My WinXP machine is performing sluggishly

[RapidNadion]

I've got a pretty nice setup, considering I purchased it in '05 and it's still performing pretty well -- 1GB RAM, 3.0GHz single processor, 80GB HDD ... the machine itself is an HP zd8000 -- one of the monster laptops that quickly went out of style as soon as I bought this one

Anyway, I run Norton Anti-Virus and everything, and it's not showing any viruses messing up my day, but I have WAY too many tasks running when I pull up Task Manager, and when I power the machine on it takes a good six minutes to boot and stop thinking.

Right now, the source of my complaint is that I'm listening to music on Windows Media Player while browsing the forum, and the music keeps skipping as if the system is low on RAM. I have no apps running other than WMP and Firefox (one tab), but the problem persists.

I realize a reboot often fixes this problem, but sometimes it even happens right after a reboot. Can anyone offer any suggestions?

 

[Deks]

It's possible your Norton Antivirus is acting as a resource hog ... then again, it's also possible that with all the programs running in the bg, it's not surprising your computer is so sluggish.
Perhaps a fresh reinstall could also be considered.

Also, I would advise you check into other solutions instead of Norton if possible such as Nod32 SmartSecurity.
Works extremely well and is low on computer resources when compared to a lot of programs out there when you take into consideration on what it features (comes with it's own firewall/anti-spam/anti-spyware and the likes).

I think it would be safe to shut down virtually all of the programs that want to start-up except for the antivirus and your wireless (unless you use programs that are essential to your OS).
Myself ... I only have 2 things starting up:
Nod32 and Wireless utility (even the Wireless utility would not be required if I'm not mistaken since I can always access it if needed on my own).
Also ... getting a free program for cleaning up your registry and defragmenting the HD in general might help out.
Perhaps if you try to uninstall some of the programs you don't use at all ...
The works.

 

[ialfan]

I've got a pretty nice setup, considering I purchased it in '05 and it's still performing pretty well -- 1GB RAM, 3.0GHz single processor, 80GB HDD ... the machine itself is an HP zd8000 -- one of the monster laptops that quickly went out of style as soon as I bought this one

Anyway, I run Norton Anti-Virus and everything, and it's not showing any viruses messing up my day, but I have WAY too many tasks running when I pull up Task Manager, and when I power the machine on it takes a good six minutes to boot and stop thinking.

Right now, the source of my complaint is that I'm listening to music on Windows Media Player while browsing the forum, and the music keeps skipping as if the system is low on RAM. I have no apps running other than WMP and Firefox (one tab), but the problem persists.

I realize a reboot often fixes this problem, but sometimes it even happens right after a reboot. Can anyone offer any suggestions?

I would suggest formatting and reinstalling windows. It's really somthing that should be done every year or more anyways. It will get rid of all the junk that has accumliated in the last 3 years and speed things back up again.

 

[Garrovick]

It might be your Norton Anti-Virus hogging your memory.

Some of theee do all and do every thing "virus protectors" think the entire commuter was designed just to run them.

I don't use virus protection, just Windows Defender (and haven't for years). I think these large Anti-Virus software companies are as bad as any possible virus can be.

 

[BCI]

I would suggest formatting and reinstalling windows. It's really somthing that should be done every year or more anyways. It will get rid of all the junk that has accumliated in the last 3 years and speed things back up again.

I don't think that's a good idea. All installed programs will be gone and thus all the settings and configurations you have made. It might be helpful when you play only one or two games, but when you have to reinstall a number of applications, plus drivers, passwords and everything, you lose several days in the process.

I ran with the same Windows 98 for four years, and didn't have a problem with speed. This XP boots up in less than a minute, from hibernation it's more like 30 seconds...

I think the reason must be either a bad program, or just that the harddrive is full. It's amazing how slow a computer becomes when the drive is full. Deleting a few old movies should do the trick.

 

[USS KG5]

I don't think that's a good idea. All installed programs will be gone and thus all the settings and configurations you have made. It might be helpful when you play only one or two games, but when you have to reinstall a number of applications, plus drivers, passwords and everything, you lose several days in the process.

