Why Pc is slow - Finding fast way

Hi guys

For various reasons, I am still using xpwin.sp3 running pc with 2.5Mhz processor with 1G memory.

1. In most machine i found that if memory contact with Mother board is no good the pc becomes very slow or even hang. Cleaning the contacts with a eraser usually works.
2. Another thing i found is if the harddisk is faulty, pc can also become very slow. Changing to another hard disk did the trick.

However i am now facing a pc, same configuration and is dead slow even in installing office.02 or uninstalling office.02. Window xp was already reinstalled and i have not tried swapping parts. Moreover the following is already checked
1) Any hogging programs from Task Manager
2) Any internet downloading in progress - internet connection off
3) Processor not overheating

Is there any application that can tell me what is the problem. Most the application spend too much time checking before saying if the harddisk is failing or the memory is slow. Appreciate your sharing.

 

Hi FuzMic, Do you mean Opening Microsoft Office 2002 as opposed to installing MS Office Software which will take some time.
Have you checked in Task Manager to see if a Process is hogging your resources?
What Anti-Virus Software are you running? Neil.

 

Thanks mate

I have installed and uninstall office 2002 many times and have a good feel of what is slow & normal. It is really slow, takes an hour either way in this instance.

I use Avast antivirus. Again i have install/uninstall office 2002 with Avast, it had never been that slow. As I said i will recheck the resources hogging.

 

Yeah, I sure would scan for malware but first, I would clean out the clutter with Windows XP Disk Cleanup, TFC by Oldtimer (the most aggressive cleaner) or CCleaner (select CCleaner Slim version for no toolbar option).

Windows Disk Cleanup is already on your system so if critically low on disk space, I recommend you use it instead of downloading and installing something else on your already crowded drive. If you have enough disk space and decide to go with CCleaner, before first use, go to Options > Settings > Advanced and ensure Only delete files in Windows Temp folders older than 24 hours is unchecked. And before using any of these options, know your site credentials (user names and passwords) for sites you frequent before cleaning as you will have to login again at next visit.

As far as your 2 scenarios, understand the erasure trick only works if the electrical contacts are dirty. But also note they should not get dirty if inserted properly in a good slot (or, if unused, stored properly). That is, a good slot would secure the RAM tightly to maintain a good, clean electrical contact. My worry is damage from mishandling RAM and ESD - a too-common occurrence.

And surely a failed drive can slow down a computer, but drives are actually pretty reliable devices. It is more likely reinstalling Windows fixes the slow down problem, not simply replacing the drive.

Assuming you keep Avast and XP SP3 fully updated, I still recommend supplemental scanning with another scanner. Regardless the anti-malware solution of choice, periodic supplemental scanning with another scanner is required to ensure your real-time solution or you (the user is ALWAYS the weakest link in security) did not let something slip by. For that, I use and recommend Malwarebytes's Anti-Malware (MBAM) - and note MBAM Pro is worth considering because MBAM Pro coexists well with other real-time solutions, it has a low initial one-time cost, and no recurring renewal fees).

If low on disk space, I recommend you uninstall programs you installed but no longer use. If it has been some time, you might consider defragging your hard drive too (just be sure to defrag after purging the system of clutter files).

Merry Christmas & [COLOR="#000FF"]Happy[/COLOR] [COLOR="#00800"]New[/COLOR] Year!

 

Seasons greetings Bill & TQ for the careful response. Will tinker & report findings.

 

Bill

First thing, AntiMalware scan removal does not remove the hog. From what i just found, it has to do with windows update in a internet connection which is very slow. Check this out

1. The 100% resource hog is svchost.exe. Using ProcExp.exe found process to be PID912/900 = Generic Host Process for Win32 Services. As expected, stopping it, Office02 installation/removal returns to normal. Every reboot of system, this same svchost.exe process again hogs.
2. Stopping the hog svchost.exe will also remove the wuaucit.exe from running and release the resources.
3. Turn off Automatic updates will free resources. Because, i guese, due to this particularly narrow bandwidth in certain locations in Malaysia; even using "Window Update Web Site" will cause the resource to be hogged by svchost as it "checks for the latest ". Once the browser is off checking, hogging disappear.

