Speed Up My Freezing Laptop

[shiny_arse]

Yet again, will no doubt find it quicker asking your advice rather than trawling through all the help screens.

I currently am running a Compaq Presario 2500. Have a 2.60Ghz Celeron Processor, 704 MBram and 20 GB out of 37 GB free space available for use. Being a semi-cabbage I have defragged my system, utilised the performance options under system on control panel and also ran diagnostics on my hard drive.

Unfortunately the machine still grinds along like i'm loading a ZX spectrum tape. On many ocassions whilst using the internet the machine or just generally mucking around through the folders, the machine will just grind to a standstill and after 10 minutes will not allow me to either access the toolbars or start menu or even pull up the task manager using Ctrl + Alt + Delete.

Is there anything I am missing?, I have noted the performance indicators on task manager usually shows CPU as being 100%, additionally there seems to be a large number of processes open such as my ipod helper & winamp even though i have not accessed these programmes. I have also just recently installed Norton 2007 to ensure that the machine is free of an cack as I've been without the interweb for the last 2 years at home.

Any advice on what I can do to counter these problems would be appreciated and try to get this poxy machine running at least half way like they do in the movies!!.

Cheers

 

[Tigger]

You could try downloading a program called window washer. This gets rid of a ton of crap that the internet leaves on your PC. I regularly delete temporary internet files etc, but this program managed to find another 400 meg of crap !

I used to run Nortons, but I found it slowed my PC and ran a lot of background programs I didn't want. I changed to Macafee, which for my purposes was a bit better.

 

[monobrow]

I have also just recently installed Norton 2007

NOOOOOOOOO you're making it worse!!!!!!!! Norton is the biggest resource hogging anti-virus/firewall software I know of.

If you need one though, go with Avast! (http://www.avast.com/) and ZoneAlarm (http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/home.jsp)

Both are free, use little resources, and never had any problems with them.

Other than that, I swear by LavaSoft Ad-Aware (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/) to get rid of any spyware or malware thats found it's wat onto the system.

Then give it a clean up with CCleaner (http://www.ccleaner.com/). CCleaner = Crap Cleaner. If you've had your laptop for quite a while, as you install and delete stuff, it'll leave crap in the registry. That can kill how quick it was! Run this weeee beauty and it will sort em out! Run it twice to make sure it picks everything up though...

Once thats done, defrag it. Then re-start and you should notice a massive difference (like the laptop has turned into an elephant)

All of those programs are 100% free to download and use.

Hope it helps

 

[SirSaltyHelmet]

Yet again, will no doubt find it quicker asking your advice rather than trawling through all the help screens.

I currently am running a Compaq Presario 2500. Have a 2.60Ghz Celeron Processor, 704 MBram and 20 GB out of 37 GB free space available for use. Being a semi-cabbage I have defragged my system, utilised the performance options under system on control panel and also ran diagnostics on my hard drive.

Unfortunately the machine still grinds along like i'm loading a ZX spectrum tape. On many ocassions whilst using the internet the machine or just generally mucking around through the folders, the machine will just grind to a standstill and after 10 minutes will not allow me to either access the toolbars or start menu or even pull up the task manager using Ctrl + Alt + Delete.

Is there anything I am missing?, I have noted the performance indicators on task manager usually shows CPU as being 100%, additionally there seems to be a large number of processes open such as my ipod helper & winamp even though i have not accessed these programmes. I have also just recently installed Norton 2007 to ensure that the machine is free of an cack as I've been without the interweb for the last 2 years at home.

Any advice on what I can do to counter these problems would be appreciated and try to get this poxy machine running at least half way like they do in the movies!!.

Cheers

Phone me when you get in softlad

 

[Chuffybum]

NOOOOOOOOO you're making it worse!!!!!!!! Norton is the biggest resource hogging anti-virus/firewall software I know of.

If you need one though, go with Avast! (http://www.avast.com/) and ZoneAlarm (http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/home.jsp)

Both are free, use little resources, and never had any problems with them.

