system slowing down - question

WinXP Home, SP2
Running on a 3.0Gh system with 1 gig of memory. WinXP is OEM version so i
dont have a "real" MS WinXP system cd just what came with my sys.

System appears to be running slower than normal, in particular when
opening programs.

I tried searching and saw the "Start > Run > cmd sfc /scannow" but when i
tried it, a DOS window opened showing C:\Documents and Settings\Owner> "
and a blinking cursor. Guess it was waiting for some input from me. I have
no idea what it wants.

Any ideas?

Thank you,
savagcl

 

The first part of that - Start>Run>cmd, click OK - opens a DOS-type window. Then type in sfc /scannow and press the Enter key on the keyboard.

Howver, all that will do is look for and replace system files with originals. If any of those files have been legitimately changed by updates, you may end up with more problems. You'll most likely have to reinstall at least some of those updates.

System slowdowns are usually the result of: too many programs running in the background (many, if not most, loading on startup); spyware running in the background; viruses, trojans, worms running in the background; fragmented disk.

I would deal with each of those in that order before running System File Checker.

Background programs: Disable the "load on startup" or "load when Windows starts" or whatever terminology each program uses in its Options/Preferences/Settings to reduce the number loading when you boot the computer. For those that don't offer that option, Start>Run, type "msconfig" (without the quotes), click OK. Go to the Startup tab and uncheck anything there you are sure[/url] you don't need to load on startup. Anything you use can always be started manually from the Start Menu or desktop shortcuts when you need them.

Spyware: Spybot and Ad-Aware

Viruses, trojans, worms: Full system scan with up-to-date antivirus program. If none are installed, use the free online scans at Panda and Housecall.

Fragmented disk: Start>All Programs>Accessories>System Tools>Disk Defragmenter.

Also run Disk Cleanup: Start>All Programs>Accessories>System Tools>Disk Cleanup.

 

Miz,

Thanks for the feedback.

Background (startup jobs) programs from msconfig:
Acronis Scheduler2 service
Acronis True Image Monitor
AVG7_CC
NvCplDaemon (i keep disabling this but it comes back)
ZoneLabs

As a rule i normally run the following on a bi-weekly basis or more often if
needed:

Adaware6
spybot (version 1.3)
MS regclean
RegChecker
RegSeeker
RegSupreme
dclean
mrublaster
and last but not least - Spider

I defrag bi-weekly using PerfectDisk7.0
and at least weekly Acronis True Image (for PC backup).

Wish i could remember when this first started happening. Might be easier to
trace down. I do know it was after SP2 was installed. I've done a lot of
additions to my sys lately (sound card, graphics card, power supply) and
each one is working good (i double checked).

Maybe i'm wearing it out!!

thanks again for the info,
savagcl

 

Well, I wont run that again! Not your fault Miz, its my fault.

The sfc /scannow program ran and it did a lot of writing to the HD then i
rebooted. Not sure what it did (a program should let you know what its doing).

The boot up just gave a black screen. The OS CD i have came with the
sys and was only SP1 so maybe thats why the blank screen.

Lesson learned and thank ______ (enter diety name here) for having backups.

After restoring the backup, i'm ok, just lost a coupla music files which i can
re-coop.

thanks,
savagcl

 

If your system is slowing down rather progressively , when opening programs ---try defragging your system . I had to do the same thing last week. XP just got slower and slower . I also went through and cleaned out all my cookies and temp files . I have a 160Gig hard drive and it took quite some time , but she's back up and running like new. You may also want to find a Memory program like ram booster. it monitors your RAM ussage and has an option to free up ram when needed and also from memory resident programs that stay in your memory even when not being used .

 

Dussman,

Yes, thanks.

At least weekly (or more often) i will do a through cleanup of my sys.
By that i mean running:

AdAware
Spybot
CCleaner
Dclean
MRUBlaster
RegClean
RegSupreme
delete Prefetch folder
Temp folders
Temp Internet folders
Defrag all disk (including external)
ERDNT
AVG
Spider
Then i create a backup image with Acronis.

So i'm pretty well covered in that area.
Guess i'll run hdtach on a regular basis for a while and see if it degrades
any more.
I've been looking at the western digital 10,000 rpm 160 GB SATA drive as
a replacement drive but not sure if it would mesh well with a 7200 rpm
drive (also SATA).

thanks,
savagcl