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Comp Question: Slow Desktop

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#1

OKay, here’s an interesting thing I figure some of you tech-heads can answer for me.

My desktop, which I’ll adcmit is cluttered beyond cluttered, seems to be chugging lately. I just picked up this anti-spyware/anti virus thing called stopsign, which found and deleted a ton of stuff. But,… when I close out a window, it doesn’t just click shut, it slowly dissolves from top to bottom (it’s been doign this for a while now). I tried defragging the hard drive (what every non tech person does when they don’t know what to do), but was told that I didn’t need to.

Why does this happen?

Thanks in advance folks (I’m expecting most people to know more than I do about comps -lol)

S

#2

Go ahead and defrag the hardware anyways. Another idea that comes to mind is to click start -> run -> and type msconfig. Click ok and then you’ll see the System Configuration Utility. Click on the starup tab and uncheck the useless programs that you think are not important. Be careful what you uncheck! Things such as AOLDial, NeroCheck, things like that Itunes; you can uncheck.

Another idea maybe is to run another spyware/ virus software. I think you might have a virus.

Remove things from you desktop that you do not use.

#3

One thing to keep in mind that, sadly, not all spyware programs will pick up all spyware. It’s hit and miss.

These days, it’s rogue programs/spyware that cause an otherwise healthy machine to behave otherwise.

Some things to check:

free disk space

the paging file, and its location (this is called virtual memory, and depending on your physical drives/partitions, you can optimize it.

resident applications - the system tray, located in your bottom right hand corner (assuming you’re using Windoze) - is there a ton of little icons? Most of them aren’t needed and consume resources

The window ‘dissolving’ thing you mention is pretty indicitive of a lack of resources. These things, plus removal of spyware, will get your machine back and ready to surf pr0n in no time, good sir.

#4

download ccleaner http://www.ccleaner.com

run the both scans and delete all the shite you dont need. when i first ran it in had 600mb that needed deleted.

try using at least 3 spyware programs seperatly. i use:
avg spyware
lavasoft adware
SUPERantispyware.

google will find them for you.

there all free and everytime pick up different things.

i would say defrag first, then run ccleaner, then run all three of those spyware programs… but NOT at the same time.

also in the ccleaner program there is a startup function. like the guys say, unclick everything you dont need as soon as the comp loads.

there is also a delete program function, it deletes and uninstalls programs and does it properly. do this for stuff you never use.

if all that doesnt help. come back to me. but i think it should

#5

How long does a disk defrag normally take??

I’d guess it’s dependent on the size of the hard drive?

Maybe someone can offer some rough ideas?

#6

id say its more dependent on how long since your last defrag. i find the longer between defrags equals longer time.

also try a ccleaner check. i just deleted 180mb of worthless shite and i did my last check a week ago.

Scott

#7

Thanks guys,… I ran my new stopsign thing,and DLed and ran the cleaner. Then, as I was looking at running the msconfig, my computer logged itself off without my doing anything… I’m wondering if I should just pay some 15 year old kid $50 and say ‘just make it work better!’ -lol

S

#8

try the ccleaner by itself. dont run more than one program at a time as it seems your problem is memory.

give that a go. click the tools menu and do the startup thing.

also if you can hit ctrl-alt-delete, start the task manager and click the processes tab. screenshot it and post it here.

Scott

#9

When my machines start slowing down (Windows tends to do that after a year or so of use), I usually just backup and reload the buggers.

It’s a lot easier than trying to find all the problems turning up.

Backup your mail, favourites, make a list of programs you need to re-install and go for it - it’s quite simple and works everytime.

Scott, you must be surfing a shitload of porn to stack up 180mb worth of “useless stuff” in a week. :slight_smile:

#10

zero porn surfed on this laptop this week. its all been on my home computer. lol

i have been deleteing a pile of stuff etc, so its probably a lot of trace files.

your idea may work, but what about all your pics, music, documents. etc.

id disagree that its easier than trying to fix the problem aswell. little bit of know hoe and its quicker id say.