Other than that, I swear by LavaSoft Ad-Aware (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/) to get rid of any spyware or malware thats found it's wat onto the system.

Then give it a clean up with CCleaner (http://www.ccleaner.com/). CCleaner = Crap Cleaner. If you've had your laptop for quite a while, as you install and delete stuff, it'll leave crap in the registry. That can kill how quick it was! Run this weeee beauty and it will sort em out! Run it twice to make sure it picks everything up though...

Once thats done, defrag it. Then re-start and you should notice a massive difference (like the laptop has turned into an elephant)

All of those programs are 100% free to download and use.

Hope it helps

I have similar probs with my PC at home. Can I assume your suggestions are good for that too? Would this software also get rid of the Norton software as well? Plse note that I'm a total computer buffoon.

 

[monobrow]

Certainly are, However if you're happy with norton, then leave it. Try the ad-aware and CCleaner followed by a defrag and that should sort it out.

 

[shiny_arse]

Bloody Excellent

Bloody Excellent

Yet again, this is the type of service that is sadly lacking in civvy street. Cheers for all the suggestions and I'll definitely put in a few into practise and see how things go.

By all means keep the thread running as I'm sure there is a whole load of sites and suggestions that myself and the rest of the IT duffboard will find useful.

Again cheers DT_Xtremez_28:

 

[R_Squared]

If things still seem a little sluggish you can alter what starts up at the beginning, and runs in the background quite easily.
Click on 'Start' then 'Run'
Type in 'msconfig' in the box that pops up.
This starts the system configuration utility.
Select the 'startup' tab.
This will show a list of evrything that starts up and runs in the background of Windows.
I would recommend unticking evreything that is NOT security related.
Virtually everything in here will start up normally when you want it, it may just take a few seconds longer.
Think about what you use regularly and adjust your start up routine to reflect that. If you are on broadband, leave your virus scanner, spyware checker and firewall untouched.
Even if you use MSN Messenger, or Yahoo regularly you can safely disable it here and only start it normally when you want.
Bear in mind that any alterations that you may make here can effect programs you are used to, if it does, go back in and re-select those services.
This has the great advantage of speeding up your start up times and freeing up resources, however, it may take some fiddling to find the right balance for you.
It is possible to squeeze a little more speed by disabling some services under the 'services' tab, but I would do a little research first.
For the record, all my security software is completely free and legal, I use AVG Antivirus (great self updating virus scanner, low maintenance) Zonealarm Firewall (Free Edition) and Spybot SD Spyware scanner (which comes with a registry protecting service that sits in the background and monitors in case something naughty tries to install itself.
If you use Firefox as a web browser I can thoroughly recommend that you install 'NoScript'. A great utility that stops unwanted scripts activating in the background on websites that can redirect you all over the shop.
Hope this helps.

 

[R_Squared]

BTW, All that software can be found in the following links;
AVG Antivirus Free Edition
Zonealarm Firewall 'Click on the Basic Protection Link'
Spybot SD Spyware Protection.

 

[TrenchardsLoveSock]

Certainly are, However if you're happy with norton, then leave it.

I'm perfectly happy with Norton System Works 2003. It came free with something else and I re-format at least once a year which resets my subscription even though I use the same details.

Heard some real horror stories about the newer stuff though.DT_Xtremez_09:

 

[SORRY CJ]

NOOOOOOOOO you're making it worse!!!!!!!! Norton is the biggest resource hogging anti-virus/firewall software I know of.

If you need one though, go with Avast! (http://www.avast.com/) and ZoneAlarm (http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/home.jsp)

Both are free, use little resources, and never had any problems with them.

Other than that, I swear by LavaSoft Ad-Aware (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/) to get rid of any spyware or malware thats found it's wat onto the system.

Then give it a clean up with CCleaner (http://www.ccleaner.com/). CCleaner = Crap Cleaner. If you've had your laptop for quite a while, as you install and delete stuff, it'll leave crap in the registry. That can kill how quick it was! Run this weeee beauty and it will sort em out! Run it twice to make sure it picks everything up though...

