Slow computer or I'm just super fast

I've been having problems with my computer being incredible slow to load programs or to respond to when I want to close something. I thought I was infected and has posted a thread http://forums.whatthetech.com/index.php?sh…view=getnewpost but it was determined that I don't have a malware issue and may instead need some help to tweak things to make my computer go faster.

Can you help?

Hello. Please read here: http://forums.whatthetech.com/Welcome_new_users_t104737.html

After you follow the instructions there you will be able to receive quality help.

Here are the answers to the questions you requested:

My Problem
* What is not working right? Computer takes a long time to respond to simple actions, like opening Firefox, Excel, Word, Pictures or switching between browsers/programs.
* What were you doing when the problem occured? It's been happening for a long time and has just gotten unbearable
* Were there any recent changes made to your computer? Not that I am aware of
* What is the exact, word for word, error message, if any? No error message, just slow response
* What steps have you already taken to resolve the problem? Sometimes I have to manually shut down my computer and restart because it just won't do anything - it freezes
* If the problem is related to networking or internet trouble, tell us who your internet provider is and how you connect to the internet (wireless, wired), etc. N/A

See link in first posting for malware forum post.

Basic information about my computer:

* What is the make and model of your computer? Toshiba Satellite A45
* If you are having problems with a specific piece of hardware such as a video card or wireless router, provide the exact make and model of that device also. n/a
* What operating system are you using (Windows XP, Vista, etc.) and what service packs have you installed? XP
* What version of software are you having a problem with? firefox, microsoft word/excel 2003, picasa 3
* How old is the computer? bought it in 2003
* Has any maintenance been performed on the computer such as cleaning of the computer's case and fans? no
* Have there been any upgrades to your computer since you purchased it? no
* How much memory and hard drive space do you have? drive c: 73% Free space, 69373 MB

Here is the link to PCPitStop http://pcpitstop.com/betapit/sec.asp?conid=22815346

Please let me know what my next steps should be to speed up my computer. Thanks!

This helps immensely. Thank you for taking the time to post the information.

There are three more things I need you to do.

Because this is a laptop, the chances of hard drive trouble are quite high. Lets run a chkdsk /r and make sure there are no bad sectors. http://forums.whatthetech.com/How_run_CHKD…XP_t102348.html

Next, download codestuff starter and post your services and startups list:
How to use CodeStuff Starter to view services and startup items:

• Please download and install CodeStuff Starter
• Run Starter by finding it on your start menu after it is installed.
• When the program opens, you will see three tabs on the main screen (Startup, Processes, Services)
• Please click the Startup tab and make sure that All Sections is selected on the left hand side under the sections view pane.
• Once the Startup tab and all sections is selected, please click the File menu and choose Save as HTML.
• Please save the file to your desktop and call it startup.html.
• Now, please click the Services tab.
• Once the Services tab is open, please click the File menu and choose Save as HTML.
• Please save the file to your desktop and call it services.html.
• Now that both files have been saved to your desktop, close CodeStuff Starter.
• Locate the startup.html and services.html files on your desktop. Both files can be attached to the forum, as is. Please do so in your next reply.

Lastly, please attach a current event viewer log for your SYSTEM and APPLICATION logs:
How to capture an event log and upload it to the forum:

• First, open Event Viewer by clicking Start -> Run -> type eventvwr.msc and press ENTER.
• In the Event Viewer please right click the requested event log (i.e. Application, system, etc…) and click Save Log File As.
• Please save the logfile to your desktop and give it a recognizable name.
• Do this for each log that has been requested.
• When you are finished saving the necessary logs, close Event Viewer.
• On your desktop find the saved log files. Hold the CTRL key and click to select each event log.
• When all event logs are selected, right-click one of them, click Send to -> Compressed Zip Folder.
• A new .ZIP file will have been created on your desktop. Please attach that file to this forum in your next reply.

I know this seems like a lot of work, but your computer definitely needs help and I'm prepared to give it to you. However, I have to see an overall picture of your computer in order to give you the best advice. If there are no other software or hardware issues revealed in the remaining information that you provide, your computer mainly just needs a tuneup.

There are two things you have against you on your laptop as far as performance goes. No matter what we do you will have performance issues due to these factors. One is that your CPU is only a Celeron. This is a budget CPU with almost no cache memory and performs very poorly. Secondly, you only have 512MB of RAM and that is not enough to do anything efficiently in Windows XP. Add the two together and you have a double whammy. There isn't anything you can do about the CPU that is cost effective, but memory is very cheap. My best suggestion here to really make this effort pay off is to purchase some extra RAM for your laptop.

You can buy and easily install two of these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx…N82E16820172101 to double your RAM.

Or, install two of these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx…N82E16820208011 to quadruple your RAM.

