Windows Vista Laptop running Slow

Laptop recently running slow....I have run Antimalware..avg current virus software...Programs are getting hung up.

Not sure if it is virus/maleware issue or performance issue.

Any help appreciated...

 

There are some free virus/malware scans, look at the sticky posts at the start of the Virus and Malware Removal forum.

Is the fan running constantly? It should only run at high speed when under load. Consider that it may need to have the dust cleaned out.

In the Start -> Search Bar, type msconfig and look under the Startup tab for what is running in the background. Rather than just uncheck any items that aren't necessary, I open the main program and see if I can disable the startup item there. Right -click on the Taskbar and select Task Manager. Make sure your CPU is not constantly running at high levels. Do you have a decent amount of RAM?

Watch what you download and install. You can install "legitimate" spyware, because you agree to it in the Agreement. If you are not sure of a programs quality, do a websearch and see if people complain about it.

Do you do disk clean-up regularly? Get rid of Temporary files and Temporary Internet Files occasionally? After a good cleanup, run a defragmentation.

See if you can isolate the problem, what do you do (run) that makes it happen? Hanging/freezes I would investigate as an overheating problem first.

Matt
PS you might also consider running Error Checking (CHKDSK) on the drives/s.

 

THanks for the info...I did run all of the virus software and nothing showed. I'm guessing its hardware. I have 1 mb ram. My hd is also 65% filled. IS there a way to analyze my system and come up with some recommendations?

 

That would be nice, MS would probably like to run it themselves and there would not any forum here. Some programs might tell you you have multiple "problems" even if you don't, in a hope you will purchase their program. They might make the system work better in the short term, if at all (although I have never purchased a "fix it" program...I might if there was universal commendation for it).

As I said, try to isolate the problem. I have given you some leads. If you might have temperature problems watch what the fan does. Look in Task Manager for problems.

You can look at what happens in Event Viewer, but if the system freezes it may not be able to log the event.

From the information supplied, I could not even make a guess. There are lots of potential sources. If you would like a program to offer a "fix ", I am sure there are many, but if you followed conventional systems you could probably do the same thing.

They might come up with recommendations, but if they fail to to identify the problem correctly and you follow their recommendation, what happens if your system no longer works? I think you will find a disclaimer in their Agreement.

Matt

 

I'll give you some examples where an analysis program is virtually useless.

My brother got me to replace his computer. My sister-in-law said it was slow and they needed a better one. I built them a very decent machine. She says that's slow and they need a new one. The problem is that she only uses it for surfing the internet, because they only use it occasionally, they have a cheap form of dial-up connection. It's not that the computer is slow, it's the internet connection. I can build them the best computer around, but it still won't go any faster than 56 Kb/s on the internet

Some people think they will improve their security by having a second (or more) internet security programs installed. One will conflict with the other and the result is that the system slows down.

Check msconfig for what is running in the background. You can try disabling them (disconnect from the internet if you disable your security) and re-enabling one by one.

One analysis system I use is www.pcpitstop.com, but I haven't needed to use it for a very long time.

Matt