Once thats done, defrag it. Then re-start and you should notice a massive difference (like the laptop has turned into an elephant)

All of those programs are 100% free to download and use.

Hope it helps

I'm with you on this one Mono. I'm running all the stuff you said but use NOD32 as a virus checker and Spybot.
Both these you can get off the net free.

Hope this helps also

SCJ

http://www.eset.com/

http://www.download.com/3000-2144-10122137.html

 

[POB]

NOOOOOOOOO you're making it worse!!!!!!!! Norton is the biggest resource hogging anti-virus/firewall software I know of.

If you need one though, go with Avast! (http://www.avast.com/) and ZoneAlarm (http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/home.jsp)

Both are free, use little resources, and never had any problems with them.

Other than that, I swear by LavaSoft Ad-Aware (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/) to get rid of any spyware or malware thats found it's wat onto the system.

Then give it a clean up with CCleaner (http://www.ccleaner.com/). CCleaner = Crap Cleaner. If you've had your laptop for quite a while, as you install and delete stuff, it'll leave crap in the registry. That can kill how quick it was! Run this weeee beauty and it will sort em out! Run it twice to make sure it picks everything up though...

Once thats done, defrag it. Then re-start and you should notice a massive difference (like the laptop has turned into an elephant)

All of those programs are 100% free to download and use.

Hope it helps

I did all of this a few weeks ago, and it made litle difference. I did remove MS IE7 though and it went back to being the superfst speedy machine that is before me now. I had an auto update for windows enabled, and it decided taht I needed IE7, I did't really look and just said yes to everything (assuming thy were all security updates, doh!) next thing I know its all gone ssslllooowww.

Having installed CClean, it made getting rid of IE7 vary easy though...

 

[shiny_arse]

Update

Update

As an update,

I have not uninstalled Norton as you all correctly stated that it is a bag of nails and misses everything that is shouldn't. Have now downloaded and run cclean, avast & adaware and all seems tickety-boo with these programmes.

However, PC is still freezing up and I appear to have tracked it down to svchost.exe wiping out my CPU on taskmanager. I keep ending the process in order that I can actually open outlook, explorer etc, but it keeps re-appearing whenever I start the machine up again at a later date. Have had a nosy round the search engines and a few mention that this is due to a worm or trojan, but none of my scans are picking it up.

Any suggestion as how to wipe the little bugger out. As always assistance appreciated

 

[SirSaltyHelmet]

If you have a genuine copy of windows then download Microsoft Defender. Sorts most stuff out

 

[shiny_arse]

If you have a genuine copy of windows then download Microsoft Defender. Sorts most stuff out

Cheers m8, just downloading it now. And there was me thinking that getting broadband would sort out all my problems at home !!!

later

 

[monobrow]

Shiney Arse....

That little b*stard will keep coming back, because (by looking about) it would appear that it uses that weee program to look at the registry. You'll probably find aswell, that it will show up as your log in on the processes page, but also network, system and all sorts. Mainly beacause it looks at all kinds of info....

However, (also with a bit of reading about) that seems to be a perfect way for little goits wanting to install nasty stuff (virus/spyware/malware).

First port of call for me would be a good scan of your HDD with a decent anti virus followed by a good scan with some anti spyware...

I'll put some links below...

Anti Virus

Avast!
AVG Free

Spyware Removal Tools

Spybot - Seek and destroy
AdAware SE

Give them a shot, see if they come up with anything. If it's hitting 100% then it's defo a problem!

 

[Albert Park]

Boot into Safe Mode and carry out all your spyware/anti-virus checks - reboot into Normal. This usually helps.

 

[The Fact Hunter]

If you have the space, you could consider creating another partition & OS ?

The crafty hacking tw*ts of today are now into 'root kits' which are very hard to detect especially when the OS is running. (a root kit dresses up its code as OS kernel so most AV software will skip by them untouched)

A way around it is to operate 02 Operating Systems and Anti-Malware Software. That way the scanner can hop-over-the-fence and scan the inactive OS each time if booted alternatively.

A good free AV with anti-rootkit that I can recommend is at :-

http://www.free-av.com/