Desktop very very slow

Hello,

I recently posted in the malware forum to get help with my Desktop computer which is running very very slow. Takes forever for pages to load and for any action to happen once I click the mouse. I often get the message that the page is "not responding"

The malware forum said it does not seem to be a hardware problem, and doesn't seem to be a malware problem. They suggested to open a new thread at the Microsoft Windows subforum.

Could you please see if you could help diagnose and fix what is causing my computer to have such slow response.
Can you help?
Thanks.
Edited by paws: link for malware topic:
http://forums.whatthetech.com/index.php?sh…mp;#entry756174

Hi thoran,

Lets have look at what is running on your PC with this test {as you are running XP, ignore steps 2) and 3) below) -

PC Pitstop 'OVERDRIVE' for XP, Vista and W7

OverDrive is Fast, Comprehensive, and Free.
In just a few minutes, OverDrive creates an extensive report of your PC's performance, security, software, drivers, and more. In order to receive the full benefit and display the full Results of OverDrive, use Internet Explorer.

Note: Vista/Windows 7 users with UAC must first Right-click IE - Select "Run as Administrator"

1) Close all instances of Internet Explorer and any other open programs.
2) Click on Vista or W7 Start
3) Right-Click on Internet Explorer and choose "Run as Administrator"
This will give your machine full privilege to take advantage of all the features of PCPitstop's OverDrive full test.

4) Navigate to PC Pitstop's Overdrive using Internet Explorer and click on "Create free account"
5) Register and accept the necessary active-X needed to run Overdrive
6) Run PC Pitstop Overdrive
7) Post the URL link here from the address bar which will allow us to view your results.

Caution: During the testing of your PCs Video Adapter, a variety of patterns, shapes, colors and text are “flashed” onto the users monitor screen. In the many thousands of daily uses of the PCPitstop full test over several years, two individuals who suffer epilepsy experienced discomfort and temporary dizziness when viewing the flashing patterns. If you know that you are susceptible to photo driven seizure, please look away from your screen during the Video Adapter testing sequence.

Note: PCPitstop is a free service, but like many free services and programs, it is supported by various paid product and we do not necessarily support their use.

Cheers,
Lee

EDIT I see that Lee has beaten me to it….. there is no harm in following all the instructions…
Hi thoran
Its good to know that your computer is not infected.

Here's some "first aid" steps that you could consider taking (but first make sure that your back up is 100% up to date, accurate, reproducible and with an extra copy kept safe offsite on removable media)

1 Run chkdsk with the r switch from Start>Run
the command is:
chkdsk /r
note the space it needs to be there.

2 Run the Windows System File Checker from Start>Run
the command is:
sfc /scannow
note the space, it needs to be there.
If SFC finds damaged or corrupted or missing Protected Windows System Files then it will replace them with good copies from your computer, however if your computer does not have the required good copies then it will ask you to insert your Windows XP
installation disc so have it handy…it should be a disc with at least SP2 included and preferably SP3

3 If you are using Internet Explorer then reset it, by going to Tools>Options>Advanced and restting and then OK your way out.

4 Make sure you have only one anti virus product running resident in memory (more than one will be damaging to your machine's performance. If you have more than one then uninstall it/them via Control Panel>Add and Remove Programs BUT only after stopping it from running (don't try an uninstall while its active!) close down your machine to finish and then restart it…follow the instructions for this in the step 5.

5 Now close down your computer wait 30 seconds with a blank black screen and then restart it. Wait 5 minutes (by the clock, not a second earlier) and see if there is any improvement.

Post back with how your machine is performing after the above and we will advise you the next steps to follow
Regards
paws

Hello, I ran the chkdsk r and got the message "Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process." Also, the only disk I have is my original windows XP home edition with SP1a. Suggestions? Thanks.

When you run chkdsk and you get the message:

"Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process."

you need to read to the end of the message and click Y to run the disc check on reboot….. then reboot…chkdsk will then run…DO NOT interrupt it…it may take an hour or more to run through all 5 passes..it will then reboot your machine.

When you ran the sfc /scannow…. if it asked you to insert your disc then it found damaged or missing files….. so try your existing disc, if this won't work then you can either borrow one from a chum (much easier) and use that…. or slipstream SP3 into an XP install disc.( takes a few minutes work)
details here:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,23253…bid=obq94ggu5p9
Regards
paws