1GB will make a huge difference over the 512Mb you currently have. 2Gb will not be as significant of an improvement over 1Gb. My recommendation, on a budget, is to go to 1Gb. But, 2Gb is best. Money well spent, and the biggest bang for the buck you can get.

Thank you. I've completed each step and attached the files requested.

Ok….

I have reviewed the information that you posted. I do appreciate your time and effort into getting this problem resolved properly.

Did you perform the chkdsk /r command? The whole process should've taken at least 30 minutes.

Have you given any consideration to the extra RAM?

Toshibas (and Acers) are extra difficult to tune-up because the manufacturer swamps them with "utilities" that run all the time on your computer. So, we'll try to eliminate some of those. All are un-needed, but can reduce functionality of special function keys and stuff if removed.

Next, I see that you are using Norton Anti-virus. It is pretty much unanimous amongst experienced techs that Norton is about one of the most horrible programs you could possibly run. It will bog down even the most powerful systems, it certainly is effecting yours detrimentally. My suggestion is that you replace Norton with a free, lightweight product such as Avast! Home Edition. Personally, I rate Norton products as the worst software ever created. You may not believe me, but time and time again I have uninstalled Norton from a slow, horribly performing computer and had it run like a new machine with that simple change.

Moving beyond that, I will let you decide what you want to do with it and do what else I can to make your computer run better.

So, first, lets go to control panel -> add/remove programs.

Uninstall all of the following programs: (Do not restart your computer if prompted until after the last product is uninstalled, then restart)

• Google Toolbar for Internet Explorer
• McAfee Security Scan
• Windows Defender

(Restart if you haven't)

Now, open CodeStuff starter back up and click the Services tab. Right-click and disable the following services:

• Google Software Updater
• Intuit Update Service
• Java Quick Starter
• SoundMAX Agent Service
• Swupdtmr

Now, click the Startups tab and disable the following:

• 000StTHK
• 00THotkey
• Adobe Reader Speed Launcher
• AGRSMMSG
• Desktop Software
• DWQueuedReporting
• LtMoh
• OM2_Monitor
• RAMASST.lnk
• swg

Now, restart your computer.

I also recommend that you use compressed air to blow out the fans and heatsinks on your laptop. The air usually is drawn in from the bottom of the laptop and exhausted out the side or back. Blow the compressed air into the exhaust ports and watch the dust fly. You might want to do this outside. Your laptop may be overheating and that can cause some of the symptoms you are experiencing.

Besides what I have told you there really isn't any way to tweak more performance out of your laptop. The two biggest things, more so than anything I just instructed, is to get rid of Norton and add memory. Those two things alone will make a huge difference on your computer.

Good luck and let me know how things are working.

Thanks for your help. I did complete the chkdsk /r and it took well over an hour. I completed all the other items as well.

When I tried installing the Avast! Home Edition though I get an HTTP server returned error 301. Do you know why this is? I still have Norton installed, do I need to uninstall first? Here is the error log:

17.10.2009 21:02:08 general: Started: 17.10.2009, 21:02:08
17.10.2009 21:02:08 system: Operating system: WindowsXP ver 5.1, build 2600, sp 3.0 [Service Pack 3]
17.10.2009 21:02:08 system: Memory: 76% load. Phys:118476/506668K free, Page:719016/1184040K free, Virt:2071428/2097024K free
17.10.2009 21:02:08 system: Computer WinName: TOSHIBA-USER
17.10.2009 21:02:08 system: Windows Net User: TOSHIBA-USER\Lisa
17.10.2009 21:02:09 general: Old version: ffffffff (-1)
17.10.2009 21:02:09 system: Using temp: C:\DOCUME~1\Lisa\LOCALS~1\Temp\_av_inet.tm~a00252 (68318M free)
17.10.2009 21:02:09 internet: SYNCER: Type: use IE settings
17.10.2009 21:02:09 internet: SYNCER: Auth: another authentication, use WinInet
17.10.2009 21:02:09 general: Install check: Program folder does NOT exist in registry
17.10.2009 21:02:09 general: SGW32P::CheckIfInstalled set m_bAlreadyInstalled to 0
17.10.2009 21:02:13 general: progress thread start
17.10.2009 21:02:13 general: Destination: C:\DOCUME~1\Lisa\LOCALS~1\Temp\_av_inet.tm~a00252
17.10.2009 21:02:13 general: Starting download: http://www.avast.com/go.php?verb=get-avast…&langid=eng
17.10.2009 21:02:14 general: Download finished from server www.avast.com, result: 0x20000006, server response: 301
17.10.2009 21:02:14 general: Stats www.avast.com, server response: 536870918
17.10.2009 21:02:16 general: POST result: 0x00000000, server response: 20

Download the full english version, or the version for your language. Do not use the universal installer. And, please DO uninstall Norton before installing Avast. Download Avast first, then uninstall Norton, then install Avast. Reboot in between and after.