http://forums.whatthetech.com/Extremely_sl...ix_t102705.html <-- Edited to correct link

This is the link of the work I have already done. The computer contiues to be very slow and clunky. Slow in every function; opening any and all programs takes forever and requires many tries, virtual memory error. Just a nightmare to get any work done.

I have removed many unused programs even though the system has run well with all or most installed.

Thank you in advance for all your help.u

Windows 5.1 sp3
XP home 2002
Untel Pent ® 4CPU 1.70 ghz

This post has been edited by Ztruker: May 22 2009, 07:03 PM

Please tell us how much memory you have...

Open task manager by pressing CTRL-SHIFT-Esc.

Click the "Performance" tab and look in the Physical Memory section. Please note how much total memory you have, and how much memory is available.

Now, click the "Processes" tab, then click the "CPU" header in the processes listing twice. This will cause task manager to sort by CPU usage and put the most intensive programs at the top of the list. Please note any processes that are taking up significant CPU usage. At the bottom of the window, note what it says for "CPU Usage:"

Please post back here with all those numbers.

Thanks.

Total Memory 259888
Available Memory 59000 high point went down from here to 40000
CPU usage 11-8%
System Idle Process 99-75

Thank you

Your first issue with slowness and virtual memory warnings is the fact that you have only 256MB of RAM. We need to find out why your programs are stalling so bad, but no matter what we do, your system is suffering a large performance hit because it doesn't have enough RAM to run Windows efficiently let alone any thing else you want to load. Virtual memory warnings are inevitable because your RAM is so low.

Let me ask you, does your computer ALWAYS perform the way you described? Or, does it stabilize and work ok at times?

Please export an event viewer log so I may take a look:

• Click start -> run -> type eventvwr and press ENTER.
• Find the system log, and right-click it, and choose "Save Log File As"
• When prompted for a filename and location to save the file, please call the file system.evt and save it on your desktop.
• Close Event Viewer and find the system.evt file on your desktop. Right-click the system.evt file, choose send to -> compressed zip folder.
• A new file called system.zip will be created on your desktop.
• Please attach that file to the forum for my review.

My computer is consistently acting this way with no real good times. The baffling thing to me is that if I am correct there has been no real change of softwares etc, as a matter of fact I have removed a lot of unused stuff.

Thank you

If I need to add ram I could do that with some direction.

RAM would help definitely. But, problems like you are describing are not all because of RAM, although more would probably mitigate this issue significantly.

However, looking at your logs, I see two things occuring excessively. #1 your volume shadow copy service is continually starting and stopping on a regular basis. This is most likely due to backup software. It appears you are using carbonite on-line backup and most likely this is causing that problem. #2, your TCP/IP adapter is continually disconnecting and reconnecting. Are you using a wireless connection, and have you installed some kind of Cisco security software to use a wireless network such as at a college campus?

Lets do this, lets try disabling all non-essential services and startup items temporarily to see if the problematic program can be identified.

Click start -> run -> type 'msconfig' and press ENTER.
When msconfig opens, click the "Services" tab, click "Hide all Microsoft services." and then click "Disable All"
Now, click the "Startup" tab, click "Disable All" then click OK and restart your computer.

Note: The above procedure could disable anti-virus software or other security software for the time being. Do not leave your computer in this state. Only use it for diagnostics to eliminate what is causing your problem. Before using the internet restore your computer back to a normal startup mode.

To restore your computer back to a normal startup mode, you can open msconfig again, click the "General" tab and select "Normal." Click, OK, and restart.

If your computer runs normal after disabling services and startup items then you can use msconfig to begin a process of elimination. First, try enabling all services, but leaving all startup items disabled. If it still runs good, turn on a few startup items at a time and reboot until it acts up. If it does not run good after enabling all services, turn them back off, and turn them on a few at a time. Using this method you can eliminate which service or startup item is causing the trouble.

Please provide your computer's make and model.

Doesn't seem to want to reboot

Booting now

So, what have you found out?

I've never seen msconfig cause a computer not to boot doing what you did with it, and I don't know any reason why it would.

You are probably having some kind of hardware trouble.

If you got your computer to boot back up, try performing a surface scan on the hard drive also.

Click start -> run -> type cmd and press ENTER.
At the command prompt, type chkdsk /r and when prompted about performing the scan during the next reboot, answer Yes.
Reboot your computer and be patient while the surface scan is performed. Keep your eyes open for any messages about replacing bad clusters. Bad clusters are physical damage to the hard drive and more than a couple is a good sign the drive is failing.

No my bad my monitor had shut off & I was unaware. I'm working with startup now & experiencing good results. Ill get back to you

Okay
I removed almost everything in startup and it helped quite a bit but not completely. Unfortunately the real problem is probably with with my Ram, Carbonite, & AVG, which I have running because I feel those are essential. If I read you right adding Ram would make a lot of difference.

What do you think?
Do you have a link that would tell me how to add ram?
Any other suggestions?

Thank you very much.

I forgot. What do you suppose is causing the wireless shut off ? That started in the last week or so whereas the other problems have been for the last few months

WIth only 256Mb of RAM, like I said, there is nothing you can do to make the computer actually run "good."

Adding memory would make a HUGE improvement in performance. In my experience, I would say it would be like a new computer after being used to that.

I requested the make and model of your computer so I could assist you with finding the right RAM. Either way, I'm pretty sure it will be DDR RAM, and you can buy a 512MB stick and probably add it to your computer for under $30. Thats all you need to make a huge difference with that computer.

I don't know.. I did mention about being on a college campus wireless network? Do you have any other wireless devices hooked up? If so, how are they responding? Maybe you are having a bad signal or bad wireless card. If you have another wireless adapter you can borrow or use, it would be worth trying.

Or, you could try reloading the drivers/software for your current wireless adapter.