What's your take on this, cheerful guy?
It must be a very cold and windy winter for you. God Bless.

 

I really don't know but I don't see how narrow bandwidth in Malaysia will affect Office installs. You might try disconnecting from the Internet. You might also check out Fixit.

 

This seems to be a recurring problem with XP of late. I would try disconnecting from the web, as Bill suggested, but you may run into this problem (svchost.exe maxing out) again after reconnecting to the web. My suggestion would be to upgrade to Win 7 or 8.

 

Thanks GeekS

Bill, I blame the narrow bandwidth because all pc in this particular LAN is slow and the avoiding of the ms download process fix it.

Like James added "disconnect from internet had its cons' however current i am out of this problem by

1. turn off Automatic Updates when i am doing work and
2. leave the updates when i am away from the machine.

I will try the FixIt to see what manifest.

 

Okay, if ALL computers on your LAN suffer from this, then it may be bandwidth as provided by your ISP, but it may also be a network issue on your end, or just small pipes between you and MS. If you can copy a large file from one computer on your network to another computer on your network, then it is not a network bandwidth, or a computer problem.

 

LAN file copying good. Thanks!

 

Then you need to review your contract with your ISP and see if you are getting the bandwidth you are paying for.

 

No other choice of ISP, monopoly issue at this particular location.

 

I was not suggesting changing your ISP, just verifying you are getting what you are paying for. You need to check your plan by reviewing your bill, or your options on line then seeing if they are meeting their "contractual" obligations. Use Speedtest.

 

Bill, according to ms Help on line http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...problems/57ff2a95-3a9c-4e85-a879-b340c65acfa5,
it may not be due to ISP (still very slow) but due IE6 requiring Kb2846071 update. Unfortunately with this update, problem remain.
Next downloaded IE8, it did not fix it.

FINAL FIND
After doing fixit. found 3 missing files.
On restart, using IE8, browsing to Window Update Web site, svchost did not hog as before. Neither did "Automatic Updates" cause svchost hogging.

SORRY NOT TRUE, SVCHOST HOGGING CAME BACK AFTER SETTING TO "AUTOMATIC UPDATE" WHEN PC STARTS COMMUNICATING WITH MS SERVER. I GIVE UP!!!.

 

I don't see where that problem is related to yours - unless you have verified it is wuaueng.dll that was causing svchost to hog CPU resources. I note this thread appeared centered around INSTALLING Office.

Note there are many services that run via svchost which can generate many instances of svchost to run. For example, I have 9 instances of svchost running on this machine right now being used by no less than 43 different programs and services.

Are you telling me you were still using IE6? You should have been up to IE8 for a long time. What did you scan for malware with? Is Windows otherwise fully updated?

What if you walk away and just let it run for a couple hours?

 

Microsoft is aware of this, but they have not issued a fix for it that I am aware of. I have the same problem, as well as my brother's more modern XP machine. Do as Bill said, and let your machine alone for a few hours.

For what it's worth, this issue usually crops up on MS patch day. I do a manual online scan at Windows / Microsoft Update when the PC drags, and it takes an hour or so for the scanning process to complete (the scanning part does not require much bandwidth). When I come back to the machine, I see the scan results and download / install any missing security updates.


EDIT: Do yourself a favor and upgrade to Windows 7 or 8 as soon as you can. XP is headed for the scrapheap.

 

Windows XP update locks machines with SVCHOST redlined at 100%

 

Excellent find Doc. Good New Year present - "How to fix WUA in XP" Neil.

 

Thanks Dr. Your ref to wu..exe is what I hope to focus on. I will take up yr suggestion, almost gave up but now new light. Cheers! Happy 2014 to you.