slow XP

I run WinXPSp2, totally updated.
Recently, my computer is extremely slow, accessing the Internet, or opening programs in my Hard Drive.
I have a minimuim programs when I start the computer.
I ran several anti-mailware program...no malware, no viruses
I checked dowload speed....3 MB.
I checked, using Ctrl-Alt-Delete to get to Task Manager and clicked on Performance tab.....CPU at 100%
What is causing my problem of slow speed when accessing my e-mail (OE) or opening a web-page.
Appreciate any help that can be offered.

 

Load Task Manager, then click on "Processes" tab.
Now look under the "CPU" column.
Do you see any process running very high?? (Ignore "System Idle Processes ")
If not, click "once" on "CPU" located at the top, in the header name area. This should bring the highest value to the top.
Post back with the name(s) of the process(es) running constant or most of the time over 10% / 20%.

 

Clean out your temp files, dump your prefetch and clean out your browser cache. Set your cache to no more than 80MB if IE and if you are running any plug-ins, confirm that they are necessary. You may also want to bone up on third party apps that will clean up temps for you - there are a few very good ones but all must be used with care.

I also note you are from New Mexico and if you are using AT&T broadband (old BellSouth) I will say that they continue to have some intermittent DNS problems which they will disavow.

Lastly, if you haven't defragged in a while, do so.

 

Hi all

Dennis please don't take this wrong, but I would not ignore System Idle Processes.

Because if there is certain malware running that has managed to hide itself two possibilities exist.

1. If it is very good malware it has hidden totally from the process list and the totals will still add up to 100.

2. or this is what you watch for: it is sloppy and has hidden its name from the list and you see no process for it but the total never hits 100%.

Princess what you want to see for good performance is a high System Idle Processes and low process numbers.

As the processes accumulate the System Idle Processes will go down and the CPU load goes up. If a cpu number is say 96% then the System Idle Processes should be 4% and the computer will be so slow as to apear to be locked up.

Sometimes they change quickly but if the processes are watched for a while and you can get the high and low numbers and they seem to add up to less than 100% most of the time (usually by a substantial margin 30-40%) then there is a hidden proccess that has no nme in the list but is taking those CPU cycles.

One other question on your slowdown, do you have a lot or even constant disk activity?

Mike

 

I made this a seperate post as it goes at your problem from a different direction.

If this is a home computer and you are not hosting a website then the below services are totally usless and eliminating them will free some RAM and CPU cycles. In your case running at 100% it may bring it down to a more usable state while you are trying to fix this issue.

If per chance one of these is your issue then you will see it immediately!

We are just turning off services here not uninstalling or anything, later if any one of them are needed they can be turned back on.

Here you go!

In services stop and disable all of the below just to get them out of the way. Can be put back anytime later but I would not as none of them are needed by most home users and very few business users.

Basically stuff M$ thought you (might) should have.

DNS Client
Fast User switching
Indexing service
Messenger
Net logon
Net.TCP Port Sharing
NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing
IPsec services
QoS RSVP
Remote Registry
Uninterruptable power supply
Universal Plug and play
Web Client
Windows media player Network Sharing

Turn these off and reboot!

Get back with results!

Mike

 

If you try to ignore the "sustem idle" you'll get a message which tells you it cannot be done.

 

Further if you are uising any Adobe products the problem is most probably cause by the "updater" trying but failing to complete. You should turn off the automatic update in these programs.

 

What Dennis and I were refering to was not some switch or setting but to visually just not pay any mind to the System Idle Process.

As in just look at the Process usage!

Mike

 

Fine. Thanks

 

telephonics has a good idea about Adobe, I would do what he says.

I have another question.

Do you per chance have the Zone Alarm Firewall?

Mike

 

yes, mine is a home/personal computer, not hosting a web site.
In task manager, under Processes:
System Idle process is 99, ahd 28K
on bottom: processes=33, CPU usage=2% and commit change=440M/2313M
Where do I find the list of services??? to implement your suggestions?
Temp files are deleted when I shut down each day.
Incidentally, this a.m. when I started computer, opened up my Outlook Express to checkl my mail, and I did Ctrl-Alt-Del, my CPU usage is 0

 

Well Irving

The high System Idle process 99 and low CPU usage=2% don't jive with your first post of 100% CPU usage.

You will need to get us info when it "is" maxing out at 90-100% in order to pinpoint the problem.

I think you need to give us more info about when this issue starts.

Right now it looks as tho you have no problem.

But what about the HD is it churning away this can slow the system without using too much processor.

To get to the services I listed.

start
run
type
services.msc
enter

Find thes names rt click change to Disable the click stop if it is not already stopped.

Mike

 

Thanks for the help.
to answer some of your questions:
The 100% CPU usage....I had this problem for a day, then posted my problem.
The HD wasn't "churning" away.
Did the Run/services.msc/enter and checked my list with your suggestions.
Most of my services that U suggested to Disable, were set to Manual or Disabled. Two were on Automatic, and I set to Disable. I left alone the Manual, didn't disable. My rationale was the Manual was OK, if I don't use them or turn them on.
I check several time during the day with Task Manager, and CPU usage was about 2 or 3 %. Therefore, as U indicated, maybe I don't have a problem any longer,
I thank everyone for the patience to Pull Me Through.

 

The ones that are set to manual still take a bite of RAM you could use otherwise, and altho not as much CPU as when actually running they do take some cpu cycles when set to manual.

Only when disabled do they free the RAM and CPU completely.

If you know you don't need them or are unsure then disable them and you will see that you really don't.

You also need to keep an eye on them as some updates will turn some of them back on!

Up to you!

Mike

 

Don't forget to click on START | Run
In the window, type "msconfig "
Go through the STARTUP list and disable ones you don't need. The less the better.

 

HArry, thanks
I keep my startup to a minimum via msconfig and also with WinPatrol.
I presently have (and have had these in my system tray) for ages. The only icons I have next to the clock is WinPatrol, safely remove hardware, and AVG.