#11

[quote]thosebananas wrote:
zero porn surfed on this laptop this week. its all been on my home computer. lol

i have been deleteing a pile of stuff etc, so its probably a lot of trace files.

your idea may work, but what about all your pics, music, documents. etc.

id disagree that its easier than trying to fix the problem aswell. little bit of know hoe and its quicker id say.[/quote]

It depends on how you store your data - all my movies/music/programs are stored on an external drive.

I keep temp files on a 20g partition on my laptop, so backing up is simply favourites & emails. A reload take a few hours but the machine is guaranteed to work great again for a long time.

It may not be ideal, but it definitely works.

FYI, I use either Kaspersky or NOD32, no standalone spyware software and I NEVER have virus or spyware problems.

#12

my PC did this. Then I got a Mac a few weeks ago.

No more slow desktop!

This wasn’t helpful. Sorry.

#13

[quote]boyscout wrote:
my PC did this. Then I got a Mac a few weeks ago.

No more slow desktop!

This wasn’t helpful. Sorry.[/quote]

#14

thats what i like about my laptop. i have 2 hard drives for some reason. so all my programs and OS are on one drive and all my music, videos, photos ec are on the other one. ive had to reformat once. once for fucking about like a dick with some trojan software called subseven. it worked but also messed up my comp. this is when i found out than i only had to reformat one drive. pretty awesome.

i agree it defo works. but id assume stuart hasnt got a partition or an external drive. so it would awfully laborous to back up etc.

ive never had a problem after installing comodo firewall. its pretty epic. before i was just using the windows one and it was letting all sorts in.

@hanley. i just defraged a 100GB drive and it took 15 mins. last defrag was 4 weeks ago for this drive.

#15

[quote]RSGZ wrote:
boyscout wrote:
my PC did this. Then I got a Mac a few weeks ago.

No more slow desktop!

This wasn’t helpful. Sorry.

[/quote]

macs = no fun.

#16

[quote]thosebananas wrote:
thats what i like about my laptop. i have 2 hard drives for some reason. so all my programs and OS are on one drive and all my music, videos, photos ec are on the other one. ive had to reformat once. once for fucking about like a dick with some trojan software called subseven. it worked but also messed up my comp. this is when i found out than i only had to reformat one drive. pretty awesome.
[/quote]

LOL, I remember sub-seven - great fun it was.

#17

it was…

“do you want a drink older”

“what”

open end users disc tray

freaked ppl out all the time.

Scott

#18

[quote]thosebananas wrote:
RSGZ wrote:
boyscout wrote:
my PC did this. Then I got a Mac a few weeks ago.

No more slow desktop!

This wasn’t helpful. Sorry.

macs = no fun. [/quote]

disagree. I’m pretty pumped about mine.

Then again, I just use my computer to surf, write crap, listen to music and occasionally to run Finale or some other notation software.

#19

Are you still having problems? The best thing you could do would be to reload it, but if you don’t want to, here’s some suggestions.

  1. Uninstall all but ‘1’ anti-virus program, or they will mess with each other. CCleaner is good.

  2. Go into Add/Remove programs and manually uninstall all the crap you don’t need/things you don’t remember installing/toolbars.

  3. Download http://www.macecraft.com/downloads/ ‘Reg Supreme’, it’s free for 30 days. Run it in DEEP MODE, once it’s finished, highlight everything it finds and click the FIX button at the bottom.

  4. If your machine is running better, you’re welcome. I doubt it will be. If it is still running horribly slow, close every program, including the little ones in the tray on the bottom right. Then, open Task Manager “Ctrl+Alt+Delete” and see what’s still running under the processes tab. If you can’t decipher it, post a screenshot of what it says.

Do you get random pop ups? Ads on your desktop? Or is everything just slow?

#20

Post a hijackthis log