It is very much an individual choice but you have put the con case very well here

I ran with the same Windows 98 for four years, and didn't have a problem with speed. This XP boots up in less than a minute, from hibernation it's more like 30 seconds...

Sadly I have found this the exception rather than the rule with few year old installs.

I think the reason must be either a bad program, or just that the harddrive is full. It's amazing how slow a computer becomes when the drive is full. Deleting a few old movies should do the trick.

As a guide I'd recommend on an 80GB drive an absolute minimum of 10% or 8GB free for Windows to do its stuff. Some programs create a surprising number of temporary files and if you have less than 1GB free windows will barely have enough for your swap file and will almost come to a halt.

 

[ialfan]

I would suggest formatting and reinstalling windows. It's really somthing that should be done every year or more anyways. It will get rid of all the junk that has accumliated in the last 3 years and speed things back up again.

I don't think that's a good idea. All installed programs will be gone and thus all the settings and configurations you have made. It might be helpful when you play only one or two games, but when you have to reinstall a number of applications, plus drivers, passwords and everything, you lose several days in the process.

I ran with the same Windows 98 for four years, and didn't have a problem with speed. This XP boots up in less than a minute, from hibernation it's more like 30 seconds...

I think the reason must be either a bad program, or just that the harddrive is full. It's amazing how slow a computer becomes when the drive is full. Deleting a few old movies should do the trick.

I reinstall several times a year or even monthly on occasion and I have it down to where I can format, reinstall windows, reinstall all my programs and games and restore my settings within 2-3 horus tops.

Windows XP especially becomes sluggish after continued use. Vista is much better on this imo but still it happens with it also.

 

[Kio]

I reinstall several times a year or even monthly on occasion...

Why?! There has to be an easier way. My current installation of XP is about 3 years old and it still boots in about a minute. But hey, if it only takes you a few hours, I guess it's not such a big deal. For me, it's traumatic.

I'd say reinstall as a last resort. And if you do reinstall, use something like Kill Disk to set all the bits on your HD to 0. Pieces of XP will hang around even when you think you've just performed a complete format.


- Like the others said, turn off Norton and see if that helps. Also make sure your HD isn't nearly full.
- Try Crap Cleaner (www.ccleaner.com) to clean out lingering temp files and useless registry entries.
- Defragment your HD.
- If you have a torrent client running in the background, this will eat resources like nothing else.
- I use WinTasks to get a good idea of what's running, but Windows Task Manager will do. Click the "mem usage" column and google the worst offenders to see if it's safe to shut these processes off. Crap Cleaner can easily prevent them from running when you boot.
- You might also turn off Windows Firewall, I haven't used it for years.

 

[Geoff]

Run the MSCONFIG utility (click Start / Run / type "msconfig") and then select the "Startup" tab. This lists all of the program modules that are programmed to run automatically at system startup. Chances are you don't need 80% of them. Obviously you'll want to keep your antivirus utilities and any drivers for special hardware you might have, but otherwise turn everything off. You can always turn them back on later if you decide you need them.

Kio made a very good suggestion to download and run the free Crap Cleaner utility at ccleaner.com. (S/He also made a very bad suggestion to turn off your firewall. )

 

[BCI]

How many icons are there in the notification area (right end of the taskbar)? A friend has ten to twelve programs there, his Windows takes several minutes to load (64 bit, Dualcore, 2GB RAM). The tip with MSconfig is very good: I have not a single icon there on startup.

 

[USS KG5]

A word of caution on MSConfig if you have a laptop - a lot of startup programs control things like extra function keys and bluetooth so you do have to know what you are disabling.

There are always some however - qttask, realsched, any kind of software updater - that just need to go IMHO. I will update Adobe Reader when I feel like it thanks!

 

[Kio]

Kio made a very good suggestion to download and run the free Crap Cleaner utility at ccleaner.com. (S/He also made a very bad suggestion to turn off your firewall. )

Yeah, I like to live dangerously. I also have Spybot running.

 

[jkladis]

I would suggest formatting and reinstalling windows. It's really somthing that should be done every year or more anyways. It will get rid of all the junk that has accumliated in the last 3 years and speed things back up again.

