I spent almost all antivirus.

7. I have 3 external USB drives where I keep a backup of all, I have documentation from the year 1994, 16 years of data, are not online, only connect one at a time to store or retrieve information.

And yet formatted my machine once a year, Windows and its updates, some good others I alter the whole machine ...

It takes me 3 days to a week, to regain my machine operation, when formatting, but that continuous, is the cost of technology, resignation, nothing is perfect, but I don't lose my most valuable information.

Still can not find a good program to look for exact duplicates, by size and dates.

I do not think I've helped a lot but this is how I fight this disaster of speed.

I don't think you have any spyware, try defraging your Hard drive, this always works for my computer.

Hello GT,

Good answers, and thanks. Except for the key issue of RAM (which remains to be checked), everything else is 'check', 'check', and 'check' ... except the last one of 'starting over' periodically. I have a friend who does that almost every year, and (sorry to say) I don't see him with any fewer problems than the next guy ... and the idea of pouring over my computer re-installing everything really doesn't make me smile. I don't doubt it's benefit, as I have often seen my 'new' computers run much faster, but I just don't have the time it takes. I do back up regularly ... one of those hard lessons learned during a very unfortunate 'crash' a few years ago ... I guess I am sort of a HD hoarder now ... more than 6TB archived ... yes, a LOT, but HD is so inexpensive now, I see no reason not to do it.

Kind regards ...

Window 7 eats a lot of memories, be sure your PC have enough RAM. At least 4 GB of RAM to begin with, aside from the memory allocated for your graphic applications.

As everyone else, add as much RAM memory as possible...

I am using an old machine that only has ½G of RAM and found that the reason my computer was slow, for the first 20 minutes of use, was that the Microsoft automatic updating always checks for updates when you switch on.

Microsoft updates takes a huge amount of resources and is very slow - I changed my setting to manual updates from Automatic, and now it starts and runs fine, I just have to remember to check for updates when I go to lunch!!

John.

I'm a computer beginner, probably less than you. A guy in my computer support group says we usually have too many things running in the background--the things that show up in the system tray.

His solution: Click on Start > Run > msconfig > OK

Then: Click the Startup tab and deselect everything except your virus scanner (I use MS Security Essentials on my XP machine.) A restart is required, and it will ask about disabling all those things. Resist.

Another thought just occurred. If you never shut off your machine, change and do it, say, once a week at least. I do mine every night. Shutting off apparently lets it reset a bunch of stuff internally.

Hi Lehman,

You bring up an interesting point about shutting off the machine ... my home machine runs 24/7 because I use Skype as my "home phone" ... I live far and many time zones from my family, and with a Skype-in number (no advertising here, but it has served me well) family can all me at a minimal cost. I think I need to get into your habit of shutting things down now and then.

One thing I am not sure of, and maybe someone can reply, does 'restarting' do functionally the same as 'shutting down' and 'starting'?

Thanks for your advice.

Kind regards ...

Yes it is practically the same thing DCaD.

When program updates demand a restart, the program makes a note to complete installation at the next start up of Windows.

So it is the same thing.

I like "pcdecrapifier". It has been an easy way to clean up a lot of the programs hogging pc time. Google it, download and run.

May be its due to hard disc problem,i have already faced the problem like that.

Vijay

Technet

Download this Process Explorer, it's a Zip file,

It doesn't even registrate in the Registry

You can see EXACTLY which process is running and the % of CPU time each uses.

You can kill ANY process to test which is giving the troubles

If you want you can kill also the Windows Explorer and run directly without it, start any program you want (tab 'run') , just be careful

Even set the priority of a process

Be aware, you can even stop your firewalls

(LSASS gives unstoppable shutdown via NT)

T L.

Hello Friends, Associates, and Contributors (you know who you are ),

Thanks to all of you, I have (and continue) to learn a lot. For now, I think I have solved the problem, and will continue to work to improve the efficiency.

It was indeed a RAM limitation.

Over the weekend, I had the chance (finally) to do some investigating. There was only 2GB of RAM (1 each 1GB). From the Task Manager, I opened the resource monitor and "watched". Initially, the system was running at about 80% of the available memory, but later, looking again, it was pegged (at the maximum), and there were a significant number of 'hard faults'. I could identify the applications causing this, but clearly the issue was the amount of RAM.

Yesterday, I shopped and bought two new Kingston 2GB cards (about US$ 40 each) and installed them. Meaning no disrespect, it was an OMG moment ... immediately there was a notable difference. With the same processes running, now it hovers at 2.2GB with plenty of room to spare. Problem one FIXED.

Now, of course, I want to spend more time with all the apps that are taking so much of the available resources. I must admit that I load up my PC pretty heavily, and some of those things may be eating up headroom when I might just be able to do without them.

Anyway, again, THANK YOU for all your great and helpful suggestions.

Kind regards ...

Start a dos window. Type "chkdsk /f" and hit return. Press "Y" to check the disk and reboot. Reboot you machine. This will check the file structure integrity and securities, it will fix problems as well. You use the "/R" flag to check the entire surface of your hard disk but this can take sometime. It will mark bad sectors.

From the Task Manager, I opened the resource monitor and "watched". Initially, the system was running at about 80% of the available memory, but later, looking again, it was pegged (at the maximum), and there were a significant number of 'hard faults'.

As a computer dummy, I need a bit more explanation. My Task Manager does not have a tab labeled "resource monitor." There is one labeled "performance," but it doesn't seem to give what you are watching. One giving data, no graph, says I have a bit over 1 gig. I don't run many programs at the same time; usually just one.

It appears I need more ram, but I'm not seeing what you are describing. My old hard drive is 40 gig.

Thanks.

Hi Lehman,

I'm really no expert, but after some peeking and poking around, and asking for a lot of help, I did find that (at least in my Windows 7) on the performance tab, there is a button that leads to the resource manager.

and here is what the resource monitor looks like

Just a quick note that his is not the computer in question, but my laptop at work.

I hope this helps.

Kind regards ...

Hi D,

More at the list:

1. Go to Windows Task Manager, them applications, and the programs you don't need, check and close work, better close all. Check if your speed has improved, if yes, one of your programs is that you are consuming memory, if no, go to Process and look what this executable is overworking, this may be your problem.

2. And second go to Start, then Programs, and check the programs that start automatically, I delete them all, only asset that I use.

3. Programs such as FLASH, JAVA, antivirus, and many more, work in the background; they also are a problem, check that your antivirus is not checking your units always in active mode.

All this without having Internet connected.

Be careful what you do, it would be better for you to do a backup, and you wrote step by step what you are doing.

Hello GT,

Thanks for this advice. I have been doing this 'piece meal' when I have the time on my home computer, but I am stepping into it very carefully and one by one. As I have mentioned before, I am doing a lot simultaneously on my home computer, and some programs do run 24/7 because they need to. Still, I am sure there are some that can be eliminated.

One thing I have found in the past is, when an application is installed (for instance as a trial), then un-installed, not everything is taken away ... I had problem after in un-installed Chrome, for instance, and it took some digging to find the .dll that was causing the problem. I am sure, over the time I have had my computer at home, there are some "ghosts" still in the machine that may be affecting performance. Step by step .

Kind regards ...

For that, low of Internet the test version "Registry Mechanic" of PcTools, this eliminate the Ghosts.

PC Speed decreases for so many cause , Please Remove unnecessary programs: Many of the programs inside your hard drive have components that run all the time, slowing down your system's performance.

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