I don't think that's a good idea. All installed programs will be gone and thus all the settings and configurations you have made. It might be helpful when you play only one or two games, but when you have to reinstall a number of applications, plus drivers, passwords and everything, you lose several days in the process.

I ran with the same Windows 98 for four years, and didn't have a problem with speed. This XP boots up in less than a minute, from hibernation it's more like 30 seconds...

I think the reason must be either a bad program, or just that the harddrive is full. It's amazing how slow a computer becomes when the drive is full. Deleting a few old movies should do the trick.

I reinstall several times a year or even monthly on occasion and I have it down to where I can format, reinstall windows, reinstall all my programs and games and restore my settings within 2-3 horus tops.

Windows XP especially becomes sluggish after continued use. Vista is much better on this imo but still it happens with it also.

Fifty apps, XP running since 2004 and then gracefully walked away from it this year for a hardware upgrade. Never used a software firewall or anti-virus pieces. Call me divine.

The sluggish after time aspect of Windows does not compare to the day os Win 9x. Windows rot is only user-induced in my experiences.

 

[Marc]

I reinstall several times a year or even monthly on occasion...

Why?! There has to be an easier way. My current installation of XP is about 3 years old and it still boots in about a minute. But hey, if it only takes you a few hours, I guess it's not such a big deal. For me, it's traumatic.

I'd say reinstall as a last resort. And if you do reinstall, use something like Kill Disk to set all the bits on your HD to 0. Pieces of XP will hang around even when you think you've just performed a complete format.

Agreed - a well maintained Windows XP system should be stable for years if well maintained.

If you've gone an open licence and use images it's okay but for the individual user it's major - especially with the product activation that's so prevelant these days plus all the patches and updates.

 

[ialfan]

I reinstall several times a year or even monthly on occasion...

Why?! There has to be an easier way. My current installation of XP is about 3 years old and it still boots in about a minute. But hey, if it only takes you a few hours, I guess it's not such a big deal. For me, it's traumatic.

I'd say reinstall as a last resort. And if you do reinstall, use something like Kill Disk to set all the bits on your HD to 0. Pieces of XP will hang around even when you think you've just performed a complete format.

Agreed - a well maintained Windows XP system should be stable for years if well maintained.

If you've gone an open licence and use images it's okay but for the individual user it's major - especially with the product activation that's so prevelant these days plus all the patches and updates.

Oh it can stay stable for years but there is a slowdown even if it's not very noticable due to it being gradual. All I'm saying is nothing beats the speed of a fresh install on XP. If you check out computer forums like neowin.net you'd probably notice the average user there formats and reinstalls several times a year to keep XP fast.

Vista actually speeds up a bit a while after an install once SuperFetch starts doing it's thing though. So it's really not the same.

 

[Marc]

Why?! There has to be an easier way. My current installation of XP is about 3 years old and it still boots in about a minute. But hey, if it only takes you a few hours, I guess it's not such a big deal. For me, it's traumatic.

I'd say reinstall as a last resort. And if you do reinstall, use something like Kill Disk to set all the bits on your HD to 0. Pieces of XP will hang around even when you think you've just performed a complete format.

Agreed - a well maintained Windows XP system should be stable for years if well maintained.

If you've gone an open licence and use images it's okay but for the individual user it's major - especially with the product activation that's so prevelant these days plus all the patches and updates.

Oh it can stay stable for years but there is a slowdown even if it's not very noticable due to it being gradual. All I'm saying is nothing beats the speed of a fresh install on XP. If you check out computer forums like neowin.net you'd probably notice the average user there formats and reinstalls several times a year to keep XP fast.

I'd wager you that most people wouldn't' notice the slow (if it's really there that much at all) to justify the pain in the arse that a complete reload is to justify doing it several times as year.

Especially for home users who would also need to ensure all their data is backup and now how to restore it.

I'd wager dollars to doughnuts that the frequenters of neowin.net are the likes of gamers who get shitty if their uber machines drop have 1/2 a fps in what ever is the latest game and who have the time, expertise and inclination to reload every few months